The Odddfellows Arms in Carlton facing closure

8:54am Saturday 17th November 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

The Odddfellows Arms in Carlton, near Selby, with its distinctive sign The Odddfellows Arms in Carlton, near Selby, with its distinctive sign

IT’S the village pub that boasted 3D vision long before its rivals – even if it was accidental.

But now, one of North Yorkshire’s oldest and “oddd-est” pubs is facing demolition, sparking concerns among local residents.

Punch Taverns wants to replace the The Odddfellows Arms, in Carlton, near Selby, with eight homes and car-parking spaces, but locals and neighbouring businesses are opposing the plans.

The pub hit the headlines in the 1980s when a sign-maker accidentally painted a third D into the name, turning the Oddfellows into the Odddfellows, and it has retained the mis-spelt name ever since.

The then owners Vaux Breweries tried to correct the error in 1994, but locals said they had become attached to the “oddd” sign and forced a U-turn.

Punch now say dwindling customer numbers have made the pub unviable, but some villagers want the eighteenth century coaching house saved and others fear the new plans will block an access route to local shops.

Sam Wade, 38, who moved to Carlton seven years ago, said: “I think it would be a loss to the community because there are people who have been going there for years and it does have its local regulars.

“It’s a tiny village and people keep themselves to themselves. “People are loyal to the village and wouldn’t want houses. Everybody looks after everybody. They are taking away a business to put accommodation and I don’t think it’s required in this village.”

Sue Shears, who owns the adjoining building, run as a hairdressing business, says there has been no consultation from Punch Taverns over the scheme and the new plans would build over three car parking spaces belonging to her.

She said: “The main problem we have is not the pub getting knocked down. If it’s not making a profit, there’s no point in keeping it. But there’s been no consultation about what’s going to happen.

“I think the plan is to build eight houses with 11 parking spaces, but we already own three.”

A spokesman for Punch Taverns said: “The hairdressers currently has the right to park in the public car park and that right will continue with any new development.”

Comments(22)

Theapplesarecoming says...
9:03am Sat 17 Nov 12

As the saying goes you either use it or loose it

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timtranslates says...
11:50am Sat 17 Nov 12

I see that adding extra letters is getting contagious (see the previous comment)!

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old_selebian says...
12:00pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Theapplesarecoming wrote:
As the saying goes you either use it or loose it
Exactly..

It wouldn't be shutting if folks used the pub.

I noticed a large bunch of folks pictured outside the pub in the selby times including the local councillor keen for a photo opportunity.

I wonder if the landlord has ever seen any of them inside his pub?

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Stevie D says...
12:02pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Theapplesarecoming wrote:
As the saying goes you either use it or loose it
Are you sure you don't mean 'looose it'?

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York1900 says...
1:00pm Sat 17 Nov 12

But there are a lot of pubs in the same boat
owners Vaux Breweries now that they can make any pub they own unviable by paying mangers high rates of pay putting rents up charging the high wholesale price to supply the stock all or some of these things will make a pub unviable

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Pedro says...
1:37pm Sat 17 Nov 12

They should have just added another D. The locals would have flocked around to see it.

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chas says...
2:07pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Until the smoking ban is amended many more pubs will close.

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eeoodares says...
8:33pm Sat 17 Nov 12

chas wrote:
Until the smoking ban is amended many more pubs will close.
Could not agree more, old style smoke rooms are acceptable.

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timtranslates says...
10:10pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Pubs were shutting long before the smoking ban. I and many others would stop going to the pub if smoking returned. Do you seriously want to go back to the days of going back from the pub coughing and with stinky clothes?

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PKH says...
10:23pm Sat 17 Nov 12

timtranslates wrote:
Pubs were shutting long before the smoking ban. I and many others would stop going to the pub if smoking returned. Do you seriously want to go back to the days of going back from the pub coughing and with stinky clothes?
Unfortunately smokers can't smell the stench on clothes, so they are oblivious to the discomfort they cause non smokers and don't want to try and understand the non smokers position

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piaggio1 says...
11:12pm Sat 17 Nov 12

. I and many others would stop going to the pub if smoking returned.

good,you know you,d be missed
live n let live.
Pubs were shutting long before the smoking ban??
erm no they wer,nt
thats it ban the workin mans pleasure.a pint n a fag

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chas says...
8:27am Sun 18 Nov 12

In 2008 the BBPA said 'The current closure rate is 33 per cent up on 2007. Pubs are now closing nine times faster than in 2006, and 18 times faster than in 2005. A total of 1,409 pubs closed during 2007. Pub numbers were down 216 in 2006 - four a week - following a fall of 102 in 2005 – two a week'.

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Jazzper says...
8:41am Sun 18 Nov 12

I for one have saved a fortune by not having to wash my clothes every time I went to my local. I'ts still thriving, in fact more popular than ever. You don't need a 'fag' to enjoy a good night out at the pub...just good beer and company, and a good landlord !

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Rowntree Baby says...
2:34pm Sun 18 Nov 12

I visited this pub after a walk through the village, and the guy behind the bar couldn't be bothered lifting his head from behind his newspaper - maybe that's why people don't go in, it's hardly a warm welcome !

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timtranslates says...
2:43pm Sun 18 Nov 12

If you need a fag to enjoy yourself you should go see the doctor and get treatment.

For what it's worth, I believe a smoking ban should never have been necessary: out of courtesy too others it should be common sense not to smoke in public places. Unfortunately most smokers don't seem to have this common sense. Smokers are also the worst litterers, chucking their fag ends wherever they like.

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NoNewsIsGoodNews says...
5:23pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Suppose while you lot are having a go at smokers, the cyclists of York feel safe.

But god help you if you light up on a bike.

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chas says...
5:25pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Perhaps all those who enjoy a drink or fast foods should see their doctors?

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dweezil says...
1:12am Mon 19 Nov 12

To have a local "pub", is a many varied wonder. A place of social connection. Smoking is a bone of contention, even after such a period of time. I, would suggest that, the world of owning and running a public house has changed SOO much in recent times as to render the smoking arguement irrelevant. Anybody visiting such places to purchase alchohol, will have noticed far more relevant changes. For example, the level of tax? If your LOCAL pub closes... it will, by and large, stay closed.

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timtranslates says...
12:14pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Chas, yes, if you NEED fast food or alcohol to enjoy yourself you should see the doctor, and many people do. So, should alcohol be banned too? No. Because, your drinking alcohol does not adversely affect the pleasure and health of others. However, if somebody proposed being allowed to poo on the pub floor then of course there would be outrage, because it would affect other people's health and pleasure. Now I know this scatological example seems ridiculous, but if somebody tried to introduce tobacco cigarettes today (they'd never existed before) and we knew everything that was in them there's no way any government would allow them, and it would seem just as ridiculous to allow such poisonous gasses to be floating in the air of pubs.

I'm convinced this debate will disappear eventually, when smoke-filled pubs will seem as ludicrous and old-fashioned as smoke-filled cinemas. In the meantime, we'll have a few fuddy-duddies wanting to plunge us back into the dark days of poison-filled pubs.

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Dr Brian says...
6:26pm Mon 19 Nov 12

timtranslates wrote:
I see that adding extra letters is getting contagious (see the previous comment)!
Very good well spotted LOL

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Mullarkian says...
8:00pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Why do people always add an extra 'o' to the word lose?

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chas says...
8:41pm Mon 19 Nov 12

timtranslates. Alcohol is classed as a more dangerous drug mainly because of the violence associated with it.

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