April 2025. Otley.
Otley felt a lot smaller than I remembered, a modest market town of 13,668 souls dominated by a bus station and courtyard cobbled shopping centre.
But it’s certainly well-pubbed, five in the GBG.
I thought Savage Crangle was a great name for a pub,
recalling that Rorty Crankle up the road in Thornton, but it’s a solicitors.
The Horse & Farrier is a pub,
and has all the hallmarks of trad boozer, great welcome at the bar and L**ds United away shirt.
But it’s been given a touch of craft sparkle by Brew York, whose actual beer I’ve warmed to more than their barns of a bar.
It might not look a classic,
but the girl’s scooter, open mic night and Happy Hour (£3 a pint) say community pub, and the outdoor drinking area is a genuine joy.
Fantastic Calmer Chameleon too, cool and crisp (NBBS 4).
Should have had a pint, but I had a bus back to Menston to contend with. #LoosOnBusesNOW
retiredmartin 
My neck of the woods Martin. The Horse and Farrier was one of the last market Town Taverns to open before Ian Fozard sold the chain to Okells and bought Roosters from Sean Franklin.
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Recently reopened Old Grey Mare in York has same feel, so not a fluke I don’t think. Normally not type of pub decor I’d warm to, a bit sterile, but loved the warmth of welcome, quality of beer (much better than their taproom, if I’m honest), lots of people of all ages, good trade considering time of day. Mitre in Knaresborough along same lines on my one visit there as well. Brew York are running good pubs!
Alex
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I’m keen to do that Old Grey Mare. Great welcome in their Otley pub
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Didn’t know Brew York were running the Mitre either 👍
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The old grey mare is technically my local, but yet I haven’t been since brew York took it on. Not that I went much before…
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I’d never heard of it before the Brew York announcement to be fair, Stu.
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