If you enjoy reading please consider “buying me a pint”, this will help to cover my hosting and image hosting and help to ensure further trips can go ahead!
BUY ME A PINT
The Spa Town Prescription: Beer
I spent the day drifting around Harrogate, popping into a mix of old favourites and newer independent spots, and it was a really easy way to see how good the town’s drinking scene has become. From historic pubs and station bars to laid-back craft places and micropubs, everywhere felt different but welcoming. Some were cosy and full of character, others lighter and more modern, but all were places you could happily sit and stay a while. The beer was consistently solid too, with great cask and keg choices throughout. Overall, it just felt like a relaxed, confident scene that’s grown naturally over time.
Harrogate started out as a bit of a curiosity thanks to its famously odd-smelling spring water. Back in the 16th century, people decided drinking it might be good for them, and before long word spread. By Victorian times, Harrogate was booming, with visitors arriving to take the waters, stroll about, and show off a bit. Grand hotels, pump rooms and parks popped up, giving the town its polished look. The railway arriving in 1862 really put it on the map. These days the spa culture has faded, but the town’s charm and relaxed confidence are still very much there.
Harrogate Tap
My first visit was to The Harrogate Tap. The Harrogate Tap sits in a reopened part of Harrogate railway station, brought back into use in 2011 after standing largely unused for years. Before that, the space reflected the gradual rundown of traditional station facilities in the late twentieth century. Step further back and it was once part of the station’s refreshment rooms, a normal stop for travellers in the busy days of rail. The building dates from the late nineteenth century, when Harrogate was booming as a Victorian spa town. The station itself opened in 1862, changing the town’s future by linking it to the wider country.
Inside The Harrogate Tap, it feels like an old station room that’s been smartly brought back into use rather than completely reworked. The ceilings are high, the windows tall, and you’re always aware of the railway just outside. Dark wood panelling, tiled floors, and a mix of small tables, booths, and bar seating give the space a practical layout without fuss. Traditional lighting, fireplaces, and a few railway-era details nod to the building’s past without labouring the point. The room is open and relaxed, with a sense of comfort and craftsmanship that suits its station setting.
On the bar a fantastic selection of 12 cask ales alongside a large range of keg choices ranging in styles and strengths. Further choices are available in cans and bottles. I went with “Weavers” from Amity Brew Co. A fantastic, easy drinking and sessionable Pale Ale.
Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen
A short walk brought me next to Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen. Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen sits in a building on Oxford Street that dates back to 1814, when it was known as Priory Cottage with a small milking barn attached. Over the years, the space changed with the town, taking on different uses before its latest chapter began. In 2016 it reopened as Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen, quickly becoming known for great coffee, craft beer and relaxed all-day food. A smart expansion in 2022 added more room without losing its charm. Today, Starling is a go-to spot for casual drinks, brunch, quizzes and catching up.
Inside is relaxed and welcoming, with a light, open feel that’s easy to settle into. Pale walls, warm panelling and wooden floors keep things bright, while soft pendant lights and exposed details add a bit of character. Seating is a mix of small tables, comfy chairs and bench seating along the walls, making it a good spot to linger. The bar runs along one side with taps, bottles and handwritten menus, and naturally draws people in. As the day goes on, the warm lighting gives the space a cosy feel, and everything flows easily from front to back without losing that laid-back, unfussy vibe.
Drinks wise a great selection of 6 cask ales, alongside a great choice of keg beers and canned/bottled options. Lots to choose from. I went with “Blonde” from Daleside Brewery. A great Blonde Ale, crisp and refreshing.
HUSK Beer Emporium
Heading back in the direction of Harrogate Station brought me next to HUSK Beer Emporium. Husk Beer Emporium first opened in 2019, originally tucked away on King’s Road. It started small and quietly got on with things, then had to ride out a pretty strange few years like everyone else. In late 2022 it moved over to Station Square, into a spot that had seen a few businesses come and go. That move felt like the point where Husk properly settled in. Since then it’s just been there, part of Harrogate’s recent story rather than something brand new.
Inside is a single, open room with the bar running along one side. Seating is relaxed and mixed, with small tables, mismatched chairs, and a long padded bench against the wall. The walls are dotted with framed artwork, and the lighting is warm and fairly low, with simple fittings and a few pendant lights. There’s space to stand near the bar as well as places to sit, and from most spots you can see across the room easily.
Drinks wise at the bar an offering of 2 cask ales alongside a range of 9 keg lines. A well stocked fridge of cans and bottles offers more choices. I decided to go with “Crag” from Fell Brewery. A brilliant Traditional Bitter, full bodied with some great flavour.
Blues Bar
Next was to Blues Bar. Blues Café Bar opened in the 1980s when it was decided Harrogate needed a proper music-led bar. Inspired by European café culture, they built a place where live blues, jazz, rock and acoustic music came first. It quickly became a favourite stop for touring musicians and a regular stage for local talent, helping put Harrogate on the UK live-music map. Over the years, countless gigs, jam nights and late sessions have shaped its reputation.
Inside Blues Café Bar is a space built around live music and atmosphere. The small stage sits right up close to the audience, which gives the room an intimate feel, helped along by dark wood panelling, brick pillars and low ceilings that keep attention on the performers. Seating is a mix of bentwood chairs, small tables, bar stools and a bit of standing room, all packed in without feeling uncomfortable. Lighting stays low and warm, with chandeliers, shaded fittings and stage lights setting the mood. The walls and ceiling are covered in blues murals, posters and memorabilia, giving the place a well-worn, lived-in character shaped by years of gigs.
On the bar a selection of 4 cask ales alongside a range of keg beers to choose from. “SNO (Snowy Night Out)” from Craven Brew Co was my beer choice. A tasty and well balanced IPA.
17 Miles
Just around the corner brought me to 17 Miles. 17 Miles is based at 17 Cold Bath Road, a street that developed during the nineteenth century as Harrogate expanded with the spa boom. Before opening in 2023, the building wasn’t a traditional pub and had been used for a mix of small shops and everyday businesses over the years, reflecting how the road gradually shifted from residential use to independent trade. The name 17 Miles is simple and personal, coming from the building number, 17, and Miles, the owner’s son, rather than any historic distance or route.
Inside it feels laid-back, cosy and nicely unpolished. The walls are dark and dotted with mismatched frames and little decorative bits, so it feels more collected than styled. Greenery hangs across the ceiling, softening the space and giving it a relaxed vibe. Wooden tables, benches and stools sit on worn floorboards, which adds to the easy, lived-in feel. The exposed brick fireplace is a natural focal point, and the big arched front window lets loads of light in, making it feel open without losing that snug atmosphere.
Drinks wise a fantastic keg selection on the bar ranging from modern craft beers through to Belgian beers, a great mix. Even more choices available in the fridge to the side of the bar. “Steady Rolling Strata” from DEYA Brewing Company was my beer choice. A superb, easy drinking and tasty Pale Ale.
Harrogate Brewing Co – Royal Parade
A very short walk brought me to Harrogate Brewing Co – Royal Parade. Harrogate Brewing Co’s pub on Royal Parade, Harrogate is the latest chapter for this long-standing pub, reopening in April 2025 after a refresh and a rebrand that put the brewery’s own beers front and centre. Before that, locals knew it as The Old Bell, a familiar spot for years. The site itself goes back even further, originally home to the Blue Bell Inn, which closed in 1815 and was later demolished. In a quirky claim to fame, Bill Clinton popped in during a visit to Harrogate in 2001. Later that year, the pub expanded into the old Farrah’s toffee shop next door.
Inside, it’s relaxed and easygoing, with a smart but unfussy feel. Warm wood tables, deep green walls and soft, golden lighting give the space a cosy atmosphere without trying too hard. The layout mixes snug banquette seating with smaller tables and a few longer ones, so it works just as well for a quiet catch-up as it does when things get busier. Traditional shelving, vintage details and framed prints nod to the building’s past, while cleaner finishes keep it feeling fresh. Big front windows bring in plenty of daylight, and in the evening it settles into something more intimate and lively — a comfortable place designed for lingering rather than rushing.
A fantastic selection of drinks on the bar with 5 cask ales alongside a choice of 10 keg beers. Showcasing their own brewery along with guests. I went with one of their own beers “Wavey Marms”. A tasty fruity Session IPA brewed using Mosaic and Citra hops.
Hales Bar
Around the corner brought me to Hales Bar. Hales Bar started life as a Victorian pub serving railway workers and spa visitors in the late 1800s. Like most places of its time it was lit by gas, and unusually, some of those gas lights still work today in the main bar. Over the years it’s seen wars, rule changes, and shifting drinking habits, but much of its character has stayed intact. By the late twentieth century it became known for live music and late nights. Today, Hales Bar is still a familiar spot, mixing old-school features with Harrogate’s modern social scene.
Inside feels comfortably cluttered and full of character. Dark wood, etched mirrors, and deep red leather benches break the space into snug little corners. The bar is solid and old-fashioned, packed with pumps, bottles, and bits of signage that look like they’ve always been there. Working gas lights and shaded lamps give off a warm, flickering glow rather than bright pub lighting. The walls are busy with pictures, adverts, and small details, and the low ceiling makes it feel close and cosy — like a pub that’s been lived in for generations.
Drinks wise on the bar a great line up of 5 cask ales alongside a variety of keg beers. I went with their house beer “Hales Pale” brewed by local Rooster’s Brewing Co. A tasty, sessionable and easy drinking Pale Ale.
Major Tom’s Social
Major Tom’s Social was my next calling point. Major Tom’s Social opened in 2014, at a time when Harrogate’s licensed trade was beginning to diversify beyond traditional pubs. Created by local independent operators, it launched as a café-bar and pizzeria with an emphasis on craft beer, real ale and accessible food. Early recognition followed, including inclusion in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, helping to establish its reputation regionally. The venue became part of a wider 2010s movement supporting small breweries, informal social drinking and independently run hospitality. Its sustained popularity reflected changing attitudes towards pubs in market towns, favouring flexibility, independence and community-led enterprise.
Inside is relaxed and a bit rough-around-the-edges in a good way. It’s a big, open room with long tables, benches and stools that are clearly there for sitting around rather than moving on quickly. There are fairy lights strung across the ceiling, a disco ball hanging overhead, and loads going on on the walls — posters, prints, bits and pieces that feel like they’ve just built up over time. During the day it’s bright with light coming in through the windows, then later on it shifts into something warmer and cosier. It’s the sort of place you drop into casually and somehow end up staying for hours.
Drinks wise a selection of 2 cask ales on the bar along with a choice of 8 keg beers, with more choices available in cans and bottles. I went for “Wavelength” from Turning Point Brew Co. A fantastic American Pale Ale, full of flavour and some great hoppy flavours coming from the Mosaic hops used.
The Little Ale House
A short walk brought me next to The Little Ale House. Little Ale House opened in 2016 and was Harrogate’s first micropub, arriving at a time when proper cask ale pubs were becoming rarer. It was set up with a simple idea: serve good beer from small, independent breweries and keep things friendly and informal. The rotating beers quickly built a loyal following and helped spark wider interest in real ale and micropubs around town. CAMRA soon took notice, with regular guide listings and local awards. In 2025, the pub expanded into the next-door unit, reflecting how popular it had become while staying true to its original ethos.
Inside it’s laid-back and unfussy. Wooden floors, pale walls and a mix of small tables, benches and tucked-away spots give it an easy, lived-in feel. Seats are close enough that conversations spill over, which only adds to the atmosphere. There’s no loud music or screens grabbing your attention — just people chatting, glasses clinking and staff happily talking beer. Candles are dotted about, the fireplace does its thing, and before you know it you feel right at home. It’s less about going out out and more like popping round a mate’s place — exactly as it should be.
A great selection of beers, with them being stored in a temperature controlled cabinet next to the bar. 5 cask ales and 8 keg lines on the bar to choose from in a variety of styles. I went with “Little Ale – Blonde” from Ilkley Brewery. A light, refreshing and very easy drinking Blonde Ale.
Inn at Cheltenham Parade
Near enough on the opposite side of the road is Inn at Cheltenham Parade, a member of Timothy Taylor’s Brewery Champion Club. Inn at Cheltenham Parade has been part of Harrogate life for a long time. The building dates back to the Victorian spa boom, when the town was growing fast and full of visitors. Over the years it’s always been a place linked with food, drink and socialising, most famously as the Harrogate Brasserie, which many locals remember well. In 2017 it was taken on by Timothy Taylor’s Brewery, bringing it back firmly into pub hands. Since reopening under its current name, it’s carried on doing what it’s always done best – offering a relaxed spot to eat, drink, meet friends and stay right in the centre of town.
It has a ground-floor bar made up of several linked rooms rather than one large space. The bar counter sits centrally, with clear views across the main seating areas. Flooring is wooden throughout, and the layout mixes standard tables, higher tables and bar-side seating. Walls are finished in neutral tones, with simple lighting rather than feature pieces. Original room divisions are still visible, giving the space a slightly segmented feel. The overall setup reflects its past use as a restaurant, with defined areas that suit both casual visits and dining without feeling overly formal.
I got chance to sample their fantastic street food menu – enjoying the Onion and Sweet Potato Bhajis along with the Deep Fried Brie. Both were absolutely delicious. The street food selection is designed for sharing, with bold flavours and well-executed small plates that work perfectly alongside a drink, offering everything from crispy, spiced bites to richer indulgent dishes. They also offer a more traditional, home-cooked style menu, centred on comforting pub classics. Expect hearty mains such as pies, fish and chips, steaks and seasonal specials, all cooked with care and generous portions, giving the venue a pleasing balance between relaxed street food dining and classic British pub fare.
Drinks wise a line up of 5 cask ales (check out the Street Food menu for recommended beer pairings), alongside a range of keg beers to choose from. I went with a favourite of mine, “Boltmaker” from Timothy Taylor’s Brewery. A fantastic, malty and well balanced Best Bitter.
Cold Bath Brewing Co
Another short walk around the corner brought me next to Cold Bath Brewing Co. Cold Bath Brewery began in the late 2010s, taking its name from Harrogate’s famous cold baths and mineral springs that helped shape the town’s identity from the 16th century onwards. Those springs turned Harrogate into a well-known spa destination, attracting visitors looking for health and relaxation. The brewery and pub were created as a modern nod to that heritage, linking the building’s purpose to the area’s past. Since opening, it has become a well-known local spot, blending Harrogate’s historic spa story with a contemporary, informal pub feel that still reflects the town’s character today.
Inside it’s relaxed and unfussy, with a modern, industrial look that doesn’t try too hard. There’s exposed brick, concrete floors and metal touches, balanced out with plenty of wood so it still feels warm. Big windows let in loads of light during the day, and softer lighting makes it feel cosy later on. The layout is open and easy, with long shared tables mixed in with smaller ones, so you can perch for a quick visit or settle in for a while. Overall, it feels airy, laid-back and social, more about comfort than polish.
Drinks wise on the bar a selection of 3 cask ales, along with a great line up of 10 keg lines, showcasing a nice variety of styles. I went with their own “Idaho Sunrise”. A fantastic juicy and tasty New England IPA.
The Office Ale House – Bilton
My last 2 visits were both out of Harrogate Centre, the first being to The Office Ale House – Bilton. The Office Ale House opened in February 2025 in Bilton. Before becoming a pub, the building spent many years as a curtain and soft-furnishings shop, part of Bilton’s everyday shopping life. The change reflects how local high streets have evolved, with fewer retail outlets and more independent social spaces. Rather than being a revival of an old pub, it was created as a sister pub to the Office Ale House in Starbeck, carrying a familiar idea into a new location and adding a modern chapter to Bilton’s ongoing story.
Inside, the Office Ale House feels clean, relaxed, and easy to be in. It’s a straightforward space with small tables, bench seating round the edges, and enough room to move without it feeling empty. The green panelling and soft colours keep things calm, and the big front windows give it plenty of light. There’s a bit of character on the walls, but nothing overdone. It’s the kind of place where you can drop in without thinking, sit comfortably, and have a proper chat without feeling rushed or on show.
Drinks wise a choice of 4 cask ales, along with 5 keg lines and a range of bottles and cans in the fridge. I opted to go with “Easy-Going Assassin” from Rooster’s Brewing Co. A fantastic Session IPA brewed with Citra hops giving some delicious flavours.
The Office Ale House – Starbeck
My last visit on Saturday was to The Office Ale House – Starbeck. Office Ale House in Starbeck opened in April 2023 in a small High Street unit that, for years before, traded as a local greengrocer. Like many shops in Starbeck, it went through quiet changes as retail habits shifted, eventually closing and sitting ready for something new. Its conversion into a micropub marked a clear break from daytime shopping to evening social life. The move reflected a wider trend of reusing former shops in new ways, giving the building a fresh purpose. While the pub itself is young, its story is tied to the everyday retail history of the High Street.
It feels more like a smartly reused shop than a classic pub, and that’s part of the charm. It’s compact, relaxed, and easy going, with the bar along one side and space to stand, perch, or lean while you chat. There’s nothing flashy going on, just a clean, comfortable setup that makes it easy to settle in. Because it’s small, you tend to notice who’s around, conversations overlap, and it quickly feels friendly without trying too hard. It’s the sort of place you pop into for one and end up staying longer than planned. The beer inspired floor artwork is a fantastic addition.
A great choice on the bar with 4 cask ales to choose from along with a range of keg options and numerous bottles and cans. I finished the day with “Northern Sky” from Turning Point Brew Co. A superb hazy Session IPA packed full of flavour and very enjoyable.
Micropub Adventures 