Community-Run Pub Closes After Six Months
A village pub has closed just six months after it reopened under the ownership of a community group.
The Black Lion, located in Skelton-on-Ure near Ripon, was purchased by Skelton-on-Ure Pub and Hub Ltd, a community benefit society, in March 2024 for £240,000. The pub had been closed by its previous owners, Admiral Taverns, since 2019.
On Friday, the current tenants met with the society's committee and concluded that operating the pub "was no longer sustainable."
Committee member Jane Mosley commented on the challenges faced by the hospitality sector, stating:
"It's a very, very difficult time in the hospitality industry and everything is so expensive to buy in, and I just think it's one of those things that it just hasn't worked out this time."
Reopening and Renovations
The Black Lion reopened in November 2025 after more than 18 months of renovations carried out by community volunteers. The tenants at the time were Tadgh Barry and Mary Benson, a couple based in York.
Reflecting on their experience, the couple shared on Instagram:
"Over the past six months, we have poured absolutely everything we had into trying to build something special here, financially, physically, emotionally and creatively."
"Sadly, despite our very best efforts, the reality of the hospitality industry at the moment, particularly for independent rural pubs, has made it impossible for us to continue sustainably."
Prior to the full reopening, the pub initially operated as a café and small shop earlier in 2025 while renovation work was ongoing.
Future Plans for The Black Lion
The pub will serve last orders on Saturday for the foreseeable future. However, the committee is exploring alternative uses for the building to maintain its viability.
Jane Mosley explained the committee’s intentions:
"We might look at different models, we need to think outside of the box. What's the best model to make this work? It might not be tenants, it might be we'll put a manager in, we might do other things in the interim."
"We've got rooms upstairs so they could potentially be Airbnb, there's all sorts that we can do and that we will do to keep it going."
"Fear not we will be back, it's not all doom and gloom. The Black Lion will be roaring again soon."
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