Revamp for controversial Enterprise pub

A pub at the centre of a spat between MP Greg Mulholland and Enterprise Inns is to get a refurbishment.

The Black Horse Hotel in Otley, West Yorkshire, was taken over by Barrack Inns last year and was converted into an Irish bar called O'Malleys - a move described as "an act of desperation" by Mulholland.

Now the pub is slated for a major refurbishment by Barrack Inns - with the Irish theme being dropped.

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.

Barracks Inns director Tony Sambidge told a local newspaper: "Scaffolding will be going up on 23 January 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, in Kirkgate, also an Enterprise Inns pub.