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Detail Pages
North Riding Hotel, Scarborough
Scarborough
YO12 7HU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about North Riding Hotel
This is a large brew pub located away from the town’s main tourist spots, yet still handy for the North Bay Beach, Peasholm Park and the open-air theatre. The pub has a two bar set up, with the rooms connected by a separate passageway. Most punters on our visit were massed in the front bar, to the left of the entrance – a spacious, irregular shaped room with exposed floorboards, half panelled walls with plain uppers and a good mix of chairs, high stools and padded banquettes, all serving tables or varying sizes. The servery is along the rear wall in a recessed space with an attractive dark wood counter and matching bar back, flanked by various boards detailing the draught and bottled beer ranges. Many CAMRA certificates have been put on display to one side of the bar, attesting to their commitment to cask ale, whilst a high shelf above the canopy was lined with numerous trophies, although I couldn’t fathom out how these might have been won. There’s a pleasant fireplace to one side of the room, with an unused TV screen above it, and décor included some framed postcards, old documents and miniature cricket bats. Following the terrazzo floored passage back towards the entrance, you pass the rear bar, where more of the same seating options can be found in a pleasant, if somewhat empty, overspill space. Some 70’s pop tunes were playing in the background and there was a nice lunchtime buzz from a small band of bantering locals.
Just a few days prior to our visit here, we’d enjoyed drinking North Riding’s Ice Cream Porter, which was arguably my beer of the year at that point, so I was hopeful to find it here at the brewery tap, but alas, there was just the one North Riding beer on cask – a reasonable drop of Cascade which was enjoyable but nowhere near as memorable as the porter. This was available alongside Ossett Yorkshire Blonde, Oakham Black Magic and one other that I forgot to note down. There were also no less than four real ciders and seven or eight craft keg options to choose from, as well as a robust bottle and can selection.
This is an excellent pub with a decent location away from the tourist masses, serving up good home-brewed beer in a nice traditional pub environment with friendly service. We didn’t visit any other pubs during our brief time in Scarborough but would imagine there aren’t too many that surpass this place – well worth seeking out.
On 16th November 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about North Riding Hotel
Quite an imposing building in a prominent position above the Peasholm valley, although the facades suggest somewhat faded glory (albeit hardly an uncommon feature of many parts of the town). However, once inside, you find a thriving establishment that retains a twin-bar layout: the large public bar (with pool table) at the front, and a smaller lounge further back. Basic furniture, and restrained (somewhat old-fashioned, in a good way) decor. First-floor dining room (not visited, and food serving times are limited) and accommodation. Ten handpumps in total, with an excellent selection from local breweries plus one of their own ales - Peasholm Pale (£2.60). Three craft keg beers, a cider and a perry also noted. Overall, well worth the walk out to the North Cliff area.
On 5th May 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about North Riding Hotel
I wont gainsay anything the estimable ROBC has said just add a bit. There are two bars on the ground floor of the hotel at the north end of the town. A choice from three pumps in a small snug to the right and another seven in the larger bar next door, one was for the beer brewed on the premises the others for Yorkshire guests. There's a pool table and a lot of associated silverware. A good pubby feel is given by the bare board floor and bench seating, some photos of the locals gathered round the pumps and some well deserved CAMRA awards; actually six Pub of the Year certificates in an unbroken run between 2010 and 2013, I wonder what happened in 2007 and 2009 as they start at 2006? There are even more awards in the lobby between the bars. Signed cricket bats in cases and old photos complete the decor and there are some oddities like lamps fashioned from pump handles. The gents are extremely stainless steel. Bantering locals and excellent beer make the walk out here not only worthwhile but essential.
On 3rd May 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about North Riding Hotel
Sadly Stuart & Karen couldn't put us up this time as they were full. Still, you can't blame them for being popular. We stayed just down the road and visited 3 times over our 2 days in Scarborough. I'm pretty sure that this has never been a Flares by the way.
Stuart now has 3 fermenters in the cellar allowing him to brew 3 times a week. His own beers on offer this time were Simcoe and Kazbek, the latter was a bit sweet for me, but the Simcoe got some hammer. There were several interesting guests on as well as usual, all well kept. It's a great pub and we'll be back soon.
12/03/2011
We’ve visited this pub every time we’ve been in Scarborough since Stuart & Karen took over. We stayed here for the first time a couple of weeks ago. They currently have 3 letting rooms although that will increase as Karen sorts out the other rooms one by one. We had a nice double room and Karen supplied a good breakfast in the 1st floor dining room. My only small negative was that the room could do with double glazing as the road outside it quite busy & noisy. However that is already another project on Karen’s list.
Stuart’s latest project is a 2 barrel brewery in the cellar of the pub. Sadly whilst we were there none of his beer was available as it sells out as soon as it goes on the bar. Another fermenter has been ordered so that means he can brew twice a week rather than the once per week currently. Hopefully that means that next time we visit the regulars won’t have drunk it all!!
Despite the lack of home brewed beer there is always a good selection on the bar with TT Landlord being a permanent and several changing guests. Whilst we were there these included Thornbridge Jaipur IPA which is dangerous stuff to finish the night off with. There’s a pleasant lounge and a tap room with a pool table and a large screen. There’s always a friendly crowd in, both regulars and visitors. A must visit pub when in Scarborough.
On 3rd March 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about North Riding Hotel
it used to be a flairs concept but gone back to the North Riding the couple seem to be making a go of it worth a visit will call back
On 24th June 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about North Riding Hotel
First port of call on our visit to Scarborough yesterday at 12 noon. We went straight for the Great Yorkshire (nee Cropton) Chocolate Orange 6% despite its strength as it a fantastic beer. Stayed with the stronger ones as they had one of their own North Riding beers on, and enjoyed the 1 vs 100 at 5.7%. A good start to the day. This is a must for anyone coming to Scarborough to find real ale.
On 5th March 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about North Riding Hotel
I really liked this place.
A fantasic exterior. Visited on a Sunday night, so very quiet inside. We elected to sit in the lounge and were the only guests, which i really didnt mind and the barman was clearly a decent chap, chatting to a couple of the locals in the other room.
Had a York Guzzler and would look forward to another visit with relish
On 11th September 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about North Riding Hotel
Up and coming pub right at the end of the North Cliff terrace. We often stay just up the road from here and have been in every time we have visited since the landlord and landlady (Stuart & Karen) moved down from the Cricketers. Great selection of ales always on tap and always well kept. We called in recently and whilst the TV was switched on the sound was muted (I can't remember having been in when it was loud) and there were a whole bunch of holidaymakers in. To be honest they were so thick that almost everything they said was hilarious. We and the regulars sitting at the bar were having difficulty trying not to laugh out loud. But it's that sort of place, everyone is welcome as long as they behave. It's people that make pubs what they are and this place has a whole bunch of characters.
On 15th June 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about North Riding Hotel
Two bar pub in a big, imposing hotel. The ale selection of six was excellent, well-served and eminently drinkable.
Much of your experience depends on what time of day you go in and where you decide to drink. The lounge bar is a 70's-style plush area, one for warmth and old men playing dominoes. But when it's quiet, it feels very lonely and Sunday-like unless you are after a bit of solitude. The public bar by contrast, is a particularly spartan affair with very little in the way of creature comforts - it's very much a drinking den with the locals and their banter - probably not to everyone's taste when busy. The pool table gets in the way a bit, would be better off moving it to the lounge. Toilets weren’t the best, be wary.
All in all, it's an excellent real ale pub but a few steps short of being a good all-rounder, but hopefully that will come in time. Well-worth a beer visit though, either way.
On 12th January 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
James Joines left this review about North Riding Hotel
Deuchars, Tetlet and TT Landlord usually available along with draught imported beers.
2 bars plus an upstairs dinning area.
#GBG 2008 listed#
On 12th April 2008
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 841 recommendations about 835 pubs]