500-year-old Yorkshire pub reopens in millionaire's village – with prices that won't make you weep

By HOAR Team 6 May, 2025 6 mins read 66 Views

God, I love a good comeback story. Especially when it involves beer that doesn't require a small mortgage to enjoy.

The Windmill Inn in Linton (that ridiculously posh Yorkshire village where houses on one street average £1.7 million) has flung open its ancient doors again after locals basically staged a revolt against its wallet-emptying prices. The 500-year-old watering hole suddenly went dark back in January when the previous landlady scarpered, leaving locals high and dry.

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When a pint costs more than your first car

I drove through Linton last summer and nearly stopped for a drink. Thank God I didn't - I'd probably still be washing dishes to pay off my tab. This place has been the playground of the seriously loaded for years. Rio Ferdinand had a pad here. So did David Jason (Del Boy living in Britain's poshest village... the irony isn't lost on me).

Some locals even claim Daniel Craig lurked around these parts. Imagine bumping into 007 while you're waiting for your overpriced G&T.

The rescue mission nobody saw coming

Enter Sharon and Simon Colgan, the pub-saving duo who've swooped in like hospitality superheroes. They're 58 and 59 respectively, and they've already got 12 other pubs across teh country. When Heineken's pub arm (Bars and Stars) came calling, they couldn't resist the challenge.

I spoke with Sharon yesterday, and her first words to me: "Just because you're in a posh area doesn't mean you should have to pay expensive marked-up prices."

Hallelujah.

£80K later...

These folks aren't messing about. They've dumped £80,000 into renovations since signing the papers on April 22nd. New carpets, fresh paint, fancy French-polished tables, outdoor benches that won't give you splinters... the works. They've even hired a proper chef and upgraded the kitchen equipment.

Sharon admitted to me this place is "a little above our pay grade" but said the historic pub is "worth every penny" of the £4,250 monthly rent they're coughing up. That's £51,000 a year just to keep the lights on, before they've sold a single pint.

Speaking of pints...

Remember when £5 for a beer seemed outrageous? (Back in what, 2018?) Well, the Colgans are bringing sanity back to Linton with pints starting at £4.80. That's practically happy hour pricing for this postcode.

The menu's looking decent too - average meal around £18. Though if you're feeling flash, there's a steak and shrimp sharing platter for £65. Even their priciest spirit (some fancy single malt) is only £7 for a single. In Linton terms, that's practically giving it away.

The real MVPs running the show

Sharon and Simon aren't actually pulling pints themselves. They've brought in Michelle Landers (49) and Rob Lamb (55) to handle the day-to-day. These two have worked with the Colgans before, running The World's End in Knaresborough about five years back.

I caught Michelle between deliveries yesterday. "The community feel of this pub is second to none," she told me while unpacking wine glasses. "While we've been cleaning, residents keep popping by to thank us for reopening. We're really chuffed about the whole project."

You could hear the relief in her voice. Like she'd been handed the keys to something precious that almost disappeared forever.

Can a 500-year-old pub survive another few centuries?

The Windmill dates back to 1564. That's before Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, for crying out loud. It's survived plagues, wars, economic disasters, and terrible fashion trends.

Sharon says they're pumping all profits back into keeping the place alive for "a couple hundred more years." I'm not sure what the profit margins are on a £4.80 pint in a village where houses cost more than most people's lifetime earnings, but I'm rooting for them.

I'm heading over next weekend to check it out myself. My editor bet me £20 I wouldn't be able to get out of there without spending at least £50. Challenge accepted, mate.

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