Mystery as village pub closes (From York Press)

Mystery as Red Lion Motel in Upper Poppleton closes

8:04am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Pints of View By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

A sign at The Red Lion pub off the A59, at Upper Poppleton, which has now closed without explanation

A VILLAGE pub near York has become one of the first this year to unexpectedly close its doors to customers.

Residents of Upper Poppleton say The Red Lion Motel on the A59 was closed without warning earlier this month, despite a recent change of ownership.

James Mackman, clerk of Upper and Nether Poppleton Parish Councils, said: “There’s a notice on the door which says that due to unforeseen circumstances it has had to close, or words to that affect.

“It doesn’t say anything about when it’s going to open again.”

The pub underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2008 after a fire tore through the kitchens and bedrooms.

So far the motel’s owners, Enterprise Inns, have been unable to say why the Red Lion is closed.

Meanwhile, another North Yorkshire pub has closed and will be redeveloped into a convenience store following a planning application from Sainsbury’s.

The planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council gave the green light, last week, for the supermarket giant to extend The Milepost pub in Leeds Road, and convert it to a small supermarket.

According to the planning application, the work would see the building of a one-storey extension and the installation of an ATM.

January has been a bad month for pubs in our region.

Last week The Press reported that a planning application had been submitted to City of York Council to demolish the Turf Tavern in Thanet Road, to make way for houses.

A design statement forming part of the application to the council, by architects Jenneson Associates Ltd, said the pub was “unsustainable as a commercial business”, adding: “The development has been designed to optimise the site’s potential and minimise negative aspects.”