The pub was bought from Enterprise Inns in September 2010 by Jonathan Shepherd and David Russell as an Investment property. Along with 14 other investors, the two of them have formed a company to take over the running of the pub on a long lease. Most of them were founder members of the Ilkley Beer Festival and live in or around the town. Planning permission was granted (March 2013) to renovate the grade II listed building and put right the wrongs of various pub co's to form a Yorkshire Dales style real ale pub with a small microbrewery at the back and to create a venue that the town will be proud of. The pub has been renamed the Flying Duck in a link to it's former name of the Mallard Inn. The brewery, which will predominantly serve the pub, is called Wharfedale Brewery and is housed in a barn to the rear of the Flying Duck.
