Keighley’s Historic Volunteers Pub Reopens Following Community Campaign

A historic pub in a West Yorkshire town, which had been at risk of permanent closure, has resumed operations after a successful campaign led to its designation as a community asset. The Volunteers pub, located in Keighley, was established by Timothy Taylor’s brewery in 1859. Historically, its back room served as a recruitment point for men enlisting in the Army. The establishment’s future became uncertain following its closure earlier this year. However, a campaign, backed by the Keighley Civic Society, resulted in its recognition as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). Graham Marshall, the new proprietor of the pub, commented: “I’m sure the people of Keighley are very, very pleased about it.” Mr. Marshall, who operates a small company specializing in pub ownership, stated: “The Civic Society helped a great deal by putting the ACV order on it.” He further explained: “This meant there was only us who was interested in buying it as a pub and keeping it as a pub. That’s not how it started – but they played a very important part.” Mr. Marshall noted the significance of reopening The Volunteers Arms specifically before Remembrance Sunday in November, given its name. He elaborated: “This was where everyone came to celebrate after visiting the service at the war memorial.” Sam Fisher and his partner Fiona Greenwood, both aged 59, have assumed the roles of landlord and landlady of The Volunteers. They have secured a five-year lease and will reside in the purpose-built living quarters situated above the premises. Mr. Fisher remarked: “I used to drink in here for a lot of years and it’s the one pub that me and my missus thought it would be a good little pub to run.” He added: “It’s big enough to make money and small enough to run between us. It’s just a pleasure to be in here.” According to Mr. Fisher, the pub’s reinstated open fire has proven very popular with patrons. He stated: “The open fire is a massive talking point for everybody who walks through the door.” Mr. Fisher continued: “The amount of people who’ve come in and said it’s such a cosy atmosphere – a lot of them saying it’s like you’ve got a country pub in the middle of town.” Mr. Marshall commented: “Sam and Fiona will be over-the-moon as it’s their business and their livelihood, and also it’s now their home.” He concluded: “It’s not really how it feels for me, but how it feels for the people I’ve done it for.” Chris Duffey, a 70-year-old retired industrial machinery salesman, mentioned that he has frequented The Volunteers intermittently for three decades. He recalled: “It was the first pub I ever came into with a milk machine at the end of the bar for the footballers.” Duffey added: “And it had the first ever microwave I’d ever seen in a pub which had a pop-up door, as opposed to a swing door, for doing the hot pies. “It’s fantastic it has reopened. It’s a little haven for friendship, cosiness, and relaxation.” Concurrently, Andy Blenkarn, 64, a former enamel sprayer for Trico in Keighley who took early retirement, stated: “I’ve been coming here for over 40 years, easily, but not always drinking. I used to be mates with the landlord’s son.” He described the pub: “It’s a ‘home from home’ for me, always has been.” Blenkarn concluded: “It’s great – fantastic – that it has reopened. It’s part of Keighley.”