refurbishment work at Otley’s Black Horse Hotel is to begin this year.

Barracks Inns, which has a long-term lease on the pub from Enterprise Inns, says the revamp will include external repairs, refurbishing and re-opening bedrooms, and modernising toilets and the kitchen.

The work will begin in January and is intended to be completed by March, when the pub will re-launch – without the Irish theme it has had for the last few months.

Barracks Inns director Tony Sambidge said: “Scaffolding will be going up on January 23 and all the damaged stonework will be replaced with new, matching stone and all of the outside will be cleaned.

“The letting rooms and function room will be refurbished, the toilets will be modernised and a brand new commercial kitchen will be installed.

“We’ve been talking to a lot of people in Otley about what the town needs and the answer that kept coming back was quality dining and quality accommodation, so that’s what we’re going for.

“The contractors should be finished by March 8, though we’ll be trading as normal throughout. We’ll be looking to re-launch in the second or third week of March.”

“We’re here to stay and are investing in the town, where the Black Horse should be the hub of the community.”

The company has also just taken over Otley’s Red Lion pub, in Kirkgate, on another long-term lease from owners Enterprise Inns.

Otley Pub Club chairman Peter Jackson said: “We shall have to wait and see how things develop. I do hope it all goes ahead as it will be very good for Otley.”