retiredmartin

March 2025. West Tanfield. North Yorkshire.

An overnighter in North Yorkshire, a county with a plenty of newish GBG entries, nearly all without train stations (or hotels under a ton).

So the campervan is out for this rare exploration into Hambletonshire, between Ripon and Masham and not exactly a hotbed of great pubs of late.

But West Tanfield is gorgeous, and quiet, and home to the self-acclaimed “best pub garden in Yorkshire“.

Which it might be.

But is it any good inside ?

Well, the interior is typical Theakston village diner.

And the cask range is typical Hambleton.

And there’s great encouragement from a rare sighting of aged punk (not BRAPA) in Stiff Little Fingers hoodie with can of coke, with bonus gentrified chap with bottle of wine.

It’s a cosy place, though I’m asked not once, but twice, if I’ll be dining (no thanks), and Mrs RM senses she’s being stared at as the only pint drinker in town.

Only cask drinker too, with Aspall, Guinness, Sauvignon Blanc and coke the drinks of choice in 2025. And “Karma Chameleon” your soundtrack. Slow cask turnover is real ale’s enemy.

“And they seemed obsessed with todgers” says Mrs RM, when I return from the bridge.

I assure her that “Todger” is actually a much-missed Tadcaster brewed version of Marston’s Owd Roger,

but she wasn’t born yesterday.