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Wednesday 11 August 2010

Fanny's

It's a well-known fact that the Victorian founder of Saltaire, Sir Titus Salt, would not allow any licensed establishments within the village boundary, believing that drink was an evil his working men could do without. Indeed, it was many years before the first bar was allowed in Saltaire itself and even today most of the local pubs are outside Saltaire.

Fanny's Ale & Cider House
is perhaps the most famous of our local bars.
It opened in 1997 in what was originally a shop and has steadily built a reputation as a fine traditional alehouse, with wooden floors, old-fashioned fittings and cosy real fires in winter. It has been in the CAMRA 'Good Beer Guide' for nine years and is a 'Pub of the Year' 2010. It serves a wide selection of fine hand-pulled cask ales, some from local 'micro-breweries', as well as lagers and draught cider.

I rarely drink so I don't frequent it much, but it really buzzes most evenings. I have tried lots of times to photograph it and never managed to make it look very pretty, though it is charming inside. But the fact that it gets so full and that people spill out onto the pavement to drink, chat and smoke - even though it's right beside a busy road - suggests to me that the quality of the beer and the friendly atmosphere do override its limitations.

Little known facts... the late (great) DJ John Peel's wife, Sheila, was born here and I understand the pub was a favourite with John when they came to visit family in the area.

13 comments:

  1. Great looking spot and with loads of opportunity for 'detail' shots; a wide angle lens inside would be good.

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  2. Poor John he went too soon.Nice factoid though.Lovely pub!

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  3. The place is really inviting! there's a warm mood there! AND: (the obsessed one speaking..) I like the two benches near the door! :)

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  4. You are right , it doesn't look as impressive as one would imagine a pub with so many awards and such a good reputation. It does look quaint though.

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  5. This one is really beautiful Jenny.
    Costas

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  6. Draft cider -- my favorite! Fanny's looks like a happenin' place!

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  7. It has a lot of chimmneys so must have a number of fireplaces.Hey, we don't smoke inside a public area, its a law.

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  8. Wonderful architecture and interesting story.

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  9. You say it's hard to make pretty ... but have you tried an after-dark pic? ... a longish exposure, lights in the windows, blurry people moving outside ... e.g. park over the road and put the camera on the car roof. Even polish the roof to include reflections. Darn it, I'll drive over and try myself. Then go in for a beer.

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  10. Now I'm curious how Fanny's was approved to open inside the village boundary. And now I'm also curious about the inside of the place too! ~Lili

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  11. I wonder what the proportion of beer to cider is drunk. Looks like a great watering hole.

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  12. Now I'm thirsty for a nice cold pale ale... :-)

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