A Nidderdale pub has been named country pub of the year by the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

The Crown at Middlesmoor has picked up the award, which recognises “beer quality and its contribution to the community and tourism”.

Alan Gould, chair of the Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA, presented the prize to landlady Angie Snow and her son Samuel.

Mr Gould said village pubs were important and pointed out some were the subject to campaigns to be bought by their local communities.

In a post on its social media, the pub said:

“So we have just been awarded country pub of the year 2023. So proud of all our staff who work hard to keep us going.”

Read more:

• Harrogate social club wins CAMRA award
• Knaresborough pub wins CAMRA newcomer award
• Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet visits Nidderdale pub for dinner

The pub is known to attract celebrities on occasion and was visited by Oscar winning actress, Kate Winslet, in May this year.

Kate Winslet, centre, with Megan Dunn and Angela Snow at the pub this year.

CAMRA’s Harrogate and Ripon branch covers a large area of North Yorkshire including parts of a national park and an area of outstanding natural beauty.

It runs two separate pub of the year awards, one for country pub and another for town pubs.

Last month, CAMRA awarded The Oatlands club on Coronation Grove in Harrogate best club in the area for 2023.

A developer can now move ahead with plans for a micropub at Knaresborough’s train station.

Harrogate Borough Council has approved the plans for the Track and Sleeper with a few conditions and alterations, including that work must start before September 2023.

The Track and Sleeper will take over a couple of vacant units at the Grade II listed building. It will serve real ale and gin.

Both the Knaresborough Civic Society and the Friends of Knaresborough Station wrote in support of the plans. The council also said the plans were sympathetic to the building.

These are the new plans including planters.

The community groups raised concerns about a lack of toilets and a “potential nuisance” from the pub’s customers. The landlord will need to monitor those concerns going forward.

Instead of the timber barriers previously submitted, the amended plans inclued moveable planters with barriers in between.

The council believes that because the pub is bringing vacant units back into use that it will be beneficial for the building. It also supported the plans to reinstate the fireplace inside the pub.