Pub of the week: The CB Inn, Arkengarthdale.

THE CB Inn is named, not after CB radio from the 1970s – but after Charles Bathurst, a 18th century lead magnate whose grandfather John was physician to Oliver Cromwell. In more recent times Arkengathdale, where the CB sits, featured in the title sequence of another iconic symbol of the 1970s, the television series All Creatures Great and Small.

The CB Inn, now known under its Sunday name, The Charles Bathurst, looks down the valley, over the scars of the lead mines on the hillside that once made the Bathurst fortune. In recent years it has received much loving care from builders and the current owner Charles Cody who has invested heavily in bringing the building up the kind of standard that well-heeled tourists, and grouse shooting parties feel comfortable in. The main driver may be food, but this is a local pub too, and there are plenty of people happy to stand at the bar and drink the four real ales available, which include Timothy Taylor Landlord, and Black Sheep (Bitter and Riggwelter). There is also an extensive wine list. Locals stand alongside grouse shooters, and beaters talking into the night, putting the world to rights... re-living the grouse that got away. There is accommodation too. There’s no mobile phone reception, but free wi-fi, which quite happily worked on my smart phone and obviously satisfied the modern grouse shooters. At least one of them buried himself in one of these modern “tablet” things, probably fitted with the latest “grouse-sim” software allowing you to bag a brace from the comfort of the bar. The real thing once bagged makes its way on to the menu, alongside the lamb that shares its moors.

THE VERDICT

Welcome****

Drinks selection****

Atmosphere***

Food***

Prices***