The Little Tanner, Northallerton

Intriguing bar accessed from an alleyway that is larger than it first appears. The bar is behind the adjacent shop and has an upstairs area, which appeared to have a pool table. There are outdoor areas on both sides of the bar, with one overlooking a small river. Beyond that was a garden area, which was cordoned off during our visit. The Little Tanner appears to be popular with a much younger crowd than other local pubs. The landlord himself is very young. Music was being played at quite a loud volume and just one solitary ale was being sold. This was Copper Dragon Scott's 1816, which I tried, having not had it for a while. A place with some character that is let down by loud music and its lack of real ale choice.

Compact pub (which, if new, would no doubt be called a micro-pub) hidden away along a narrow alleyway, with the very limited amount of interior seating supplemented by a equally small patio on one side and a notional beer garden further back on the other. Decor of the alehouse variety, not the character to match unfortunately. Just two beers available from the three handpumps: Wainwright and Daleside Bitter (£3.50). Disappointing.

Formerly one of the best pubs in Northallerton (there isn't much competition actually) but it appears to have new owners and has drastically gone downhill. We popped in for a drink on a pub crawl and found popular national kegs and only the not so popular Black Sheep bitter on cask, we didn't stay.

Entrance on left down an alley. Bar on right on entrance. Three weak real ales and keg on offer. Toilets at rear upstairs and there is a beer garden.

We got some very good chips (with scraps) from the White Horse Cafe, and after we'd eaten them on a nearby bench came in here to wash them down with a beer. The wall of shelves holding a variety of beer bottles was a puzzle on entering - it gave the initial impression of an off licence, but then it was immediately apparent that they were all empty. When we approached the bar I was startled to find my hand being licked by a young boxer, but when I expressed this I got a look from the manager which was a mixture of incomprehension and contempt. There are two sorts of people in the world: dog lovers and the rest of us. The craft keg beers and cask ales are all served from taps in the wall beside the bar, and are listed on a blackboard. Our beers were, to be honest, too cold. In a more comfortable pub we'd have stayed a while to let them get to room temperature, but we were in a hurry to escape the dog's over friendly attentions, so we just drank up and moved on. If I lived locally I'm sure I'd be back, but I have to say we didn't much enjoy our one-off visit.