Pitcher & Piano, Harrogate

New operators but the layout is much as before, tall tables centre and right with lower tables and chairs to left. Naturally there’s still food but no waiting on tables. Two horseshoes of mostly euro/latin lager brands, Guinness, Neck Oil and a couple of ciders also appear. It has fewer mirrors, and no artwork now. There’s a big drop down screen in the front right corner. It has a selection of outside seating including some comfy benches. There’s a fake piano by the front door and a pile of bored games atop it.

A long narrow unit in a new build block of other food and drink outlets, this one has a counter down almost the full length of one side, with tall tables and chairs/stools down the centre and tables and chairs running down the other side. Lots of mirrors are placed on the walls to make the room seem larger and brighter. Food is the main part of the business and is provided with waitress/waiter service. Décor is from a selection of artwork. Service wasn't bad as the barman actually wiped the overflow off the side of the glass before passing it to me. Three handpumps are located at the door end of the bar and dispense beers from the Marstons stables, otherwise there is an array of stainless steel fonts with nothing unusual to be seen. Fairly typical of bars of this type appealing to a youngish, middling sort for whom pubs have a little too much atmosphere.

Next door to the Banyan bar in a similar sized space. That is where the similarity ends really. It’s a large lager barn with some leather seating and no distinguishing features at all. Get your designers to go next door guys and see how it should be done. Poor, although it still gets packed on weekend nights.