A MUCH-LOVED pub has reopened to the delight of its loyal punters.

The Great Northern, Thackley, welcomed locals through its doors last week after a near 12-month absence.

During that time, the pub has been rejuvenated by new operators Concept Taverns.

The company already had three successful drinking holes in its portfolio, before taking on The Great Northern in December 2018.

They are Parkside Tavern, in Leeds city centre, and The Malt Brewhouse and Granvilles Beer & Gin House, both based in Horsforth.

Concept Taverns’s Operations Director, Ben Warren, explained the businesses motivation in taking on this new project.

He said: “It had been on the decline for the past two years due to various things, namely losing key things.

“It lost Sky Sports and locals had just been a little bit disappointed by what they were getting from it.

“We bought it to take the opportunity to regenerate it.

“Locals wanted their pub back how they wanted it.

“So we started doing works in there after Christmas.

“We’ve stripped it all back to the brick. We’ve took it all out and started again.”

There was “soft opening” of the new-look pub on Thursday, September 26, to test the beer pumps and allow punters the chance to get a glimpse of the premises.

Then, a pillar of the local community returned in full glory on the Friday and across the weekend, with positive comments coming in their droves, according to Mr Warren.

He added: “I want to champion the community. It’s got a fantastic community and it really is the heart of it.

“People have been drinking and socialising in the Great Northern for years.

“It is them that have spurred us on.

“People had not seen each other for a year or two years.

“They’re really happy to have a really good, modern pub.

“From our point of view, when we build a pub, we want to build a pub in an busy area of pubs.

“Now we’ve done the Great Northern, we hope it increases footfall to other pubs in the area, which we have done in other areas.

“We want more options for a night out, so people don’t have to go further afield.”

This is far from the end for Concept Taverns and The Great Northern though.

Mr Warren said: “We’re in good spirits at the moment.

“We’re currently developing a property in Guiseley, which is due to open late this year or early next year.

“There’s the opportunity to add in as much offerings as possible, at The Great Northern.

“The cocktail menu will grow, the food menu will grow, in the next couple of weeks.

“We’ve got a micro brewery coming in the next few months.”

A 2.5BBL barrel will allow the pub to brew its own beers and there are also plans to develop the pub’s outside areas early next year, ready for the summer season.