NEW life is to be breathed into a former Wetherspoon pub in a Bradford district town centre, it has been confirmed.

The Sir Norman Rae, on Market Square in Shipley, shut for good at the end of last month - with JD Wetherspoon saying it had sold the venue as part of a "commercial decision".

It has now been revealed that Mountain Pub Company, a Derbyshire-based firm, has acquired the prominent building along with two other ex-Wetherspoon venues - the White Hart in Todmorden and the Mockbeggar Hall in Wirral.  

Birmingham-based business WTS Property Consultants helped Mountain Pub Company in the sale of the three sites. 

Richard Tole, director at WTS Property Consultants, said: "I am pleased to have been able to help acquire these sites on behalf of Mountain Pub Company.

"They are an excellent addition to their growing estate and I'm excited to see the transformation of these pubs in the coming weeks and wish Helen Standing and the team at Mountain Pub Company all the best with the upcoming relaunches.

"Many thanks to Paul Breen and Jeff Wraith who acted on behalf of JD Wetherspoon."

The Mountain Pub Company is yet to provide the Telegraph & Argus with more information about the Shipley venue.

Its website states it operates six pubs, including the Engine Room in Bingley.

"Mountain pubs are at the heart of northern communities with local beers on tap and plenty of chat," its website adds.

"We bring the atmosphere, prices and warm welcome of a good old-fashioned pub while priding ourselves on always looking the part.

"At Mountain pubs we're just as game for a cosy afternoon watching the sports as we are for a night of quality entertainment.

"As long there's good company and the region's best beers on offer, that's us made."

Speaking before The Sir Norman Rae shut, Liam Singh, who was manager, said: "A lot of our customers are sad it's closing - it's the end of an era.

"A lot of people love coming here and the staff enjoy looking after them.

"It is a shame the pub is closing - it's been such a long-standing part of the Shipley community for so long."

He said at the time he did not know who had bought it - but he wished them well.

The Sir Norman Rae made several appearances in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide. 

The 2023 entry highlighted how it was a "popular feature of the town centre".