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.