Otley Pub Club is celebrating the news that new local owners have bought the historic Cross Pipes as a pub and will now set to work refurbishing it.
Bob Brook and Eddie Coneelly, from Otley Pub Club, with Phil Lister and Kevin Daphne, two of the new owners
The pub was at risk as it was being sold and there were other parties looking to buy and convert it. But the new owners’ bid as a pub has finally been accepted, saving it for Otley and its community.
The pub was up for sale due to being in the hands of receivers, which meant that the normal Asset of Community Value process didn’t apply. Several parties sought to buy the pub to convert or redevelop it.
The new owners are ready to start work straight away. The pub had suffered from lack of investment while it was in pub company ownership.
The Cross Pipes is one of Otley’s oldest pubs, dating back to 1762. It is also the only pub named the Cross Pipes in the country, as well as an important part of Otley’s history and heritage.
The new owners intend to sympathetically refurbish the pub, inside and out, and serve local ales and other drinks at competitive prices. Longer term, they will offer letting rooms.
Otley Pub Club’s campaign to save the Cross Pipes has been supported by local MP Alex Sobel, Otley BID, the Campaign for Pubs, and Bradford CAMRA. All wrote to the receivers, urging them to do the right thing and accept the bid to keep the property as a pub.
“It’s wonderful news that the Cross Pipes has now been bought as a pub by the local consortium,” said Rob Skinner, chair of Otley Pub Club.
“We are delighted that our campaign to save this unique and historic pub has worked, and we want to say a huge thanks to the new owners for investing in the Cross Pipes and in our community. We also want to thank Alex Sobel MP, Otley BID, the Campaign for Pubs, and Bradford CAMRA for their support with our campaign.
“We look forward to seeing the new owners’ plans come to fruition, and to have the Cross Pipes fully refurbished and open again when complete and we can’t wait to visit.”
Phil Lister, who co-ordinated the bid on behalf of the new owners, said: “We are delighted to be the new owners of the historic Cross Pipes, and once we get the keys we will focus on refurbishing the pub and making it a great pub that the community in Otley can be proud of.
“We want to say a huge thanks to Otley Pub Club and to all who supported their campaign to save this unique and important pub. We are confident that, with investment and the right offer, the Cross Pipes will be a big success. We hope local people will support us and we look forward to working with Otley Pub Club and the local community.”
James Watson, pub protection officer at the Campaign for Pubs, added: “We’re delighted that the historic Cross Pipes pub has been bought and saved. It would have been a travesty if this pub had been lost, despite there being an above-value offer as a pub, and the Campaign for Pubs is delighted to have supported Otley Pub Club’s campaign.
“This case does again show the need for a change to the law, so that no historic pub can be converted or demolished if there is a purchaser as a pub.
“This simple change to planning law would stop the asset-stripping of pubs and would allow new owners, like the new owners of the Cross Pipes, to take on pubs and make a success of them. We wish the new owners of the Cross Pipes every success!”
