Bar worker launches campaign to save Leeds United pub The Drysalters near Elland Road

Hayley Guy, born and bred on the Cottingley Estate, works at The Salters and has known the pub her whole life.

A planning application for the “demolition of public house and erection of drive-through coffee shop” has been submitted to Leeds City Council.

The applicants claim the pub had become “increasingly unprofitable” over the years, and that the previous owners, having been unable to revive its fortunes, sold the site for redevelopment.

Hayley, 36, received the sad news from the landlord that the owner was selling up on the day Leeds got promoted.

"It just seems insane to do it," Hayley, who also works as a beauty therapist, said.

"Leeds United have a massive fan base all over the world - the other week we had a fan from Norway in."

She remembers being taken into the pub as a child to celebrate Christmas, starting drinking there when she was 18, and even living in the flat above the pub when she worked there in the early noughties.

The Drysalters, a 1960s pub which was formerly run by pub chain Greene King, is also close to Cottingley Crematorium and is used daily by mourners for wakes.

The number of pubs in south Leeds has been gradually decreasing over the years, with the Woodman Inn also having been closed and turned into a drive-thru coffee shop in the last few years.

Hayley, who has been working shifts behind the bar after lockdown eased, has recently moved back on to the Cottingley Estate, and said she is not willing to let the pub go without a fight.

"When I started working there we were in the Premiership, now we are back there and it's amazing - there's so much history," she added.

A huge Leeds fan herself, she remembers fans throwing the scarves that Leeds put out on the seats for the Derby play-off last year over the bar in frustration.

"There's all those great memories for people - the ups and downs," Hayley added.

"It's been there all my lifetime and a lot of people on the estate's lifetime.

"Lots of couples come in. Every time you go in there's always someone you know.

"Recently one lady's husband died and we had a plaque put up for him in the pub.

"It's a family pub, it's got everything you need."

One objection submitted to Leeds City Council reads: "I have socialised in the pub after funerals I have attended at the local cemetery, it has been a place where I have remembered loved ones along with others in the local community.

"I cannot imagine for one minute a coffee shop offering any such bond with people in the community at any time in the future."

Hayley said the current landlord was unable to show live sport, which can attract punters, and admits the pub could do with a refresh.

Food is currently provided by The Curry Cardinal, an Indian food business which has a base in the pub.

"It would be so sad to see the pub go," Hayley added.

"If I just sit back and do nothing and watch it go, I will be devastated.

"But if I try to stop it happening and still fail, then at least I can say we have tried."

She has set up a Facebook group - Save the Salters - to rally support.

Her message on the group reads: "This is a support group to try and stop the upcoming demolition of one of the last remaining pubs in south Leeds.

"The Drysalters has been on Elland Road since the 1960s, it’s been one of the only home (and away fans) pubs in Leeds, and, now Leeds united are finally back in the top flight of the EFL, there’s plans to demolish it and make it into a drive through coffee shop, even though there is another famous coffee chain drive through, not even a mile up the road (that a pub was demolished for).

"We can’t let these big businesses take over, destroying small businesses!

"On the Cottingley Estate, we already have a local small cafe, by opening a drive through coffee shop, it will take business away from the local cafe, cause more unnecessary pollution and litter.

"Please help us to stop this happening."

Members of the public have until Monday, August 24 to register their comments about the application.

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