Improved Pub Awards - 2014

Every now and then Keighley & Craven CAMRA present an “Improved Pub Award” to an establishment in the branch area which members consider merits special recognition for an increase in the range and quality of cask-conditioned ales on sale, or, in some cases, starting to sell such ales where previously there were none. In September 2014, one such award was presented to the Tarn House Country Inn, Stirton, Skipton.

A Place in the Country

Improved Pub is an award given by Keighley and Craven CAMRA to an establishment that has put some effort into improving the real ale landscape of the branch. The Tarn House Country Inn isn‘t bristling with superb real ales but now serves 3 real ales in good nick which is hopefully a sustainable level to the market it now caters for. If more people support it then who knows what for the future. The Tarn House has served real ale in the past. Indeed the editor of this publication attended his first Keighley and Craven meeting here an undisclosed number of years ago. (It‘s unclear if this is before or after the siege of Skipton Castle by the Roundheads). Real ale was taken out during a period of steady decline to the point where we wouldn‘t have been surprised if the bar had closed before being revitalised and refurbished to what it is now.

Originally a manor house with extensive grounds, Tarn House was built around 1650 AD and then extended in the mid-1800s. The house was converted to an hotel in the 1970s and the grounds are now a caravan park and, although you may pass avenues of caravans on the way up the long drive, you hardly see them as you sit in the beer garden and sup your ale, looking out across the extensive lawns to the front. It‘s an excellent spot for wildlife: On our visits we have heard woodpeckers hammering away, seen sparrows, blackbirds, treecreepers and tits of various types and “not bothered” bunnies on the lawn. This summer, a pair of swallows have moved in for this season above the door in the entrance hall. (The bar man changes the cardboard underneath as required!)

Tarn House is situated approximately 2 miles from Skipton town centre, just outside the bypass. If you‘re staying in the hotel or camp site, it‘s a steady downhill stroll into Skipton itself with a number of walks in other directions towards Grassington or Embsay, if you want to work up a thirst.. (The down side of being downhill into town is, of course, it‘s all uphill coming back!)

The bar is of a quite modern style. A single hand pump appeared a year or two ago, and, as trade has improved, the pubs has extended the range and introduced a third pump this July. The range is from Carlsberg Tetley. Martin, the bar manager, says the Tetley Mild is a frequent request, so he tries to get that on every 2 weeks or so. Beyond that, Anything from the CT list could appear, often by customer request. In the summer season, food is served every day from 12 - 2 and on Sunday there is a roast carvery from 12 - 3. There are evening meals from 5 - 8 Fri-Sat. Live entertainment is on the last Saturday of the month.

Accommodation is available at the hotel with 10 rooms, some with 4 poster beds, and the caraven site has pitches for up to 16 vans, all with electric hook-ups, water, drainage and TV connection point.

The bar is open 12-2, 5–11 Mon-Thu; 12-2, 5-11.30 Fri; 12-11.30 Sat; 12-10.30 Sun. As the clientele are primarily from the caravan park, the bar is seasonal. From the end of October to mid-December it is only open weekends and usually only stocks one real ale. It is closed from mid-December until Valentine‘s Day.

Tarn House Country Inn, Stirton, near Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 3LQ. Tel: 01756 795309. Keep up to date with the Tarn House on WhatPub.