The Ale House, Clitheroe

Two tier ‘sort-of’ micro with interior as described by the reviewers below, timber-cladding in style. Friendly and atmospheric. Slurps of Yorkshireman by Craven Brew Co and Crying Lightning by Farm Yard Brew Co were easily GBG quality (NBSS 4 and 3.5).

A micro consisting of two corridor like areas, seating in the left side, counter in the right hand side as you enter. Five handpumps, on this occasion all the beers were from Pentrich as there was some sort of tap takeover, a small pump clip collection shows lots of well known northern names. Keg cider and a Pilsner were also available. Decor from John Ireland’s “The Gentle Art of Making Guinness” posters from a dismembered 1981 calendar as well as the aforementioned clips and some European beer ad’s. It has a very woody (from pallets) interior with more seating and the gents upstairs.

Occupying a double shop unit on the market square, the rather unimaginatively named Ale House is nevertheless an attractive building with an initial impression, once inside, of exposed stone and fairly rough timber cladding. The bar counter is to the right on entering, with five hand pumps, four of which had beers from Vocation brewery, the other being from Lincoln Green. The owner, apparently a taciturn man, swerved my attempts to make conversation. After asking for a half of the Lincoln Green Tuck, I tried him with "Are you all right?", then "This is my first time in Clitheroe", either of which could have provided some sort of opening, but his only response was "£1.70 please. Thank you very much." So I gave up and retired to the table near the door. The second room to the left has bottles and cans, and there are keg beers on the bar. Upstairs are the toilets and some additional seating. While I was there another man came in who turned out to be a regular, and he managed to get the owner to speak to him, so maybe it's just strangers he doesn't like. Date of visit: 11th December 2019