Pint-Sized Perfection: Sippin’ Outside The Castle Pub in Skipton

11th April 2025

There’s a certain magic that descends on Skipton when the sun makes an appearance. Locals blink like moles emerging from hibernation, dogs strut around like they own the place, and visitors—well, they start heading toward one of the finest pastimes known to humankind: a drink in the sun outside The Castle Inn.

If you’ve booked a stay at Thisledo Holiday Cottage (and if not, why not?!), you’re in prime position for one of the finest pleasures Skipton has to offer: an early evening drink outside The Castle Inn, where the beer is cold, the sun hits just right, and the people-watching is top tier.

Set close to Skipton Castle and next door to the historic church, The Castle Inn gives you the unique opportunity to sip a pint while pretending you’re defending the kingdom (or at least defending your crisps from a rogue pigeon). The pub has a great outdoor seating area, which on a sunny evening becomes a magnet for cheerful chatter, clinking glasses, and the occasional bewildered tourist trying to work out which direction the canal is in.

The moment the sun peeks out, tables outside The Castle fill faster than a bingo hall on pension day. You’ll see sunhats that haven’t seen daylight since Tenerife ‘06, sunglasses of questionable origin, and the unmistakable shimmer of factor 50 being hastily slapped on pale forearms.

And oh, the drinks. Whether you’re a wine sipper, a craft ale connoisseur, or someone who still thinks alcopops are making a comeback, there’s something for everyone. Pint in hand, you’ll feel like you’ve really arrived on your Yorkshire holiday. Add in a packet of pork scratchings or a shared bag of crisps, and you’re basically living the dream.

Pro tip for holidaymakers: dogs are welcome outside, so if you’ve brought your four-legged friend along to Thisledo Holiday Cottage, they can lounge under the table and judge your snack-sharing etiquette. (Yes, they do want a pork scratching!)

The whole scene is pure, unfiltered joy—an al fresco celebration of sunshine, holidays, and the undeniable charm of a pint. Just remember, as the evening wears on and that “one quick drink” turns into three… the walk back to your cottage, especially if you’ve beeen drinking some of the 7.2% ale.

Cheers to sunshine, Skipton, and semi-responsible holiday drinking. 🍻