THERE were Christmas cheers of a special kind when Great Habton celebrated the re-opening of its village pub.

"We've bucked the trend," said resident Paul Andrews raising a pint. "This is a triumph." For 11 months, the pub lay empty. The owner wanted to sell it as a private house. In the village, an action committee was formed to fight for what Great Habton saw as the heart of its community.

Pete and Debbie Nelson were pub regulars. They plan to take up that role again now the pub is up and running. Slipping onto his familiar bar stool, Pete said at the reopening: "This is brilliant. We are well pleased. Everyone has made such an effort."

Pete, who flew in from Dubai to lodge his objection to an application to de-licence the pub, added: "The pub is the heart of a

rural community. Take the pub away and you take away the heart of the community."

Last year, when the village heard the owner was trying to de-licence the Grapes, parish council chairman Keith Richardson called a village meeting to muster support to save the pub.

Over 80 people came to that meeting. As a result, an action committee was formed to spearhead fighting strategy. Parish councillor Richard Elvington was a member of the action committee. He said: "90pc of the village was against the de-licencing. This is the focal point of the village. This is where people come on a Saturday to catch up with what's been happening."

Mr Andrews played a key role in the fight. As a former Ryedale District Council solicitor, he knew the ropes. "The owner's agents said the pub was not profitable. We looked very carefully at its viability and persuaded the MP and local councillors that the agent's assessment was wrong," he said.

When the application by the owners came to Ryedale District Council planning committee, councillors said the Grapes had to be sold as a pub. Pub company Marpletime Leisure, from the Midlands, has now taken it over.

New landlords Patrick and Jenny Crawley have nearly 20 years experience in the licensing trade. They used to run the Bay Horse at Hammerton, and also the Carpenters Arms at Felixkirk. For a while they ran a seafood restaurant in Wigtownshire, Scotland.

"I am a big believer in fresh food and local

suppliers," said Patrick. Although the Grapes will be very much a village pub, Patrick and Jenny will want to bring in their experience as restauranteurs. "We'll have separate smokers and non-smokers restaurant rooms. The kitchen has been gutted and we've got a new bar but we've still got the tap room as well."

Mr Richardson said he was delighted the pub was reopening at last. He said: "I hope they are good people and will fit in well to village life. If they do, I see no reason why it shouldn't be a success." He added the pub had been missed.

As they welcomed their customers at the opening, Patrick and Jenny promised the Grapes would stay as a village pub. "We've taken a 21-year lease," said Patrick. "We are going to like being in Ryedale very much. Jenny was born in Pickering so we have come full circle."

Updated: 13:00 Thursday, December 20, 2001