Yorkshire Village Set for £550,000 Investment to Reopen Its Closed Pubs

A Yorkshire village is set for a £550,000 investment to refurbish and reopen two historic pubs that have been closed since 2019.

Subject to recruiting new licensees, Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars wants to revamp The Farmers Boy and The Cask & Spindle in Shepley in 2022. The plans would transform The Farmers Boy into a great quality local catering for the whole community and all occasions, and restore The Cask & Spindle to its former glory as a destination dining pub. The Cask & Spindle would be renamed The Spindle & Thread to mark its revival.

The work would renovate the exteriors of The Farmers Boy and The Cask & Spindle and add new planting, signage and lighting. To meet increased demand for alfresco eating and drinking due to the pandemic, the outside space would be expanded and enhanced at both pubs with festoon lighting, heating and new furniture. The Farmers Boy would have external seating for 56 people including a 24-seater covered courtyard. Thirty extra outside seats would be created on a new terrace at The Cask & Spindle.

The interior makeovers would upgrade the pubs with stunning new designs, whilst retaining all their character, charm and original features. The Farmers Boy would benefit from a cosy locals’ bar and a separate dining area. The Cask & Spindle would boast a bar for pre- and post-meal drinks, as well as a function area accommodating 35 people and a spacious dining room to enable a focus on food.

Other planned changes include installing state-of-the-art dispense equipment to ensure consistently perfect pints and refitting the kitchens at the two pubs. The toilets, car parks and licensee accommodation would also be improved.

Says Star Pubs & Bars’ area manager Anthony Briggs: “Shepley is a lovely village in a beautiful part of Yorkshire. We’re keen to revitalise these two wonderful old Yorkshire pubs for the community, as well as those from further afield, to enjoy. The pandemic has frustrated our plans. Now restrictions have lifted, we want to recruit new licensees and get the pubs open again as soon as possible. The Farmers Boy and The Cask & Spindle have been very popular in the past. I’m confident that with investment and great licensees they will thrive again in the future.”

November from 10am to 4pm at The Black Bull on Marsh Lane in Shepley. More details of the pubs and the schemes can be found at at ^rdIn a bid to accelerate the reopening of the pubs, Star Pubs & Bars is holding an open day on 3www.starpubs.co.uk or by calling 08085 94 95 96.