Talbot Arms, Settle

The modern refurbishment of this large old stone built hotel in the back streets of Settle has been done with restraint and taste. The old beams and the grand old stone fireplace still feel part of the place, despite the opening out of the ground floor (originally at least three rooms) into one large one. The modern bar features a row of six hand pumps, probably the optimum number for a place like this, with what appeared to me to be an enticing and well balanced menu of real ales: Goose Eye Poulter's Pride, York Guzzler, Leeds Gathering Storm, Naylor's Pinnacle Bitter, Theakston Best and Nine Standards Silver Standard. All fairly local and all bar one from Yorkshire, Nine Standards Brewery being situated in Kirkby Stephen in the former county of Westmorland. I had a half each of the Silver Standard and the Pinnacle, followed by the Poulter's Pride, my only regret being that I had to walk to Malham and therefore didn't also try the Gathering Storm too. The service was welcoming, friendly and efficient and there was a pleasant atmosphere, with a small crowd of lunchtime diners and a few solitary drinkers like me, either reading the paper or writing their notes for Pubs Galore. Will defo, as Ray would say, call again.