A retired rugby league star is the new owner of a Yorkshire Dales pub.
Andy Gascoigne and his wife Mandy have taken over The Farmers Arms at Muker.
Andy had a 20-year professional rugby league career during the 1980s and 90s, playing for clubs such as Leeds and Doncaster before finishing his career in York.
Andy is already the owner of microbrewery and pub, Haworth Steam Brewery, in Haworth, West Yorkshire.
Andy said: “My wife and I have wanted to buy a pub for some time now and we know Muker and The Farmers Arms very well.
“We already have a brewery and drinks business, so we are no strangers to the licensed trade.
“We’ve got some exciting plans for the pub and look forward to getting our teeth into it over the next few weeks and months.”
The Farmers Arms was sold off an asking price of £575,000 for the freehold.
David Cash, associate director at Christie & Co, which handled the sale, said: “We are currently seeing increased buyer demand for hospitality businesses by the coast or in the countryside, as many prospective buyers are looking for an alternative lifestyle, whilst capitalising on the recent staycation boom seen across the UK – the result of limits to international travel imposed by COVID-19.
“As a company we have brokered sales of more than 150 hospitality businesses nationwide since April 1 and we expect to agree on many more in the coming months.”
