The small market town of Bedale, situated between the rivers Swale and Ure, offers nothing special in the way of hostelries,
but is surrounded by pastoral countryside and quiet villages where the pace of life is more
relaxed than farther south. For those who are conscious of the difference, this is definitely the old North Riding of
Yorkshire as opposed the old West Riding
on the other side of the river Ure, with the traditional red pantiled roofs and magnesian limestone walls being a conspicuous feature of many of the older buildings in the area.
There are some friendly and relaxing pubs worth visiting, though again several have closed in recent years as this is an area which, though attractive in its own right, most people pass through on their way to the Dales proper.
At one time, Bedale had about twice
the number of pubs it has now. If anybody has photographs or postcards of any which have closed then please send me a scan.
Any inns / pubs on this page which I think are definitely worth a visit have their photographs to the left outlined in colour.
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Exelby - 'The Green Dragon' (SE 267 882)
Free House. 18th Century Coaching Inn with very dark (somewhat dim) and modernised interior.
Black Sheep bitter
Tel. 01677 422233
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Burneston - 'The Woodman Inn' (SE 308 851)
Now owned by the Jennings / WOlverhampton & Dudley pub empire who bought in the summer of 2005. I have no other information.
Tel. 01677 422066
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Carthorpe - 'The Fox & Hounds' (SE 308 838)
Free House - food orientated with nice interior and small bar and restaurant area.
Black Sheep Ale.
Tel. 01845 567433
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Kirklington - 'The Black Horse' (SE 319 814)
Free House - sold in September 2002 after valiant efforts by the owners to keep the pub going by doubling up as the village post office, shop, and offering a range of activities and information in an effort to remain viable as the only retail business in this small village. Now owned by an pleasant American couple. Hambleton Ales. Very much a 'front room' atmosphere, but ok for that. Evening meals available.
Tel. 01845 567284
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Snape - 'The Castle Arms Inn' (SE 268 843)
Another recent Jennings / W & D purchase - an eighteenth century pub and the only survivor of Snape's three pubs. Snape, with it's castle, is famous for being the residency of Catherine Parr prior to her marriage as Henry VIII's sixth, and last, wife in 1543. Pub orientated towards eating but nice flagged bar and decent Real Ale. (Hambleton being the best)
A very pleasant place to sit outside on a sunny day.
Used to have Well kept Hambleton Ales on draught but this may have changed now.
Tel. 01677 470270
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Finghall- 'The Friars Head' (SE 189 906)
Free House - The Friars Head was created in the 1970's with the development of Akebar caravan park. Situated in a stone building, the pub caters for locals and for caravanners and patrons of the golf course to the rear of the pub, but has a traditional and welcoming interior, as well as a superb vinery / conservatory which is packed full of vines and tropical plants and doubles as an unusual dining room .
Black Sheep the main Real Ale at last visit. Worth a visit.
Tel. 01677 450201
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Hunton- 'The Countryman's Inn (SE 190 926)
Free House - extensively refurnished and re-opened in September 2001, after being closed for a year. Caters for 'foodies' and darts players alike. Welcoming atmosphere. Food and Real Ales.
Recently threatend with closure, although reputedly Camerons brewery may be buying the pub.
Tel. 01677 450554
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Patrick Brompton- 'The Green Tree' (SE 219 907)
Free House??? Theakstons beers - small but attractive and friendly pub right next to the church. Bar meals served and small restaurant available.
Tel. 01677 450262
Black Sheep bitter
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Crakehall- 'The Bay Horse Inn (SE 244 900)
Free House with attractive views over the large village green.
Tel. 01677 422548
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Hackforth- 'The Greyhound Inn (SE 243 931)
Free House - recently (April 2002) sold to new private owners. Restaurant orientated. Never been in here.
Tel. 01748 811415
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Kirkby Fleetham- 'The Black Horse Inn' (SE 284 945)
Free House - nice enough refurbished village pub with restaurant and bar. Stocks several Real Ales - at last visit including Hambleton Ales & Deuchars IPA.
Tel. 01609 748008
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Bedale - 'The Three Coopers' (SE 267 882)
Theakstons pub - Until c. 1997 'The Oddfellows Arms' - A former un-reconstructed comfortable side street pub which used to be popular with the racing fraternity, the old bookmakers being next door. Subject to a renovation in c. 1997 which turned it into a 'spit and sawdust' type themed town pub on the back of Theakston's heavy 'heritage' based advertising campaign of the late 90's. Does sell several real ales though and still has the best exterior of all the pubs in Bedale.
Tel: 01677 422153
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Bedale - 'The Black Swan' (SE 267 882)
Old coaching inn which remains a pleasant market place pub - popular with young and old alike. Recently refurbished (2007
). Was closed for several years in the 1960's. Has adopted the fashionable habit of adding the prefix 'Old' to its name.
Tel. 01677 422973
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Bedale - 'The White Bear' (SE 267 882)
Camerons - fairly basic typical 'market town' type drinking pub. Pool and Darts.
Tel. 01677 422518
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Bedale - 'The Kings Head' (SE 267 882)
John Smiths - noisy pub popular with the younger crowd. Notable only for the oak panels which were originally from the nearby 'Firby (or Christ's) Cottage Hospital', built by John Clapham, one of the six clerks in Chancery in 1608.
Tel. 01677 422763
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Bedale - 'The Wagon & Horses' (SE 267 882)
Tied House - was until recently (2004) the only remaining Free House in Bedale, but has now been sold off to a pub chain.
Originally a 17th Century Coaching Inn and now a nice enough market town drinking pub with bed & breakfast available. Small beer garden to rear.
Tel. 01677 422747
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Bedale - 'The Green Dragon' (SE 267 882)
Camerons - refurbished several times over the years - but still friendly and popular with young and old alike. Bed & Breakfast available.
The pub was much frequented by the Canadian Air Force during the last war, and there are a handful of interesting photographs from this time on the walls.
Tel. 01677 425246
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Some Closed Pubs - (West & East of Bedale)
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Great Langton- 'The Wishing Well' (SE 964 294)
Free House which closed in the Spring of 2004 and which was owned and run by Robert and Elizabeth Boynton for many years. Until the 1970's 'The Langton Hotel'. My notes for the Wishing Well read:
'Friendly local and very much a lived in 'Free House' reminiscent of most village pubs of 20-30 years ago, but possibly another quiet free house in danger of closure.' Sadly my prediction has proved to be true and the pub closed in early 2004.
Note: A recent (July 2007) planning application for change of use into residential use has been turned down.
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Hunton- 'The New Inn (SE 186 923)
Closed early 2002. Re-developed into residential accommodation.
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Newton-le-Willows- 'The Wheatsheaf'(SE 214 896)
Closed mid-2001
Closed after having being bought by a private buyer who ran the pub for a short time before seeking planning permission to convert into housing. At one time noted for live music.
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Pickhill - 'The Fox and Hounds' (SE 346 834)
Closed around 1998.
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Sinderby- 'The Bedale Hunt' (SE 315 854)
Demolished in 1998.
The Bedale Hunt, named after the local Hunt, was demolished as part of the preparations for widening the A1 - which has yet to happen.
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Sinderby- 'The Brewers Arms' (SE 345 819)
Closed around 1995.
A cosy pub in this tiny village just off the A1.
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Aiskew- 'The Greyhound Inn' (SE 269 884)
Closed in 1960.
Situated on Aiskew bank opposite (the now closed) Bedale police station.
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Bedale- 'The Royal Oak Hotel' (SE 267 882)
Closed in the very early 1960's. Last landlady was Mrs Sutton.
This 1904 postcard shows the Royal Oak in North End next to the market cross.
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