Major Revamp To Reopen West Yorkshire Village’s Only Pub After Six-Month Closure

A £270,000 refurbishment starts next week to reopen Old Snydale’s only pub after a six-month closure.

The investment in The Cross Keys is being carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and new publican Nichola Russell, with support from her partner, Anthony Noble, who is Ryhill-born-and-bred and a local farmer and funeral director.

The overhaul will transform the rundown pub into a top-notch, family- and dog-friendly local, boasting home-cooked food, a new room for sports and private dining, and a beautiful garden with its own outdoor bar.

The contractors will break ground at The Cross Keys on 1st September, and the pub is expected to reopen by late September, creating 12 new jobs. The pub will be family-operated; Nichola’s son and daughter will help out, and her mum, a highly experienced catering manager, will oversee the kitchen.

The extensive exterior works will fully renovate the historic* building, repainting it white and dark grey to bring out its architectural details and installing new signage, lighting and wheelchair access. The car park will be extended, and the large, overgrown rear garden – which has views over open fields – will be transformed into one of the nicest in the area, complete with an outdoor bar, a covered patio and smart new furniture. Pretty planting and festoon lighting will add to its charm.

The makeover will upgrade The Cross Keys throughout with traditional décor in keeping with its character, restoring features such as old wooden beams, the large central bar and timber floors. The design will use heritage colours and incorporate all-new soft furnishings, lighting, artwork and classic dark wood furniture. Two log burners, along with comfortable Chesterfield armchairs, will provide a cosy feel. To cater for all occasions, The Cross Keys will boast a public bar for drinks and socialising, a lounge and a dining area, plus a room with halo-lit darts that can also be used for private dining by larger groups of up to 16 people.

A kitchen refit will enable The Cross Keys to build a reputation for great-quality, freshly prepared food. The menu will focus on hearty pub favourites such as steak pie, fish and chips, and Sunday roasts, all made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Nichola and Anthony also want to put The Cross Keys on the map for its drinks. The selection will cover all the bases, from barista-quality coffee to cask ales, and the couple are refurbishing the cellar with state-of-the-art dispense equipment to ensure consistently perfect pints. Customers’ four-legged friends will also receive a warm welcome, with a doggy menu available to order from, along with complimentary treats and water bowls.

In addition to serving superb food and drink, Nichola and Anthony will host activities ranging from regular quizzes to live entertainment to bring the community together. The pub is already preparing to go big on Christmas, with a special menu offering all the trimmings over the festive season.

Nichola, who has run other pubs locally, including most recently The White Horse in Sharlston, says: “I was looking for a new opportunity, and it felt like the stars had aligned when I saw The Cross Keys was available with a massive revamp planned. It was empty when we viewed it, but it still had a warm, welcoming feel about it; we felt at home right away. It’s crying out for a refurbishment to bring out all its potential and get it back on its feet again. The Cross Keys has been much missed by the community. We want it to be a traditional pub where people can enjoy meeting up over drinks or a good homemade meal.”

Len Jackson, Star Pubs’ Investment Manager, adds: “We’re excited to be investing in such a beautiful old pub to help it thrive for the long term. Nichola and Anthony have the highest of standards and are rooted in the area, so they understand what residents want. Their plans are spot on. With a shortage of great food pubs in the vicinity and a lovely garden, The Cross Keys will be a destination for people from the wider area and a cracking local for those living nearby.”

*The Cross Keys is said to date back to at least the early 1800s, when it was known as Alsop’s House.