A historic Knaresborough pub dating back to the 17th century has reopened following a £250,000 refurbishment.

The Mother Shipton Inn, on Low Bridge, was originally constructed as a gatehouse in the 17th century before being converted into an inn during the 18th century.

It was named in honour of Ursula Sontheil, the legendary Yorkshire prophetess better known as Mother Shipton.

The community pub has now undergone a £250,000 refurbishment through a combined investment with its owner, Admiral Taverns.

placeholder image — The Mother Shipton Inn

Inside, fixtures and fittings have been upgraded to modernise the pub while retaining its traditional character.

The kitchen has also been updated to provide improved facilities for its food offering.

Outside, new lighting and signage have been installed, while the pub can provide outdoor seating for up to 100 customers.

The Mother Shipton Inn officially reopened on Thursday (Aug 27), with local manager Matt Chapman at the helm.

The Mother Shipton Inn dates back to the 17th century

Mr Chapman said: “I’m absolutely thrilled with how the refurbishment came along. Every detail has been carefully considered to ensure that the Mother Shipton Inn feels fresh and exciting, while still retaining the warmth and character that makes this place so special for the community.

“I have loved every minute of my time at the Mother Shipton Inn so far and I would like to thank everyone, from my family and friends, our customers and of course the team at Admiral Taverns, for all their ongoing support. I look forward to everything the future holds for this fantastic community pub!”

As part of the reopening, Mr Chapman was due to raise money for Knaresborough food bank on the opening night.

Going forward, he plans to establish the pub as a dog and family-friendly community hub, with a regular programme of entertainment.

This will include a quiz night every Thursday from 7pm and a weekly “Thirsty Fridays” promotion, where customers who buy two large glasses of wine will receive a third glass free.

The pub will serve a range of drinks including Guinness and Birra Moretti, alongside classic pub dishes made using locally sourced ingredients.

The menu will include traditional fish and chips, steak and ale pie and lasagne.

Ian Lester, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, added: “It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside Matt throughout this refurbishment journey. Watching his vision come to life has been incredibly rewarding.

“On behalf of myself and everyone at Admiral Taverns, I wish Matt and the entire team at the Mother Shipton Inn the best of luck in the future.”