A KEIGHLEY pub which has been shut for four months and faced an uncertain future is set to re-open for business.

The Great Northern, in Halifax Road, Ingrow, is being re-opened by Keighley’s Bridgehouse Brewery on Wednesday, December 6, and will be hosting a launch party to celebrate its return on Saturday, December 9.

Andrew Lumb, sales co-ordinator at the Aireworth Road brewery, said he and his colleagues intended to bring back those qualities which made the pub such a vibrant venue in the past.

The brewery is taking on the pub as a licensee from the property’s owner. The name of the new landlord or landlady has still to be confirmed.

Mr Lumb said: “The Great Northern was a popular locals’ pub in the past and we want to keep it as such.

“With this in mind there will be four real ales on offer as well as bar snacks and we hope to provide a thriving community hub for sports teams, workers and clubs.”

He said the pub was being brought back into action after “a long period of uncertainty”.

Mr Lumb said: “Admiral Taverns, the owners, approached the team at Bridgehouse Brewery, searching for an answer to the pub’s struggling past.

“After long conversations and negotiations the decision to have the Great Northern re-open as a valuable community pub was taken.

“It was a very busy local pub in days gone by, so Bridgehouse are happy to be involved in putting this great pub back on the map.

“The cask ales it will offer will be from breweries nationwide.

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“Although the pub will be re-opening on December 6, the re-launch party will take place on Saturday, December 9. This will start at 11.30am and run until half past midnight.

“The party will include live music and a buffet. We are hoping that local people will get behind the pub and make it a great night.”

The Great Northern was built in the early 19th century, not long after the opening of the Keighley-Halifax turnpike.

It was sold to Bentleys Yorkshire Breweries in 1912 and is used as the setting for the Railway Tavern in author John Waddington-Feather’s Blake Hartley Mysteries.