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Hales Bar, Harrogate
Harrogate
HG1 2RS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve C left this review about Hales Bar
Hales Bar is certainly a historic pub, although it took a while for my eyes to adjust from the bright sunshine outside to the dimness in the not so gas-lit lounge bar. Three of the six hand pumps were in use drawing TT Boltmaker and Landlord alongside Robinson’s Dizzy Blonde. Whilst waiting to be served I was made aware of the original cigar lighter and whisky water tap on the bar counter, just two of some very interesting features of the pub. Not so interesting was the background music and Wimbledon Tennis muted on the television. The left hand bar was closed during my recent Friday afternoon visit and I didn’t seek out the vault, maybe next time if I find myself passing by.
On 28th July 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Hales Bar
Characterful old pub, full of heritage features and traditional furniture in the Saloon Bar and separate Vaults. With three of six handpumps in use, we found TT Boltmaker, Daleside Old Legover (£3.50, half with a packet of peanuts) and Robinson's Dizzy Blonde.
On 27th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about Hales Bar
Very dark and gloomy after entering from the bright sunshine ,it has a cellar bar feel but with some very interesting features.There is an impressive bar back ,three red leather banquettes opposite the servery while on the bar are two gas fired cigar lighters on tall stems but with a protective sheath in clear plasitc ,they were non functional on my visit.Another feature is the water dispenser for whisky on the bar which you are asked not to touch and it too doesn't work these days.The L shaped interior carries on into the gloom.
Three ales on Daleside Old Legover (variable quality reported),Robinsons Dizzy Blonde and a decent TT Boltmaker (NBSS 3.5).
The pub grew on me ,it has enough features to warrant a visit and makes a change from the shop conversions and micros which dominate town.
On 8th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Hales Bar
I was happy to find it still has a splendidly ancient interior worth experiencing, once you have become accustomed to the Stygian gloom, and following the warnings of previous reviews I was also pleased to discover that three ales were on offer, of which at least two were in good condition, so hopefully they have got their act together on the beer front. They were Kirkstall Pale, TT Boltmaker and Daleside Old Legover.
On 25th March 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Hales Bar
Fewer stuffed birds than hitherto and the flaming cigar lighters on the counter whilst blazing away are shielded by glass tubes lest some child, or man-child injure themselves on an obvious hot thing. I thought electric lights were the beginning of the end here and I may have been correct. The beer continues to not impress in spite of only having three on.
On 28th September 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Hales Bar
Beautiful 2 roomed pub, bar feels like a cellar, with flagged floor, low brick behind the bar & small barrels. There is also a woodburner making it warm and comfortable.
The lounge has lovely padded leather booths as well as bizarre gas bunsens on the bar.
Lovely relaxing pub.
On 9th November 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
david hammill left this review about Hales Bar
Called in here earlier this evening. Got alot of happy memories from years gone by. Requested a pint of real ale that was advertised as available - only to be told that following a busy weekend there were vitually no real ales available.
On 4th November 2015
- rating: 3
[User has posted 96 recommendations about 86 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Hales Bar
A sign outside this historic town centre venue notes that this is Harrogate's oldest pub and it's fair to say that the place exudes a sense of bygone times from it's well preserved interior, even if the banging music that greeted my Saturday evening visit was doing its best to upset this impression. The main bar is to the right of the front entrance and has bare floorboards and the servery down the left hand side. The counter has a Victorian water font whilst the bar back is well worth closer inspection, with several large spirit barrels on show, a tap pouring a beer from the Daleside Brewery and a sign reading 'Ales and Porters Supplied to the Gentry for Over a Century'. Some remarkable avian taxidermy has been put on display above the bar back and wouldn't look out of place in a natural history museum. Some carpeted U-shaped banquette booths are on the wall opposite the bar, with a few low stools thrown in to supplement the seating options, and walls are decorated with various brewery mirrors and portraits of Queen Victoria. To the rear is a larger U-shaped banquette surrounded by more taxidermy in a space dominated by a huge old gas lamp. The gas lighting in here is a real highlight and adds considerably to the ambiance of the room. The bar was absolutely packed on my visit and I had to huddle in a corner to avoid getting in everyone's way. To the left of the entrance there is a smaller lounge with a basic servery to the rear. The room is on a slightly lower level to the main bar and has a quarry stone floor with standard and high stool seating throughout. A nice fireplace stands on the right hand wall, whilst the left side displays some fancy modern wallpaper. Large mirrors, busts and carriage clocks should give you a sense of the décor within.
The ale range was quite wide but less adventurous than in Harrogate's top ale houses. The options on this visit were Daleside Old Leg Over and Hales Ale, Bass, Fullers London Pride, Robinsons Dizzy Blonde and Taylor's Landlord. I tried the Old Leg Over, but it seemed a bit flat and lifeless.
This is a really interesting historic pub which is well worth a visit to explore the main bar and marvel at the gas lamps. However, I felt it let itself down a bit in terms of the ale range, whilst the crowds on my visit made it difficult to get comfortable, although I suspect an afternoon visit would resolve this problem. A mixed bag and one that I would probably drop from future crawls, having now seen the interior.
On 17th June 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Hales Bar
You do feel as though you have stepped back in time to the Victorian era when you enter this pub. The pub is dimly lit to attract your view to the gas pipes on the bar and gas lighting on the back wall. Six Ales on our visit, mostly boring brown ales as far as I could make out. We went for the Daleside Hales ale, which was pretty no descript in flavour, one visit here was enough for us.
On 29th May 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Hales Bar
It’s all about the historic/characterful interior with this one. The main features are well-described elsewhere but the main thing of note is the gas lighting, which also extends to what look like a couple of inbuilt Bunsen burners at the bar, emitting a continuous licking orange flame (apparently these were for gentlemen to light their tobacco from?). Those of a furry-hugging disposition may wish to avert their eyes from the massed ranks of taxidermy on display. Various bits of Victoriana, from mirrors to framed pictures of old Harrogate via a row of whisky barrels behind the bar. The two large burgundy button-back alcove seats looked like a great place to sup. Some interesting pub characters in situ may not be to everyone’s taste, the one we encountered has probably left a string of donkeys missing their hind legs in his wake. Four ales on; two from Daleside, also Bass and TT Landlord. The latter drank pretty well. Quiz fact is that the interior was used to shoot some scenes in Chariots of Fire. A default stop if you’re a first-time crawler of Harrogate.
On 1st April 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]