The George Inn: Historic Yorkshire Dales pub keeps candle burning after 275 years
The George Inn at Hubberholme has been lighting a candle in its window to show it is open since 1750 – a tradition that continues today.
“How far that little candle throws his beams”, wrote Shakespeare.
It's what the famous Dales pub, the George Inn, which is also known as the Candle Inn, has been doing successfully for 275 years.
When it first became a pub in 1750, the vicar, who was the first innkeeper, put a lit candle in the window to show it was open.
And so the tradition continues to this day.
On January 5 the latest custodians of the George Inn at Hubberholme, Greg and Claire Hall, will play host to another important tradition – their first Hubberholme Parliament, an auction for 16 acres of “pretty rough” sheep grazing which draws folks from all over Upper Wharfedale and Langstrothdale.
The pub is sure to be packed for the auction which will continue until the candle dies out.
Greg first came across the pub when he was walking the Dales Way, which stretches from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and ending at Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District.
It made quite a first impression.
Greg, who was previously a farmer and now can be found in the kitchen on alternate Sundays doing the roast dinners, snapped up the pub with Claire when it went up for sale earlier this year.
Remembering that fateful walk he said: “I wasn't expecting to find anything. I was walking to Buckton and reached the River Wharfe. Then I came to this little place with a church and farm and a bridge over the river and the Inn.
“It was the most beautiful tranquil place I’d seen. I sat out in the rain and had fish and chips made by Sarah Metcalfe, who is still working for us now.
“For five or six years we've been going as customers.
“The George came up for sale and rather than letting it change from what it is, we thought we’ll buy it and keep it going as a traditional Yorkshire pub.
“It’s very old fashioned, with flagstones and a log burner in the bar.
“We’ve promised to continue the tradition of keeping the candle lit whenever it is open.
“They used to have winter opening hours, but we have changed that. We want the bar to be open even if the kitchen isn’t.
“(The previous custodians) Ed and Jackie Yarrow are retiring soon but they stopped to help us for the first six months because we are novices.
“It has been hard work but we have been really fortunate that all the staff have stayed including the head chef and they have all helped us.”
Times are tough for pubs with the cost of food, wages, energy going up, taxes rising, inevitably forcing prices up.
Official Government figures in August showed more than 200 pubs closed across the UK in the first half of 2025, with closures accelerating amid mounting tax burdens and cost pressures on the sector.
But Greg says that special pubs like the George, with its charm and remoteness, must be preserved.
“We value what it stands for and we are prepared to work for people to come and enjoy it.”
Where there’s light, there’s hope.