The Copper Dragon Brewery is in Skipton, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It's fine beers, such as the popular light, hoppy ale, Golden Pippin, the dark favourite, Black Gold, the excellent Best Bitter, Scott's 1816 and Challenger IPA, have won it many plaudits in the brewing world as well as many awards. It is less well-known for it's restaurant, but that is fast changing, as the Copper Dragon Bar Bistro is one of the best places to eat in Skipton.
A Brewery in Skipton
Skipton had a famous brewery for many years: Scott's was established in 1816 (and lends its name to one of Copper Dragon's popular ales). Bought out and closed down in 1902, it took many years for brewing to return to Skipton: Copper Dragon was born in 2002 and has been a real success story.
The Bar Bistro
The Copper Dragon visitor's centre was opened in 2008, and enables visitors to see the brewery in action. As well the brewery tours, the visitor's centre houses a great shop, which is perfect for beer-related gifts (bottled beer, carrying cases, tankards, glasses, beer mats, etc. as well as T-shirts and jumpers) and a restaurant: the bar bistro.
The restaurant has a set menu and a great list of daily specials, included on a supplementary menu sheet and on a blackboard. Alongside popular Yorkshire standards like gammon, egg and chips, Whitby scampi and steak and ale pie, there is a wide range of high quality restaurant food. Regular specials include grilled trout and buttered crayfish, Caribbean chicken, chili beef, fantastic steaks, etc. The desserts are also excellent: very high quality sweet and seasonal pies, cheesecake, sticky toffee pudding, treacle tart, etc. often served with the excellent, local Swale ice cream.
There are also plenty of smaller meals, salads and starters on offer, all cooked to a very high quality and served by friendly staff. The restaurant itself has a very friendly, welcoming atmosphere, with a tempting bar and an open-plan kitchen.
Prices are in line with that of high-quality local pub food: as of summer 2010, most of the main courses are 8-10 pounds, and all desserts £4.50.
Places to Eat in Skipton
Skipton is well-served with pleasant pubs and eateries, and visitors to the town are not short of choice for where to eat. However, the brewery bar bistro should be high up any visitor's list: the food is excellent, with fresh locally-sourced ingredients cooked very well. There is a good mix of hearty local fare and more exotic international dishes, and if the diner chooses to drink beer with their meal...well, it doesn't come much better!
Duncan Hall - Duncan Hall is a semi-professional acoustic musician and lecturer in Government & Politics
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