A HISTORIC Keighley pub is to undergo a major transformation – including a renaming.

The Lord Rodney will close early next month for a £300,000 refurbishment.

And the premises, believed to date back over 400 years, will reopen in late July – as Taylor's on the Green.

Keighley brewery Timothy Taylor, which owns the pub, says the new name will reflect the hostelry's position in the town – on Church Green, next to the Shared Church – and its close relationship with the world-famous brewery.

Originally called Ye Olde Red Lion, the pub was renamed the Lord Rodney in the late 1700s in honour of leading 18th-century British admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney – later Lord Rodney, Rear Admiral of Great Britain.

Paul Turner, Timothy Taylor's estate operations director, said: "We are really excited to be investing in this prominent outlet in the town centre and look forward to welcoming locals and visitors to the revamped Taylor’s on the Green.

"We believe it will be a significant contribution to the already improving leisure offer in the town. The good train links and presence of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway will make it easy for Taylor’s fans to visit."

The pub will shut on Monday, June 6, for refurbishment work to begin – and will reopen in time for Keighley's Yorkshire Day celebrations on August 1.

The revamp will include a new bar, toilets, branding and decoration.

Outside, the pub will be repainted, new signage installed and a heated seating area provided.

Keighley building firm RN Wooler is working with the brewery to deliver the scheme. Interior design is by Skipton-based Bowman Riley.

Mr Turner added: "Given the impracticalities of having a tap room at the brewery to host guests and customers, Taylor’s feels it is vital to have one of its pubs in Keighley even more closely aligned with the brewery. This alignment will enable visitors to Taylor’s on the Green to not only sample a wide range of our beers, but also to learn about the company's history and heritage – and all of this alongside an all-day food offer.

"We anticipate this being a welcome addition to the town’s leisure offer and as popular with the local population as it is with visitors. The outlet will be managed directly by Timothy Taylor’s."

The brewery has begun the process of recruiting a manager, ahead of other team members.