The Dick Turpin pub, Woodthorpe, reopens after major revamp

The Dick Turpin has been virtually unchanged since it opened in Woodthorpe in 1965.

But that changed three weeks ago when the landlords Jo and Alan King locked the doors in Moorcroft Road so a £200,000 refurbishment could take place.

The Dick Turpin landlords Jo and Alan King (Image: Dylan Connell) This has included a fresh interior, swapping the lounge room and the main bar area around.

Jo told The Press this will perhaps be the biggest change for regulars.

Inside the new bar area at The Dick Turpin (Image: Dylan Connell) “We’ve still got customers coming in here since day dot,” she said.

Despite Jo’s nerves, regulars at the pub on its soft opening day on Wednesday (October 2) were pleased with the new look.

As well as the interior, the kitchen at the pub has been renovated.

New beer taps at The Dick Turpin (Image: Dylan Connell) Jo hopes to start serving food like pizzas and pies in the coming months.

Alan has been the lease holder at the pub, owned by Admiral Taverns, for the past 17 years and Jo has been landlady for the last 13.

During that time, Jo said, the pub has built up a steady stream of regular customers.

Customers enjoying the new look at The Dick Turpin in Woodthorpe (Image: Dylan Connell) “We have regulars old and young coming in. Everyone is respectful.

“It’s important to have that community in here.

“People keep coming back for that – it’s a lovely atmosphere.”

Customers enjoy a drink at the bar at the newly refurbished pub (Image: Dylan Connell) A pool table sits in the middle of the new bar area, with two dartboards to its side.

Playing on these are the pub’s pool and darts teams – as well as its regulars.

• Read next: The Dick Turpin in Woodthorpe is listed in Yorkshire's Real Heritage Pubs guide

On Sundays, the pub hosts its quiz – and Jo said they are looking to host a speed quiz through the week to coincide with that.

In addition, they hope to start hosting live bands and karaoke.

Outside The Dick Turpin, which has been standing in Woodthorpe since 1965 (Image: Dylan Connell) The Dick Turpin will hold its official reopening on Saturday.

There will be celebrations on the day to mark the pub’s new era.

Jo said this will include a live music performance from Pat McGarry, adding: “All the ladies love him.”

Darts at the newly refurbished pub (Image: Dylan Connell) The Press previously told how The Dick Turpin was added to the Yorkshire’s Real Heritage Pubs, a guide to classic pubs in the county, in 2014.

At the time, editor Dave Gamston said this followed archaeology students from the University of York wading through building records for all pubs built in York after the Second World War to find out which had undergone fewest changes.