The Devonshire Tap House, High Harrogate, Harrogate

Reopened under new management, small changes mainly in the arrangement of the taps, 8 pulls in two banks of four with a couple of tbars and singles between rather than along the bar back as before. Similar beers as before in both formats. Beer blackboard has gone from over the fireplace replaced with a magnetic type opposite, big clock and arty wire stuff now occupies the chimney breast. A new innovation is a cheese counter. Fortunately the original counter and stained glass canopy remain untouched. Needless to say it’s all grey painted.

Located in High Harrogate, to the east of the town centre, this is a smartly refurbished bar focussed on its quality range of handpulled and bottled beers. You enter into a bare boarded room with an incredible Victorian semi-circular bar counter opposite. The curved dark wood counter with its impressive stained glass canopy serves the entire front part of the pub, which arcs around it in a pleasing fashion. To the front left is an area stuffed with fridges and shelves full of bottled and canned craft/foreign beers, seemingly acting as a bottle shop. Some steps lead down the rear left side to a cosy looking seating area which was empty on this visit. To the front right there are some comfortable lounge style seating options under the front windows, with a large beer board on the side wall. Moving towards the rear, you pass a particularly uncomfortable looking sofa before reaching a series of high tables and stools in a narrow space, with smarter sofas towards the rear and a few standard tables and chairs. A large Lincolnshire Poacher noticeboard hangs on the wall here, although I'm not sure where it comes from - this pub was previously known as the Devonshire Arms. There are loads of blackboards dotted around the pub in lieu of more interesting items of décor, and I noticed a precarious looking stack of board games to one side of the bar. The pub seems to promote micro-breweries and the ale range was dominated by them, with options on this visit consisting of Bad Co Comfortably Numb, Copper Dragon Golden Pippen, Little Valley Withens Pale, Mallinsons Citra, Taylor Boltmaker, Five Points Hook Island, Northern Monk Mocha Porter and Ilkley Lotus IPA. The friendly barmaid helpfully recommended the Mocha Porter after it transpired that my initial choice had recently been taken off. The pint was a bit flat but still pretty tasty. I thought this was a very characterful little bar that presented a modern pub concept in an attractive traditional pub setting. I found the place quite laid back and the beer range certainly merited more attention than I was able to give it. Well worth a visit, especially as a double header with the neighbouring Swan on the Stray.

Restored and renovated with a modern twist in 2014 and reopened on 22nd November. The original semi-circular counter with its stained glass canopy has been refurbished and is complemented by a new old floor. 10 handpumps serve local cask ales and two ciders, the beers varying on a regular basis. 10 keg taps along the barback dispense craft kegs from the likes of Brewdog. To one side at the front is the bottle shop with a stock of interesting bottled beers and wines which can be drunk on or off the premises, "Growlers" are also available to takeaway draught beer. The beer quality was very good on my inital visit although the cask choice was a little safe the kegs were a bit more interesting. Seating is a bit limited with a couple of tables in the front bay window and a couple more on the right side rear, the rest given over to vertical drinking. Makes a good two hander with the almost adjacent Swan on the Stray. There are plans to incorporate a wine shop upstairs in the future.