NEW landlords who brought a Dales pub back to life are taking a distinctly fresh approach to running their traditional hostelry.

Michael and Jenny Pighills reopened the King's Head in Kettlewell earlier this year after it had been closed for about 18 months.

Michael, who was formerly head chef at the Craven Heifer near Skipton, and has also worked at the Angel In at Hetton and in Paris and Barcelona, said the emphasis at the pub was now on fresh, high-quality, locally sourced food, including the yoghurt, milk and eggs. "We don't have menus; it's all on a blackboard and when it's gone, it's gone.

"Everything is local, everything is seasonal."

Michael said there was a local trade, but when the pub had been shut He and Jenny kept the pub's traditional features, such as the stone-flagged floor and inglenook fireplace in the bar, while putting in a brand new kitchen and refurbishing the five letting bedrooms.

"We did our research before we came here and we are trying to do something a little bit different," said Michael.

"I have been a chef for 20 years, and have always been into everything local and seasonal.

"We are trying to keep it quite simple, but everything is seasonal and cooked to order.

"We are trying to build as reputation for good food, not just for the tourists who come into the village from March to October."

He said they were averaging between 400 and 500 covers a week. Winter would be a testing time, but he had found this was true for most pubs outside town centres.

"It's hard work, but we absolutely love it," said Michael.

"There's a big difference between being employed and self-employed. It's so personal when people are walking away saying how happy they are and how good the food was; it's such a nice feeling."

The fresh approach goes beyond the food, as Michael said they only had nine beer barrels in at any one time, which meant they were changing them every three days.

Michael acknowledged he faced a challenge after the King's Head had been shut for so long and because it was not on the main road through the village, unlike its other two pubs, the Racehorses Hotel and the Blue Bell Inn.

But he had no qualms about taking on the revival of the King's Head. "Where we are situated, we walk out every morning and the views are absolutely stunning.

"What a place to live."