The Golden Lion has had a patchy recent history, closing after the floods of 2012, and undergoing an short-lived relaunch last autumn.

“We’ll be serving locally sourced food, but with a global twist,” she says. “Plus real ales, craft beers, and quality wines.”

Home made pie and peas at lunchtime, and global food at night. Roasts will be available on Sundays.

Since opening five years ago, the Monkeys has become a popular music venue, and Gig has similar plans for the Lion, in the pub’s upstairs function room.

“We’ll have an open microphone night every Thursday,” says Gig, “and quality bands and DJs at the weekends.”

A larger than life figure around the town, Gig says she is keen, with the Golden Lion, to put something back into the community which has taken her to its heart.

“We have space for meetings, community groups, workshops, weddings, anything! We now have the music venue / room to hire for functions,contact us for more information. I intend the Golden Lion to become a focus for Todmorden’s vibrant and creative community, a place where local people feel at home and one at which visitors come to gawp and feel envious – but welcome!”

Words by Andy Kershaw