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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Cover Bridge Inn, Leyburn
Leyburn
DL8 4SQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Cover Bridge Inn
This is a classic Dales pub, seemingly stuck out in the middle of nowhere, although actually very handy for local attractions such as Jervaulx Abbey. The pub has a traditional two bar layout and side room, with the front door leading you into the compact main bar area with the servery directly opposite and all handpulls visible. Hard bench seating wraps around the front corner next to the entrance, with a few chairs in support, but that’s about the extent of the seating, so compact is the room. The bar has a nice dark wood counter and simple bar back decorated with plenty of pump clips. A few bar blockers were lined up along its length, but the staff seemed to be used to this and we were still able to view all of the pumps and get served without too much difficulty. To the right is a similarly sized room with limited bar access and a good amount of seating, mostly in the form of chairs and low stools with a couple of short pews too. The room was dominated by a musician who was bashing out Elton John hits on his keyboard in the front corner, thereby taking up a fair bit of room that would presumably also contain seating if there were no music on. Doors to the rear appeared to lead out to a beer garden, but I didn’t manage to squeeze through the crowd to check this out. Both rooms have fireplaces, at least one of which was lit, and they were equally packed after the local hunt descended en masse. As we had stopped here for some food, this had the unfortunate effect of forcing us into the side room next to the kitchen. This is a carpeted room with three tables and plenty of chairs, an unlit fireplace with a huge lintel and walls made of local stone or else partly covered by red lincrusta that has seen better days. The place was being used as a bit of a storeroom and no other customers were sat here, so I sadly didn’t get to experience the pub in ideal conditions. All three rooms have been decorated with typical rural pub effects, including paintings, old photos, mirrors, maps and even a framed display of the village's 1937 cricket team's fixture against E Towers Eleven.
On the bar, a good range of cask options comprised Theakston Best and Old Peculiar, Taylor Landlord, Wensleydale Semer Water and New Day Yesterday, Thornbridge The Union, plus one other that I forgot the name of and a cider. The New Day Yesterday was in excellent condition, and I found the staff to all be very friendly, whilst a solid food menu ensured we were well fed following the long drive here from South London.
I really liked this place, which was probably at its best with such a full crowd in attendance (excepting the Elton tribute), so it was a shame that we had to ostracise ourselves in the side room for the majority of our stay. The ale is top notch and really deserves to be given a longer session than we could commit to, whilst the service was very helpful and welcoming. For me, this is a destination pub that rewards those who seek it out and I’m just a little sad that we couldn’t make the most of our time here.
Date of visit - 8th November 2024
On 24th January 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Cover Bridge Inn
January 2023
Under new management and fewer guest ales available although it had Old Peculier from the wood. The beer quality and service were fine as was the food, just something not quite the same. The jury must remain out, hopefully the pub will be as good although different to before.
24th October 2009
Famous old dales inn, noted for its unusual and puzzling door handles. Two regular ales from Black Sheep and Theakstons plus five guests usually from small brewers in Yorkshire or the Lake District. The beer is always in superb condition and is served in lined glasses. Hearty meals can be taken in either of the comfortable, traditionally decorated bars with big open fires. Old brewery ads and some good drawings of dales people and places adorn the walls. There is a large car park across the road and the Gents is accessed from outside.
On 5th January 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about The Cover Bridge Inn
A classic Wensleydale pub, near the confluence of the rivers Cover and Ure.White painted, on the approach to the eponymous and attractive bridge. A public bar, with an intriguing fireplace and open fire, and a smaller saloon, again with roaring fire on an October Saturday lunchtime.
In my mind, and in those of countless others, this is the classic ham ‘n’ eggs pub, though other items on the menu are also commendably hearty. On all our autumn visits throughout the years I’ve found a varied and reliable choice of beers, largely from Yorkshire brewers.Stalwarts such as Black Sheep and Timothy Taylor were partnered on our October visit, by Wensleydale Semer Water Summer ale, and Walls’ magnificent Darkside Milk Stout. A number of draught ciders and perries were also available.
The Cover Bridge looks to be popular with local people as well as walkers and anglers: a large group were celebrating a birthday in the riverside garden, their jovial antics added a certain sparkle to our visit.This is one of our favourite pubs, a genuine unforced welcome and grand food and drink.
Update 1/11/2021
We hadn't visited for three years, having heard on a pre lockdown trip North that there had been a change of ownership. We arrived just before two on a November Monday to be told that the kitchen had shut, but after some discussion the landlady relented and took our orders.Alas, the iconic ham'n'eggs was unavailable.That aside,every thing was fine,the atmosphere as good as ever.The Masham mafia were out in force on the bar,with the addition of a couple of beers from Wensleydale and Pennine Breweries.My ultra pale Mistral from Wensleydale was enjoyed with relish.
On 1st November 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 290 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Cover Bridge Inn
The Cover Bridge Inn has been on my to-do list for a few years now, but somehow I was always passing this way when it was closed. (Maybe their opening times have changed, as the pub is open from 11 every day except Sunday when it's 12.) I finally made it this week, and was very glad to open the door (it's a tricky latch) onto a pleasant bar room with a very good fire. Through a door to the right is another room, with another section of bar counter (and another fire). Both sections of the bar have four hand pumps, making eight in total (see photos for beers available when I was here). My pint of Black Sheep Best was in very good condition, but there were several other beers I'd have been happy to go for if it weren't for the need to remain upright on my bicycle. A few of the other customers were clearly doing walks along the valley and having sandwiches with their lunchtime drinks. There was a friendly atmosphere and I left the pub with some regret, but intending to return before too long.
On 5th March 2020
- rating: 10
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about The Cover Bridge Inn
Fine old 16th century watering hole, a former coaching inn, set in glorious Wensleydale. The pub takes its name from the adjacent bridge that crosses the River Cover, although it was formerly known as the Forresters Arms and previously The Masons Arms.
Internally, it’s a small two-roomer with lots of dark wood and cosy corners with the addition of two real fires. Famous for its beer quality, it has won various awards down the years and rightly features in the 2013 Good Beer Guide. The three beers we tried (Wold Top Bitter, Treboom ‘Drum Beat’ and Thornbridge ‘Jaipur’) were all in tip top condition. Unfortunately, service from the young barmaid was notably frosty, rather surprising given the pub’s reputation for a warm welcome. An off day, perhaps? Hearty pub food is available and there is a beer garden leading down to the riverside for fair weather use. Overall, highly recommended.
On 10th April 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 644 recommendations about 624 pubs]