Gunnerside
North Yorkshire
DL11 6LD
01748 886261
Legend has it that the king in the pub name is Gunnar, a Norse chieftain after whom the village is named. It’s his face on the pub sign but it’s more likely that Gunnar was a prominent local farmer rather than a Viking king (photos 1 & 2).
The Kings Head is now owned by the local community and after a closure for redecoration it reopened in the summer of 2020. A more substantial refurb in 2014 saw off the slightly shabby old farmers local, but the stone flagged floors and lovely old carved stone fireplace are still there (photos 3 & 4).
Black Sheep Bitter, Yorkshire Dales Buttertubs and Theakstons Old Peculier are always on tap along with one other beer, usually from a Dales brewery. Keg beers include Budvar lager and Swaledale Pilsner, brewed specially for the pub by Belhaven. Meals are served using food from local produce.
The village is in Swaledale, possibly the most scenic of the Yorkshire Dales and the pub sits next to the popular path up Gunnerside Gill.
