Lively sports bars, scenic country inns and even a Kirkstall Brewery pub. You’ll find all this and more on this brand new ale trail!
Nothing beats a pub trip. Especially when it’s a charming Yorkshire pub, serving crisp, tasty pints in gorgeous surroundings. If that sounds good, you’ll love the brand new Skipton Real Ale Trail – an 18-stop trail showcasing the many jewels of Skipton’s drinking scene. There’s no need to do them all at once, you can break the trail down into parts, and even make a weekend of it. Cheers!
The Castle Inn
Credit: The Castle
A former 1800s coaching inn, The Castle is a traditional-style pub at the top of town. Step inside and you’ll find a cosy, beamed interior and a ceiling covered in beer mats, while outside boasts one of the biggest beer gardens in Skipton. It’s the only pub in the area to always keep Theakston’s Old Peculiar on tap, alongside a host of locally-brewed real ales, ciders, lagers and speciality beers. Also, some say they serve the best Guinness in the town!
The Castle Inn, 2 Mill Bridge, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1NJ.
Black Horse
Credit: Black Horse
Amble around the corner onto the high street for pub two – the Grade II-listed Black Horse. With Sky and TNT, it’s a great choice for live sports, and there’s a pool table should you fancy a game. If the weather allows, nip out to the canal-side patio to enjoy the views with a pint of Ilkley Blonde in hand. It’s also dog-friendly, making it a great choice for a few scoops post-pootle.
Black Horse, 16-18 High Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1JZ.
Red Lion
Across the road you’ll find the Red Lion, not only the oldest pub in Skipton, but also said to be the most haunted. A Greene King venue, it serves up to eight real ales at a time, including several from local microbreweries and classics like Landlord by Timothy Taylor’s. Pull up a pew and watch the big game, or head outside to their beer garden and soak up the rays – both fine options.
Red Lion, 27 High Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DT.
The Albion Inn
Take a left onto Otley Street for your next stop – The Albion Inn. This small, stone-built tavern prides itself on offering a warm Yorkshire welcome to locals and visitors alike. There’s plenty on the taps, from Theakston Best Bitter to Wolfpack’s Sesh IPA. Visit on a Thursday night to test yourself at their popular quiz night, while Fridays promise music from live bands and karaoke.
The Albion Inn, 27 Otley Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1EL.
The Devonshire Inn
Over on Newmarket Street, The Devonshire Inn is a Wetherspoon pub that’s steeped in history. A former coaching inn, the 17th century building also housed soldiers during the wars. Today, their focus is on serving pocket-friendly food and drink, with a commitment to real ale. You’ll find rotating guest ales on the pumps, alongside the likes of Sharp’s Doom Bar and Greene King’s Abbot Ale.
The Devonshire Inn, 22 Newmarket Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 2HR.
Devonshire Vaults
Nip nextdoor and you’ll find Devonshire Vaults, a sports bar-cum-cafe that’s open all-day, everyday. If there’s a game on, they’ll show it, or you can catch live sport on a weekend. Cask beers change regularly, but expect serves from Yorkshire legends like Elland, Ossett and Tetley. Pro tip – happy hour runs from 3pm to 7pm midweek, promising epic drinks deals.
Devonshire Vaults, 20 Newmarket Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 2HR.
The Woolly Sheep Inn
Credit: The Woolly Sheep
Right in the heart of town, The Woolly Sheep Inn is renowned for its warm and friendly atmosphere. It’s a Timothy Taylor’s pub, so you’ll find their full range on taps, and you can get a flight to discover your favourite ale. It’s a great place to grab a bite, serving a menu of home-cooked food, and they also offer rooms should you wish to stay the night. The best bit? Their beer garden is a real sun trap.
The Woolly Sheep Inn, 38 Sheep Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1HY.
Sound Bar
And now for something a little different – Sound Bar is a live music venue, a record shop and a bar, all in one. It’s a great spot whether you’re enjoying a coffee and a magazine, or listening to the sounds of top local talent. On top of gigs, they host open mic nights and a music quiz, so be sure to check their listings to see what’s on the horizon. As for the ales, their lineup changes regularly, giving you reasons to return time and time again!
Sound Bar, Unit A, Canal Walk, Keighley Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 2DZ.
Speakeasy
Just around the corner you’ll find Speakeasy, a 1920s-themed bar and another popular music venue. You could be listening to jazz and swing music by day, and Motown and rock’n’roll by night, before DJs keep the atmosphere flowing. Three hand pumps serve a trio of ales from Skipton’s own Lamb Brewery – a pale, a cream ale and a bitter, or there’s a cocktail menu should you fancy.
Speakeasy, 15 Swadford Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1RD.
Swadford Tap
A relative newcomer on the Skipton scene, Swadford Tap opened in November 2023 and has already built a reputation for serving quality ale. There are four hand pumps behind the bar serving a rotating selection of beers, so watch out for local favourites like Copper Dragon. There’s often live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and if you visit in the morning, you can grab yourself a breakfast roll.
Swadford Tap, 18a Swadford Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1RD.
The Cock & Bottle
Credit: Cock and Bottle
Perfectly positioned in the centre of Skipton town, The Cock & Bottle is one of the oldest pubs in the area, dating back to 1689. It’s still a popular pub to this day, serving great ale and home-cooked food. Find a spot indoors or head out to their huge beer garden while you nurse a pint of cask. Take your pick from four hand pulls serving rotating ales, including sups from the likes of Wensleydale, Moorhouse’s and Timothy Taylor’s.
The Cock & Bottle, 30 Swadford Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1RD.
Yorkshire Rose
You’ll get a warm welcome at this friendly community pub. You’ll find the Yorkshire Rose slap bang in the middle of town, near the canal basin. Take your pick from three regular beers, including Tetley’s Bitter and Ossett’s Yorkshire Blonde. Peckish? Traditional homemade food awaits. With TVs showing live sports with the sound down, it’s a laidback affair, perfect for an afternoon pint.
Yorkshire Rose, 10 Coach Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH.
The Boat House
Credit: The Boat House
Sitting pretty on the canal-side, The Boat House is a nautical-themed bar and a real treasure trove for ale aficionados. Six hand pumps offer a range of cask ales, with plenty of weird and wonderful flavours available, and there’s plenty of keg craft beer to try out too. Grab a drink and head outside where you can sit and watch the boats – bliss.
The Boat House, 19a Coach Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH.
The Beer Engine
Tucked away down a tiny side street, The Beer Engine is a micro pub with a fierce reputation, landing CAMRA’s Yorkshire Pub of the Year award and coming in the top four in the coveted CAMRA National Pub of the Year Campaign. Renowned for its beer quality, you’ll find six hand pumps serving ever-changing ales, like Titanic’s Cherry Porter, Abbeydale’s Deception and Goose Eye’s namesake bitter, alongside a half-dozen craft kegs.
The Beer Engine, 1 Albert Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1JD.
The Narrow Boat
The Narrowboat
When Kirkstall Brewery took over The Narrow Boat in June 2023, they adopted a much-loved local pub. Since then, they’ve given it a full refurb, while keeping in line with its traditional heritage. All the usual suspects are present and correct, including Three Swords, Kirkstall Pale and Dissolution. There’s a great food menu too, serving pub classics like pies, burgers and fish and chips.
The Narrow Boat, 36-38 Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1JE.
The Royal Shepherd
Credit: Royal Shepherd
The only Royal Shepherd in the country, this independent pub has been serving thirsty punters since the 17th century, and is said to be haunted! Today the pub offers live sports, live music and delicious home-cooked food, like hearty pies, including their famous 1lb steak & kidney pudding. There are also regularly rotating beers to sample, like Wensleydale’s Zeitgeist, a refreshing lemon pale.
The Royal Shepherd, Canal Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LB.
The Railway Inn
Situated a short walk from the train station, The Railway Inn isn’t just a pub and restaurant, it also has six rooms, should you wish to stay the night. Take your pick from three cask beers – Dark Horse’s Hetton Pale, Theakston’s Lightfoot or Saltaire’s Blonde – then grab a seat in their bar area. Head down on a Thursday to tuck into a steak and a pint or glass of wine for £14.95.
The Railway Inn, 10 Cavendish Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 2AB.
Herriots Hotel
Credit: Herriots
Right across from the train station you’ll find Herriots Hotel, making it a great place to start – or end – your route. A former railway hotel, they still offer rooms, but it’s also a great spot for a chilled pint or a bite to eat. Pick a classic like Guinness, John Smith’s or Black Moor Mild, then sit and watch the world go by. Arrive early enough and you can even check out their famous breakfast buffet!
Herriots Hotel, Broughton Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1RT.
Join the trail
It’s super easy to get involved with the Skipton Ale Trail. Check out the digital map to plan your route, or pick up a printed map in the town. There’s no right or wrong way to explore the trail, and with so many pubs to go at, you’ll want to return again and again!
