The Horseshoe Inn, Levisham

What a tragedy! This once fantastic pub, which used to welcome one and all (families, couples, walkers and locals alike), has now been turned into a completely inappropriate, snooty posh-nosh "restaurant" - so much so that I don't even think it should be classified as a pub anymore. A group of us (6 or 7) stay for a weekend in Levisham every couple of years and after a good day's walking we all used to eat and drink at the pub. We were welcomed and the place had a great atmosphere. Food, service and beer were all excellent - a very enjoyable experience. That's all gone now - it couldn't really be more different. The bar stools have gone from the bar. The great blue and gold carpet has been taken up. The place is being run like a restaurant and is clearly being aimed at couples wanting a quiet meal with a bottle of wine and then off home. Anyone else doesn't appear welcome. We walked in at 7pm on a Saturday evening to be met (and I won't say "greeted") by a stern faced woman whose behaviour and attitude made it plainly clear that we were not welcome. We asked if we could eat and were told, in a very condescending and rude way, that all the tables were booked. We drank our pints in record time and took our custom elsewhere, feeling both angered at the rude treatment and greatly saddened by the village's loss of a great "pie & pint" pub. We all hope, as do the villagers by all accounts, that this ill-placed venture soon realises it's short comings and moves on, leaving the pub to someone who will return it to it's former glory.

14 Nov 2005 22:29