THE NEW landlord of a historic Otley pub has been given a warm welcome.

Jason Smith - who also runs the Malt Shovel, in Menston - has taken over the management of the White Swan on Boroughgate. Keen to support charities, he is running a Christmas raffle for Marie Curie and also donating profit from all nuts and crisps sales to The Sick Children’s Trust.

Otley Pub Club’s Bob Brook said: “We are delighted to welcome Jason to the White Swan and look forward to working with him. It’s an early Christmas present that the White Swan and all the town’s pubs are open and we hope people will support our pubs and publicans over the festive season.”

Club President Greg Mulholland said: “It’s great to hear how Jason wants the White Swan to thrive as a successful local pub and also to see the way the White Swan is supporting important charities.”

Mr Smith added: “It was great to meet the club and tell them about our plans for the White Swan over the festive season and into the future. It’s a great pub and I’m delighted to be running it and looking forward to working with the pub club in supporting and celebrating Otley’s pub culture.”