Hello, and a very special welcome to our new members.
Fingers crossed that our journey out of lock-down continues on July 19th – we’ve all had enough, right? With the Government’s news of the lifting of most restrictions, we should be able to celebrate the full re-opening of our hospitality, but we aren’t out of the woods yet. And remember, the lifting of restrictions due on 19th July is still some time off and may yet be reversed – hopefully not!
It’s been quite uplifting to see things gradually getting back to normal. Hopefully, you’re all feeling a bit more confident and able to stretch your legs into town to support our local retail and pub outlets. These events really do help but of course you don’t need an event to get out and about. We can’t stress enough how much our local retail and hospitality need your support during the next phase of re-opening.
The Farmer’s Market (last Sunday of each month) is back up and running – backed up by the lovely Bay Horse Bazaar. Fantastic atmosphere all around town. Great to walk around followed by a swift drink or two in one of our lovely pubs.
The town centre cycle races were well attended with a great atmosphere in town and although not the numbers of previous years cramming the streets, it was a very enjoyable evening – and even the weather was kind. Welcome business for our hospitality venues too of course.
Also good to see our very own Wharfedale Wayzgoose weaving their way around town the other night. Always an entertaining event they visited Tap House, Junction, & Groove Pad celebrating their 25th Anniversary! Congratulations to them all!
If you missed them, then give them a follow on Facebook to catch them next time round. https://www.facebook.com/WharfedaleWayzgoose/
The Walking Festival again was well supported and no doubt many thirsts were quenched by the attendees before, during and after their exertions!
The OPC Committee meetings have recommenced and last month we met in The Rookery, followed by drinks in the Bay Horse and Black Bull. You’re welcome to join us for the mini-crawl or “Social” as we like to call it from 8pm after the Committee business has concluded. All members are invited to join us on a mini 3 pub tour of the town for the rest of the evening to discuss all things Otley Pubs and anything else you want really. Just an opportunity for you to meet the committee and also perhaps visit pubs that you might not have tried recently. It would be great to meet our membership in person and hear your thoughts. Venues and times for the August Social will be posted on our Social Media platforms nearer the time. Give us a follow to stay in touch:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otleypubclub
Twitter: @OtleyPubClub
Insta: otley_pub_club
You can also follow what’s happening in the pubs, who is open and when, via our Pub Updates page at http://www.otleypubclub.co.uk/otley-pub-updates. Again, if you’re a publican, please visit your pub’s page (just follow the link from the Updates page) and if you want your page, events, times updating just drop us an email at info@otleypubclub.co.uk
This month we have news of Upcoming Events in our #FamousPubTown, plus the usual Pub News, this time from Otley and beyond, and the usual Pub Events. Here we go…
UPCOMING EVENTS
Leeds Compass Arts Festival – Public House: The Yorkshire Square – Join the Otley Pub Club trip on Wednesday 21st July
Otley Pub Club have been invited to book places at the special (and fully operational!) Yorkshire Square pub installation in Leeds on Wednesday 21st July, as well as hearing a talk from our very own President, Greg Mulholland on pub campaigning, one of a series of ‘tap talks’.
A couple of weeks ago Otley Pub Club welcomed two artists, Katie Etheridge & Simon Persighetti, to Otley to sample the pubs and chat about all things pub related. As part of the Leeds Compass Arts Festival (https://compassliveart.org.uk/compass-festival-2021/), Katie and Simon are creating an art work called Public House: The Yorkshire Square – it’s a pop-up pub serving beers from across Leeds with pub related Tap Talks and Tours most afternoons.
As a result, Otley Pub Club are invited to attend and take up tables – so all members are invited on a first-come first-served basis. We intend to be there approximately 1:30pm-4:30pm (Greg talk is 3pm). It’s free (you just need the X84 bus fare to Leeds!), but numbers are limited. Have a look at the link below, and if you would like to join us on the afternoon of 21st July, please send an email to info@otleypubclub.co.uk by Friday 16th July.
If you can’t join us that day, the installation/exhibition is on from 15th – 24th July and is free to enter. More info on the event is here:
https://compassliveart.org.uk/event/public-house-the-yorkshire-square/
Otley Music Alliance (OMA) Otley Live Music Festival 30th July – 1st August 2021
The event is brought to you by the Otley Music Alliance – a collaborative network of live venues, promoters and members of Otley Town Council who have gathered to make Otley a hub of vibrant and wonderful music. Over the weekend, there will be live music in eight of Otley’s music venues over three days, including free outdoor concerts, a wide variety of ticketed evening gigs and a buskers programme, bringing music to all! Otley Live website for programme of events including artists, venues, dates and times:
https://linktr.ee/otleylive and https://www.visitotley.co.uk/otley-live/otley-live-weekend/
Follow the build up on:
Instagram: otley_music
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otleymusic
Twitter: @LiveOtley
Otley Folk Festival 17-19 September 2021
A message from the OFF team:
“With the recent government announcement suggesting that we may be able to get back to some sort of reality by the end of the summer, we are cautiously optimistic that we may be able to host our annual folk festival.
We will plan a series of concerts and sessions plus street entertainment to suit the regulations at the time whatever they may be. It is difficult to know what the social distancing rules will be so details will be put on our website as and when they are confirmed. We will also confirm our artists rosta on the website, for now though, pencil in the date… 17-19 September 2021.“
http://www.otleyfolkfestival.com/
Otley Beer Festival 2021
It seems I was a little previous with my posting last month – more news as soon as we get it!
CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival at Your Local: 30th July – 8th August
With the absence of a single Great British Beer Festival event this year due to uncertainty of COVID restrictions, CAMRA plans to use the brand to encourage people into licensed premises. CAMRA are encouraging licensees to hold events and activities celebrating live beer and real cider under the Great British Beer Festival at Your Local brand. We will be promoting these events nationally and locally to our members using our internal and external communication channels.
The main thrust of the campaign is to encourage pubs, clubs, breweries and cider makers to hold live beer (and cider) related events and activities in early August/late July. These activities don’t have to be large and range in scale including, but not limited to special guest beers, mini beer festivals, brewery tours, promoting cask conditioned beers, promoting real cider, meet the brewer sessions and tastings. Anything that celebrates live beer and cider. They will be branded with a “Great British Beer Festival at Your Local” logo.
More here: https://camra.org.uk/volunteers-area/festival-hub/gbbf-at-your-local-resources/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CAMPAIGNING-Newsletter-Campaigns-Offers-News&utm_content=CAMPAIGNING-Newsletter-Campaigns-Offers-News+CID_38233b5066f81832c3950960d5c38ca5&utm_source=CAMRA%20Createsend%20Email%20Marketing&utm_term=Festival%20Hub
PUB NEWS
Bay Horse
Back open – great news. The beer garden is looking superb. The drinks are their usual excellent standard and the extended sandwich menu (that’s the menu that’s been extended, not foot long sandwiches btw!) is wonderful.
Horse & Farrier
Welcome (back!) to General Manager, Jessica-Louise Parkinson. Slight delay in the re-opening but it sounds like it’s worth waiting for. Should be a good one!
Message from Jessica-Louise:
“Hi everyone! We realise there has been a bit of radio silence since we announced our reopening.. so here’s a little post to just keep you updated on how we are doing!
So we have decided to push back our opening for when restrictions are lifted I’m sure we are all hopeful that this will be the 19th) but I plan on keeping you updated.
For now the Farrier is getting some much needed TLC from my fabulous team of helpers (AKA my mum)
We have new bar shelves, the whole building is getting a spruce and we can’t wait for you to see it”
This is fantastic news for the town – we’ll be in as soon as possible after opening!
The Hermit, Burley Woodhead
Not Otley directly but good news from The Hermit in Burley Woodhead, which seemed to be doomed. As you know, we at OPC have a bit of history and experience with ACVs (Asset of Community Value, or Community Right to Bid as it is now known!) on pubs, and it’s great to see the same success happening with The Hermit. Let’s just hope people go up there and use the pub once it’s open again. It’s all very well getting together to save a pub, but if it isn’t used it will just close anyway. With bit of luck it’ll reclaim its reputation with passing trade as well and become a destination pub again. Now let’s hope something can be done about The Half Moon in Pool (see below) – another real community pub that really shouldn’t be lost to the housing market.
Here’s the news from the Wharfedale Observer: https://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/news/19403536.historic-pub-hermit-burley-woodhead-saved-community-campaign/?ref=fbshr&fbclid=IwAR1SXxvZgX_c72_mjMzLnKmNM1os4cV6TeEQOoBJgqLViT3NJnqmLzxAhJY
The Half Moon Inn, Pool-in-Wharfedale
While we’re on the subject of nearby pubs much less happy news from The Half Moon Inn at Pool-in-Wharfedale, which is also under threat.
Save the Half Moon, Pool!
The historic (18th century) Half Moon Inn, Pool (in our neighbouring community of Pool-in-Wharfedale) is at risk of being lost forever, with a planning application to convert it into housing. It has suffered for years under the ownership of Enterprise Inns/EI Group and their model, but was sold last year during the pandemic, to developers. The owner rather cynically stripped it and their planning consultants are now falsely claiming it is ‘unviable’ when it could become a success like other former EI pubs now in local ownership – the Black Horse and the Roebuck.
Leeds CAMRA and the Campaign for Pubs are supporting a campaign to save the pub, please do contact them at leedscamra@gmail.com and campaign@campaignforpubs.org.uk, but most importantly, please do object to the planning application which you can find here https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=QSZCR5JBM0Q00 by Friday 16th July.
If you have friends in and around Pool please let them know. Hopefully, together, we can save this lovely pub.
PUB EVENTS
Black Bull
Drinks offers ongoing:
House Doubles £3.50 with a “dash”, £4.50 with Premium Mixer
Double up on Premium Spirits for just £1.50 extra
Mon-Fri Happy Hour 3pm to 5pm 50p off selected drinks
Manor
Open Mic nights every Friday at 8.30pm
Saturday – live bands/artists
Roebuck
Roast Beef Sundays!
Sunday Roast – Dry Aged Strip Loin of Beef
Served all day (until is gone) along side our main menu
Booking essential – Call 01943 463063
Rookery
Upcoming Events:
Fri, July 30th at 8pm – Andy Aitchison
Sat, July 31st at 7pm – The Dunwells
Sat, Aug 21st at 7pm – Chris Helme (The Seahorses)
Rose & Crown
We’re getting rave reports about the Sunday lunches
A message from Gareth:
“Don’t forget, the Rose and Crown are now serving home cooked Sunday lunch between 12-5. With a choice between Beef,Gammon & Chicken served with all the trimmings
(OPC – There’s also vegan, gluten free and children’s options)
A selection of starters and deserts are also available.
Pre bookings or walk ins. We hope to see you soon!”
Plus remember, Monday to Saturday you can bring your own food into the R&C to enjoy with their fabulous selection of hot and cold beverages!
Tap House
Two great offers: 2 for £10 on all double rums, gins and mixers – All day Sun to Thurs.
Plus the return of the Ale Club – Mon to Thurs 12-5pm – all pints of cask ales are £2.50 each
Live music thriving – Fri, Sat and Sunday – check out https://www.facebook.com/otleytaps and also, https://otleytaphouse.com/whats-on to keep up to date with who is on and when.
Tavern
Come join us at the Tav next Thursday for our quiz night. Loads of prizes including a £20 bar voucher to be won on the night starts at 7pm.
Now at the Otley Tavern – Coors £2.80 a pint and £2.30 during happy hour (4-6pm weekdays)
DJ Tony is back with a bang. Saturday 12th June 7.30pm
Whitakers Arms
Happy Hour. 50p off all pints and £1 off all bottles of wine. Mon – Fri 4pm to 7pm
Sunday Lunches – Booking recommended to avoid disappointment.
Beef, pork or chicken dinner available. 12pm – 4pm £8.95 / £6.95 – regular / small
Book via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp or telephone on the following number: 01943 968 020
Please Note Our Regular Menu Is NOT Available On A Sunday. Cheers
https://www.facebook.com/whitakersarmsotley
Yew Tree
We are very excited to announce a bingo night in aid of MOORVIEW RESCUE!!!! Tickets are going fast so book your tables now! Great prizes to win and ALL PROCEEDS INCLUDING 10% OF ALL BAR TAKINGS will be donated to this wonderful charity!!!!
Please like and share their page and help get them the support they need!
https://www.facebook.com/Moorview-Rescue-Charity-106969248232121/
Plus! We are excited (again!) to announce our Carboot Sale on Sat 24th July, 12 til 4pm also in aid of Moorview Rescue.
To book a space ring 01943 461330 or message us on Facebook.
We will be serving delicious homecooked food Friday and Saturday 5 til 8pm and Sunday 12 til 4pm. Booking recommended, call 01943 461330 or message us.
Also, Quiz nights (50p entry with fun rounds and music!) are also back every Sunday 9pm til 10.30pm and the first Tuesday in the month 9pm til 10pm!
Remember, if you are a publican and want your event or offers listed here and sent for free to our 650+ membership each month, just drop us an email info@otleypubclub.co.uk
And Finally…
Massive apologies to Gerry Ottley from last month’s newsletter. If you remember, Gerry visited us from Horsham which is of course in West Sussex, not Surrey! Doh! We look forward to welcoming Gerry back in September sporting his new OPC sweatshirt and cap!
That’s it for this month folks. Boris permitting, next time we speak we’ll be maskless and huggable!
Fingers crossed it all goes well for July 19th, but in the meantime remember to wear your facemask – keep socially distanced – wash your hands – sign-in as required.
Please be patient and courteous with our wonderful Publicans and their staff, other customers, and together we will get through this.
We’re nearly there! Stay safe, enjoy the summer and we’ll see you all around and about in our #FamousPubTown!
OPC Committee
