Ripon’s newest bottleshop and taproom is piggin’ brilliant!
What to expect at The Portly Pig
Opening in September 2023 on the cobbled street of Kirkgate, a stone’s throw from the majestic Ripon Cathedral, The Portly Pig resides in a building that was once a 19th-century police station. We love the art deco interior – viridian and ivory-painted, married perfectly with wooden floors and furniture. Upstairs, stylish, golden plush wingback armchairs, colourful rugs and tassel-fringed lampshades create the impression of walking into a 1920s living room. The walls are decorated with framed paintings of – what else! – pigs! Plus, extra bonus points from us for the picture of the squirrel monkey in a top hat (we love monkeys)!
The atmosphere is welcoming; the staff are very knowledgeable about their beers and are passionate about supporting local breweries. Owner Adam Coulson, told us, ‘We wanted to create something a bit different for Ripon. There are a lot of traditional pubs, but nothing that specialises in craft beer and local cask beers. The bottleshop adds another dimension, which gives people greater choice. We’ve tried to create a micropub atmosphere where people can sit and chat to one another whilst enjoying our beers (or wine, or gin!).’ We think he’s got it bang-on.
What’s to drink at The Portly Pig?
The Portly Pig has three rotating cask ales and five changing kegs, offering a broad range of choice. When we visited, local breweries Brew York (York) and Turning Point Brew Co (Knaresborough) were on tap, alongside some of the UK’s favourites – DEYA Brewing Company (Cheltenham) and Titanic Brewery (Staffordshire). We had My Phone’s On Snooze – DEYA’s raspberry berliner weisse – and Celestial Alleyway, a lovely pale ale by Turning Point.
If you’re after drinks to take away, The Portley Pig’s bottleshop has a great variety of beers and ciders, again with a lot from local suppliers. If you want to drink them straight away (who wouldn’t?), nicely chilled pale ales, IPAs, lagers, wheat beers, stouts and porters are available.
As well as beer, The Portly Pig offers ciders, spirits, wines and non-alcoholic options. We particularly enjoyed the pig-related puns on their gin menu and, it being Christmastime, mulled ‘swine’!
What's to eat at The Portly Pig?
You can now pig-out at The Portly Pig! As of mid-December 2023, they've teamed up with nearby restaurant Prima Pizzeria, offering an Italian food menu featuring stuzzichini and pizzas. Call or visit the pizzeria to make your order, pop in to collect it and take it back to the Pig to enjoy with a pint.
Where can I find The Portly Pig?
The Portly Pig is on Kirkgate, close to the magnificent Ripon Cathedral and 5 minutes from the picturesque Ripon Canal Basin. Ripon doesn’t have a train station, but buses run regularly from Harrogate and Thirsk stations. St Marygate Car Park is a short walk away.
What’s on at The Portly Pig?
With regular weekly and one-off events, you won’t be boar-ed at The Portly Pig! Although they’ve only been open for a couple of months, they’ve already hosted a Ripon History Evening, live music and even a play! Wednesday nights are dedicated to chess-playing. Follow their Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up to date with what’s on next.
The Portly Pig, Ripon: Summary
- Great beers and ales
- Bottleshop
- Good snack selection
- Ripon city centre
- Dog-friendly
- Parking close by
Where can I find out more information?
Information on opening hours, the latest events and what’s on tap, can be found on The Portly Pig's Facebook and Instagram pages.
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