Pint Of Ale

I’m a fan of the small local pub chain Market Town Taverns. They have their priorities right - decent beers, decent food and decent surroundings. Coopers in Guiseley is a ’standard’ offering from them.

The pub occupies a basic, dull looking unit at the end of the town’s main street. It’s not a street presence that proclaims character. Inside, it’s the standard open plan Market Town look - olive green and cream walls, historical continental beer posters, pump clips from guest ales gone by.

The counter occupies the far corner and it carries a large range. There are several hand pumps for cask ales and many continental beers on draught and in bottles behind the bar. I opted for my favourite ale of the moment - Golden Pippin by the local Copper Dragon brewery in nearby Skipton. It did not taste as good as it usually is on my visit, but I don’t know if this reflects on Coopers.

It was early evening when I visited with some friends from work. The pub was not very busy and because of this, the open plan layout made it seem emptier, colder and completely characterless. There was no atmosphere about the place. I imagine that this improves as the pub fills up. I had the overwhelming feeling that I was sitting in a classroom.

Coopers is a good place to go if all you care about is being served good beer from a wide choice. At busy times, this may be the best pub in the locality, but I couldn’t help but feel that there was something missing during my short visit.