The Silent Woman, Slaithwaite: Infamous crime-ridden Yorkshire pub could be turned into a nursery

A notorious pub known for anti-social behaviour could be set to reopen as a nursery.

The Silent Woman, in Slaithwaite, has a sordid history with crime. The pub first closed down after being plagued by antisocial behaviour, including fighting and allegations of drugs.

The police application form for the review of The Silent Woman’s licence, dating back to 2023, cited a number of incidents before it was shut down.

At a birthday party, a man and woman got into an argument, and the man threw a pint glass at the back of her head. There was also homophobic graffiti written in chalk on a wall, and an egg was also thrown at a neighbour of the pub.

The police were also called out to reports of fights multiple times, including stab threats. There were also reports of underage drinkers, drug dealing, drink-driving and drug consumption at the pub.

After its closure in December 2023, Kirklees Council approved its reopening under several strict conditions. Despite securing a licence, the pub struggled to re-establish itself as a viable business and permanently ceased trading as a public house by early 2025.

Now, a firm called Nabbs Lane Ltd has applied to transform the seedy pub into a children’s day nursery.

The proposal promises to turn the existing building into a “high-quality childcare facility” to “serve” Slaithwaite and the surrounding communities.

The ‘community loss report’ said the change would also “not result in the loss of all community facilities”.

The statement read: “The Silent Woman has historically served as a public house, providing a venue for social interaction and hospitality.

"While the contribution of public houses to community life is recognised, the proposal reflects changing local needs and seeks to ensure the continued beneficial use of the building.

“The proposal would not result in the loss of all community facilities within Slaithwaite.

"The village continues to be served by a range of alternative public houses, cafés, restaurants, community venues and meeting places that provide opportunities for social interaction and recreation.”

The new application is currently open for public consultation, with any comments to be submitted to Kirklees Council by August 11, 2026.