April 2026. Skipton.
Loads of pubs of all shapes and sizes in Skipton, and loads of disagreement over “the best”, whatever “best” means.
I wanted to show Mrs RM the canal basin, as it’s where folk gravitate for boat trips and ice cream.
They’ve named one of the ships after my musical heroine of 2025 !
It’s so posh in Skipton they feed the ducks sourdough. Is that bad ?
There’s a few pubs round here that alternate in peoples affections. The Boat House near the diesel pump,
the Narrow Boat I enjoyed last time, and the perennial award winning Beer Engine.
It’s always nice to show Mrs RM an award winner, so she can compare it with her “out there” suggestions,
but my recollection of the Engine was a bit “pokey micro”.
Something seemed to have changed, a lot more spacious.
“Have you got bigger ?” I ask the young chap, simultaneously staring at the sign announcing they’ve got bigger.
Mrs RM is oblivious to my idiocy, perched under a nice, if glamourised, painting of the town.
I seem to have bought three (3) beers, because I know that failure to bring Mrs RM the strong Thornbridge is A Bad Idea, Right. But I also need to try Thornbridge cask as well as the Azvex.
The keg is great, the cask is tasty but could be crisper. It’s the story of Spring ’26, the year of NBSS 3.
But the bench seating is a winner, it’s a place to get mildly p****d, as a group of Scousers comparing this “boozer” to “that one in Seahouses” are oddly doing.
“Ear all, see all, say nowt” as they say in Yorkshire.
retiredmartin 
The Boathouse is always on my Skipton itinerary. Wishbone brewery do a beer for them called Tiller Pin which is exceptionally good.
I was in the beer engine last summer when CAMRA were handing out their pub of the year award. Very good service.
Robin
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