Revamp for historic Leeds pub

The Old Peacock, opposite Leeds United’s Elland Road ground, has been taken over by the independent Ossett Brewery. A popular meeting place for Leeds fans, the pub has endured a difficult few years – and even closed for part of last summer.

Now, however, bosses at Ossett Brewery are implementing changes that they hope will go down a storm with regulars and new customers alike. The pub is being given a £300,000 refurbishment and is due to reopen on Friday, August 2 – the day before United’s first home match of the season.

Ossett Brewery operations manager Sarah Ellis, whose firm is leasing the Peacock from owner Greene King, said: “We want this to be very much a pub for everyone. In a sense it has two roles within the community. One is to be the default pub for Leeds United supporters on matchdays, which is a history we are very proud to be part of. Two is, outside of matchdays, to become a pub that welcomes all types of customers, from families to couples.”

The Peacock first opened in 1963, replacing an older pub of the same name dating back to the 1840s. It was run by the Leeds United Supporters’ Club from 2007 until June last year.