A brick-and-mortar taproom has always been their dream, and last week it became a reality.
To celebrate their 15th anniversary, Ilkley Brewery knew they had to do something special, and what’s more fitting than launching their very own taproom? You’ll find The Ilkley Tap on the Grove Promenade, slap bang in the middle of the town, where they serve delicious pints, tasty street food and more.
“Having a taproom has always been in our minds, but I’d say that our focus has always been just on the beer and making sure we can nail that,” co-owner Luke Raven told us. “Over the past few years, we’ve been doing more events at the brewery and so we started exploring whether or not we could take on an extra unit.”
They’ve taken over the former Joel’s restaurant, which is just a ten-minute walk from their brewery. It’s a beautiful venue, with large windows and a domed roof to welcome you in. Inside, it’s all off-black and white (the brewery’s brand colours), adorned with neon signs and loads of greenery to inject splashes of colour.
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And to drink? They’ve gone big, with 20 lines of beer. You’ll find eight hand-pulled cask ales and twelve beers on a keg wall, and the team are working with a variety of local suppliers to ensure they’re showcasing the very best of Yorkshire. Beer not your thing? There’s plenty to go at, like vodka from Wolfe Bros, gin from Latitude and wine from their neighbours, Martinez Wines.
We asked Luke his favourite tipple, which proved to be difficult, but he eventually settled on a couple. First up is their flagship brew, the low-ABV and super-suppable Mary Jane. Elsewhere, their new nitro stout, Genius, is a great shout, as well as Dad Jokes, a hazy pale brewed in collaboration with Brew York and Vocation.
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But it’s not all drinks, the food packs a punch too. Stuzzi will be commandeering the kitchen, cooking up tasty Italian small plates in abundance – what better pairing to go with a pint of the good stuff? They’ll also be serving brunches at the weekend and roasts on a Sunday and we couldn’t be more excited.
If you’re wondering why you should come down and give it a go, let Luke tell you himself: “The fact that it’s Ilkley owned and we understand the community and really want to be a part of it is definitely important. We’re not just another faceless brand coming in to try and get drinkers, it’s all about celebrating Ilkley and everything it has to offer.”
The Ilkley Tap, 60 The Grove Promenade, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 9PA.
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