A prominently positioned pub will re-open next week after a lengthy closure.

Positioned on top of Otley Chevin, The Royalty, which is a popular destination for both hillwalkers and those driving up to Surprise View, has been serving beer since at least 1915 but has been closed for two and a half years.

Now it is due to reopen next Friday, February 21.

Otley Pub Club became so worried for its future that last November it issued a public plea to the owners to sell it on so it could be run locally.

But now the Mornington Pub Company, a small national chain, has stepped in and given the property a major revamp.

New licensees are Steve Nolson and Bea Majors, and Mornington’s national operations manager, Paul Hirst, said: “Steve and Bea will be the new managers of the Royalty and it was important that they are local.”