WHEN the makers of hit TV drama Gentleman Jack were looking for characterful locations for their second series they hit upon a historic pub in Bingley’s Old Main Street.

With its olde-worlde features and cobbled street setting, the Old White Horse was seen as perfect for Sally Wainwright’s award-winning drama about 19th century landowner Anne Lister, starring Suranne Jones.

“We had quite a few of the stars on site,” said general manager Matt Jones. They did not only film outside but inside the Grade ll-listed pub too, in its oak room, where exposed stone walls, wood panelling, beams and bookcases add to the atmosphere. “A lot of our customers want to sit in there - it’s the first place you see as you walk in,” said Matt.

The hostelry was originally constructed as a coaching inn in the mid-seventeenth century, strategically positioned with Ireland Bridge on the one side and the Parish church on the other. But records show there has been an inn on the site since the early 1300s.

The Old White Horse is parts of Greencliffe Taverns, run by twin brothers Chris and Nick Green, who are also at the helm of The Stansfield Arms in Apperley Bridge and the Brownlee Arms in Horsforth.

Matt had been working for the company for three years when it took over the pub in summer 2016, just six months after severe flooding damaged the building on Boxing Day 2015.

“The whole street was under water. One of the stone walls has a water line on it, at a height of about three feet, but it did reach five feet in here. I was working at The Stansfield that day and we were watching the water flowing towards us across the school playing fields opposite. Thankfully it didn’t reach us there.”

After extensive redecoration, they opened in November 2016.

Describing the menu as “traditional with a twist”, offerings include the popular minted lamb burger, arrabiata pasta bake and chicken escalope. Sandwiches include beef bourguignon Yorkshire pudding wrap.

Throughout summer the inn offers a special weekend seafood menu. “The seafood dishes are really popular,” said Matt, “The company has been holding lobster month, usually in June, for years but this year, due to Covid, we decided to hold seafood weekends for two to three months. As soon as we put the first post on Facebook we had people wanting to book. The most popular dishes are lobster, seafood platter and oysters, delivered daily from Lindisfarne.”

Since lockdown lifted customers have flocked to the inn. “We are busier than we were before the pandemic,” said Matt.

The pub attracts many walkers, popping down after visiting nearby St Ives Estate, or having enjoyed a walk along the River Aire or Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

“We have quite a few regulars who come in, and know the staff really well. The really missed us when we were closed. People especially missed having a really nice, cold pint of lager or beer - a bottle or can doesn’t taste the same.”

*The Old White Horse, Old Main Street, Bingley BD16 2RH W: oldwhitehorsebingley.co.uk T: 01274 921930