please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The first of the pubs we visited in Knaresborough last week and possibly the busiest so we offered to share our upstairs table with Ken and Wendy who are well known in the world of folk music. The Black Sheep Bitter was in excellent condition.
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Closed (coranavirus), but now doing beer/wine delivery via their new website.
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Blind Jack’s eluded me on my last visit to Knaresborough as it was a Tuesday afternoon and it didn’t open until 5pm so I missed it, that wasn’t g to happen this time.
A couple of punters in when we arrived, the bar is in front of you as you enter then there’s another room to the right and 2 further rooms upstairs as well as the ladies toilets, the gents toilets are in the outside courtyard to the rear.
Young friendly barman was only too happy to talk through the ales and allow some tasting, which was good for the wife so she could make the right decision! There’s 9 ales on with 4 on from Bad Brewing Co in nearby Dishforth, my pint of their Dazed and Confused with a 5.5% abv was superb.
We only stopped here for 30 minutes before we had to head off but this was the best of the 3 pubs I visited in Knaresborough in the afternoon, good choice of ales, friendly locals, central Market Place location the perfect place to shop.
Another visit is definitely needed to this pub.
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Unbeknown the day we went was the annual bed racing day where the town heaves with visitors. I thought the pub handled the crowds well but we would love to go back on a quieter day. They brew on the premises although none was available on our visit. having said that the choice of local micros made up for that. The pub has a main room with bar and other parlour style room adjoining. Recommended.
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Nice pub - but the young lass behind the bar spoilt it for me. Obviously a student just guesting, but none the less had a poor attitude. Bit pricey as well, much better pubs nearby.
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VERY good pub with several small rooms, bare brick walls and a key position at the southeast end of the Market Place, where you may be able to park if need be. Definitely a pub where friends meet for a good conversation and the ale fans are well supplied with anything from a dark mild to Knaresborough Mea Culpa (7.5%) and most styles in between.
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Great pub. Always a good selection of real ales. Good selection of pub food, dog friendly, and the owners are great. Not sure why there are bad reviews about the owners but I believe they are very friendly. Great pub, well worth a visit.
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definitely NOT the best pub in Knaresborough, the Mitre & the Cross Keys are much better! Blind Jacks is a small dingey pub with a decent selection of real ales but the landlord is not very welcoming especially if you're in a group, raise your voice & you are told in no uncertain terms to be quiet!
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good pub this, good selection of ale, a good pub to sit in and quaff beer, well worth a visit.
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I am a local to , Blind Jacks , and have been drinking there for over 9 years .
The comments about the staff and management turning groups away are true , however , when I have been in on weekends and groups have come in .
They are always refused in a polite manner , then the usual procedure is that someone within the group mouths off and expects it to be well received .
Well unlucky !!!
As I have already said , I have been drinking there for over nine years , and the reason why groups are refused is because generally they get loud and roudy and don't particularly care when somebody asks them to quieten down or refrain from using foul language .
I hope they carry on with this policy as it protects the decent drinker from the annoying rowdy groups you find in most other pubs .
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Not the cheapest pub in the area but an excellent selection of ales, so well worth a visit. Dog friendly too.
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sinful855 - This day in question was a Saturday afternoon and the pub at the time didn't seem busy. Like I said if it is just you and your partner then you are welcomed with a smile but if you are within a group save yourself the embarrassment of being turned away and avoid!!!!
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I have been lodging in Knaresborough since April of this year (2010) and every Wednesday I have set off on my 'Usual Suspects' crawl, which has increased in the number of pubs visited as I find more, but Blind Jacks is always my last port of call. The selection of beers is always excellent, usually well kept and conditioned but slightly pricey. I can get the same beers back in Sheffield for about 40p to 60 p per pint cheaper than they sell it here, but it is in no way a rudely run pub, and I have seen many fairly large parties welcomed into it. I myself was a new custoner and was welcomed with a cheery smile and pleasant service, so don't know why TC2 had a bad experience...maybe a Friday night is a busy night.
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When first entering this pub you will first get the impression of a typical old fashioned, friendly staff welcoming new customers, this is the case if it is just you and your partner, that's not the case if you have more that 2 people in your group. We were rudely turned away even though we had a disabled member in our group. Blind Jacks do not welcome new customers nor are they welcoming and friendly, warning unless you are a local avoid this pub!!!‎
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Excellent pub on three levels. Any ale-drinkers heading to or near Knaresborough should go.
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Only had time on this visit for one pint, but what a good impression the place made. All the positive comments have got it spot on. Would love to go back and have a full session sometime!
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Hard to fault this place, always a good pint to be had
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It may look the oldest but it is probably the youngest pub in Knaresborough, being established in an old shop in the 1990s by Ian Fozard (of Market Tavern fame and also the Mitre down the hill by the station.) Now I think it is in the hands of Rooster's as their only tied house (but with the same extensive range of other beers) and they have re-introduced food with a limited range of bar snacks, which seem to be very much appreciated by the punters, particularly the cheese platter. Dedicated to quality - a wonderful pub!
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Great little pub with good range of well kept beers including smart selection of guests. Wife and I were on the hunt for a particular Roosters beer today and so visited Knaresborough. In discussion with the staff they told us it would be on tap in a couple of days but because we couldn't come back they filled us a 4 pint carry-out from the cellar. We were blown away by the friendly service and the staff's enthusiasm and knowledge. Can't wait to revisit. Highly recommended,
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The best pub for beer in Knaresborough but not food. They really need to sort out the Gents toilet so it is at least out of public view! I like the dark wooden interior.
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Erstwhile GBG listed real ale specialist pub, it has lost none of its quality although it has become a little too popular with rather precious, light drinking members of the middle classes. Dog and family friendly, perhaps too friendly considering I tripped over a dog, and a buggy wielding mother in quick succession whilst attempting a quiet drink. The place is not as old as it looks but it has the feel of a much loved old pub with two tiny rooms downstairs plus further seating areas upstairs. Low ceilings, beams, wooden panelling and traditional pub furniture combined with old photographs of Knaresborough complete the ancient atmosphere. There are 9 handpulls of very well kept beers from small breweries plus two fine European beers, including the gorgeous Scheinder Weisse on keg, no sign of Fosters or any other UK keg beer. The obligatory beer list on a blackboard by the bar is accompanied by a limited food list of cheese and pate platters and perhaps sadly for an high quality ale house, a wine list. Ladies toilets upstairs and Gents facilities in a garden shed out the back. Probably the only must visit pub in Knaresborough.
anonymous - 20 May 2009 14:40 |
Agree with all the positive reviews - really glad I visited after seeing recommendations on BITE; will definitely go out of my way to go back. Friendly, cosy, good beer selection.
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Superb. Excellent ale, excellent atmosphere. A gem.
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A popular place with locals and visitors. Small, so you will end up sharing a table with strangers, which is a good think. Not an old pub though, this place opened in the late 80s. I always visit when in Knaresboro'
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Great real ale pub. Beer selection excellent, well kept beer small so can be very busy at times. No music, gambling machines etc.. Just good beer and conversation.
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Would echo all of what is said below, beer range is first class, atmosphere civilised and staff efficient and helpful.Situation overlooking square also helps.
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champion little pub. Can get really crowded. Entertainment would make it top mark - but would probably divert from the quality ale and olde worlde feel.
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Definitely the best pub in Knaresborough and one of the best pubs in the area too. Always a superb selection of real ales that change regularly. Friendly "grown up" atmosphere i.e. no-one under 21 and no loud "dance" music. Oozes charm & character with friendly bar staff and friendly clientele. Looks out onto the market square in the centre of town.
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Great pub - real olde worlde feel to it; serves real ales (White Boar being my personal favourite) - has a no smoking room upstairs. No food (3 flavours of crisps only!) but great atmosphere. Friendly too. Arguably the best pub in Knaresborough if you like no music and good beer.
Stu Mitchell - 6 Oct 2004 23:29 |
Good real ale pub ( baout 8 choices on tap), no music, gets quite busy at night, rooms spread over 3 floors, with non smoking updstairs, great place. about 0.55 miles from the station
andy - 26 Sep 2003 19:54 |
