The Fleece, Northallerton

Aged town pub (allegedly the oldest) with a slightly dodgy feel. There are two rooms at the front and a further area behind, in a mixture of styles but including low ceilings, beams and an open fire. Ales on were Leeds Best, Wensleydale Falconer and Theakston Lightfoot, plus a house beer, Fleece Blonde, which curiously comes from Theakston and has the same OG and description as Lightfoot. I wonder what it could be! I didn't particularly like the place - to misquote the great, it has all the right elements but not necessarily in the right order.

Nice old building that doesn't really deliver inside, a mish-mash of disjointed and partially tacky refurbs. Whacking-through has produced an awkward staple shaped interior. GBG listed with four cask over six, two of which had house badges which I didn't initially twig, so I ended-up with Black Sheep Bitter badged as You're Barred (surely Baa'd would be better?) which was fine (NBSS 3). Funereal atmosphere and a down at the mouth barmaid meant that I made sure I got gone for an earlier train than originally budgeted. Felt like it should be the centre of the town’s ale scene but was missing its aim.

Facebook page of The Fleece - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Fleece - www.facebook.com