A historic Harrogate pub which once had its own heli-pad and was the place to go in the early 1990s is looking for new landlords.

The roots of the Squinting Cat on Whinney Lane go back to the early 18th century when it was a blacksmith's shop between 1700 and 1740.

It then became a coaching inn where parts of the building were used to build and repair horse-drawn coaches.

Eventually, it dropped its original role and was renamed The Squinting Cat when it was sold in the 1930s as a popular country pub.

The roots of the Squinting Cat pub in Harrogate go back to the early 18th century when it was a blacksmith's shop between 1700 and 1740. (Picture contributed)

placeholder image — The roots of the Squinting Cat pub in Harrogate go back to the early 18th century when it was a blacksmith's shop between 1700 and 1740. (Picture contributed)

Local legend attributes the name to an eccentric woman who ran the establishment and peered out the windows at passersby.

Over the centuries it has gone through many phases, from the time it had its own helipad in the car park, to when it became a Wacky Warehouse to a major refurbishment in 2018.

Despite its location on on the outskirts of town, the Squinting Cat was for many years the place to go, in particular, in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Its owners, Greene King Pub Partners are now looking for a new operator and planning a substantial investment to modernise this this well known pub which boasts a strong food and drink offer.

In the meantime, the Squinting Cat remains open and listed as an active business opportunity through Greene King Pub Partners rather than facing closure.

Greene King are currently advertising for a new permanent operator/publican to take over the pub’s day-to-day running.