City centre gastro pub is sold off

A gastro pub in central Leeds dating back to 1802 has a new owner.

North Bar has confirmed the sale of The Cross Keys to an independent business – the Water Lane Pub Company.

The rapid growth of North Brewing Co had led directors John Gyngell and Christian Townsley to take the decision to focus on the brewery and the drinks sales part of their operation. All staff from The Cross Keys will be guaranteed jobs within the North Bar family of bars.

North Bar said it was confident The Cross Keys would continue to provide a social hub within Holbeck Urban Village.

The pub will now be headed by Richard Fiddaman, former operations manager for North Bar. The Water Lane Pub Company will operate a ‘pop up’ venture over Christmas, before refurbishing the site in the New Year.

A spokesman for North Bar said: “The Cross Keys will always be close to our hearts, and it is fantastic to know that it is being passed on to someone who has played a part in the North Bar story.

“The success and exponential growth of our wet led bars, and North Brewing Co, has meant that we are focusing on these areas of our business.

“The growth of North Brewing Co since it opened in 2015 has been phenomenal. The brewery has doubled capacity each year, with its beers currently being exported to 24 countries, alongside pouring in some of the leading craft beer bars in the UK.”

John Gyngell, co-founder of North Bar, said: “The Cross Keys was our second venue. We lovingly restored what was a derelict pub into a go-to food and drink destination.

“Our aim with The Cross Keys was to capture some of the tradition of the past while acting as a true part of the Holbeck Urban Village community, and we’d like to think that we’ve played a part in transforming this area of
Leeds.”