CASTLE Hill Hotel could be rebuilt by Easter next year.

And the pledge from the owners was that it could look better than it did before.

There is very little left of the original pub at present because it was deemed unsafe and in an extremely poor condition 18 months ago.

As demolition men worked today only part of two walls were left standing.

The owners of the pub, the Thandi brothers, have been working with Almondbury architect Alasdair Ingram, English Heritage and the West Yorkshire Archaeological Service on the demolition of the old pub, because the whole hill is classified as a scheduled monument.

Mr Bill Topping, planning officer for Kirklees Council, said that because of the classification, an `archaeological watching brief' had to be devised which specifies the extent of the work required and the method of excavation used.

As yet nothing of archaeological value has been discovered.

Mr Ingram said: "The reason the pub was taken down was because it was dangerous after being shut down 18 months ago.

"It will be Easter next year before it looks like a pub again. When it is completed it will be a restaurant, pub and hotel," he said.

Mr Nick Thandi said: "We don't like the situation either, but we could not do anything about it.

"We are now working as quickly as we can to try and get the pub open for Easter."

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