For my one hundredth review, I'm going with the one establishment that I have probably visited more than any other in my life: The Mason's Arms in Gargrave, North Yorkshire!
It's A-OK. The pub at the bottom of the road I lived on for a good 14 years is a typical village pub. I don't mean that in the twee, ideal sense of "what a sweet village pub" - I mean village life in the way that villagers know it; simple, unromantic, and functional. There's a sports TV, a quiz night in the darker months, a menu of ok-to-decent food (depending on what you choose - the pasta is normally a good bet), and the drinks aren't extortionate.
It's nicer now for the refurb that followed the smoking ban, although both the front and back doors are still often crowded with people huddling from the rain and smoking, so you might still go home smelling of smoke. I'd suggest a sheltered area away from the door but it's right on the road so that would be a pretty bad idea unless you wanted to build a smoking traffic island on a country lane... There's also a beer garden - more a beer patio - out the back in the car park with some picnic benches.
The hosts are warm and friendly and the locals are solid sorts; I've known people who've stayed over in the holiday rooms too and found them eminently comfortable. It's for sure my first choice of pub in the village, and not just because it's the closest to my family home. read more