It seemed unlikely. I know times are hard in the licensed trade, and many have gone to the wall, but if a pub like the 'Shoes could fail, then seriously, no-one's safe.

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At this time of year it should be absolutely coining it in, as new waves of university freshers take part in the famous Otley Run pub crawl which takes students (and it is mostly students, though I don't suppose locals are barred) from Headingley into the city.

The Three Horseshoes is its second stop, and for a short while was closed, missing out on the many Otley Runners who traipse past daily, often in fancy dress.

But I'm glad to now learn that the closure was just a temporary one, and the "Under New Management" signs have been hoisted above the door.

The new management comes in the form of Mark Greenwood and Linda Turner. "It was closed for about five days," said Mark, who plans to keep doing all the things which have made the 'Shoes such a hit with the locals as well as the students.

Which means a great selection of real ales, with Tetley Bitter as the mainstay, backed up by three guests, currently Charles Wells Bombardier, Caledonian Deuchars and Wychwood Hobgoblin. And it means food, though quite who will be manning the kitchens has yet to be agreed – so don't pencil in Sunday lunch there just yet.

Mark's had spells at the Cardigan Arms in Kirkstall, the Regent in the city centre and the Parnaby Tavern in Hunslet, before moving up to Headingley two weeks ago.

His new pub has been popular for as long as I can remember. The Yorkshire Post Sports Club has had its base a short walk away in Glen Road since 1928, and though I'm not quite that old, many's the time a cricket or football game has been rounded off with a few pints in The Three Horseshoes.

It's a pub whose complexion changes during the course of a day – gentle haven for locals in daylight hours; noisy vibrant venue by night. When I called in on Tuesday afternoon it was just on the cusp between the two. The music wasn't so much middle-of-the-road as still on the safe pavement of barroom standards – Magic Moments, Moon River, Come Fly With Me. While pictures of local sporting legends, a framed Rhinos shirt and Leeds United memorabilia confirm this isn't just for Headingley's term-time visitors.

A high-tech juke box, a powerful sound system, and an advertisement for weekend "party nights" were evidence enough of an altogether less conservative side to its personality. My friend Kate will be soaking up that atmosphere tonight with her friends on their first Otley Run of the new term. Flappers and gangsters, apparently.

The Three Horseshoes isn't the only pub I've been in this week. I killed an afternoon hour watching Sky Sports in Maguires on Regent Street.

I spent most of my time admiring the Glasgow Celtic memorabilia on show in the taproom. Though brought up on the other side of the religious divide, I've always preferred the green half of Glasgow to the blue.

One of my wife's forbears actually played for the Parkhead club, and won a Scottish FA Cup winner's medal into the bargain, though I couldn't see his face in this impressive little shrine.

It made up for the beer, I have to say. An impressive row of Tetley Bitter handpumps have pride of place on the bar, but when I ordered a pint, I noticed my glass was being filled from the Tetley Smooth font.
"I'd prefer the real ale, please," I said, glancing towards the wickets. "Oh those, they're just for show," he told me.

More staff, please!