Friendly Yorkshire Pub

I’ve never been in a pub anywhere in England, and I’ve been to a lot, where they didn’t welcome me and make me feel at home. I don’t think you can go wrong in too many places. In fact, the ones I enjoyed the best were the ones that I just came upon by happenstance; usually in some small village or town that’s off the beaten path.

Hi ca2 -

Here’s a few pubs in the area you are staying in that you might like to visit. In Grassington you have a bunch straight out of the door - The Devonshire Arms, The Foresters and The Black Horse to name a few. Downstream on the Wharfe is The Fountaine at Linton and further downstream at Burnsall is the Red Lion.

Going up the Dale (Wharfedale) there is the Tennants Arms at Kilnsey, the village of Kettlewell has several pubs, the side valley to Litton has The Queens Arms (I’m staying there over Easter) and further up still at Starbotton is the Fox and Hounds (excellent sandwiches - the ham sandwich and the fish finger butty are really good, and there’s more substantial grub on offer if that’s not enough, in addition to the fine ales. All the pubs on this list will do pub meals, some more upmarket than others). Further up the valley there’s The Buck Inn at Buckden and further still there’s the George at Hubberholme.

Sadly the White Lion at Cray has been closed for a long while and the place is still up for sale (just in case you fancied a wild career change). Further afield, if you watch the more recent version of ‘All Creatures Great And Small’, the interiors of ‘The Drovers’ are filmed at the wonderfully atmospheric Green Dragon Inn, situated at Hardraw, above Hawes, and to visit England’s highest pub, head for the moors above Keld to visit the Tan Hill Inn, notorious for its ‘enforced lock ins’ when snow makes escape back to civilisation impossible (they had their own half tracked vehicle last time I visited).

I’m sure there’s more that I’ve missed and as Mardee says, most rural pubs will be pleased to see you, but there’s food for thought above for the few days you plan to be in the Dales. It should go without saying that all opening times should be checked, especially with the more remote rural pubs - things change, disasters happen!

Hope you have a great trip!

Ian

P.S. Also - more good pubs in York than you can shake a stick at.

P.P.S. Almost forgot The Falcon in Arncliffe, Littondale, a pub seemingly stuck in a time warp, owned by the same family since 1874, they were still serving beer from a jug as opposed to hand pumps in the last couple of years - it’s been a while so they may still be doing so!

Wow! So many wonderful pubs and villages! We may have to add an extra day or two! Thank you so much for your advice.

What is your favorite pub in York?

Oh blimey! That’s a question and a half. Unfortunately, I’m not sure of the names of a couple. But, the Minster Inn on Marygate was good, I enjoyed The House of Trembling Madness - both branches, but I prefer the one on Stonegate, The Roman Bath at St.Sampson’s Square may not be open at the moment but might be when you visit - worth it for the views of the Roman bath house inside! I also went to a tiny pub, The Golden Ball, which is community run, at 2 Cromwell Road, Bishophill Senior (it’s behind the big Nunnery Lane car park and above Skeldergate which is next to the river, and it was a kind of throw back to the pubs once found on almost every street. So interesting in a historical context and not a recreation. Speaking of the river, while I’ve not been in for a long while, York’s most flooded pub, The Kings Arms on Kings Staith is a nice place to sit outside of an evening and watch the world (and his wife) go by, unless of course it’s under water again and best given a swerve.

There are dozens and dozens of pubs - searching ‘York’s Best Pubs and Bars’ brings you a list of excellent suggestions, but I would counsel to avoid the obvious city centre pubs on a) Friday and Saturday nights as the city attracts a lot of rowdy stag and hen ‘do’s’, which are fun to observe, but only from a distance and b) any time the horse racing meets are on at The Knavesmire, when the whole city centre is rammed with unusually well dressed drunks. I don’t know about you but I prefer a quiet pint where you can sit unmolested and enjoy a pint and a chat!

I’m sure your own investigations will turn up some gems that are not noted here and there’s probably some I’ve forgotten.

Cheers!

Ian

I second Mardee’s comment that you should expect to be welcomed in any pub you enter. Sure, on a rare occasion I have entered a pub and ordered a pint and was met with a grunt instead of a smile, but I took that as someone having a bad day is all.

What is your favorite pub in York?

Here’s a few I recommend in York:

The Blue Bell: One of the smallest pubs in the country. Great (small) interior.

The York Tap: this is THE greatest pub located in a train station ever!

Snickleway Inn: This pub sits in a 500 plus year old building and some say is the most haunted pub in England. Worth a trip for an ale and see the cool interior. For what it’s worth, I drank here twice and never saw a ghost.

Lastly, as you appear to be planning on hitting several pubs on your trip, I encourage you to download the newest version of CAMRA’s Good Beer/Pub guide. The details they provide are great and has proven most helpful to ale drinkers.