A STEP BACK IN TIME

Every year on the last weekend in July the small market town of Leyburn in North Yorkshire holds a 40s nostalgia weekend. Visitors attend dressed up as soldiers, land army girls, wartime spivs, or just normal touristy gear. I threw something together along the lines of a Desert Rat, but on reflection looked more like a Desert Prat.  Vintage buses, trucks and traction engines make an appearance throughout the town. The pubs, of which there are  five plus a club , also get into the swing of the things with some bar staff dressing up for the occasion.

We travelled there by coach and were deposited in a large car park. Walking towards the Market Square  where the main action was we passed the first pub, The Kings Head. It was closed. The time was 1145 and it didn't open till noon. I thought " You've missed a trick here guys".

So after a look round the memorabilia and old vehicles in the market, and listening to a George Formby impersonator, it was into the first pub on the list , the large Bolton Arms. All beers were from North Yorkshire breweries, so had  Richmond Brewery Crusader and, Wensleydale Brewery Hurricane. 

Memory Break

Now the Wensleydale Brewery is about 5 miles from Leyburn in the village of Bellerby and I recall a visit for a brewery tour in 2011. There was about a dozen of us and after the tour, the obligatory tasting session began. One young guy chirps up - "I only drink lager". There was a brief pause as everyone turned to look at him as if he had grown two heads.. The brewery guide didn't miss a beat and just kept going. 

We were then told there was some wheat beer that had failed quality control so had been bottled to give away. Another brief pause there was a mini Boxing Day type scramble to grab what we could. I managed to secure two. I drank it at home later. It was a bit fizzy but OK. Ive not seen the beer since so maybe they just gave up on the recipe.


Anyhow, back to Leyburn. There was much to see, including the Wensleydale Railway - another one of my hobbies.  It was good see they got into the spirit of the occasion by having a train hauled by a Class 37 diesel  built in 1963 !

Before long the need for another beer came over me so back towards the Market Place and this time  The Sandpiper. Again a selection of Yorkshire ales from three breweries ; Wensleydale ( again) , York and Rudgate - their Jorvick Blonde was the one I went for. In the bar  there was a wonderful sexist sign above the bar under some whisky bottles declaring "Medicine for Men"


Finally , it was arranged that we meet in the Daleside Club for a buffet. My heart sank when  I saw the John Smiths sign above the door. But we were starving so in we went. It turns out they had on, which in my opinion,was the best beer of the day. - Yorkshire Dales Buttertubs , from a brewery in Askrigg, not far from Leyburn. There was also John Smiths cask but didnt bother with that.

After a couple, ( or was it three ?) , it was time to empty the bladder and weave our way back to the coach , for the hour plus journey back home. A great time was had by all and already looking forward to next year.