The Mitre, Knaresborough

One of the best pubs on my Usual Suspects crawl, particularly when the sun is shining and yopu can sit on the rather small patio in front of the station and watch the trains come and go. Lots of good beers on offer and I have yet to have a bad pint. I'd recommend the Wainwrights to anyone, and at 4.1% and �2.64 per pint is excellent. A recent addition has been Timothy Taylor's Golden Best, which is only about 3.6%, but a little more expensive than the Wainwrights, is a refreshing and easy drinking beer that won't have you falling over.
I must try to experiment with some of the other beers before the end of the summer, as the Locally brewed Black Sheep is supposed to be good. The problem is that if I try too many, I'd never make it up the hill to the square for Blind Jacks. The food looks good, though I have never tried anything from the menu, and there are usually meal deals to tempt the hungry traveller. It always seems busy, the staff are friendly, but service can sometimes be a little slow, though I think this is mainly due to the number of staff for the size of the bar. Patience will be rewarded with delicious beers, and it is great for anyone coming from Leeds or York as the station is a short wobble across the road.

21 Jun 2010 16:38

Mother Shipton Inn, Knaresborough

My second call on my Usual Suspects trail, and now called The Dropping Well is a quaint old pub, with Theakston's Best and Old Peculiar as regulars, with the occasional decent guest ales such as Deuchars or Hopback Summer Lightning. Sadly on my first visit the Summer Lightning went off, and so had the Best, so I was saddled with Old Peculiar, which isn't my favourite tipple, but a good pint nontheless. Service is usually pleasant but perfunctory, and I have yet to be tempted to eat there, though I look at the dishes on offer and wonder if they are as goods as they sound. Too many pubs want to serve food that is covered in a 'jus' of some description, when I'd be happy to settle for gravy instead. After that I move back over the bridge to walk along Waterside to The Mitre.

21 Jun 2010 16:30

George and Dragon Inn, Knaresborough

This is the first pub I visit on my Usual Suspects crawl on a Wednesday evening, and despite the slightly jaded and shabby interior, there are usually some good quality ales on offer. I've sampled Daleside, a blonde beer coming in at a whomping 5.9% and at only �2.60 per pint it is a really great drink as a one off, but now I tend to favour the York brewed 'Guzzler', which is more of a session beer and doesn't have you platting your legs after moving on down the hill...

21 Jun 2010 16:25

Blind Jacks, Knaresborough

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.

21 Jun 2010 16:09