The Flying Duck , Ilkley

called in this fine pub on sat night what a cracking little pub beer in fine form pleasant bar staff nice surroundings had 3 pints of wharfedale blonde very nice cheers

Reopened 14th November 2013, "In late 2012, sixteen businessmen and women, all with a close connection to the town, formed two companies; (Flying Duck Enterprises Ltd and Wharfedale Brewery Ltd), which acquired the lease of the former Mallard Inn (more recently the Albert) on Church Street. The majority of the investors are past chairmen of Ilkley Round Table and founder members of the highly successful Ilkley Beer Festival. They felt there was a niche in the market place to capitalise on the resurgence in the popularity of real ale, by producing and selling their own beer, in the kind of pub that they felt had been sadly lacking in the Ilkley area for generations.The property is Ilkley's oldest pub building, dating back to the early 1600s. The current Grade II listed structure was built as a farmhouse in 1709 and retains many of its original features. This provided an exact match with the investors’ plans to create a Yorkshire Dales style real ale and fine wine venue, in a setting packed with character, which could also incorporate a microbrewery. And thus, Wharfedale's first BrewPub was born. The pub has been renamed the Flying Duck, in a nod to it’s most famous previous name, and the third incarnation of Wharfedale Brewery has been established. The pub will serve nine rotating cask real ales (from Wharfedale and other microbreweries throughout the UK) draught ciders, continental lagers, bottled beers from around the world, an extensive range of fine wines, whiskies and spirits, soft drinks, teas and coffees." So says its opening press release

A very old looking building judging by the stone window mullions and the beams in the low ceiling. Entering the Albert is much like entering a cellar, it is low and dark with the counter at back. Only one man and a dog in when I called on a Saturday lunchtime, eventually someone appeared to serve me with ale from the two handpumps tucked away on a corner of the counter. Both pumps were serving beer from local micros which appears normal according to the small clip collection round the bar, the dominant T Bar holds the usual national brands. The beer was a bit cold but OK. There is a big stone fireplace with a wood burner in one half of the divided room, flooring is stone flag and carpet and the furnishings leather sofas at low tables, there are the usual machines and a couple of big screens. The function room upstairs has a pool table. Décor is a bit sparse with a couple of Irish number plates and some music related pictures. I thought it was a bit of a mish mash, with poor service but the beer was fine, probably more of an evening venue.