The Bowling Green Otley: New Wetherspoons pub packed by 10am on reopening after £1.5m expansion

The Bowling Green in Otley first opened as a Wetherspoon pub in July 2010.

The pub, which has been closed for five months, has almost doubled in size following a huge expansion project.

Wetherspoon purchased the former Harry Travis agricultural store building to the rear of the pub, as well as utilising a small outdoor courtyard area at the side of the building.

The much anticipated reopening took place at 9am today and by 10am, every table was full and people were queuing at the bar.

The existing large beer garden remains following the expansion, while the bar area has been moved to the back of the pub with the kitchen area also extended.

Otley Town Mayor, Councillor Sylvia Thomson, reopened the pub with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.

A total of 40 new jobs have been created following the refurbishment and existing staff, who were deployed to other local Wetherspoon pubs during the closure for the work, will return to complete the full team of 65 staff members.

Speaking prior to the reopening, pub manager, Rebekah Black, said: “Wetherspoon has spent £1.5 million on the pub, providing further investment into the town, as well as new jobs for local people.

"The new-look extended pub will also prove a great asset to the business.

“Myself and my team are looking forward to welcoming customers back into The Bowling Green and we are confident that they will be impressed by the new extension to the building.”

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