A NEW guide to Otley's pubs has been launched to reflect a growth in the number of inns in the town.

Otley Pub Club produced its first Historic Otley Ale Trail guide in 2013, when 18 local businesses were trading.

It has just published an updated edition because, despite a national backdrop of closures, Otley seems to be bucking the trend - with 20 inns now operating.

The Ale Trail features a map showing all of the currently trading pubs along with the sites of former inns and snippets of information about each.

The new edition was launched at the Black Horse Hotel on Thursday, October 14 when Town Mayor Councillor Ian Jackson (Lib Dem, Ashfield) and other dignitaries and sponsors were among the guests.

Otley Pub Club Chairman Andy FitzGerald said: “It is great news that we have been able to launch a new Ale Trail guide which includes more pubs than three years ago.

"On behalf of the club and all the town’s pubs I wish to thank Otley Town Council, First Bus and all our sponsors whose support has enabled us to publish the updated guide.

"We believe it is a valuable addition to the town’s marketing efforts."

The leaflet's introduction invites visitors to: "Come and enjoy the numerous pubs in the historic market town of Otley, with tales of ales, liberal licensing hours, legendary landlords, guzzling troops, feuds and ghosts."

It gives information about all 20 existing pubs, some of which date back about 300 years and several of which are reputed to be haunted.

Its entry for The Black Bull, on Market Place - recently featured in a Hairy Bikers TV show - mentions its English Civil War link, noting that it is "reputed to be the oldest pub in the town, drunk dry by Cromwell's Marston Moor troops".

Otley Pub Club President and local MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) said: "I am delighted the club has now published a second version of the Historic Otley Ale Trail, which remains unique in the UK as the only local guide that shows all the ‘lost’ pubs as well as the twenty that happily still serve the town.

"It is fantastic that not only has Otley hung onto to its many historic pubs but it has two new ones and has seen significant investment in several others, which is great for the local economy.

"Otley's pub history is fascinating and the aim is to get this very attractive guide further afield to attract more people to come and visit Otley and its inns."

The guide has been sponsored by: Otley Town Council, First Bus, Punch Taverns, Thwaites Brewery, Wetherpsoon, Enterprise Inns, Black Sheep Brewery, Market Town Taverns and Ilkley Brewery.

Framed copies for display in every pub, meanwhile, are being provided with support from Browns Gallery.