The Narrow Boat
 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NARROW BOAT!!
Voted Skipton CAMRA's Pub of the Season Spring 2010

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It's a sunny summer's evening and folks are messing about on the Liverpool - Leeds canal. Waterside pubs are doing a good trade, but those in the know eschew these and hurry down a narrow cobbled lane a street back from the canal basin. A bunch of men in suits loosen their ties as they take their ease on the pub benches, pint in hand. "Is this a good pub?" I ask "This is a great pub," says a chap sitting on the columned balustrade, "But watch out for the grumpy waitress." He winks. I'm not sure what to make of that.

From the front, the Narrow Boat Inn looks part bierkeller and part monastery. Both its neighbours sport standard whitewashed stone, but the inn is robustly different with a cloistered feel, a touch of Mitteleuropa in Yorkshire.  Inside, the austere décor continues its relentless march.

The main bar is high - ceilinged and overlooked by a gallery (no minstrels, sadly). The floor is a wide expanse of bare wood which settles around the edge. The walls are plastered with posters and pictures of old and new beer adverts.  I'm guessing they take their ale seriously here.

I guess right. Traditional British bitters from the likes of Yorkshire brewers Black Sheep and Timothy Taylor are served alongside a beguiling selection of Belgian and German brews. I plump for the devilish Duvel, rich and fruity Belgian pale ale served in a brandy balloon glass topped with a billowing foamy head.
The food underlines the Europe-meets-Yorkshire theme with a sturdy and rib sticking menu. The suits are ploughing their way through nursery food: home-made shepherds pie with red cabbage and fish pie. There's also a regular pie of week. I find the steak and onion baguette fills very nicely.

Polite children are allowed which is fair enough. This is neither a Wacky Warehouse nor a raucous drinking den. There are regular jazz nights and folk night's otherwise lively conversation rules and the whole place has an infectious buzz that is hard to ignore.

As for the waitress, she seems perfectly polite to me. Maybe she & the chap have history.