Marsden’s much-loved Riverhead Brewery Tap is celebrating a major milestone this year, marking 20 years since it became part of the Ossett Brewery family.
Jamie Lawson, founder of Ossett Brewery Pub Co, purchased the Riverhead Brewery Tap in 2006, beginning a new chapter in the story of a venue that had already established itself as a destination for great beer and brewing.
But the Riverhead story goes back further. Opening its doors in 1995, the Riverhead Brewery Tap began life as an independent microbrewery, nestled on the banks of the River Colne, within a converted former Co-operative Society grocery and corn dealer’s shop. Founded by Phillip Holdsworth, the pub quickly established itself as a cask ale haven, with its beers drawing inspiration from the surrounding Pennine landscape.
Over the last 20 years, Ossett Brewery Pub Co has invested significantly in a number of major refurbishments. Throughout this time, all interior design changes have been carried out internally by Jamie and his team, with construction work undertaken by Yorkshire bar fitters Sykes Joinery.
In 2007, the layout of the pub was changed, moving the bar to its current position away from the front windows and opening up full sight of its famed river views. Later, the upstairs kitchen was reintroduced, alongside a full refurbishment of the upstairs seating area.
Riverhead Brewery has continued to evolve alongside the pub, with the brewhouse moved from the cellar to the ground floor in 2024. Brewing takes place here several times a week, producing all of Riverhead’s renowned ales on site. The move formed part of a significant £500,000 investment, which more than doubled the overall footprint of the site through the acquisition of the former village bank building next door and the creation of an internal connection between the two buildings. This was all wrapped in a tasteful refurbishment of the original pub, carefully preserving its integrity and original features.
The brewery remains committed to brewing the classic beer styles that Riverhead Brewery Tap has become renowned for, using all-English ingredients. Its Heritage Collection celebrates the brewery’s long-standing connection to the surrounding Pennine landscape, with each beer in the collection named after a local reservoir and its strength linked to the height of the reservoir above sea level.
To mark this special milestone, Riverhead Brewery Tap will be throwing an anniversary party on Sunday (6th September), packed with beer, birthday specials from BaoBros23, and live music throughout the day.
The celebration will bring together locals, regular customers, beer lovers, and friends of the pub to raise a glass to two decades of Riverhead as part of the Ossett Brewery family, while celebrating the much longer history that came before it.
“Riverhead was already a very special place when we acquired it in 2006, with a fantastic brewing heritage and a loyal following,” said Lawson. “Twenty years later, those things remain at the heart of what makes the Riverhead so special and a unique hub of the community.
“It’s a pub with a real sense of identity and place, and the fact that it has continued brewing its own beers for more than 30 years is something we’re incredibly proud of. Riverhead has its own character, its own traditions, and a fantastic community around it, and we’re delighted to be celebrating this milestone with everyone who has been part of its journey.”
While the anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate Riverhead’s history, it is also a celebration of the people who have helped make the pub what it is today. As part of the celebrations, the team has invited locals and regular customers to contribute to a special Riverhead memory book, sharing their favourite stories and experiences from their time at the pub.
Jayne Haley, general manager of the Riverhead Brewery Tap, said: “Riverhead has been part of so many people’s lives over the years, and we wanted to give our customers the chance to be part of the anniversary celebrations in a really personal way.
“We’ve put together a memory book in the pub and are inviting people to add their favourite Riverhead memories, whether that’s a particular night out, a favourite beer, a special occasion or simply a story that makes them smile. It’s been lovely seeing people get involved, and we hope it will become a lasting record of the people and memories that have shaped the pub.”
