'It's been an adventure': Owners set to retire from legendary rugby league pub
‘We have enjoyed it but it's time for us to move on’
The owners of a much-loved rugby league pubs have announced they are set to retire.
Wheldale Hotel owners Paul and Donna Taylor are moving to Thailand, after 18-years of running Castleford Tigers’ fans favourite local pub.
The Wheldale is directly opposite Tigers' OneBore Stadium on Wheldon Road and the couple have hosted home and visiting fans from clubs across the country.
They will leave for Hua Hin in Thailand in November with happy memories of the many close friends they have made in the rugby league community.
The hotel has always remained open but the couple temporarily closed the pub side of the business in September 2025 as they started to slow down ahead of retirement.
The pub will re-open when new managers Blaine and Pauline Kellett take over running the Wheldale Hotel from the end of October.
Paul and Donna were tenants when they first moved to the Wheldale.
But within a year they had bought the building from a pub company and started the slow process of remodelling and revamping it.
Part of the upstairs was derelict and over the years the couple have transformed the Wheldale into a successful pub and ten-bedroom hotel.
Paul, who is from from Airedale, said they have spent £0.5m on work including rewiring, new windows and a new roof.
Paul, who previously ran a stationery and crafts stall on Castleford Market, said: "It's been an adventure. We have had some great times, some great match days.
"We have got loads of friends from clubs all over the country who follow rugby. Probably the best fans we have had here are Hull FC, they have been really good to us over the years. They spent loads of money at the bar but they were were really nice people as well, probably the best fans we have had."
"The people have been amazing. Without the people this place would be long gone. They supported us and made it happen. People have had their weddings, funerals for loved ones, parties for various coming of age events.
"There have been some great rugby nights as well, Cas winning the league for the first time in 2017 and selling a dozen bottles of champagne that night."
Donna said: "I will miss the people, I won't miss the work, the long hours. I will miss the social side of it. We have got some fantastic friends. We have met some lovely people over the years. We have enjoyed it but it's time for us to move on."
Paul said the couple have had numerous offers from people who wanted to buy the pub and turn it into various businesses from an Indian restaurant to a children's nursery.
He said: "We wanted to maintain its future as a pub. We ran out of energy because we are getting older but we intended it to re-open as a pub."
Paul, a Leeds United season ticket holder, will be missing out on Elland Road matchdays but on the plus side he and Donna will be living in Thailand.
He said: "It's a lovely country with lovely people. The cost of living is lower and you have got hot sun all year round."