At one time it looked like it wasn't one of the chicest watering holes in Huddersfield.

But now the ugly duckling is being turned into a magnificent swan as a major step in the transformation of the King’s Head in St George’s Square takes place.

The false ceiling in the former rail station ticket office has finally been taken down after months of patient waiting by regulars.

And now they can’t wait for the rest of the work to begin which will see a huge side area brought into use, the serving of meals for the first time and a longed for rehabilitation of the toilets since the year Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979.

In addition the bar will be moved back a small amount and a pillar removed.

Solicitor-turned-landlord Bruce Travis, who has run the pub for the past 10 years, says he is delighted to see the ceiling come down and for regulars to get their first glimpse of the superb coving which adorns the ceiling.

It looks good and I am looking forward to the next phase,” he said. “We are past the halfway mark now and I’d hope to have it all finished sometime after Easter.”

Clr Cliff Preest, (Dalton), said: “It looks fantastic. To see these ceilings with their magnificent coving is wonderful. Bruce has done a great job.”

And Steve Mularkey, a regular from Mirfield, quipped: “We’ve always known Bruce could boast that he had the best beers and now he can say he has the best ceilings too!”

The work which is costing between £100,000 and £200,000 has been aided by modest grants from the Railway Heritage Trust.

Bruce said he had been able to afford the work by only taking a modest wage and keeping the money in the business.

The King's Head, formerly The Station Tavern, along with The Head of Steam are part of the frontage of Huddersfield Railway Station - a Grade I listed building.

The frontage was memorably described by the poet John Betjeman as the most splendid in England and by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as 'one of the best early railway stations in England'.

The two buildings were architecturally identical and working parts of the station.

The King's Head was originally a first class waiting room. It is only in more recent times that they have both become public houses.

Entrance to the King's Head is via a small back door so many visitors will be unaware that the pub boasts a magnificent frontage to the right hand side of the building.

Even regulars who have visited for many years are surprised to discover this.

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