Sadness as village pub shuts after 460 years

A historic West Yorkshire pub has closed its doors after trading for 460 years.

The Windmill Inn, in the village of Linton near Wetherby, shut indefinitely last Sunday after its tenants decided to end their involvement.

The pub opened in 1564 and features a hidden cellar reportedly used to store smuggled goods during the 18th Century.

The pub, which is owned by Heineken, may yet re-open if new tenants can be found, while people in the village have expressed an interest in taking it over as a community venture.

But for now its future remains uncertain.

Debbie Capitano, who had worked in the pub for 18 years, said The Windmill "means the world to me".

"It's at the heart of the community and the village won't be the same without it," she told BBC Radio Leeds.

"All the locals and people from the village hall have asked if they could have it as a community pub where they all put a bit of money in and everyone owns a piece of it?

"They don't want to see it shut. It is a lifeline to a lot of people. It's an absolute gem of a pub in an idyllic village where everyone knows each other.

"Everybody wants it to keep it going."

Punter Bill Powell, who has a regular for 50 years, said it was a "great shame" to see the pub closed down.

"People have got nowhere to drink in the village. For socialising and storytelling The Windmill is the place to be.

"That's where I meet my friends. That's what it means to me and it's a terrific pub that's been around for 500 years."

Star Pubs, part of Heineken UK, said: "The Windmill was leased to an independent operator to run as their own business.

"Regrettably they have closed the pub and decided to cease trading."

They continued: "We are working to get it reopened as quickly as possible and are delighted with the level of interest we have had already from experienced operators - it's a gorgeous pub in a lovely village."

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