pub Archives - Page 14 of 15 - The Stray Ferret

Woodlands pub could get controversial new name and £200,000 facelift

The Woodlands Hotel pub on Wetherby Road could be renamed West Riding Harrogate and given a £200,000 refurbishment.

Star Pubs and Bars, whose parent company is Heineken, has applied to Harrogate Borough Council for permission to overhaul the premises to give it a “fresh, modern appeal”.

According to the pub company’s website, £196,136 would be spent on the plans, which include creating a new covered seating area.

However, the proposed name change is proving controversial.

Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat borough councillor for Harrogate Hookstone, said local people were attached to the Woodlands name and she hoped the owners would rethink plans to change it.

Cllr Marsh told the Stray Ferret she believed there had been a pub called the Woodlands on the site since at least the 1940s. She said:

“I welcome the investment as it’s a very good local pub in the heart of the community but please don’t change the name.

“Why would they want to name it West Riding? We’re in North Yorkshire. The logic of that name doesn’t chime with me so I’d be very disappointed if it happens.

“They’ll do themselves a disservice and they need the local community to support it.”

A computer generated image of how the pub might look.

Star Pubs and Bars is advertising for a landlord to take over the pub, which it says has an annual turnover of more than £600,000.

Its website says:

“The pub has the ability to attract both the local community and visitors, which combined with the right food and drink offer provides excellent opportunity for the new operator to drive trade and build the pub’s reputation.

“The refurbishment will allow for distinct trading areas for both dining and casual drinking. It will also be given a fresh, modern new look to maximise its appeal.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Star Pubs and Bars for a response but did not receive one by the time of publication.

Little Ale House to reopen by serving substantial meals

A Harrogate pub is set to reopen after finding a way to serve substantial meals with drinks.

The Little Ale House closed during the second national lockdown in November and did not reopen this month because tier two rules stated only pubs serving substantial meals could do so.

This meant wet-led pubs, which do not have kitchens to serve meals, stayed closed.

But with little prospect of North Yorkshire moving to tier one anytime soon, the Little Ale House has decided to take action allowing it to reopen in the run-up to Christmas.

The independent micropub will offer a pie and peas warmer for visitors. It will serve pork pies and vegetarians pies.

Richard Park, co-owner at the Little Ale House, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are excited to open but this is not some golden goose. With restrictions on household mixing and drinks, sales will be reduced significantly.

“It will not be the same as before. But we cannot wait to move into tier one before we open, we have to keep our heads above water.”

Plans to turn Bishop Monkton pub into five houses

There are new plans to turn a village pub in Bishop Monkton, south of Ripon, into five houses.

If the plans get the go-ahead the Lamb and Flag, on Boroughbridge Road, could soon make way for more housing in the area.

The pub would be converted into two homes, the existing bed and breakfast would be converted into one house and the developers would also build two new houses on the rear car park.

Bishop Monkton, which the Domesday Book refers to as the “Tun of the monks,” has seen an increase in residential development over the last 50 years.

The Lamb and Flag is a “building of interest” and sits next to listed buildings. However, the planning application says the harm to those buildings would be “less than substantial.”

Developers also say in the plans that the design of the new houses will retain the character of the original pub and the core of the building.

Harrogate Borough Council formally acknowledged the planning application last Friday. There’s no date set for when it will be heard.

Despite new developments and growing populations, village pubs have found it difficult to survive.

Nearby Burton Leonard lost a pub in recent years. The Hare and Hounds was also replaced by housing.

D-Day looms for Coach and Horses

Concerns have been raised about late night noise at the Coach and Horses in Harrogate ahead of a key decision on the pub’s future.

Samantha Nelson, daughter of previous landlord John Nelson, has applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 10am to midnight seven days a week.

Ms Nelson has also applied to serve late night refreshments from 11pm to 12.30am every day of the week.

Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee will consider her requests on Thursday next week.

The council revoked her father’s licence in July after council officers claimed Mr Nelson showed a “blatant disregard” for coronavirus social distancing rules. This decision is due to be appealed at York magistrates court.

A report for the licensing sub-committee says the council has received two letters in support and two opposed to Ms Nelson’s application.

One in favour describes the Coach & Horses as “Harrogate’s best pub”.

Another says: “The last thing the town needs is another permanent pub closure with an unsightly empty building on a major thoroughfare or, even worse, a convenience store opened in its place.”

The same person describes Ms Nelson as “a very capable person” and says “responsibility for past indiscretions should not be visited upon the applicant”.

Those opposed mainly express concerns about “excessive noise” for local residents. One suggests restricting the opening hours until 11pm.

Lawyer Paddy Whur, acting on behalf of Ms Nelson, told the council the hours applied for replicated those of the previous licence and that late night refreshments allowed for the sale of hot drinks: Mr Whur added:

“Mr Nelson is now to retire from the business and have no business interest or management control at the premises. Samantha Nelson will run the premises after a significant re-investment in them.”

Pub champion backs campaign to save Kirkby Malzeard inn

A campaign to save a historic village pub received a boost when Greg Mulholland, founder of the All-party Parliamentary Group Save the Pub, visited the site this week.

Mr Mulholland, the former Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, visited the disused Henry Jenkins Inn in Kirkby Malzeard on Sunday to help launch a new associate membership scheme.

Locals are purchasing community shares to buy the inn, which is named after a farm worker and butler who died in 1669, reputedly at the age of 169.

The associate membership scheme allows those unable to buy shares to contribute in other ways, such as by fundraising or doing refurbishment.

So far 180 villagers have raised £210,250 from share pledges towards the £230,000 target to buy and refurbish the inn.

Pub champion Greg Mulholland (centre), of Campaign for Pubs, with supporters of the Henry Jenkins community pub initiative outside the Henry Jenkins in Kirkby Malzeard

Mr Mulholland, who is also campaign director for Campaign to Pubs, said:

“In these extraordinary times it is more important than ever that we save pubs in rural communities and the Campaign for Pubs fully supports the campaign to save the Henry Jenkins Inn.

“The community in Kirkby Malzeard has been heroic in its campaign and fundraising to save this important historic village pub and preserve a part of local history and heritage.”

The Henry Jenkins Community Pub Ltd has had four offers to buy the pub rejected by the owner, who would prefer to sell it for housing.

Campaign for Pubs is lobbying for a change in the law so that no historic pub can be demolished or converted when a group or individual is prepared to buy it as a pub at the independently assessed value.

Dave Robinson, chairman of the Henry Jenkins Community Pub Ltd, said:

“We’re delighted to have Greg’s support and we look forward to working with Campaign for Pubs to help secure the future of the Henry Jenkins and other much-loved pubs in Yorkshire and beyond.”

General Tarleton goes into voluntary liquidation

The General Tarleton pub, on the outskirts of Knaresborough, is to be wound-up.

According to a resolution posted on The Gazette, agreed by director Suzanne Topham, a meeting took place on September 30 on the premises in Ferrensby.

At the meeting the owners agreed to a voluntary wind-up of the business.

Leeds company Begbies Traynor was appointed as the joint liquidator of the company.

Suzanne and John Topham have owned the gastropub since 2005. The venue had acquired a fine reputation for food but had not reopened since closing during lockdown.

The owners also run The Alice Hawthorn pub and restaurant in Nun Monkton.

The Stray Ferret tried to contact the couple for comment but they had not responded by the time of publication.

Plan to convert Little Ouseburn pub into housing

Plans have been submitted to convert the Green Tree pub in Little Ouseburn into housing.

The application to Harrogate Borough Council bids to turn the pub into two one-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom semi-detached home.

Another two three-bedroom semi-detached homes would be built in the rear car park.

The pub, which is on the main B6265 from Green Hammerton to Boroughbridge, closed in late 2019.

In 2017, owners Michael and Barbara Briggs were granted permission to convert the property into housing while retaining part of the downstairs as a micro pub.

However, planning documents state Mr Briggs died in January 2017 and Mrs Briggs struggled to maintain the pub alone.

After three years of trying to market the micro pub, Mrs Briggs decided it was no longer a viable business, and now wants to convert more of the building into homes.

Knaresborough competition to inspire young chefs

A Knaresborough pub has launched a young chefs competition to inspire the next generation of foodies.

Six Poor Folk has invited anyone between the ages of 11 and 16 to design their own small plate using seasonal produce.

The winning entry will be featured on the pub’s menu throughout October. The pub is organising a celebrity chef to judge the dishes.

Thousands of chefs leave the profession every year because of tough working conditions. But the pub is trying to stem the tide.

Ashleigh Lambert, one of the owners at Six Poor Folk, told the Stray Ferret:

“When you are young it can make a big difference to win a competition like this. It could inspire them to carry on in food. It could inspire people like Harvey. He is working in our kitchen part time and really enjoying it.”

Ms Lambert said she had seen a high calibre of entries already but she urged as many people as possible to get involved.

Anyone interested can send their pictures and recipes to Six Poor Folk via email by clicking or tapping here.

Knaresborough pub sold with planning for homes

One of the oldest inns in Knaresborough has been sold with planning permission to convert it to a pub and six homes.

The Board Inn, which is situated in a prime town centre location next to the bus station, was sold by Harrogate estate agents FSS Property after eight months on the market.

The property fetched “very close” to the guide price of £325,000, according to the estate agents.

It was sold under auction conditions at the end of last month with planning permission for a public house, two flats and four houses.

The buyer’s details have not been revealed but the town’s easy access to the A1 make it an enticing option for developers looking for residential opportunities.

The pub has been sold at a time when Knaresborough’s high street has seen several new shops.

Recently, the town of Knaresborough has been showing positive signs of regeneration. Several new shops have opened on the high street in recent months.

New Tesco could open in Killinghall next year

The new Tesco Express in Killinghall is unlikely to open until late next year at the earliest.

The store is due to be built on the site of The Three Horseshoes pub on the main Ripon Road in the middle of Killinghall.

The pub posted a message on its Facebook page on Saturday saying it will close on September 27. But it could be some time before the Tesco Express opens.

In July, Harrogate Borough Council approved plans by Ilkley developers Dynamic Capital Killinghall to convert the site to a convenience store.

The plans also involve constructing four flats and installing six electric vehicle charging points.

At a meeting of Killinghall Parish Council last week, Cllr John Moretta said the developers had suggested once work gets underway it is likely to take a year to complete.

Last month Tesco applied for an alcohol licence from 6am to 11pm seven days of the week at the site, which has hosted a pub for 150 years.

Tesco subsequently submitted three more planning applications for signage, lighting and an ATM machine. Work is unlikely to begin until these matters are resolved.

Fellow parish councillor George Novelli told last week’s meeting the store would be “absolutely vital for the village”, which has grown considerably in recent years. A Tesco spokesman said:

“We believe the new store will be a positive addition to the local community and we aim to be serving customers there in 2021.”

The Greyhounds Inn opposite The Three Horseshoes remains closed.

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