World Heritage pub struck twice by fire to re-open
A World Heritage Site village pub that was destroyed by not one, but two fires is set to re-open tomorrow after a £500,000 redevelopment.
The Boathouse in Saltaire, in Bradford, Yorkshire, was built by Victorian philanthropist and mill owner Sir Titus Salt in the mid 19th century as part of a special village for his workers. The village, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, was famously dry as Salt supported the Temperance Movement.
The Punch Taverns-owned pub had been closed prior to the fires in April 2008, and had been left derelict since.
A campaign by locals to restore it was launched. Punch received planning permission for the work in April.
New licensee Jas Bhatt, who also runs another bar in the village called Don't Tell Titus, said: "After the fires, the pub was literally a shell so it's an absolute delight to see the finished site - the changes are incredible.
"The interior and exterior have been completely refurbished in a traditional but contemporary style; there is a brand new central bar, an extension for the new kitchen and sliding doors to make the best of the view of the River Aire. I know Saltaire very well and am absolutely thrilled to be re-opening the Boathouse."
