The Old Cock, Otley

I couldn't really have a crawl around Otley without visiting the Old Cock. Since the pub opened in September 2010, it has been a three times winner of Leeds CAMRA Pub of the Year award - no mean feat in a catchment area blessed with plenty of outstanding pubs. Such awards generally guarantee an impressive ale selection and I was not disappointed when I saw a long row of handpulls dispensing Theakston Best Bitter, Ilkley Mary Jane, Phoenix Monkeytown Mild, Ridgeside Templar, Thwaites Original, Wharfebank Nightshade, Kirkstall Black Band Porter, Briscoe's Pacifica Pale and Rodham's Old Chestnut. The last two are Otley based breweries and the pub has a commitment to always serve a beer from at least one of them. Getting into the spirit of things, I sampled them both and whilst the Rodham's didn't do much for me, the Pacifica Pale was an excellent pint. In addition, there are two real ciders and a keg range that includes a few more obscure cider and perry options. There is also a pretty decent looking bottled beer range as well, but the pub was absolutely packed on my Saturday evening visit, so I didn't linger around the bar area to explore further. The pub is interesting by Otley's standards, inasmuch as it is a genuinely new pub, having been built as a pair of cottages back in the 1750's and subsequently used by various retail businesses. You enter directly into the main bar area, with a large stone fireplace to one side and the servery running along the back wall. Boards above the bar detail the full ale range, which is especially helpful when the crowds prevent you from getting a good look at the hand pumps. There is fairly limited seating in this space - just a couple of tables under the front window - but a doorway to the right leads you into a second room which has a lot more tables and includes one bench that has been situated inside what appears to be a disused fireplace, offering an unusual and somewhat cramped seating option. This area was also packed tight on my visit, so I headed up the stairs into a much needed third room which is bare boarded and has pew and low stool seating as well as a drinking ledge, offering a bit of respite and comfort from the crowds downstairs. Some great brewery mirrors decorate the walls up here and I noticed details of the limited menu the pub offers, which seemed to focus around locally produced sausages. During a trip to the gents, I noticed a sign that read 'Keep the Old Cock under control, don't pee on the floor'! This pub was busy for a reason - it's a really excellent alehouse offering a varied range of well kept ales (two and a half years after opening, they were already serving up their 1000th different beer) in a warm and comfortable environment. If I was to find myself in Otley again, there is no doubt that this would be my first port of call - the hype is fully justified.

Official site of The Old Cock, contains real ale details - www.theoldcockotley.co.uk

Official site of The Old Cock, contains real ale details - www.theoldcockotley.co.uk