RACHEL Whipp loves her place of work - named after a ‘celebrity’ cow.

“It is an oasis, it’s beautiful,” she said of characterful pub The Airedale Heifer, which is the Telegraph & Argus Pub of the Week.

Customers can enjoy food and drink - Holy Cow pie and Holy Cow beer - giving a nod to the famous beast, which lived on the East Riddlesden Hall estate and was said to have been 3.5 metres - more than 11 feet- long and weigh more than a ton. She became a much-visited animal celebrity until her slaughter following an injury in 1830.

A specially-commissioned galvanised-wire sculpture of the Airedale Heifer cow stands at the front of the Grade II listed building.

Holy Cow beer is among a number of ales brewed on site, at by Bridgehouse Brewery, located in the pub’s rear garden.

“There are not many pubs with a brewery at the bottom of the garden,” said Rachel.

Other ales brewed there include Bridgehouse Blonde, Tequila Blonde and Gin Blonde. “They are very popular in summer,” said Rachel. “Gin Blonde is lovely served with ice and a slice of lime.

“There’s a cherry chocolate dark beer and a guest beer too.”

She loves learning about the different beers. “I had no knowledge of beer before coming here - now I’m learning all the time.” There are plans for the brewery - which is run separately to the pub by manager James Kelly - to launch a Bridgehouse gin.

Bridgehouse took over the Sandbeds inn, which dates back to 1800, seven years ago and have carried out a complete refurbishment.

“It’s a wonderful pub, with lots of character and a big barn attached,” said Rachel, who, with husband Rick, was approached four years ago by Bridgehouse to manage the pub.

This year promotion saw her take on the role of operations manager for Bridgehouse Pub Company, which has several inns across the north-west.

Rick is head chef, heading a talented team cooking gastro-style pub food.

“We try to use our beers - Holy Cow pie has our beer in it, and the fish and chips are Bridgehouse Blonde beer-battered.”

The couple have both worked in all areas of their trade. “Rick trained from pot washer and worked his way up. I had worked in retail and then moved to hospitality,” said Rachel.

Like her husband, Rachel has experience in all aspects of the business. “That was important to me, I previously worked in a hotel, making sure I worked in every area - front of house, back of house, reception, wages. I progressed and took on the social media.”

She then worked as front of house manager at The Grouse in Oldfield before moving to The Airedale Heifer.

The business flourished - in 2019 it won the Regional Pub of the Year with Punch Pubs - who own the building - and also came runner-up in the pub company category at the Great British Pub Awards known as the industry’s ‘pub oscars.’

“We were so proud of ourselves,” said Rachel, “But then Covid struck.”

We carried running a takeaway service and holding quizzes online. We kept a presence on social media throughout lockdown so people knew what we were all about. We delivered to older customers and also held colouring competitions for children.”

Now the pub is up and running again, delighting regulars. “We have one group of about eight who come every teatime and always sit in the same place.

“We are a friendly pub with such a great team - people come in on their own and feel comfortable.”

During lockdown sheds were built in the garden. “There’s Cow Shed, and Tequila Shack, which has a fire pit in the middle. Younger people love coming up and trying our cocktails or gins. It is a pub for all ages.”

Regular sessions of ‘music in the garden’ are held. “We started it a few weeks ago and it has been really lovely.

“We try and do live music on a Friday evening, with an acoustic duo Last Minute, who are very popular at beer festivals. We are a foodie type pub so we did not want any rocking and raving,” laughs Rachel.

The pub also hosts the annual Airedale Heifer Beer Festival. “This is usually held for three days mid-June and is proving really popular. There’s live music and 60 to 70 different gins, beers and ciders. We have our own beers and those from other breweries too - they sponsor us.”

*The Airedale Heifer, Bradford Road, Sandbeds, Riddlesden, Keighley BD20 5LY; airedaleheifer.co.uk T: 01274 515870