A micropub in Hucknall is relaunching its walking club later this month.

Byron's Rest, on Baker Street used to organise regular walks for members of the local community on the first and third Sunday of every month. The walks were very successful, often attracting up to 80 or 90 walkers at a time.

However, the Coronavirus pandemic caused the walks to be shelved, initially due to lockdown restrictions, and although there have been a few sporadic returns since restrictions were lifted, the group has yet to regularly restart.

With a new year upon us though, owner Richard Darrington has decided now is the time to make the walks a regular fixture for local residents once again.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, he said: "I think a lot of people are suffering with loneliness and mental health and people ae saying it'd be nice to get together again and it's another form of communication that's well needed.

"I think if the community can't gather around each other and embrace each other then it's a sorry time. It just helps people even if it's just once a fortnight. And it's just something for people to focus on, it's only three or four hours but we'll stop off and have a coffee or we'll have a coffee at the pub before we go. It's just a nice, friendly atmosphere. People take their dogs as well and first and foremost it's a bit of exercise but it's a bit of company as well for a lot of people including myself.

"Life can be difficult and I think if you can just have a little natter about anything on the walk, it's a really friendly thing to do and it's just so nice to be part of it.

"We tailor the walks to what people want. There will be all different types of walks that we do, if we can pull a real ale pub in we do. It's not just serious walkers it's more fun than anything else but there is some serious walking to be done if people want it."

Mr Darrington has enlisted the help of his friend Gary Stones to plot the walking routes to cater to the ability and requests of regular attendees.

The first walk which will be around six miles in length will take place on Sunday 15 January, with walkers meeting at Byron's Rest at 9am; all are welcome.

There haven't been any firm decisions made on how regularly the group will meet yet as Mr Darrington wants to get a feel for the level of demand during the first walk.

"We'll find out what people are wanting after this one rather than saying we're going to do this and that", he added.

For more details about the walk or the pub, visit Byron's Rest's Facebook page by clicking here.