THE LAST of Otley’s pubs to re-open after the Covid-19 pandemic forced them all to close will be throwing open its doors again this week.

The Horse & Farrier, which is part of the Northern pub group Market Town Taverns, will be opening at midday on Thursday, July 29th. This will mean every pub in Otley that was open and trading before the pandemic will once again be open this weekend. Although many pubs up and down the country might never open their doors again following the terrible financial problems they have had to face over the past 16 months, Otley seems to have bucked the trend. Enthusiasts say this reinforces the ‘#famouspubtown’ name adopted by Otley Pub Club over the last few years.

Although the lease of the Horse & Farrier - also previously known as ‘The Three Horseshoes’ and ‘The Lix’ - has been on the market for several months, Northern pub group MTT have enough faith in its future to re-open again under completely new local management.

Jessica-Louise Parkinson, who was the assistant manager at the pub about four years ago, jumped at the chance to apply for the job of general manager when it came up because she recognised the huge potential of the pub. The pub's four double bedrooms are due to re-open before the end of August and a full food menu will be re-introduced at the same time.

The Horse & Farrier is one of the few traditional old pubs in Otley that is fully accessible and has a wheelchair accessible toilet. There will be four cask ales on the bar, as well as a wide range of wines and spirits, and the pub will be ‘dog-friendly’ as well as ‘family friendly’.

Welcoming the re-opening, Otley Pub Club President Greg Mulholland said “It’s great news that the excellent Horse and Farrier is opening, having had an exciting and tasteful refurbishment. It’s an important and historic pub with a great contemporary offering, as well as being somewhere that can host local community groups and events and provide excellent overnight accommodation for visitors to Otley.

"We wish Market Town Taverns, manager Jessica-Louise and her staff every success on its reopening."

Pub Club members will be there at midday on Thursday to celebrate the re-opening, and they encourage everyone else to join them and welcome Jess and her staff in their new venture.