Fanny's Ale and Cider House, Saltaire, reopens since start of pandemic

Fanny's Ale and Cider House, Saltaire Road, has welcomed back its first customers after it shut in March last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Landlord Simon Bradley, his brother Craig and the latter's partner Simone Crossland bought the venue in April this year and have since given it a makeover in keeping with its traditions.

Simon says the reopened bar has proved a hit with locals since it officially reopened to customers on Tuesday with 'significant investment' placed into its makeover.

A few images from inside the reopened Fanny's Ale and Cider House in Saltaire

The traditional ale house now has a longer, straighter bar to replace the 'crammed' former version as part of the refurbishment.

He said: "It has gone really well. It has had a good receptions from the locals, which is what we want really. We have had good comments left online too.

"It is a very well known pub. I'm really pleased to be open.

"We have done a refurbishment that is sympathetic to how the pub is. We still believe we have kept the character of the pub.

"Our intention was to retain it and not change it radically. It is dear to a lot of people in Saltaire. We have given it some love.

"We get a lot of locals coming in. On the reopening day quite a few people stuck with us for quite a long time on the night and many until last orders.

"We have five staff working for us and two of them that worked at the pub at the time it had to shut."

Simon says the pub will still maintain social distancing throughout the pub. But in line with the change in Government guidelines for hospitality venues, Fanny's now has bar rather than table service, which has proved a hit with returning customers.

He added: "Some people are still being cautious when they come. We have had people ring us and ask if it is safe to come. People are still worried about it.

Fanny's has also remained a dog friendly pub under its new ownership."

Ales on sale on tap at the bar include Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Theakston Old Peculier, Black Sheep and Creme Bearlee, a creme brulee flavoured stout from Beartown Brewery. They also have offerings from Settle Brewery and have increased their wine range.

Simon said: "We want to keep a core of local beers, but we want to have guest ales to keep it appealing for customers. We want to have slightly obscure beers that people are talking about."

Previous owner Marcus Lund originally bought the pub in the mid-1990s when it was a pet shop.

Initially, he had plans to transform it into a fish and chip shop called Fanny Haddocks – which is how it came to be called Fanny’s Ale and Cider House.

Fanny's is open Tuesday to Thursday 4pm to 11pm; Friday and Saturday noon to midnight and Sundays from noon to 11pm. The pub will be closed every Monday.