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. The pub was at risk as it was being sold and there were other parties looking to buy and convert the pub, but the new owners’ bid as a pub has finally been accepted, saving the pub for Otley and its community.
After a tense period of negotiation, the local consortium bidding to save and refurbish the pub have managed to buy it. They had to increase the offer substantially to do so but have now saved this unique pub for Otley. 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, and several parties sought to buy the pub to convert or redevelop it.
OPC Secretary Bob Brook and Eddie Conneely (OPC Treasurer) were happy to welcome new owners Philip Lister and Kevin Daphne to the Cross Pipes and listen to their plans for redevelopment to restore the pub.
The new owners are ready to start work straight away, meaning a bright future for the Cross Pipes with the investment it needs, having been underinvested in whilst in pub company ownership.
The new owners intend to sympathetically refurbish the pub inside and out to make it a welcoming, attractive pub serving local ales and other drinks at competitive prices. They also hope longer term to install letting rooms, once the pub itself is complete and up and running.
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, making it truly unique, as well as an important part of Otley’s history and heritage, as well as Otley’s pub scene.
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 of whom also wrote to the receivers urging them to do the right thing and accept the bid as a pub.
Rob Skinner, Chair of Otley Pub Club said:
“It’s wonderful news that the Cross Pipes has now been bought as a pub by the local consortium. 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 has coordinated 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, that the Cross Pipes will be a big success and we hope local people will support us and we look forward to working with Otley Pub Club and the local community”.
