ONE of Britain's fastest growing pub chains has applied to take over and refurbish one of Skipton's oldest landmarks.

JD Wetherspoon Plc has made an offer to totally transform The Devonshire Hotel on Newmarket Street and add it to its collection of 400 pubs throughout the country.

The Devonshire is a grade two star listed building, built between 1790 and 1813, and was known as the New Inn until 1821.

Richard Boyle, earl of Cork and Burlington is believed to have been the architect and his daughter married the Duke of Devonshire, hence the name change.

The pub, now owned by Hugh Deery, currently offers hotel accommodation, function rooms and a bar for its regular customers.

An application to upgrade the pub last year was refused by Craven District Council because of the building's historical importance.

This week a spokesman for Watford-based JD Wetherspoon said: "We have in principle offered to buy the pub. It is full steam ahead."

He added: "We are hoping to exchange very soon. If the deal goes through and we hope it does we would look to take over in September."

The spokesman said the company was trying to open between 90 and 100 pubs a year all over the UK, but there was no specific reason for wanting to open in Skipton.

"It is a good pub and we know we can convert it to the style we like to do."

Wetherspoon pubs are famous for their unique style. All the pubs are music free with the emphasis on conservation.

Each has a designated non-smoking area, and even in the smoking areas there are state-of-the-art ventilation systems.

There are facilities for those with disabilities including specially adapted toilets, wheelchair ramps and lifts.

Perhaps most importantly for those who drink there the prices are relatively cheap. The average prices include Budweiser at £1.49, Smirnoff Ice at £1.79 and house bitter at £1.24.

The application for The Devonshire Hotel, has now been lodged with Craven District Council's planning committee, and involves an overhaul of the present building.

Internally there are plans for oak panelling, new fireplaces and bookshelves. The plans show a new and repositioned bar, and the applicants propose knocking down some of the internal walls to create bigger rooms. The toilets would be moved to the first floor.

Externally there are plans for an outside ramp, for some of the bricked up windows to be unblocked and re-glazed, a new stairway at the rear and new ventilation equipment.

There is a separate application for new signage and external floodlighting.

The spokesman for Wetherspoons said the company did not usually make applications for pubs which were still trading but he assumed Mr Deery or his agent had circulated details that they had wanted to sell.

Wetherspoon pubs are usually located in former shops, banks, post offices and theatres, many of which have been standing derelict for several years.

Subject to planning permission being granted and a new license the company hopes to begin work on The Devonshire Hotel in October and re-open the premises in February 2001.

Craven District Council's planning officer Sian Watson said the building was of national importance and all the details would have to be looked at carefully.

English Heritage would also have to be consulted about the proposals.

Mr Deery, owner of The Devonshire, declined to comment on the situation at this time.

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