The Guardian has compiled a list of six of the “UK’s Best for the Festive Season” and highlighted the Sleigh and Reindeer, which usually trades as the Coach and Horses, in West Park as one of them.
Guardian journalist Phoebe Taplin said: “The inside is relatively understated, but reindeer and a couple of glittery pheasants twinkle away in corners of the bar, sledge down the side of the stairway and watch over the upstairs restaurant, where a special menu offers wensleydale souffle with red wine-poached pear and sage-roasted turkey with pigs in blankets.
“Downstairs, staff in Christmas jumpers serve pints of a pistachio and cherry-flavoured milk stout called Fairytale of Brew York.”
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The Guardian also praises other Christmassy delights in the spa town, including the lights around the Stray, the Christmas Fayre and The Candy Cane Express. Glow at RHS Harlow Carr, the Harrogate Arms and Stockeld Park also earned a mention.
Anthony Blundell, the pub’s head of business development, told the Press: “The Sleigh & Reindeers (usually Coach & Horses) team truly deserve the recognition as the most festive pub in the UK as they make it feel like Christmas Day every day from November 15 until January 8.
The outside (Image: Pic supplied)
“The phenomenal efforts they go to making it extra festive with the extraordinary number of decorations inside and out, the Christmas jumpers and Santas hats all the team wear, the Christmas themed drinks and the food menu.”
He added: “We go so festive because we wanted to be the place to be to feel festive in Harrogate. This is the second year we have renamed the pub and the sales have grown year on year due to the extra efforts and increasing awareness.”
Other venues listed in the Guardian’s top 6 festive pubs across the UK include The Churchill Arms (London), Queen Victoria Inn (Somerset), The Empress (Cambridge), The Dome (Edinburgh) and The Marine (Eastbourne).
