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Mother Shipton Inn, Knaresborough
Knaresborough
HG5 8HZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Graham Coombs left this review about Mother Shipton Inn
A strange pub which falls somewhere between tourist trap and unspoilt but is certainly bursting with character. There are various separate rooms and corners, all furnished with motley historic stuff (including a table claiming previous ownership by one G. Fawkes) but in a good 'collected by accident' way rather than corporate designer. Outside, the beer garden takes advantage of a prime location by the river. A couple of clutches of handpumps offered some competent if not overexciting beers, two from Theakstons, TT Boltmaker and Hobgoblin. A pub that is possibly worth avoiding on summer weekends but overall much better than expected.
On 6th January 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Mother Shipton Inn
I was fully prepared to dislike this pub, seeming as it does to exploit a half-remembered old woman, almost as famous for her ugliness as her wisdom, so I was surprised to find myself warming to the place and appreciating its authenticity and lack of improvement. Perhaps careful and tastefully done restoration might be more to the point, but I spent my time here consuming a very good half pint of John Smiths Cask Bitter appreciating my surroundings as much as my beer. The bar has two pairs of hand pumps at different parts of the bar counter: one pair on a short section soon after entering, the other at the end of a longer stretch around the corner. (Other beers on offer were Hobgoblin Gold, Taylors Landlord and Theakston Best.)
I took my seat at a long table that was a bit of a squeeze to get into, but neither the table nor the settle were amenable to being moved, so I managed somehow. The fireplace opposite was very attractive, as were two chairs placed in front of it, more for decoration than seating, by the way they were set. Elsewhere were various nooks and crannies, surprises around corners, steps up and steps down. My best pub of the day in Knaresborough, and would have scored higher than my 8 if the offering had included a local beer or two, and if the background music had developed an irreparable fault, like someone cutting the wires to the loud speakers for example.
The notice near the bar, "Unaccompanied children will be sold to the Goblin King", reminded me of visits to Knaresborough with my daughters more than 30 years ago, though we didn't go in any pubs then. This notice didn't look that old, anyway.
On 27th May 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Mother Shipton Inn
A few changes since the last visits, the beer range is about the same but the food offering is rather more plebian than before. It's still got an olde world interior, maybe with less fittings than before and the riverside position is of course the same.
On 12th December 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Mother Shipton Inn
The pub's interior can only be described as olde worlde. I can imagine that this pub would be very inviting in the winter with the open fire lit. The interior was wallpapered with lots of lamps dotted around the place, Monks bench seating and a few leather settees. Four handpumps on our visit, with two in use offering a Daleside and TT Landlord.
On 24th June 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Dropping Well Inn
Riverside pub/restaurant at the bottom of the Nidd gorge at the Calcutt end of Low Bridge near the famous Mother Shipton's cave. A multi room layout, to the left is a formal dining room, to the right a bar with a panelled bistro style eating area to one end, to the side is a room at a lower level with views of the river and access to the riverside garden. The main bar is open plan with a large ancient fireplace, although disfigured with flashing fairy lights, and there is a L shaped bar counter. Furnished with rustic tables and settles the bar is decorated with some very nice prints of the Nidd gorge and an old Yorkshire map, there are meat hooks studding the ceiling and a poor box is still affixed to the fireplace. A portrait, possibly of Old Mother Shipton herself, hangs next to the bar although the lady depicted is probably not ugly enough for the legendary seer. Blackboards list the wines and food specials, which included Pigeon, Trout, Goose and Rabbit dishes. There are two handpumps on each face of the bar counter, dispensing Theakstons Best bitter and Deuchars at a little above local price levels, wine is served in 175 or 250ml glasses and there is a small keg beer range.
On 21st March 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]