A Guide Pubs and Inns in the Nidderdale area, North Yorkshire

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Nidderale Landscape & History (highly recommended)	Open Pubs - travelling up the Dale. Arguably the least well known of the major Yorkshire Dales running from the east side of the Pennines, Nidderdale is still very much a working dale, in contrast with Swaledale and Upper Wharfedale, where a large amount of villages are dominated by holiday homes. This intimate valley stretches for around twenty miles, from the edge of the spa town of Harrogate, up to the reservoirs of Scar House and Angram, and the windswept slopes of Great Whernside. Any inns / pubs on this page which I think are definitely worth a visit have their photographs to the left outlined in colour.
	Hampsthwaite - 'The Joiners Arms' (SE 259 586) Busy pub in this village at the very foot of the Dale and which now serves largely as a commuter and retirement village on the edge of Harrogate. Popular restaurant and separate tap bar. Operated by the same family since 1984. Open seven days per week. All days weekends. Tetley and Rudgate beers on draught. Tel. 01423 771673
	Birstwith - 'The Old Station Hotel' (SE 244 597) Now owned by the Punch Pub Company. Re-opened 14 November 2003 after a sympathetic renovation. The pub was called simply 'The Station' util its re-opening last year, and was built in the 1850's and originally called 'The Sebastapol' after the Crimean war siege of the same name in 1854. Name changed to The Station some time after the building of the Nidd Valley railway line in the 1870's. Very attractive beer garden to rear. Draught bitter is Tetleys, Black Sheep. Tel. 01423 770254
	Kettlesing - 'The Queens Head' (SE 223 567) Free House with an understated traditional interior - The Queen's changed hands in December 2003, and whilst maintaining its long established reputation for good food, now welcomes Real Ale lovers, with Harrogate brewed Daleside and Roosters beers appearing regularly, as well as Theakstons. Tel. 01423 770263
	Kettlesing - 'The Black Bull (SE 219 562) Ex Vaux Inns pub. Built in 1899 as a coaching Inn. Unremarkable but pleasant enough pub on the busy A59 Harrogate-Skipton road. New signage which was badly needed has greatly improved the external view. (Not shown in my old photograph) Bar meals and lots and lots of brassware! Draught Ales - currently Black Sheep, Tetley's and Theakstons. Tel. 01423 770233
	Burnt Yates - 'The New Inn' (SE 258 612) Free House - Changed hands privately again in 2006. Opened as a pub in 1810. Restaurant orientated and intimate and comfortable interior liberally decorated with antiques and curios. Tetley's bitter and local Rudgate beers. The sloping bar was reputedly made from an oak tree which stood outside the pub. Up to date (2007) photo provided by the current owner Timothy King Tel. 01423 771070
	Darley - 'The Wellington Inn' (SE 194 595) Enterprise Inns - On the main Pateley Bridge - Otley road, The Wellington was greatly extended in the late 1980's by previous owner Mr Robert Booth. Recently re-opened having been closed for two months. Open all day seven days per week. Tiled floors, real fires and an extensive food menu as well as and guest Real Ales. Darts board. Comfortable snug with traditional large solid fuel range. Tel. 01423 780362
	Dacre Banks- 'The Royal Oak' (SE 197 620) Free House. Locally owned and a pub since being built in the early eighteenth century. Cosy and authentic 'Olde Worlde' feel. Good atmosphere and very popular with a wide range of local people for eating and drinking. The only haunted pub in Nidderdale as well (as far I know). Accommodation available. Sells a good range of real ales. Small patio area, lovely beer garden, boules pitch and separate pool room as well. Tel. 01423 780200
	Summerbridge - 'The Flying Dutchman' (SE 202 624) Samuel Smiths House with typical restrained Sam Smith's interior. Tenants seem to change on a regular basis however. The current sign depicts the famous race horse which won the St. Ledger and Derby in 1849, though the pub was (reputedly) originally named after the famous sevententh century dutch phantom ship of the same name. Excellent value and well kept Sam Smith's bitter. Terraced beer garden to rear. Interestingly, the gents toilets have retained their original pre-war tiling and features. Tel. 01423 780321
	Low Laithe - 'The Olde Oake Inn' (SE 192 636) Mansfield Inns - The Olde Oak is a small mid-dale pub which has recently (mid 2008) changed hands. Tel. 01423 780247
	Wilsill - 'The Birch Tree Inn' (SE 177 645) Another acquistion by the Punch Pub Company (2000/1) and renovated shortly afterwards with the loss of the distinctive painted end wall name featured on the photograph. Bistro type interior and emphasis. Black Sheep bitter ? Tel. 01423 711131
	Fellbeck - 'The Half Moon Inn' (SE 200 662) Free House - locally popular though fairly isolated pub on the main Pateley Bridge - Ripon road. Food, Real Ales (Black Sheep) and caravan park. Recently redecorated largely bare stone interior with large separate function room. Tel. 01423 711560
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Harefield Hall Hotel' (SE 160 654) Harefield Hall is a medium sized country hotel with very attractive views over Nidderdlae and with public bar. Re-opening shortly (Sep 2008?) following a fire in 2006. Tel. 01423 711429
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Crown Hotel' (SE 158 656) Free House popular with tourists and locals alike, and the only true pub left in the High Street. Refurbished in 2007. Open all day seven days per week. Bar meals available in small restaurant. Darts and Pool as well. Black Sheep Ale. Tel. 01423 712455
	Pateley Bridge - 'Pateley Club' (SE 158 656) Members Social Club (visitors welcome). Originally built in 1692 as the Brewery Pub of Metcalfe's brewery (George & Dragon). By 1773 had become the George Inn and in the early 20th Century (?) became the Conservative Club until re-named around 1998, though I think it is still officially called the 'Pateley Bridge Conservative and Unionist Club'. Full size snooker table and darts board. Tetley's bitter. Tel. 01423 711219
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Royal Oak Inn' (SE 156 653) Ex. Mansfield Inns pub chain outlet - next to Auction Mart. Darts and real fire. Small terrace outside pub. Under the capable running of Robert and Judy Jackson since Aug 2003 who offer a friendly welcome. Meals served every day. Check out the original 1920's tiling in the entrance porch. Anybody who knows the historic Golden Ball pub in Cromwell Street, York will recognise this. Tel. 01423 711577
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Bridge Inn' (SE 148 663) Free House - Opened in April 2003 after the licence was transferred from the adjacent famous former Watermill Inn. Much smaller but light stone and wood interior and a friendly un-pretentious atmosphere. Stone patio garden. Bar meals and Black Sheep beers. Tel. 01423 711484
	Greenhow Hill - 'The Miners Arms' (SE 114 643). Free House - as of August 2008 closed (again) after being closed for nearly two years up to April 2008, the Miners re-opened in a much reduced form with only a small side bar open to the public. The Miners opened as a pub over 150 years ago and is situated in a former lead mining community. Like many other remote pubs though it has had mixed fortunes over recent years. I think this is the third highest Inn in North Yorkshire at 1250 feet above sea level (after Tan Hill and The Lion at Blakey). Tel. 01423 711227
	Wath - 'The Sportsmans Arms' (SE 147 678) Intimate small country hotel and restaurant at the bottom end of Gouthwaite reservoir and with comfortable and accessible public bar. Run by the Carter family since 1978. Theakstons and Black Sheep bitter. Tel. 01423 711306
	Ramsgill - 'The Yorke Arms Hotel' (SE 119 710) 18th Century built Self styled 'restaurant with rooms'. Nationally recognised privately owned olde worlde country hotel and restaurant with small public bar. An archetypal and upmarket small english country hotel in every sense. Deep pockets essential ! Tel. 01423 755243
	Lofthouse - 'The Crown Hotel' (SE 101 734) Free House. Welcoming and popular family run small hotel / Inn owned by owner and landlord Clive Newcombe since 1980. Offering rooms, traditional food and inviting public bar. Black Sheep and Daleside beer on draught. The Crown was granted a seven day license at Pateley Court on 2nd February 1949 after 50 years with a six day license. The landlord at that time was Tom Bradley, who had been landlord since 1907 but who was exempted from paying rent during both world wars. Tel. 01423 755206
	Middlesmoor - 'The Crown Hotel' (SE 092 742) Locally owned, genuine and somewhat idiosyncratically operated but very intimate Dales pub with spectacular views of the valley below (one of North Yorkshire's highest pubs at just under 1,000 feet above sea level) . Opened as a hotel in 1818 and since Autumn 2002 run very ably by the popular Malcolm and Caroline Whitaker, and their son John. A very good display of local photographs in the bar. Good fires, excellent bar meals and en-suite Bed & Breakfast available. Draught Black Sheep bitter available. Cask Marque approved Tel. 01423 755204
	The Washburn Valley The Washburn valley runs for about ten miles from the West of Harrogate and Nidderdale, down to the River Wharfe near Otley. It is now best known for its four reservoirs which, together with the land around them, offer numerous recreational activities for visitors. Several pubs lie within the slopes of the valley, with the Gate Inn having been closed in the early 1960's prior to the building of Thruscross reservoir and the abandonment of West End village.
	Thruscross - 'The Stone House Inn' (SE 160 587) Free House - The Stone House re-opened on 14 February 2005, after being closed since 28 July 2002, but from May 2007 has been under the capable ownership of John Mcewan (aka 'The World's Greatest Landlord') and has seen a welcome upturn in business as a result of the good food, ales and service on offer. The Stone House was originally a farm until in 1868 Jesse Peel (whose brother John ran the nearby Gate Inn) was granted a licence and ran the pub for forty five years. A bare-stone interiored and isolated pub on the edge of the moor 900 feet above sea level, The Stone House has open fires nearly all-year-round. Well worth a visit whatever the weather. Not open Sunday evenings. Tel. 01943 880325
	Blubberhouses - 'The Hopper Lane Hotel' (SE 178 553) Enterprise Inns. Roadside eating and drinking pub on the main A59 Harrogate-Skipton road with a traditional and warm interior with real fires. Stone floored bar, food and accommodation. Real Ales: Black Sheep, Timothy Taylors, Theakstons, Tetley's. Tel. 01943 880246
	Norwood -'The Sun Inn' (SE 206 538) Under new management since Jan 2008. One of the areas most well known pubs, drawing patrons particulary from West Yorkshire and situated on the Otley-Blubberhouses road. A large stone interior and traditionally well known for live music and food and enormous 5th November Bonfires ! Tel. 01943 880220
	Timble - 'The Timble Inn' (SE 180 529) NOTE: The legendary no-frills Timble Inn closed in the summer of 2004 after the passing-away of its owner. Due to re-open shortly (Sep 2008?) as a pub/restaurant following re-furbishment. Tel. 01943 880233
	Newall with Clifton - 'The Spite Inn' (SE 200 476) Lies just outside Otley, but inside North Yorkshire. A welcoming and nicely understated stone interiored pub which offers food and at last visit had a good range of Skipton's excellent Copper Dragon beers on sale. Tel. 01943 463063
	Some closed Pubs in Nidderdale (in rough chronological order)
	Pateley Bridge - 'Hunters Bar' (SE 158 656) A small but unpretentious wine-bar / bistro type place which opened in the Autumn of 2003 but which closed in 2006 pending its sale.
	Burnt Yates - 'The Bay Horse Inn' (SE 252 612) Free House - The Bay Horse closed at the end of August 2002 following which it lay semi-derelict for some time. Planning permission was passed in April 2005 to convert the Bay Horse for residential and community (day nursery) use and several houses have recently been built in the car park.
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Watermill Inn' (SE 148 663) Closed Feb 2003. Former Free House and before that a former flax mill (closed over thirty years ago) famed for the 36ft diameter working water wheel attached to the pub which is one of the largest water wheels in England. The license has been transferred to the new and adjacent 'Bridge Inn' which opened on 16 April 2003, with the Mill itself being converted into flats.
	Shaw Mills- 'The Nelson Inn' (SE 257 624) Closed app. 1994. Small cosy free house which served a hamlet just out of the lower Dale. Converted into housing.
	Darley - 'The Prospect Inn' (SE 206 593) Closed app. 1996 Former free house situated in the main part of the straggling village of Darley. Converted into housing.
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Talbot Hotel' (SE 158 656) Built in late 18th Century as the Star Inn. Closed as a pub in 1983. Last landlord Dennis Johnson but still open as a licensed Hotel.
	Low Laithe - 'The Dusty Miller' (SE 195 632) Closed early 1960's? Until recently was still open as a small restaurant, but that has now closed.
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Kings Arms' (SE 158 657) Closed 1968.
	Thruscross - 'The Gate Inn' (SE 155 581) Closed early 1960's prior to the creation of Thruscross Reservoir. Only the rear foundation wall now remains.(left in photo.) From a tree adjacent to the pub a sign used to hang: 'the gate hangs well and hinders none, refresh yourself and pay, and travel on.'
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Black Bull & The Bay Horse' (SE 157 655) Closed in early 1950's (?) and demolished to make way for High Street Car Park.
	Pateley Bridge - 'The Cross Keys' (SE 157 656) Built in the 18th Century as the Cricketers Arms, then renamed 'The Shoulder of Mutton'. Bought by Metcalfe's (brewers of Pateley). Closed in 1957. Photograph (with kind permission of Paul Skirrow) shows the pub probably around the turn of the century.
	Blubberhouses- 'The Frankland Arms' (SE 553 169) Closed after the Second World War, with demolition possibly when the road was widened in the 1960's to take out the bad bridge highlighted on the photograph. If anybody knows the app. year of closure, I'd be interested to know. This photograph was kindly sent to me by Anthony Hayes of Massachusetts, USA.
	High Birstwith- 'Meg Gate Inn' (SE 237 591) Closed after the Second World War (circa 1950?)
	Middlesmoor - 'The Kings Head' (SE 092 741) In 1906, The King's Head transferred its licence from the Ryder family, who had held it continuously since 1760, to Middlesmoor House and John Thomas Dolphin, who surrendered it, also in 1906. (This information via Mr William Glencorse of Kings Head House, Middlesmoor)