THE future of an historic inn at the heart of a North York Moors tourist hotspot has been secured, six months after going into administration.

The owners of Yorkshire-based firm Wilfreda Luxury Coaches have bought White Horse Farm Inn at Rosedale Abbey, which had an asking price of £695,000.

The announcement in May that the hotel and pub which is said to have served residents and visitors to Rosedale since 1703 was to close came just four years overcoming competition from more than 600 rivals to be named Yorkshire’s favourite pub in a competition run by Welcome to Yorkshire.

The business, which is understood to have faced growing competition is the area, was previously taken over by a consortium in 2010.

Many residents in the area had been keen to see the inn, which features 11 bedrooms, a lounge bar with three further lounge areas and two restaurant areas with 46 covers on a large site with land and a paddock overlooking the dale relaunched.

A spokesman for administrators Begbies Traynor said the business had been operated under management for a number of years, without the direct involvement of the owners.

He said: “It is good to see this historic inn, which enjoys an idyllic location, continuing to serve locals and visitors to the area.”