Helmsley Brewing Co, York

A little bit too smart to be your typical brewery tap, but nonetheless a friendly little place. There are two rooms with a small counter in one and the brewing kit in the other, both with a few tables, while there are benches outside in the yard behind. Four of their own ales were on handpump, with a selection of their bottles for takeaways. The sort of place that you ought to visit if passing, but I doubt it is worth a special trip.

Helmsley is a very picturesque, and accordingly popular, village in the North Yorkshire Moors, and evidently generates enough footfall for the local brewery to open a taproom at one end of the village. You enter into the main bar area, with the servery directly opposite and a selection of high tables and stools and standard bench and chair seating options to the front and down the right-hand wall. The room feels a little plain, with white walls and modern laminate flooring throughout, broken up by a few arty landscape photos, a large clock and a poster or two. A door to the left leads through to a second room, the left side of which is given over to the brewing equipment, which was in use when we visited, generating that familiar yeasty aroma which permeated its way through the entire pub. There were a few more tables through here, but there was also a lot of noise being made, so most customers had retreated to the rear courtyard – a bit of a suntrap on a bright summer’s day, where several picnic tables were set out across the gravel area directly behind the brewery, half of which were under a Perspex-roofed shelter. A few colourful platers helped brighten up this space which is otherwise dominated by a series of outbuildings, some of which seemed to also be involved in the brewing process. We received a very friendly welcome from an extremely chatty barmaid who made us feel right at home and talked us through the ale range, which comprised three Helmsley brews – Howardian Gold, Striding the Riding and Yorkshire Legend – plus a guest ale which was Saltaire Triple Chocoholic. I tried the Howardian Gold, which was in good nick, but maybe not the most memorable beer, whilst my other half gave the Triple Chocoholic a try, but found it a little too warm, albeit on a properly hot afternoon. I had mixed feelings about this place, as I thought the main bar area was a bit sterile and devoid of character, but the courtyard was a nice spot to relax in on a bright day and the service was very friendly, even by Yorkshire standards. I’d have to try a few more of the beers to form an opinion, but despite being a little underwhelmed with my choice, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and suggest this is worth taking a look, even if it’s just for a quick half.

No sign mentioning "winter hours" today but when I passed at 1:30pm and 2:10pm the place was closed, despite the Facebook page saying it opens at 1pm.