19 February 2005

AN HISTORIC Dales inn which was almost lost to the local community has been re-opened as Nidderdale’s first no-smoking pub.

The Stone House Inn, Thruscross, near Pateley Bridge, has escaped redevelopment following a local campaign and re-opens this week (Saturday Feb 19) after almost three years standing shut in the remote reservoir village where it has been a local meeting place for hundreds of years.

Two families have left Leeds and joined forces to buy and run The Stone House Inn as a pub and fair-trade products tea shop with an initial investment of more than £200,000 and the creation of five rural jobs.

CHEERS:(R to L) John Verity; co-licensee, Edith Townson, whose descendants ran The Stone House Inn in the 19th century and Barber Titleys partner, Tim Mellors, whose advocacy helped to re-licence The Stone House Inn.

As The Stone House Inn had been closed since 2002, new licensees, Simon Ogden and Kristian Rawson, asked a licensing specialist from Harrogate solicitors Barber Titleys to help them reopen.

Simon Ogden, 30, says: “The inn had closed because a previous owner said it was no longer viable and planned to turn it into houses. We have researched visitor numbers, had fantastic support from local people and addressed Thruscross Parish Meeting to establish that there is sufficient demand to make reopening a success.

“We have decided to become a no-smoking pub for the health of our guests and ourselves. We did not want to leave Leeds for the clean air of Nidderdale to die from smoke-related illnesses. In spite of local support, re-opening was not a forgone conclusion but Barber Titleys gave us comprehensive advice and advocacy which proved pivotal to our re-opening.”

Barber Titleys partner Tim Mellors, who handled the advocacy before Harrogate licensing magistrates, says: “In the 60 years'
experience of our current licensing team, which includes working for national breweries and scores of public houses, this case is highly unusual. Generally, when rural pubs shut, they stay shut.

We are delighted to have helped to preserve The Stone House Inn for the community.”

The Stone House Inn has existed as a public House for at least 300 years and is thought to have been an old coaching house before that.A Joe Topham is known to have sold home-brewed ginger beer there at 2d a pint in the early 19th century and later applied for a beer licence. In 1869 a Jesse Peel took over, installed a brewing plant and also sold beer wholesale on a dray. One of his descendants, Edith Townson, who is 90 this year, still lives nearby.

Thruscross Parish Meeting chairman, retired local farmer, John Verity, says: “There have been enough difficulties in the countryside with local amenities disappearing. The Stone House Inn has been a local meeting place for hundreds of years and people wanted it to remain open. We are delighted that this is the case.”

More than 100 local people wrote to Harrogate Council opposing the housing plan which was eventually rejected. One resident who wrote, Lesley Emin, says: “The Stone House Inn is the only local public meeting place. It is wonderful that it is getting a new lease of life.”
 

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Press contact: Mike Clarke, Mike Clarke Communications. Tel (01423) 568847.