The Sun Inn, Norwood: A reassuringly old-fashioned pitstop for walkers and cyclists in glorious Nidderdale
I like a good walk and I’m also partial to a good pub, and I’m pleased to say I’ve been able to indulge in both this summer. I’m not saying I won’t go for a walk unless there’s a pub involved – it just helps, that’s all.
So after a recent stomp around a parched-looking Swinsty Reservoir it would have been rude not to call in at the nearby Sun Inn. There’s something reassuringly old-fashioned about this impressive building, hewn from good old Yorkshire stone, which has been a pub for more than 200 years. Nestled in the verdant Washburn Valley in glorious Nidderdale, it’s an attractive pitstop that’s unsurprisingly popular with the many walkers, cyclists and bikers who pass this way.
Inside, it’s a bit like stepping back in time. The low beamed ceiling, stone walls, patterned carpet and dining area complete with matching wooden tables and chairs hark back to another era. There’s even a pool table, which has become a retro item itself these days. The wood burner, red velvet-clad benches and framed black and white photographs of local rural life from bygone days, all tap into this sense of nostalgia. The beer choice, too, is unapologetically traditional, and I mean that in a good way. Here you’ll find the likes of Theakston Best Bitter and Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker and Landlord, as well as relative newbies like Saltaire Blonde, among others.
I can’t vouch for the food though the Sunday carvery, served from noon to 4pm (if they don't sell out first) is said to be very popular, with diners encouraged to “bring a trencherman's appetite”, which speaks to my inner glutton.
There’s no shortage of outdoor seating, including a smart terrace area at the back with rattan-style seating and sumptuous views across the surrounding fields, which in the honeyed light of a late summer afternoon is a wondrous sight. I like The Sun Inn because it’s comfortable in its own skin – both rooted in the past and anchored in the here and now.
The Sun Inn, Brame Lane, Norwood, Harrogate. HG3 1SZ. www.thesun-inn.com
Welcome4/5
Atmosphere4/5
Drinks choice5/5
Prices4/5