The Alexandra, Harrogate

Official site of The Alexandra - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Official site of The Alexandra - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

A big Nicholson's pub in an imposing grade II listed building, once a spa. Inside it is rather more downmarket than most Nicholson's, perhaps due to the clientele or the number of sports screens (they may be connected). Either way there was an acceptable range of ales on: Landlord, Titanic Plum Porter, Leeds Pale, Doom Bar and the house beer, with Wainwright, Black Sheep and something from Laines to follow. Somehow doesn't feel quite as nice as some of the other pubs in the area but ok on a crawl.

No changes since the plague hit us, the staff might be a bit more surly, the games machines may have changed as has the beer range although it’s maybe more local (Timmy Taylors, Black Sheep, Northern Monk, and Leeds Brewery; alongside the St Austell and Fullers) otherwise pretty much aziz.

Expensively refurbished and now run by M&B under their Nicholsons brand, as used for their larger more traditionally oriented pubs. Two banks of pulls: an eight on the short face and two of four on the longer face of the L shaped counter plus two discreet rows of discrete keg founts of national standards. Cask ales, which were doubled up, came from Sharps, Wychwood and Rudgate plus the house Pale Ale from St Austell and a couple of cask beers from smaller and more distant Brewers. Two machines and two screens on a sports channel remain from the previous sports pub incarnation, as do the raised areas in each corner. The rear areas are separated rooms with glass walls. Finished in an elegant high Victorian style with very dark grey walls and woodwork, cream ceilings and a tiled floor round the counter. Fin de Siecle light fittings and original victorian features enhance the look. The room is decorated with many prints and black & white photos of the Harrogate area as well as a small painting of Queen Alexandra herself as Princess of Wales. Furnished mainly with tall tables and stools with normal size furniture in the raised areas. Staff are still finding their feet but should work out ok, nothing to complain out in the beer quality either, Nicholsons being fairly trust-worthy.