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31
Oct
Black Lion at Skelton reveals community pub transformation
The Black Lion in Skelton-on-Ure is undergoing a major refurbishment.
The historic pub is set to reopen with a community café, extensive landscaping in the beer garden and a revamped bar.
The pub between Ripon and Boroughbridge, closed in December 2019 after it was bought by Admiral Taverns.
A public meeting nearly two years ago discovered widespread support for reopening it as a community hub and pub.
In September 2022, the Black Lion was listed as an asset of community value, which gave villagers time to raise funds and bid to buy it.
In March this year the community announced it had saved the pub, and it is now being refurbished.
Those behind the venture have now provided an update on progress.
A main feature of the refurbishment is the creation of a community café, aimed at attracting cyclists, walkers, and tourists, especially those visiting nearby Newby Hall.
The café will offer light meals, cakes and bakes, hot drinks, and provide a space for locals and visitors to rest and refuel.
A small shop within the café will offer locally sourced products.
Jonathan Mosley, committee chair, said:
The new café will be a great addition to the Black Lion, and we’re confident it will attract a wide range of people, from local families to cyclists and tourists visiting Newby Hall.
It will create a relaxed daytime environment and add to the pub’s appeal as a destination for everyone.
The Skelton-on-Ure community took ownership of the Black Lion pub earlier this year.
In addition to the café, the beer garden and surrounding grounds are being transformed through extensive landscaping.
The garden will feature new seating areas, shaded spots for the summer months, and a family-friendly play area.
Cyclists and walkers will benefit from bike racks and sheltered areas, allowing them to pause for a break.
The Black Lion’s bar has been completely refurbished and equipped with a brand-new cellar, allowing the pub to serve an exciting range of both traditional and modern lagers, ales and non-alcoholic beer. Local breweries will be available alongside more contemporary options.
The committee’s spokesperson added:
Our new cellar and fully refurbished bar will enable us to offer an even greater variety of drinks, including some of the best traditional and modern lagers and ales available.
It’s a perfect blend of old and new, which is exactly what we’re aiming for with the refurbishment as a whole.
The Black Lion refurbishment
Beyond the Black Lion’s public areas, the tenants will also benefit from the complete refurbishment of the three-bedroom accommodation at the Black Lion.
This spacious living area will offer a home for the pub’s new tenant.
Mr Mosley said:
This is not just an opportunity to run a historic and beautifully refurbished pub.
It’s also a chance to live in a fully modernised, three-bedroom home as part of the deal. The new tenant will be moving into a freshly renovated space, making it an even more exciting opportunity.
The committee hopes that the new tenant will continue community traditions while bringing fresh energy and ideas to the pub.
Those interested in taking on the tenancy can contact recruitment@skeltonblacklion.com
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