Tap & TukTuk, Harrogate

A facelifted town pub in a modern style, without being over the top. It has settled down a bit since previous reviews and is decorated in various shades of blue with wooden floors and dangly lighting. The left hand side is still the restaurant but the raised right section is more of a drinking area with tables. There is a large roadside patio to the front however the traffic is annoying. The bank of 5 Timmy Taylor ales are still a little pricey but well kept.

Extensively and expensively refurbished by Taylors this is now a pub rather than mainly a restaurant. It's still foody and walking on the carpets is like walking through snow, although I'm sure this will change once they've had a bit of wear. OB describes the place in detail below. The people who are going to pay for the refurb are, of course, us the customers. A pint of Boltmaker aka Bitter was eye wateringly expensive, even for Harrogate, however it was in very good nick. Not really for me isn't this one, but as Ms CAMRA really liked it I guess we'll be back soon.

Now more pub like than before although still offering accommodation and meals. Entering from the street brings you into a central bar area with the counter to the rear and furnished with various high tables with tall stools, some which are industrial style and swivelly. These are supplemented with a high bench and a couple of lower tables on the laminate and tiled floors. To the right is a raised dining area with a mix of tables and tasteful wallpaper, to the left another dining area, labelled “diners only” , again displaying the commercial interior designer’s art. Naturally all this tastefulness comes at a price, £4.10 for a 3.5% light mild for example. The pub is owned by Taylors and serves a range of their cask beers in fine condition on the five pulls and a solo keg fount. Two t-bars provide keg sustenance. The pubiness is enhanced by a large photo of a cooper at work and an array of cut outs of bottles and labels either side of the counter. Brewery pictures and old Taylor’s ads decorate the seating area. Conventional grey with a tasteful blue provides the central area colour scheme. Piped music.

The clue's in the name, a restaurant with beer. There is a tiny bar area with a bar stool, a table and a settle, the rest of the three areas make up the restaurant of a “boutique hotel”. One handpump serving Hambleton Bitter in reasonable condition, plus Leffe and a “House Lager”. More wine than you can shake a stick at, as it's a restaurant. Decorated in idiosyncratic and eclectic style with some great photo's, some risque 1950s prints and an old Tetleys pub sign ( Blue Pig) but not from this restaurant in previous days. Casual drinkers are not unwelcome when it's a quiet non food service time but I doubt they would be pleased to see anyone but diners at any other time as it's a restaurant.