Steeton Hall Hotel will close at the end of this month.

Owner Punch Taverns confirmed this week the Station Road premises would shut on the August 31 weekend.

The nine-bedroom hotel is being marketed for sale.

Last week, the Keighley News revealed the company was reviewing the future of the site, which has had a temporary person in charge since the sudden departure of the previous tenant in April.

Neil Pickles was asked by Punch Taverns to take over at the helm when the last tenant left.

“I have four pubs – two of which are with Punch, which is why they asked me to step in,” he said.

“But I run pubs, not hotels, and I’ve chosen to come out of Steeton Hall at the end of the month.”

Mr Pickles said he took on the eight staff at the premises when he moved in, and had now offered them all alternative jobs within his businesses.

He has the The Glen in Gilstead and Red Lion at Burley-in-Wharfedale with Punch, plus the Old White Bear in Cross Hills and The Acorn at Eldwick.

Mr Pickles added that during his time at Steeton Hall, he had honoured all wedding bookings.

Punch Taverns thanked him for keeping the hotel operating temporarily during the past four months, and said he had done “an excellent job”.

It added anyone who had booked weddings at the venue for future dates is being refunded.

The impending closure has also affected groups that use the hotel as a base.

Members of Keighley Rotary Club have met there regularly on Mondays for at least ten years.

President-elect Janet Pickles said: “Our treasurer was told the hotel would close at the end of August and we’d be homeless.

“It’s a real shame because Steeton Hall is an ideal place for us. Some of our members are getting older, and the hotel has flat access, a big car park, a large function room and the staff have been pleasant and helpful.

“I looked around to see what other venue options were open to our club, but it’s not easy to find somewhere to meet for a Monday lunchtime when we can have 25 to 40 people attending.

“At the moment, we appear to have found a temporary home at Nightingales pub and restaurant in Eastburn. We’re going to be meeting there from September 2.”

Mrs Pickles, who lives in Steeton, added: “We’ve had no communication from Punch Taverns, and as we’ve been a regular customer for so long, it’s a little disconcerting, to say the least.”

l What do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker-@keighleynews.co.uk or write to The Editor, Keighley News, 80-86 North Street, Keighley BD21 3AG. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.