As an historic landmark in the centre of Otley there are many people who feel a strong connection to the historic Bowling Green pub.

But few can boast a closer link than that of Arthur Hardaker, of Burras Lane, who will help officially re-open the Bondgate inn tomorrow.

Mr Hardaker was actually born in what was then the Bowling Green Hotel back in the early 1930s, when it was run by his grandfather and namesake, Arthur Hardaker Senior.

Mr Hardaker, of Burras Lane, has fond memories of how the pub used to be and is looking forward to seeing it serve the town once again, this time as part of the J D Wetherspoon chain.

He said: “I’m looking forward to being part of the re-opening because I suppose you could say I’m part of the history of the place.

“I was born there when my grandad had the pub, which was for quite a few years up to the war, and it’s there on my birth certificate.”

Next Friday’s 9am re-opening will represent a day some in the town had started to fear they would never see, coming as it does more than three years after J D Wetherspoon first bought the pub – a Grade II listed building – which has been closed since 2006.

The pub chain says it has spent £1.2 million on redeveloping the property, and that the re-opening will create about 30 jobs.