18 February 2025
‘The Counting House’ – one of Yorkshire’s oldest buildings – to be given new lease of life as it reopens as a pub and restaurant
One of Yorkshire’s oldest buildings is to be given a lease of life after being carefully refurbished by its owner and leased to an ‘experienced’ pub and restaurant operator.
The Counting House, in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, a half-timbered jettied medieval Grade 2 listed building which dates back to 1609, looks set to start welcoming customers once again next month, having sat empty for more than 12 years.
The property – for which stone from Pontefract Castle is believed to have been used in its construction – was originally a merchant’s ‘counting’ house before being later subdivided into residential dwellings.
It was then used as a pub for almost 30 years after current owner Guy Lister’s late father, Malcolm, an architect who was renowned for renovating old buildings and turning them into pubs and restaurants, bought and rescued it in the 1980s, winning awards for conservation.
However, it has sat empty since the last tenants closed their pub in 2012.
Mr Lister has recently invested heavily in restoration work including lime rendering, plastering and re-roofing to ensure the historic building now has a positive future ahead.
He placed the property on the market for sale or let with our commercial property specialists at Barry Crux & Company, who successfully marketed to the leisure and licensing sector and attracted the new operator.
‘A building full of charm, character and history’
“We’re really pleased to have completed the letting of the Counting House, and to have done so to an experienced pub and restaurant operator who we know have fantastic plans for its future,” said Andrew Spencer, Agency Director at Barry Crux & Company.
“The Counting House is a precious and much-loved listed building that has been restored to a really high standard by the freeholder, who has done so in line with the various restrictions in place, given its listed status.
“We had strong interest from a number of parties once we went to market, which demonstrates the value in re-investing into older properties which have great histories and character. They have such appeal to all.
“It is a building full of charm, character and history with Georgian windows and Victorian fireplaces, and now of course it has a positive future too.
“The new operators will of course be making their own announcements over their plans, but all being well the final bits of the fit-out, such as the kitchens, will be completed in the coming weeks and they’ll be opening the doors to the paying public in March.”
Building includes original features
The town centre property still has many of its original features including a ground floor of stonework with exposed beams. It has lounge bars on both the ground and first floors, with space for around 60 diners in the restaurant area. It also has a roof terrace.
Mr Spencer added: “This is great news for the people of Pontefract, and the surrounding area. It was very clear in the letting of this property that it was only to be let to be used as a high-class establishment.
“A big part of its history was being a pub so it is great that it is being put back to that use, and we know that it will be done in a sensitive manner. The Counting House is an important part of Pontefract’s history. It has been nice to play a small role in the next part of its story, and we wish the owner, and the new tenants, every success.”
