Black Bull Inn, Otley

Only visited at lunchtime,food excellent and atmosphere friendly. Older end but thats me! Good start to a pub crawl.

A friendly and comfortable pub with a welcoming open fire situated in a small snug area on the right of the entrance. There were four handpumps in operation on our Saturday lunchtime visit, which were TT Landlord, TT Bolt Maker, Tetley and Leeds Pale. The TT Boltmaker was a good choice.

A low, old pub finished in whitewashed roughcast reputedly the oldest in Otley and with the Civil War history alluded to below. Inside are the low ceiling, stone flags and the dark woods and brass fittings you would expect. Basically open plan where three or so rooms have been knocked together leaving an open sitting area to one side , the bar space for vertical drinking and an almost snug in the front corner. This area is carpeted, has an open fire and is fitted with benches, décor is a collection of Cromwellian themed prints. The bar counter sits at the back and is equipped with four handpumps, Tetleys Cask on one, Taylors Best and Landlord on two others and a Spitfire lost from Kent on the fourth. I had a Best but it was rather poor in spite of the pub's good reputation especially for the Taylors. The usual UK kegs sit on a couple of T Bars