Despite only being in their mid-20s business partners John Bannister and Iain Moyser have extensive experience in the pub and alcohol trade.

Now the entrepreneurial duo have joined forces to open their first pub and restaurant together.

John, 24, and Iain, 25, met while working at a pub in Leeds and last month teamed up to take over the former Railway pub in Huddersfield Road, Mirfield.

The duo took on the lease, shut the premises down for a week for a revamp and re-opened as the White Stag.

John said: “We opened on May 19 and it is going very well so far. We have run and managed pubs and bars for four or five years and we decided the time was right to take the plunge.

“We think it’s best to learn while you’re doing it rather than spend years trying to plan and work it out.”

John was previously a whisky salesman while Iain worked in some of the top London establishments including the Savoy, Belgraves and Boisdale.

“Our plan is to become a community hub pub with products sourced from local suppliers,” said John.

“Our starting point is to source everything from Yorkshire and gradually bring that down to Mirfield as we become known and we build relationships.”

Experienced chef Kevin Kindland has been recruited, meaning that John and Iain upped their ambitions for the restaurant.

“We were originally looking at serving burgers and steaks but Kevin has put together an amazing menu which we will grow and develop,” said John.

“Kevin has had rosettes before and we have the Michelin Guide coming. We are pushing for accolades for the kitchen.”

The first thing visitors see is a staggering array of 60 whiskies behind the bar.

“We are not really promoting those yet and we also serve cocktails,” said John. “In fact if you can think of them, we can make them.”

There has been some comment on social media about why the pub changed its name from the traditional Railway.

John said: “We wanted a fresh start. We came up with the concept for the White Stag before we found the premises.

“The Railway has been around for 120 years and it had a reputation, whether that was good or bad, and we wanted a break point.”

John and Iain now want to get involved with the local community and will also be displaying works from local artists.

The new owners have given the pub a fresh new look but plan more extensive changes over the next two years.

“We are looking forward to putting our stamp on the place,” said John.