Coach & Horses, Harrogate

A revamped version of an old Harrogate pub, apparently the previous rejig didn’t work out. The ground floor has been returned to being a pub rather than an adjunct to a restaurant. The counter has been relocated to the full length of the right hand side instead of being tucked away in a back corner. There are now six pulls with Taylors Landlord, Theakson Lightfoot, Theakson Quencher, Theakson Best Bitter, Rooster’s YPA and Daleside Blonde. Coming soon were Rudgate Battleaxe and Ilkley Mary Jane. There are even screens in the left hand side. Most seating is at tall tables and stools, there are normal tables and chairs in the left hand side. Keg aficionados have a wide selection to choose from on three fittings giving a choice of twelve concoctions. I found the beer more than a bit warm and suffering as a result. Decor is darkish wood in a faux Victorian style, similar to the version of the pub before last. Limited decoration as the pub has a lot of window and little wall. Older Harrogatonians will still mourn the cosy old pub run by the inimitable John Nelson.

Completely refurbished and now unrecognisable from it's previous iteration. They were making speeches in the upstairs dining area during our recent, Sunday afternoon visit. It would seem that they were "actors" from where, who knows? Downstairs has a dining room at the rear and the only place for drinkers is at the high tables front. All the high chairs had been nicked by one group, so there wasn't anywhere to sit. My pint of Roosters was in good nick though. A bunch of Julian's and Emily's arrived with their semi feral kids. These type of people are the ones who make Harrogate a "frightful bore" at times. We left and went to the Harrogate Tap where real people go. Can't see us calling in here again anytime in the near future.

Another 'tastefully modernised' pub with smart furnishing and decor, definitely seeking the upper end of the market. Still seemed fairly friendly, and there were some well-kept beers on though: Landlord, Roosters Variations on a Theme and Ilkley Pale and Joshua Jane. There were also some very nice-looking pies on the bar which attracted, until discovering they were £10 apiece!

Reopened and rebuilt on ground and first floors, the two bars have been converted to a single square room with a staircase occupying the former servery. Nothing much remains of the previous pub, not even the windows, the grey plague has arrived of course. The counter is now against a wall to the rear left, the entrance previously here still exists but is not used. On the counter there are two horseshoes with a bank of three pulls between, local favourites Roosters Yankee, Theakstons Best and Taylor’s Landlord ; there is space for a fourth possibly a regular from Daleside, my reasonably decent Yankee was in a Daleside glass. Very much moved into the food pub area, the stairs lead to a more formal restaurant upstairs. There is some high bench seating near the counter and some lower to the far right, but tables and chairs predominate. The staff are pleasant and uniformed in an informal way. The natives are particularly restless about the changes but this is conservative Harrogate and this strip has been moving up market since Scruffy Murphy’s closed. If Danny thought it was middle class in 2015, boy you ain’t see nothing yet.