The Duke of York Inn at the Holes, Knottingley, which was first licensed in 1902, was refused a licence by the West Riding Compensation Authority at Wakefield last Wednesday.

The clerk to the Licensing Justices for the Osgoldcross Division, Mr. H.W. Payne said there was no issue between himself, the brewery or the licensee about the redundancy of ‘The Duke of York’.

Questioned by Mr. Payne, Police Sergeant A. Masters, said he visited the public house on 15 occasions during November and December 1967, and on nine of them there was no member of the public in the inn.

He said the facilities of the premises "left a lot to be desired", though the licensee and his wife Mr. and Mrs Leonard Alderson, kept the place clean.

The Manager of Bentley’s Yorkshire Breweries Ltd., Mr. G. Roberts, said he considered that Sergeant Master’s detailed report was "very fair and correct."

He acknowledged the condition of the inn was poor and added: "Quite frankly neither present nor potential trade warrants money being spent to renovate the premises."