Welcome to the September edition of the Otley Pub Club newsletter. And a special welcome to our new subscribers.
It’s been a busy month around our #FamousPubTown. Lots of events, mixed in with fine weather (to enjoy those Fabulous outdoor facilities) and some not so fine weather – a typical British summer I guess?
The weekend Music in the Streets of Otley was very well supported although some weekends weren’t blessed with the best weather.
August also saw numerous music events appearing in our great pubs. Lots of variety throughout the week – great stuff. Perhaps we could also brand ourselves as a #FamousMusicTown – why not?
Also, 2 new restaurants opened their doors to add to the already vibrant dining out scene we have in and around town. #FamousFoodTown anyone?
We all know that the economic situation is affecting businesses of all sorts, as well as domestic users. With this in mind, it’s understandable that some of our bars and pubs are adjusting their opening hours accordingly. More details as we get them of course. We will try to keep our website up to date, but it’s a very fluid situation so please bear with us and our hard-pressed publicans.
Look out for news on the Manor House. A community bid is being assembled. See more details below, and why not get involved?
We’ve got the usual categories this month of Otley Events, Pub News, Pub Events and our “And Finally” piece includes another Pub of the Month. Here we go….
OTLEY EVENTS
Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza 2022
Sunday 11th September 10am – 4pm
From the Visit Otley website https://www.visitotley.co.uk/whats-on/calendar/
“Longstanding fun event featuring vintage cars, fairground organs, motorcycles, military vehicles, heavy & light commercials, tractors, steam engines, trade stands, car boot sale, displays, brass bands, children’s amusements, Punch & Judy Show, City of Leeds Pipe Band, terrier racing and more.
Over the years the O.V.T.E. has grown to around 500 vehicles, with everything from large steam engines to push bikes. It has become very much a family event and over the years the attendance has gone up to around 7,000 people visiting the show.
All profits raised from the event go to the charity ‘Hang on to a Dream’ which to date has granted ‘dreams’ for around 90 young people. The event has also raised money for other larger and smaller charitable donations over the years such as the Avro Memorial Appeal who are working with Leeds Bradford Airport to build a memorial for the people, planes and pilots connected to the Avro Works, the Olivia Payne Appeal and the Otley Town Mayor’s Charities.”
Always brings plenty of business in Otley. It’s at the usual site at Knotford Nook, Pool Road, LS21 1EA
Website: www.ovte.co.uk
Email: info@ovte.co.uk
Facebook/Insta/Twitter /ovte96
Otley Folk Club and Festival 2022
The Otley Folk Club meet every Weds evening upstairs in the Black Horse. Singers’ nights run on alternate weeks. All welcome to participate or just listen!
And also, the fantastic Otley Folk Festival is back on the weekend of 16th-18th September. Always a great event for the town. Expect the usual concerts, street entertainment, pub sessions and sing arounds. Watch out on social media for programme of events, acts and venues to be listed shortly.
Check out their website for programme and tickets: http://www.otleyfolkfestival.com/
And on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OtleyFolkFestival
Otley Victorian Fayre 2022
Yet more great news. The Victorian Fayre returns on Sunday 4th December 2022. Always a great day for the town. Be sure to put the date in your diary!
This year will again include the Otley Pub Club Victorian Alehouse competition where we will be inviting our local hostelries to dress in Victorian costume to compete for the magnificent Elise Brumfitt Trophy. Past years have really seen our pubs get into the spirit of the day and the competition (we have photographic evidence!) – hopefully we can get a good number involved again in providing entertainment, seasonal food, mulled wine/cider, mince pies etc – we will be in touch to see who’s in!
PUB NEWS
Cross Pipes
Otley’s latest Freehold pub is currently undergoing refurbishment. Watch this space for more news on potential opening date.
Manor House
OK, so we know that The Manor House pub has been put up for sale by owners Thwaites. It’s unfortunate that, for insurance purposes, Thwaites have had to put up steel shutters over the windows and doors making it look unsightly and not very attractive to the any potential buyers. But unavoidable I guess.
Anyway, after an initial meeting to gauge interest, it’s been agreed to set up a Community Pub group with a view to buying the pub for the Otley community. The idea is that you, the great Otley pub-loving public (and interested parties from elsewhere) will buy shares in the pub and create Otley’s first true Community pub.
There has been some negativity about how Community projects like this only work when the last pub in town is threatened with closure, but that has been proven to not be the case entirely. Community pub purchases in towns such a Sowerby Bridge and Hebden Bridge, which have a similar demographic to Otley have proved that this can work – if we want it to.
There’s a 2nd meeting scheduled to plan a way forward and anyone with any interest whatsoever is urged to attend. The meeting will be upstairs at The Rookery on Kirkgate at 7.30pm on Thursday 8th September. Please do come along and air your views and get involved!
A few words from the Community Pub bid team:
“The campaign to save the Otley Manor House Pub club is gaining momentum and we have quite a number of people willing to help monetarily or otherwise. However, we need many more if the project is going to work and we are holding a meeting on Thursday 8th September at 7.30 pm at the Rookery, Kirkgate to get many more people on board. A community pub would belong to the people of Otley with investors having their say in how it is run. It would work alongside the other pubs in Otley and offer support to them where possible. The Manor House pub would be an important live music venue also aiming to book many popular bands from near and far.”
You can follow progress on their Facebook site:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Manor-House-Community-Pub-project-Otley-111231345011720
and on Twitter: @otleycommpub
NEW BAR!
If you remember from last month, we announced a new bar opening in town. It’s a collaboration between our good friend Marcus @TheCuriousHop and Harrogate-based bar @MajorTomsSocial.
We were unsure about the location (honest?), but can now reveal it will be in the old Groove Pad place in Orchard Gate and it’s going to be called …… The Curious Hop Bière Café.
The opening date is to be confirmed as work needs to be completed inside. So watch this space!
PUB EVENTS
Bay Horse
New, dominoes night every Wednesday from 7.30pm. Includes a free supper. Watch out for the announcement of a Poker night Mondays – dates and times tbc.
They’ve been doing some great charity work as always – this time for the Hug-on-a-Tray girls. Raffles, hampers etc – great stuff!
Opening hours:
Mon & Tues: 4pm to 11pm
Weds & Thurs: Midday to 11pm
Fri & Sat: Midday to “Late”
Sun: Midday to 11pm
And don’t forget the Bay Horse Courtyard Bazaar on the last Sunday of the month to coincide with the Farmers’ Market
Black Bull
Karaoke & Disco Nights every Friday and Saturday 8pm til midnight with DJ Fozzie.
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
Lovely home-cooked food with lots of fantastic reviews. Kitchen opening hours:
Mon – Fri = Midday – 3pm
Sat & Sun = Midday – 5pm
Black Horse
The 1st ever Black Horse Beer Festival is coming to Otley! Food, music, arts, cocktails, and beer…lots of beer!!! From 23rd to 25th September, see you there!!
How about Margherita Thursdays? Perfect for the Summer – All day – Margherita (cocktail) and a Margherita (pizza) for £12! Sounds like a plan!
Now offering “All Day Breakfasts” on Saturdays and Sundays (vegan and veggie options available)
Great food menu available here https://blackhorseotley.co.uk/food-and-drink/
And don’t forget the lovely, refurbished rooms
Opening Hours:
Mon-Thurs: midday to 11pm
Fri & Sat: midday to 1am
Sun: 11.30am – 11pm
Also, at the BH:
“Fancy trying a new hobby? Intrigued to try Life Drawing? Then come along to the weekly #drinkanddraw at the Black Horse. Every Thursday 7-9pm Entry from 6.30pm. £7 a session. Bring your own materials. All abilities welcome!”
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackHorseOtley
Bowling Green
Tel: 01943 858980
Enjoying the new extension? Looking great inside and out. And don’t forget to spend your CAMRA vouchers!
Tuesday Quiz night from 8pm. Bingo, trivia and potential cash prizes.
Cross Pipes (Otley’s newest Freehouse!)
Re-opening soon after re-furbishment.
Fleece
Bar:
Monday to Saturday 11.30am til 10.30pm (Food – Midday to 8.45pm)
Sunday 11.30am til 7.30pm (Food – Midday to 6pm)
Steak & Wine Days – all day Weds & Thurs. 2 x rump steak dinner with a bottle of house wine only £30. Saving £16.85
NEW SATURDAY OFFER, any 2 1/2lb beef burgers from the menu and 4 bottles of beer £30. Saving £9.90
FISH N FIZZ FRIDAY OFFER, 2 x fish n chips and a bottle of Prosecco only £30. Saving £12.85 Or, just a bottle of Prosecco? £13.95 all day Friday.
Call to book on 01943 514886
https://www.facebook.com/TheFleeceOtley
Horse and Farrier
Food now on 7 days a week. And don’t forget the fantastic rooms for B&B!
Opening Hours:
Mon to Weds: Midday – 10pm
Thurs to Sat: Midday – 11pm
Sunday: Midday – 10:30pm
Food times:
Weds – Sat: 12-8pm
Sun:12-6pm
Open Mic night every Thursday at 8pm led by local musician, gig organiser and brewer Paul Briscoe. Everyone is welcome, either to perform or just to sit, drink and listen.
Junction
Live music continues every Tuesday and Saturday.
Plus, first Sunday afternoon of the month = acoustic sessions from 3pm 6pm
Keep your eyes on their social media as there may be last minute alterations to the booked acts: https://www.facebook.com/thejunctioninnotley
Open from midday to 11pm every day
North Bar
Massive congratulations to the North Bar team and especially Matt for the recent Charity head shave! Initial goal of £750 was blown away and to date over £2500 has been raised for St. George’s Crypt in Leeds. Incidentally, Matt’s flowing locks have been donated to The Little Princess Trust who provide human hair wigs for children and young people going through cancer treatment or other conditions!
You can still contribute: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nbsheadshave
Open from midday every day and closes at 11pm, except for Friday and Saturday (midnight) and Sunday (10pm)
Always a great drinks selection. Watch out for music events at the Woolpack next door plus Street Food vendors regularly setting up.
https://www.facebook.com/NorthBarSocial
Old Cock
Usually post daily on Facebook with changing beer options. Give them a follow: https://www.facebook.com/theoldcockotley/?fref=ts
Opening hours: 11am to 11pm
Red Lion
See our Pub of the Month feature below!
Big screen sports entertainment. DJs Friday and Saturday nights
Opening hours:
10.30am to 11pm daily, (except close midnight Friday)
Roebuck
Opening times:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Saturday: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Sunday: 11:30am – 8:00pm
https://www.facebook.com/TheRoebuckOtley
Rookery Bar & Venue
Open 4pm each day except Saturday open at Midday
Closes Midnight except Sunday when it’s 10.30pm
Upstairs at the Rookery – Film Club Sunday 25th September – £3 per person per film:
12.30 Minions : The Rose of Gru (U)
15.00 Thor : Love & Thunder (12A)
18.00 Top Gun Maverick (15)
This month! Don’t miss out. Get your tickets early – Upstairs at The Rookery:
9th September 8pm – 10.30pm
The fantastic Rookery Comey Night returns with Shoecake Comedy making their welcome return from the Edinburgh Fringe. Tickets: https://fixr.co/event/the-rookery-comedy-club-tickets-977118881
16th September
The amazing Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets) with support by The Silver Reserve. Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tom-hingley-inspiral-carpets-live-at-the-rookery-tickets-311455611117
And dates for your diary: The Dunwells return by popular demand for 2 nights Tues & Weds 27th & 28th December – get your tickets in early to avoid disappointment.
For both of the above follow the Events link from Rookery’s Facebook page for more details/prices/times:
https://www.facebook.com/therookerybar
Rose & Crown
Opening Times:
Every day Midday to 11pm, except closed Monday and close at 10.30pm Sunday
Kitchen Hours are Tuesday to Saturday: Midday to 4pm and then again 5pm to 9pm – the evening meals are proving to be very popular and a great addition to food options generally in Otley.
Sunday Midday til 6pm
Current menu on the new website: https://www.roseandcrownotley.com/
Telephone: 01943 850180
Don’t forget! Bring Your Own Cheese aka BYOC. Every Tuesday from 8pm.
Thursdays cash prize Bingo kicking off at 8pm where there’s money and loads of other really random (and we mean RANDOM) prizes to be won! £10 to play which gives you 6 games – all entrance money then gets split up on each game. If you fancy coming for your tea beforehand, we’ll give all bingo players 10% off your bill. WOW!
Great to see live music return to the R&C over the Bank Holiday weekend – great stuff. And now, the first Sunday of every month, hosted by The Marshalls is Open Mic night. Starts 7.30pm, all welcome.
Also, Friday 9th September local musician, Andy Myers will be joining us from 9pm playing a solo set of covers from the best songs over the last 3 decades.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroseandcrownotley
Royalty
Great offer from up t’hill:
2 Meals & A Bottle of Wine – £34.95 All Day, Monday to Friday. Enjoy 2 new choices from our new menu and any bottle of wine.
Yes, a lovely new menu https://the-royalty.co.uk/menus/main-menu/ including extensive new gluten free options https://the-royalty.co.uk/menus/gluten-free-menu/
Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday: Midday to 9.30pm – food til 8pm
Sunday: Midday to 7.30pm – food til 6pm
Last bookings 15mins before closing time
Book your table now https://togo.uk.com/makeBookingv2?venueid=890&nv=true
https://www.facebook.com/theroyaltyotley
Also, up at The Royalty, how about The Royalty Road Show?
A family friendly vehicle gathering for like-minded enthusiasts of Commercials, Classics, Motorbikes, Agricultural etc. It’s held the last Wednesday of every month from 6pm.
A message from the team:
“We have been informed the cabin will be open serving hot beef and pork sandwiches along with hot drinks. Burgers will still be available off the pub’s menu inside.”
https://www.facebook.com/TheRoyaltyRoadShow/
And, nowt like getting yer diary filled in….Royalty Bonfire and Fireworks display night is back Saturday 5th November
Shadow Brewing
Other than the Tap Room Talks, regular hours are Fri & Sat 6-10pm
Check out Shadow’s Facebook site for dates and times of the mid-week Taproom Talks
https://www.facebook.com/shadowbrewing
Tap House
Live acoustic music sessions Sunday evenings
Kids eat for £1 – 7 days a week 12-7pm – 23rd July to 9th September (With every adult burger and fries purchased) 2 children can eat for £1 each from the kids’ menu. Eating in only.
Management discretion at all times.
Monday is Burger offer day (midday to 9.30pm) – burger, fries and a drink for £8.95
Ale Club Midday to 5pm Mon to Thurs. All pints of cask ale are £2.80
Quiz Night every Tues at 8.15pm (incl Play your cards right):
1st Place – £50 Otley Burger Co Voucher
2nd Place – £20 Bar Tab
3rd Place – £15 O’Fresh Voucher
Picture Round – £10 O’Deli Voucher
All shots £2.50!!!
New cask ales regularly – check out https://www.facebook.com/theotleytaphouse for what’s on today
Just announced! Oktoberfest 2022 at The Otley Tap House on Friday 14th October
Steins, currywurst (!) and Bratwurst and of course a Bavarian Oompah Band!
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/october-fest-at-the-taps-tickets-412986683287
Or at the bar – One drink included with every ticket
Tavern
Opening Times:
Monday to Thursday: 11am to 10.30pm (Monday close 7pm)
Friday to Sunday: 11am to 11.30pm
Wednesday Quiz Night start at 8pm
Karaoke Friday nights and Sunday afternoons
Great drink offers – Happy Hour(s) – Monday all day! Tuesday to Friday 4pm to 7pm – 50p off beers
Free pool Tuesdays – other times 50p per game
Check out events on their Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/theotleytav
Whitakers Arms
NEW OPENING HOURS FOR BAR & KITCHEN
A message from Andy & Monica:
“We apologise to all our customers. Our amended times are due to staff shortages and also the outrageous increase in the cost of utilities. We shall stay open later whenever possible. Thank you for your understanding”
Bar Opening Times:
Monday & Tuesday: 11.30am to 6pm
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 11.30am to 6pm
Friday: Midday to 10pm
Saturday: Midday to 11pm
Sunday: Midday to 6pm
Kitchen hours:
Every day Midday to 3pm (except closed Weds)
Happy hour(s) – Mon to Fri 4pm to 7pm 50p off selected pints and £1 off bottles of wine – Great stuff!
Sad to hear that Jack will be leaving Whits to take up a new managerial position in Ilkley. Their gain is our loss. Accordingly, Andy and Monica have decided to amend their opening hours. But it’s not all bad news. Expect a new event on Thursday afternoons – something quite new to Otley and we hope it will be very successful – more info when we get it!
White Swan
Watch Social Media for regular upcoming live acoustic sessions. https://www.facebook.com/thewhiteswan_otley
All the big screen sports are on!
Open daily Midday to 11pm
Yew Tree
Seniors’ Lunch every Thursday 12 until 2pm – JUST £3.99! Extensive menu. Add a dessert for just £1.50 – also, hot and cold drinks offers! Brilliant stuff!
The Hoot, an on-line news site “A bird’s-eye view of Leeds and surrounding areas” has The Yew Tree in the top 5 “The best places in Leeds to get a carvery Sunday roast” – brilliant stuff again!
https://www.facebook.com/yewtreeotley
The Yew Tree are massive dog lovers, and now have a new ‘doggy carvery’ every Sunday from midday to 4pm. When you eat, your best friend can eat alongside you!!! Just £1.50 per dog for meat scraps, healthy veggies and a little gravy! (All proceeds donated to Moorview Rescue).
All new Quiz Night starts on SUNDAY at the earlier time of 8.30pm. New format, new prizes and free supper! Also, new Eliminator following quiz, with Jackpot builder!
Opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 4pm – 11.30pm
Thursday: 12pm – 11.30pm
Friday& Saturday: 2pm – 11.30pm
Sunday: 12pm – 11.30pm
But here’s a recurring plea to all the landlords in town – please drop us a line to info@otleypubclub.co.uk if there’s something you want us to put in the newsletter! Although we try to share all your social media posts, we don’t sit reading Facebook and Twitter all day every day and scanning them all every month when we’re producing the news for our 700 readers takes hours. Worse than that, some of the media – even on websites – might be out of date, but we have no real way of knowing, so we might be giving out completely wrong information!
Also please note that the offers and prices are correct to the best of our knowledge. Please check with the venue whilst ordering. OPC cannot be responsible for any discrepancies.
AND FINALLY….
We had originally thought of highlighting a pub each month, but events overtook us, but we’re happy to introduce the topic again. This month it’s the Red Lion on Kirkgate.
This month we visited Rachael Greenwood, the new manageress at The Red Lion on Kirkgate, who’s now been at the pub for 6 months. Even in that short time she’s built up a regular and loyal clientele who love the friendly atmosphere in the pub. The Red Lion is one of the traditional old town centre pubs of Otley and is believed to have been an inn since the middle of the 18th century. It still has the original Georgian frontage and was one of 20 inns in Otley in 1822 – and originally had stabling for 26 horses.
Rachael has moved here from The Sailor in Addingham, which she ran for 7 years until the pub had to close because of Covid-19 restrictions. She moved on to The Red Lion and is thoroughly enjoying life in Otley, and her customers have quickly taken to her as well. Under her stewardship the pub is a friendly and welcoming place – for people and for dogs, as was obvious from the massive Komondor lying by the bar when we visited! The front entrance from Kirkgate is completely level so, unlike some of the older pubs in town, it is completely accessible (and as if to prove it, someone in an electric wheelchair came in while we were there!) Unfortunately, the old interior design of the pub means the toilets are not accessible, with the ladies especially being up a steepish flight of stairs. (Mind you, the owner of the Komondor said she had recently broken her ankle and couldn’t manage the stairs, so she was allowed to use the gents downstairs while one of the male customers stood outside on guard!)
And that gives you an idea of how friendly and accommodating the pub is. So much so that our secretary was moved to give away to another customer the free pint that he won while playing ‘chase the ace’! (Free to play in the afternoon whenever you buy a pint. If the card you choose turns out to be an ace, your next drink is free!)
Not that the prices would frighten anyone off in any case – John Smiths and some other drinks on offer are only £2:10 a pint, as you would expect from a Craft Union pub (The Red Lion’s parent company). There are other drinks offers too, on a range of bottles including wine. And if that doesn’t tempt you, there’s free pool all day on Wednesdays, and a DJ every Friday and Saturday night!
There’s big screen TVs around for all your live sporting events and open fires in the colder months.
The only things they don’t have is real ale and quizzes. Rachael opens the doors every day from 10:30am until 11 at night, and midnight on Friday. So, if you’ve never visited, why not give The Red Lion a try sometime? And watch out for that big white Hungarian sheepdog!
Check out some more history on The Red Lion on our website: http://www.otleypubclub.co.uk/otley-pubs-present/the-red-lion
If you can add any items of history for this or any of our pubs, please get in touch info@otleypubclub.co.uk
A massive THANK YOU!!! Otley Pub Club’s JustGiving campaign was launched in July and we are delighted by the donations we’ve received so far – from far and wide!! Remember, our only source of income previously has been our Premier Membership card, which offered discounts at local pubs and bars. We decided post-Covid that this was not in the best interest of our hard-working publicans to beg them for money off when finances were tight. Even more so now in the economic crisis we all face. So we have temporarily suspended the Card scheme.
All of the contributions have provided valuable funds (primarily to pay off long standing debt) for us as we continue our aim of promoting and protecting Otley’s great pubs and bringing in much needed revenue to all businesses in the town generally. BUT, we haven’t closed the appeal. More funds would allow us to do more promotions.
We understand times are hard, but just the price of small round of drinks would help us tremendously. Every little helps. Thank you in advance.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/otleypubclub?utm_term=pAn9rRjkX
Otley Pub Club meet up in a different pub in Otley on the first Thursday of every month to discuss anything and everything happening in Otley and in it’s pubs, and everybody is welcome to join us. We start at about 7pm to discuss any semi-formal stuff, then finish with that at 8pm and spend the rest of the evening chatting about whatever comes up. We’ll usually visit 3 pubs during the evening
So, if you fancy perhaps seeing the inside of a pub that you’ve never been in; or you’ve got a burning issue about Otley’s pubs that you’ve been dying to share; or maybe if you just fancy a drink and a chat and all your mates are doing something else; check out the times on our Facebook event page for our next meeting and you can join us at any time in any of the pubs along the way.
We’ll be in these pubs and at least one of us will be wearing something black with an obvious Otley Pub Club logo on it so we’re recognisable!
Next Pub Club Social: Thursday 6th October 2022. Venues and times will be posted on our Social Media nearer the time. Watch out for the Facebook event.
Well folks, that’s it for this month. Please remember, if you want to get in touch email to info@otleypubclub.co.uk, or why not come along to one of our monthly socials…
Cheers for now. See you all out and about in our #FamousPubTown
The OPC Committee
www.otleypubclub.co.uk
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