October ’21 Newsletter


Original image by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay 

Ottley Pub Club October ’21 Newsletter

Hello, welcome to the October newsletter, and a special welcome to our new members.

The late summer sunny days we were hoping for in September certainly arrived, and there have even been some at the beginning of October. We hope you made the most of them, as there have also been a couple of days already, when some pubs have lit their fires for the first time this Autumn!

Some of the pubs and bars in Otley still have hand sanitiser available at the door as well as the NHS QR code, and sometimes a sign saying that masks are still recommended but not compulsory. But a quick trip round town and a visit into a pub or two will soon let you see that most customers are now comfortable going mask free. Nevertheless, we should all remember that the virus hasn’t disappeared, and be ready to be a bit more careful if it looks as though someone near us is feeling less comfortable than we are.

You’ll see from our cover picture that it’s that spooky time of year again, and we’ve got something very special happening on the eve of All Hallows Eve. More details below.

We’ve been a bit short of resources this month, and we’ve had to produce the newsletter in a bit of a rush. We’ve still tried to find out as much as we can about offers and events, but the best way to keep up to date with them is to follow our facebook page, and watch out for announcements on Twitter and Instagram as well.

Did you notice we have called this edition The ‘Ottley’ Pub Club newsletter? The reason you’ll discover in our ‘And Finally’ section towards the end of this edition!
 
UPCOMING EVENTS

Halloween Ghost Walk
The exciting news this month is that a group of people called The Pub Wanderers, who are interested in walks, and in pubs, and often in both together, have teamed up with Otley Pub Club to promote walks that anyone can join in with. The first one will be on Saturday October 30, and will be an easy stroll round the streets of Otley hearing tales of grisly murder and haunted pubs! It will start as soon as it gets dark (about 4pm)

and naturally it will involve stopping in a pub or two for a story and a drink. Watch out for more details on our social media platforms as exact times, itinerary [and pubs!] are finalised. Numbers might have to be restricted to make the story-telling manageable, so watch out for details of that as well. If you would like to register an interest, please drop us an email at info@otleypubclub.co.uk and we can reserve you a place.

Bonfire Night
You might have seen already that The Royalty have cancelled their usual bonfire and fireworks display, but look at their entry in pub events below for their special bonfire menu! We don’t know yet whether any other pubs are putting on special events that weekend.

Otley Beer Festival
It’s now looking virtually certain that there WILL be a beer festival in Otley this year. You might have seen the notices from OBF themselves saying there would be an announcement coming soon. We don’t know exactly what form it will take yet, nor exactly when it will take place [and even if we did, we’d want OBF to make that announcement first, rather than stealing their glory!] But I’m sure they won’t mind me leaking that it will probably be in November as usual, and that it’s going to be different [but exciting!] this year.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022
Another event that’s not exactly happening this month – but bear with us! Otley Pub Club were represented at a meeting in Otley this month, along with members of other major organisations and societies in town, to discuss how Otley might celebrate Queen Elizabeth having reigned for 70 years. Whether you’re a royalist or republican, you have to admit that’s a pretty amazing achievement, and we hope the whole town will get right behind whatever happens in Otley next summer.

You’ll no doubt hear lots more about this over the coming months, but the main facts are that the Spring Bank Holiday will be moved from Monday May 30 to Thursday June 2, and there will be an extra Bank Holiday on Friday June 3 to make an extra long weekend. The formal programme for the weekend, which includes Her Majesty’s engagements, can be seen at https://www.royal.uk/platinum-jubilee-central-weekend . The reason we’re letting you know about it so far in advance is so that if you have any brilliant ideas about how the pubs can get directly involved in the celebrations, you can let us know now and we can feed the ideas into the next town meetings.

We did think about different pubs dressing up in the clothes and style of different decades from the Queen’s reign. [We don’t think we could persuade them to re-introduce prices from the 50s and 60s though!] There’s also the old idea of re-naming all the pubs {‘The Queen Elizabeth II’?], which might be getting a bit stale now, but does usually get good publicity for the town. But there’s only a handful of us, and there are hundreds of you reading this, so if you’ve got any ideas please do let us know.

Otley Carnival
Again a bit far in the future, and again not really our story to tell. But as there were two people at the Otley Pub Club October meeting who had just joined the carnival committee, and who reported that there was likely to be a carnival again in 2022, we think that’s good news that we can all enjoy!

PUB NEWS

Staffing
It can’t have escaped your notice that a large number of pubs have been advertising for staff over the last few weeks. Not just bar staff either – managers, kitchen staff and chefs as well, all seem to be in short supply at the moment. Of course hospitality isn’t the only sector suffering, and the official line on lorry drivers, agricultural workers and the rest seems to be that this will force employers to offer improved pay and working conditions, now the pool of European workers who might be happy with less have all gone home. This is just impossible in pubs that have been hit hard by more than a year and a half of various restrictions on trade, that have left a lot of them just about hanging on financially.

So all we can say is this – if you have to wait a bit longer for your drinks, or if your food takes a few minutes more to arrive, please think twice before having a go at the people serving you. They might have been covering more than one job, and been rushed off their feet for hours. One manager we spoke to this week said she was working almost 70 hours a week because of shortages, and she’s probably not the only one. [And if you fancy a job, I’m sure there are a few pubs around town that would be pleased to hear from you!]

Keeping Updated
Although we try to keep our eyes and ears open for up to date news of opening hours and events in all the pubs, and share it when we can, it’s obviously so much easier for each pub to update their own information. So, although we’ll continue to gather as much as we can into one place for you, here are links to all the individual pubs’ active facebook pages we could find, in case you want to find out about any one specific pub. [Assuming you have access to facebook, of course! If not, read on.]

BLACK BULL
BLACK HORSE
FLEECE
GROOVE PAD
HORSE AND FARRIER
JUNCTION
MANOR HOUSE
NORTH BAR SOCIAL
OLD COCK
OTLEY TAP HOUSE
OTLEY TAVERN
RED LION
ROEBUCK
ROYALTY
WHITAKERS
WHITE SWAN
YEW TREE

PUB EVENTS

BAY HORSE
The Bay Horse Bazaar is a local makers and street food market, situated in the Bay Horse Court and will take place on the last Sunday of each month, and every Sunday in December.

BLACK BULL
Karaoke night every Friday

BLACK HORSE

  • Monday: 12:00 – 23:00
  • Tuesday: 12:00 – 23:00
  • Wednesday: 12:00 – 23:00
  • Thursday: 12:00 – 23:00
  • Friday: 12:00 – 01:00
  • Saturday: 12:00 – 01:00
  • Sunday: 11:30 – 23:00

Guest rooms are ready and open for bookings now! A range of rooms available, you can book by calling 01943 465950 or emailing us on booking@theblackhorseotley.co.uk
New menu was launched at the end of September

FLEECE
New winter opening times from Monday 11th October 2021

  • Monday – closed
  • Tuesday – closed
  • Wednesday – 11.30am-10.30pm
  • Thursday -11.30am-10.30pm
  • Friday -11.30am-10.30pm
  • Saturday -11.30am-10.30pm
  • Sunday -11.30am-6.30pm

Food times served

  • Monday – closed
  • Tuesday – closed
  • Wednesday – 12-8.45pm
  • Thursday – 12-8.45pm
  • Friday – 12-8.45pm
  • Saturday – 12-8.45pm
  • Sunday – 12-5pm
  • The Fleece will be closed from Monday 3rd January 2022 and reopen on Wednesday 12th January 2022 at 11.30am

Also a date for your dairy Bookings (Call on 01943 514886 to book or email thefleeceotley@outlook.com)
Bookings are taken for food dinners ONLY inside, and outside is walk ins only. Your table will be allocated for 2 AND A HALF HOURS but we will let your table go if more than 15 minutes late.
Last booking for food is 15 minutes before end of food service
Thanks again for all your support.

GROOVE PAD

  • Monday: CLOSED
  • Tuesday: 14:00 – 23:30
  • Wednesday: 14:00 – 23:30
  • Thursday: 14:00 – 23:30
  • Friday: 12:00 – 23:30
  • Saturday: 12:00 – 23:30
  • Sunday: 12:00 – 23:30

Quiz night every Wednesday at 20:30

HORSE AND FARRIER
Some confusion about opening hours, which are shown differently on the facebook page and the Market Town Taverns [parent group] website! Probably best to go by the ones in our September newsletter for now.
New winter menu just launched

JUNCTION
A traditional pub serving top quality ales, lagers, and a great selection of wines and spirits.
Live music every Tuesday and Saturday night, that starts at 8:30pm on both nights.

  • Open from midday to 11pm seven days a week

MANOR HOUSE

  • Currently closed from Monday to Thursday . . .

 . . . but make up for it by live music and late opening at the weekend. Watch out for details on their media.

NORTH BAR SOCIAL

  • Opens at midday every day and closes at 11pm, except for Friday and Saturday [midnight] and Sunday [10pm]

OLD COCK

  • Easiest opening hours to remember – 11am to 11pm every day.

Easiest place to find if you’re travelling to Otley by bus – almost directly opposite the bus station.
Easiest place to find a wide choice of cask ales – new ones on the bar virtually every day.

OTLEY TAP HOUSE
The Tap House describes itself as “the all new live music lounge in the centre of Otley! With wide variety of drinks and great burgers, the Otley Tap House is the place to be.” And that doesn’t even mention the changing real ales on the bar, or the sport on big screens inside and out!
Far too many special food and drink offers and live events in October to list here, but they’re all at https://otleytaphouse.com/whats-on

  • Open every day from midday to midnight, apart from Sunday closure at 10:30pm

RED LION
A Craft Union pub, so great beer at great prices, with great sport on their big screens.
Free pool every Wednesday from 5pm onwards!

  • Open every day from 11am to 10pm, except Friday, Saturday and Sunday closing at 11pm

ROEBUCK
A brisk 20 minute walk up the hill over the river, and dating back to 1783, it’s been a pub since 1852, but its food and drinks offers are bang up to date! Real ales from Black Sheep to continental and guest beers and an extensive wine list including over 30 different wines. Their menus – including the festive menu available from December 1 to 23! – are on their facebook page, and website at http://www.roebuckpub.co.uk/our-food/

  • Closed on Monday during the winter
  • Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 to 22:00
  • Sunday – 11:00 to 20:00

ROYALTY
Following advice from Leeds City Council the annual Bonfire Night celebration won’t be taking place this year. However there will be a bonfire night inspired set menu available. It will be £35 per person for four courses and the menu is:
Starters
Mini Pork Pie with Minted Mushy Pea Puree
Roast Pumpkin Soup with Bread Roll
Brie Bites with Smoked Onion Chutney
Mains
Minted Lamb Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Lid
Beef Cheek Ragu with Spring Onion Mash
Moroccan Vegetable Tagine with Flat Bread
Dessert
Homemade Parkin with Custard
Toffee Apple Bread & Butter Pudding with Cream
4th Course
Tea, Coffee or Glass of Mulled Cider
Although there won’t be a firework display at the pub, the conservatory is still the best place to see fireworks displays in the distance.
Please get in touch to book your table now. info@the-royalty.co.uk, 01943 463732

  • Current opening hours midday to 7pm daily, except Saturday open at 11:30am

TAVERN
In many ways the Otley Tavern is a ‘hidden gem’ of Otley’s pub scene, being tucked away where it is at the top end of Newmarket between the obvious beer gardens of North Bar Social and Wetherspoons. And yet it’s a friendly town centre pub in a building that dates back to the mid-1700s serving good well-kept real ales and showing major sports on TV. Live music, quizzes and Sunday dinners as well – check their media for updates.

  • Open every day from midday to 10pm

WHITAKERS
Next quiz night Thursday October 14.

  • Monday: 12:00 – 21:00
  • Tuesday: 12:00 – 21:00
  • Wednesday: CLOSED
  • Thursday: 12:00 – 21:00
  • Friday: 12:00 – 23:00
  • Saturday: 12:00 – 23:00
  • Sunday: 12:00 – 18:00

WHITE SWAN
Check their media regularly for details of drinks offers, quizzes and live music

  • Open from midday to 11pm seven days a week.

YEW TREE
This is a fairly new pub, having opened circa 1970/71. It is a 17th century building that was originally a farm and converted into the Yew Tree Pub which has a tradition of being a friendly community local north of the river opposite Prince Henry Grammar School.  Current landlady Julia is a local lass who used to accompany her father as a young girl to the Yew Tree and consequently has a long association with the pub and its customers.

  • Open from 4pm to 11:30pm Monday to Wednesday, midday to 23:30 Thursday to Sunday.

Watch their media for Karaoke nights; Quiz nights; special-priced seniors’ meals; and coming up, Christmas party nights.

As usual, there is so much news that we can’t really cram it all in – live music, great food and drink, karaoke and open mics, sport on TV and so much more in the pubs of our #famouspubtown!

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!

AND FINALLY………

Why did we call this the Ottley Pub Club Newsletter? Well, it’s in honour of our very good friend Gerry Ottley from Horsham in West Sussex (of course!). Gerry stayed for the weekend in September with Nicky and Darren at the lovely Chevin End Guest House, who always treat him royally. Resplendent in his Otley Pub Club sweatshirt and cap, the committee and friends were happy to meet with Gerry during the weekend as we toured the town centre pubs – I think we manged a good number! He even had a tour of the beautiful Dales before his departure and was mightily impressed by all the stone walls! We bade Gerry a fond farewell on his 3rd trip up north and look forward to welcoming him back in the New Year! Cheers Gerry! Stay safe and well my friend.

So here we are, another month closer to the second [or third] Christmas of Covid-19, but at least this year the restrictions have been able to be eased because of the vaccination programme, and we can all look forward to more traditional pub and party celebrations in a couple of months’ time. Still, who knows what other variants might be thrown at us now that more people are travelling internationally, and what that might do to numbers of infections?

Ooh dear! I didn’t mean to leave on a depressing note, so instead let’s look forward to a happy Halloween ghost walk, which I hope some of you will join. We’re planning for it to be free, but we won’t turn down any financial contributions at the end!

Also, remember that we’re looking for [serious!] suggestions about what the pubs could do to celebrate the Queen’s 70th anniversary next June – everybody loves a good party, and after 2 years of Covid we’ll all deserve one.

And before you go, do remember that you can join us every month on the first Thursday in a pub or two in Otley. It was great to see some new faces at the October meeting, and none of them turned to stone or were sold to a travelling circus after meeting us! You never know, you might actually enjoy a night out in Otley with an opportunity to tell us what we SHOULD be doing to put the world to rights! We’ll look forward to meeting you in the Black Horse at 8pm on Thursday November the 4th.

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