Posted: 14th August 2026
There’s something special about a small town pub. It’s more than somewhere to enjoy a drink or a meal - it can be a place where people meet, celebrate, catch up, listen to live music, take part in a quiz, and simply feel at home.
That’s why we’re particularly proud that us, the Black Horse Hotel in Grassington has been recognised as a Heart of the Community by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII).
The award celebrates pubs that do more than serve food and drink, recognising the important role they play in supporting and bringing together their local communities. The BII describes its Heart of the Community Award as a way of highlighting the people and businesses behind pubs that make a wider impact in the places they call home.
The Black Horse Hotel has stood in the heart of Grassington for centuries. Dating back to around 1650, our historic coaching inn has always been part of our market town life.
Today, we’re proud to continue that tradition.
Located just a stone’s throw from Grassington Square, the Black Horse is a place for both visitors and locals. Whether you’re joining us for dinner, enjoying a drink beside the log fire, staying overnight in one of our 15 bedrooms, or simply popping in for a chat, we want the Black Horse to feel welcoming to everyone.
Grassington itself has a strong community spirit, and we’re delighted to be part of it.
One of the things we love most about running a pub in Grassington is seeing the same spaces used for completely different occasions.
Throughout the year, the Black Horse hosts regular events designed to bring people together, including live music, acoustic performances and our popular Wednesday quiz night. We also welcome local groups and activities, helping the pub remain a lively part of village life throughout the week.
Some evenings are about music and entertainment. Others are simply about meeting friends for a pint or enjoying a meal together.
And sometimes, it’s just about having somewhere warm and welcoming to come back to.
That is what we believe a community pub should be.
Being part of a community also means supporting the area around us.
Grassington sits in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, attracting walkers, cyclists, families, visitors and fans of All Creatures Great and Small throughout the year. The town famously doubles as the fictional Darrowby in the television series, bringing even more visitors to our corner of North Yorkshire.
As a local hotel, pub and restaurant, we’re proud to welcome those visitors while remaining a place for the people who live here.
We also believe that the best visitor experiences are rooted in the local community. Our restaurant uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients, while our hotel provides a comfortable base for people exploring Grassington and the surrounding Yorkshire Dales.
For many visitors searching for a hotel in Grassington, the Black Horse is a convenient place to stay in the centre of the village.
But we hope it feels like much more than that.
Our 17th-century building, cosy bar, restaurant and bedrooms give visitors somewhere to stay, eat and relax. At the same time, our regular events and welcoming atmosphere mean that the Black Horse remains connected to everyday life in Grassington.
It’s this combination - hotel, pub, restaurant and community meeting place - that makes the Black Horse such a special part of the village.
We’re incredibly proud to be recognised by the British Institute of Innkeeping, but the award is really about something much bigger than the Black Horse itself.
It’s about our team, our regular customers, our local community and everyone who walks through our doors.
A community pub isn’t created simply by putting tables and chairs in a room. It’s created by people.
The people who come in every week.
The musicians who perform here.
The teams who battle it out in the quiz.
The friends who meet for dinner.
The walkers who arrive after a day exploring the Dales.
The visitors discovering Grassington for the first time.
And, of course, the team behind the bar, restaurant and hotel who make it all happen.
Whether you’re planning a weekend in the Yorkshire Dales, looking for a dog-friendly pub in Grassington, searching for somewhere to eat after a day of walking, or simply looking for a welcoming place for a drink, we’d love to see you.
The Black Horse Hotel is proud to be part of Grassington - and even prouder to be recognised as a Heart of the Community.
Because while the Dales may bring you to Grassington, it’s the people, places and community that make you want to come back.
Posted: 3rd July 2026
Supporting a Fairer Future for Hotels, Pubs and Hospitality
The hospitality industry is one of the UK's largest employers and a vital part of local communities. Hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafés and visitor attractions create jobs, support local suppliers, attract tourism and contribute billions to the economy every year.
Yet despite its importance, the sector continues to face significant financial pressure. Rising energy costs, increased wage bills, higher business rates and inflation have all added to the burden. At the heart of these challenges is one issue that many hospitality businesses believe is preventing growth and investment: VAT.
Why VAT Matters
Hospitality businesses in the UK currently pay VAT at 20% on accommodation, food and many services. This is among the highest rates applied to tourism and hospitality in Europe.
Many competing destinations benefit from reduced hospitality VAT rates, allowing businesses to offer better value to customers, invest in their facilities, and create more employment opportunities. UK businesses, however, must absorb increasing costs while remaining competitive in a challenging market.
The Impact on Hotels
For hotels, the current VAT rate affects every aspect of the business:
A reduction in VAT would help hotels reinvest in their properties, improve guest experiences, create jobs and strengthen local economies.
The Impact on Pubs
Pubs are often the heart of their communities, but many continue to struggle with rising costs and shrinking margins.
The current VAT burden contributes to:
A lower VAT rate would provide much-needed support, helping pubs remain sustainable, competitive and accessible.
The "VAT Is The Problem" campaign is urging policymakers to recognise the unique contribution of hospitality and tourism by introducing a reduced VAT rate for the sector.
Supporters believe this would:
Why We Support the Campaign
As a hospitality business, we see first-hand the challenges facing hotels, pubs and the wider industry. We believe that a fairer VAT rate would allow businesses to invest, grow and continue delivering the experiences that visitors and local communities value.
Hospitality is more than an industry - it is a cornerstone of the UK's economy and social fabric. We are proud to support the VAT Is The Problem campaign and its call for meaningful change.
Get Involved
You can support the campaign by:
Together, we can help secure a stronger future for hospitality!!!
Posted: 28th May 2026
If you've ever dreamed of stepping into a place where history, warmth, and breathtaking scenery all come together under one roof, then welcome‚ you've just found it. We're a 17th-century coaching inn sitting right at the top of Grassington's famous cobbled village square, and this is our very first blog post. We hope it's the start of something brilliant.
A Little Bit About Us
Grassington is one of those rare Yorkshire Dales villages that seems to exist outside of time. Cobbled streets, stone-built cottages, fresh Dales air, and a community that genuinely makes you feel welcome the moment you arrive. Right at its heart, you'll find us, the Black Horse.
We've been welcoming guests, walkers, locals, and wanderers for centuries. Our building creaks with character: not a level floor or straight wall in sight, low ceilings that have seen generations of good conversation, and a real log fire that on a chilly Dales evening feels like the best thing in the world. If you're a fan of the TV series "All Creatures Great and Small", you'll recognise Grassington immediately‚ it doubles as the fictional town of Darrowby, and our doorstep puts you right in the middle of it all.
What We Offer
We have 15 comfortable en-suite bedrooms‚ doubles, twins, kings, and our beloved premium rooms, which looks out over the village square and into the open Dales beyond. Whether you're here for a romantic break, a walking holiday, or just a proper night away from the ordinary, we'll make sure you sleep well.
Our bar serves a fine range of cask-conditioned Yorkshire ales alongside beers, lagers, and wines from around the world‚ all at prices that won't make you wince. Our restaurant uses fresh, locally sourced produce to create a menu that travels from classic British pub dishes to something a little more adventurous. We cater for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diets, so no one gets left out.
The Black Horse is proudly dog-friendly. Your four-legged companion is as welcome here as you are‚ in the bar and in a dedicated section of the restaurant.
We run regular events including our popular Wednesday Quiz Night, Friday Night Live music, and Sunday Acoustic sessions showcasing some of the best local artists in the Dales. Staying in has never sounded so good.
Why Grassington? Why Now?
Grassington sits in Wharfedale, one of the most spectacular valleys in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It's the kind of place that draws people back year after year. Within easy reach you'll find:
- Stump Cross Caverns‚ an extraordinary underground cave system
- Kilnsey Crag and Kilnsey Park‚ dramatic limestone cliffs and trout fishing
- Bolton Abbey‚ the beautiful ruins of a 12th-century priory
- Skipton‚ the Gateway to the Dales, with a castle, market, and canal
- Miles of walking and cycling routes‚ from gentle riverside strolls to serious fell walks
Whether you're visiting for the Grassington Festival in June, the magical Dickensian Festival in December, or simply because you want wide skies and good beer on a random Tuesday — you're very welcome here.
This Is Just the Beginning
This blog is something we're genuinely excited about. Over the coming months, we'll be sharing walking routes, straight from our door, seasonal menu updates, local event guides, behind-the-scenes stories from the inn, and honest recommendations for making the most of the Yorkshire Dales. We'll keep it honest, local, and useful‚ no boring bits, just the good stuff.
If you'd like to follow along, bookmark this page or find us on social media. And if you haven't visited yet, we'd love to change that.
Come and find us at 4 Garrs Lane, Grassington, BD23 5AT. There's a pint with your name on it.
