HISTORIC HOLMFIRTH PUB REOPENS AFTER MAJOR REVAMP

An historic Holmfirth pub reopens today after a five-week closure and a £275,000 refurbishment.

The revamp of The Shoulder of Mutton on Dunford Road has transformed the previously rundown local into a top quality traditional pub with a stunning interior and one of the largest beer gardens in Holmfirth. The project has been carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and The Shoulder of Mutton’s new operators Yorkshire pub company TL Inns, who have 15 pubs across the region. Sean Womack from Doncaster is taking the helm as the new licensee. The pub opens on Friday 30^th August at 12pm.

Rumoured to be haunted, The Shoulder of Mutton is believed to be amongst the oldest pubs in Holmfirth, with records of landlords dating back to 1803. The exterior works have brought out all the beauty of the imposing three-storey building, cleaning the Yorkshire stone, repainting and adding new signage, planters and barrel tables at the front. A tarmac space at the rear has been transformed into a 64-seater alfresco area complete with festoon lighting, pretty planting and a covered pergola with heaters for year-round use. With children in mind, the area is fully enclosed.

Inside The Shoulder of Mutton sports an individual décor unlike any other pub in the vicinity. The design incorporates traditional features like the old bar, restored fireplace and wingback chairs alongside quirky artwork and unusual ornaments. Every part of the pub has something interesting for customers to look at, right down to the loos, which are papered with vintage posters.

Great quality beer is a focus at The Shoulder of Mutton. State-of-the-art dispense equipment has been installed to ensure consistently perfect pints, and cask ales are a specialty. There are four regularly changing brews on tap with accompanying tasting notes, and customers are welcome to “try before they buy”. The pub also stocks an extensive selection of other drinks ranging from classic cocktails to all-day barista-quality coffee. Complementing the drinks are tapas-style British pub classics for snacking and sharing, such as mini fish and chips, burgers and loaded waffle fries.

Says Sean: “The Shoulder of Mutton has stood proud in Holmfirth for more than 200 years, and it’s been sad to see it lose its way in recent times. It looks fantastic now, thanks to the investment. It’s exciting to be opening the doors and showing everyone the changes. People who’ve seen it are bowled over.”

Adds Claire Richardson, Star Pubs’ Business Development Manager for Holmfirth: “We're delighted with the revamp and we hope local residents are, too. The Shoulder of Mutton is very much a traditional pub with fantastic beer and a warm welcome but has a twist that brings something different to Holmfirth. TL Inns are highly experienced operators who specialise in bringing Yorkshire pubs back to life and with them at the reins, The Shoulder of Mutton is in safe hands.