CAMPAIGNERS have been successful in their bid to save historic Otley pub the Cross Pipes from permanent closure.

Receivers handling the sale of the pub have accepted a bid to allow it to continue as a pub following a tense period of negotiations.

The receivers, Leonard Curtis Ltd, put the pub on the open market with a price guide of £240,000 and invited offers.

A local consortium submitted a bid for the asking price, backed by Otley Pub Club, who were fearful that other interested parties would buy the building and no longer run it as a pub.

But though the consortium had to substantially increase their offer, the receivers ultimately accepted their bid.

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, Bradford CAMRA and the Wharfedale and Aireborough Observer 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.”

Although the Cross Pipes is listed as an Asset of Community Value, the protections this offers were suspended because the business was in the hands of receivers.

Now the pub will be completely refurbished and there will be rooms added for overnight stays.

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 under-invested in whilst in pub company ownership. 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.

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.”

Otley Pub Club is a community organisation run completely by volunteers who want to maintain the reputation of Otley as a ‘famous pub town’, by promoting, supporting and preserving the town’s famous pubs and promoting Otley as a destination pub town.

The successful campaign has been applauded by the Campaign for Pubs, and the organisation’s Pub Protection Officer James Watson said: “We’re delighted that the historic Cross Pipes pub has been bought and saved. It would have been a travesty if this pub had been lost, despite there being an above value offer as a pub and the Campaign for Pubs is delighted to have supported Otley Pub Club’s campaign.

“This case does again show the need for a change to the law, so that no historic pub can be converted or demolished if there is a purchaser as a pub. This simple change to planning law would stop the asset stripping of pubs and would allow new owners, like the new owners of the Cross Pipes, to take on pubs and make a success of them. We wish the new owners of the Cross Pipes every success!”