The Harrogate Arms, Harrogate

formerly No 19 and before that the Nags Head, now with a new makeover to a high standard and going a little more up-market. The basic layout is the same with a vertical drinking area in the middle although a few more seats have been included, the raised area at the back has comfortable seating and there are a few more discreet seating areas round the edges. The plank faced counter to one side has four pulls with Taylors and Black Sheep in good nick along with keg beers from Estrella, Hoegaarden, Leffe and Becks among the usual dross. The bottled beer list shows Brew Dog, Brooklyn and Goose Island. There are posh toilets in the basement.

Probably the biggest circuit drinking bar in the throbbing heart of Harrogate's tacky night life quarter. Various seating options; you name it, it's probably here, plus a fair amount of vertical drinking space. A long counter runs down one side and there are the various floor level changes you would expect. Two handpumps on the bar serving Old Peculier and Black Sheep Bitter which surprisingly rather than being rancid as expected was quite drinkable, not great but passable. Big screens and some machines, the service was a bit surly and the pricing at the higher end for Harrogate.