THE region's newest pub officially opened in a town’s former police station today with a retired police inspector cutting the ribbon.

John Proud, who worked at the Northallerton high street station from 1995 to 2003, officially opened The Northallerton Inn on Monday.

It has been transformed into a family-friendly pub with 30 guest rooms after undergoing an extensive refurbishment.

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The Inn Collection Group bought the Grade II listed building in 2020 and since then it has undergone an 18-month-long programme of works.

The Northern Echo: Julie Gibson with staff outside The Northallerton Inn Picture: ALEXA FOXJulie Gibson with staff outside The Northallerton Inn Picture: ALEXA FOX

The building had been empty since 2017 when North Yorkshire Police services were moved to new Force headquarters at Alverton Court.

During its transformation into a pub, some original features of the police station such as the staircase handrails have been retained and a former ground floor custody suite has been transformed into guest accommodation.

The Northern Echo: Julie Gibson, manager of The Northallerton Inn Picture: ALEXA FOXJulie Gibson, manager of The Northallerton Inn Picture: ALEXA FOX

Julie Gibson, who runs the pub, said: “This opportunity came up and I was just like, ‘wow, I can’t wait’.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind but here we are and it is very exciting.

“I was really drawn to the Inn Collection group because of their ethos of ‘pubs with rooms’ rather than hotels, we see ourselves as a home from home with lovely service that engages the guests.”

Her parents used to run the Brancepeth Castle Inn at Meadowfield in County Durham and she began working for them when she was just 17.

She later worked in London for several years before returning to the pub industry in the mid-1990s, moving to Spain with her husband where they bought closed-down pubs and brought them back to life.

The Northern Echo: The dining area of The Northallerton Inn Picture: ALEXA FOXThe dining area of The Northallerton Inn Picture: ALEXA FOX

She said that the pub will offer customers something different to the existing high street offer, including being child friendly and dog friendly with a special ‘Sir Woofchester’ menu created for four-legged visitors.

The pub will serve food throughout the day, starting at 7.30am with full English breakfasts through to traditional home-made pub fayre from scampi and chips to steak and ale pie and a special Northallerton Inn angus burger.

There is also a children’s menu and Sunday roasts with options including beef, chicken breast, pork and vegetarian.

The Northern Echo: A guest room at The Northallerton Inn Picture: ALEXA FOXA guest room at The Northallerton Inn Picture: ALEXA FOX

Retired police inspector John Proud said it was ‘an honour’ to be asked to officially open the pub.

He said: “I came for a visit with the Rotary Club on Thursday and the improvements they have made to the building are just fantastic.

“To see the overall building in such fantastic order now is amazing.

“My office upstairs is now a bedroom and it is just great what they have done.”

John, who retired from the police force in 2004 said he would become a regular customer of The Northallerton Inn, adding: “I am very proud to have been invited to open it.”

The Northern Echo: Retired police inspector John Proud in front of a photograph of himself and his police team in the former station Picture: ALEXA FOXRetired police inspector John Proud in front of a photograph of himself and his police team in the former station Picture: ALEXA FOX

Another former member of police station staff, Deborah Jemson, also attended the opening on Monday lunchtime.

She worked at the police station as an operations support officer between 1994 and 2011 and said it ‘was quite strange’ to see a pub table by the window where her desk used to be.

She added: “I have very fond memories of my time working here.”

The Northern Echo: Deborah Jemson at the spot where her desk used to be and where the photo below was taken before her retirement Picture: ALEXA FOXDeborah Jemson at the spot where her desk used to be and where the photo below was taken before her retirement Picture: ALEXA FOX

The Northern Echo: Deborah Jemson (third from left) worked at the police station from 1994 to 2011 Deborah Jemson (third from left) worked at the police station from 1994 to 2011

Outside Northallerton, The Inn Collection Group’s North Yorkshire venues include The King’s Head Inn at Newton-under-Roseberry, The Black Swan at Helmsley, The Stables at Whitby and The Dean Court in York.

It also owns The St George in Harrogate, The Ripon Spa Hotel in Ripon and The Dower House in Knaresborough which are currently being refurbished.

The Northern Echo: The Northallerton Inn in the town's former police station Picture: ALEXA FOXThe Northallerton Inn in the town's former police station Picture: ALEXA FOX

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