Bruce Arms, Ripon

Large stone pub in picturesque village with old its stable yard now the carpark. Locally made Black Sheep bitter plus Taylors Landlord cask ales in good condition, plus a wide range of UK kegs: Grolsch, Carling, Stella, Guinness and Strongbow, pricing is a little above the area average but this is almost in Wensleydale. Largely food orientated so most furniture is chairs and tables permanently set for eating although there are some low tables with armchairs in the larger of the two rooms where casual drinkers can relax. The smaller room looks to be purely dining, I would assume it is used mainly as a breakfast room for staying guests. The larger room is L shaped and contains the bar counter with large casks on a stillage above it. The mainroom is decorated with plain white plastered walls, tasteful pictures and there are a few books scattered around but strictly no machines. There is some nice exposed stone work and old beams showing this is an old building, with stone flags round the bar area and carpeting elsewhere. Next to the stable yard is an outdoor seating area. The staff are solicitous and pleasant but the service is more restaurant than pub like.