AN ICONIC 500-year-old pub in the UK's poshest town has suddenly shut - with the area's "cheap locals to blame". The historic 500-year-old Windmill Inn pub - a hotspot for well-heeled residents in Linton, North Yorks - shut down suddenly when its landlords called last orders this week.
![[The Windmill Inn, a stone pub in Linton, near Wetherby, with two people walking past.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/picture-affluent-linton-near-wetherby-965786498.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Locals in Leeds' richest enclave - where sprawling mansions sell for millions - were accused of failing to support the pub after its much-loved landlady moved on last year. They were said to have "turned their back" on the boozer when new managers took over, with one punter telling Sun Online: “They’ll splash cash on their swimming pools but won’t stump up for a pint.”.
![[Aerial view of a residential area with a large house featuring a pool and solar panels.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8e4d42f6-e75c-4ff7-a70f-201e825652b3.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
But the claim sparked uproar among well-off locals who said they were loyal until the last drop, and are now rallying to rescue their cherished watering hole. Jill Cooper, of Linton Residents Association, said: "The people that came in had never run a pub before. They had no experience. They put a manager in place to run the pub, but they weren't very hands-on.
![[Four hikers resting on a bench outside the Windmill Inn.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/susan-fear-john-fea-r-965786687.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"It was never [about] the price of the drinks. There were a number of changes of manager since last May which didn’t help but the locals all remained loyal, as it was still a great place to get together and socialise. "When they decided to put in a new chef and changed the menu, put up the prices and tried to go upmarket, in my opinion, that is when it started to go wrong.".
![[Aerial view of Linton, near Wetherby, showing houses and a closed pub.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/picture-affluent-linton-near-wetherby-965786274.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
