The Royal Shepherd in Craven

Wow! A lovely traditional pub in the heart of Skipton. We popped in a for drink before finding somewhere to eat. As we enjoyed our drinks there was a steady stream of locals coming in for food so we decided to stay and eat. There was a good selection on the menu, including specials. The food was excellent, freshly cooked hearty food with generous portions. The staff were freindly and attentive and we will certainly be back next time we are in Skipton.

The menue was the Christmas market menu ( which wasn't on) the Sunday roast had increased considerably. The difference between a £17 roast and a £10 roast was a roast potato and 1 slice of meat we were told by the waiter. We got abuse from a young kid sat at the bar for complaining about the the £7 price difference.The bar staff did nothing. Definitely won't be going again.

Very happy to recommend The Royal Shepherd. My friend and I had home made lasagne with garlic bread and salad last night and it was excellent and a very generous portion. It was made by Rob who was very friendly and attentive to us. Unfortunately we were so full we couldnt manage a pudding! Will definitely be back.

Absolutely amazing ‘home cooked’ food, the mushroom starter was the biggest starter I’ve ever had. Dog friendly. Really friendly staff. I would highly recommend a visit to this place if you’re in Skipton (and right by the canal which is an added bonus)

Lovely visit to this pub next to the canal basin in Skipton. We both ordered Shepherds pie and it was delicious. It was an ample portion, served piping hot and so tasty. Our meals were off the pub classics special offer on a Wednesday night - just £22 for both. We would definitely have this again and recommend. Great service by Rob, very attentive and friendly. He made us feel at home.

The Royal Shepherd Inn is a fabulous, friendly, traditional pub. We ate here twice and the food was delicious and portions were generous. Friendly staff and warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Really nice food, friendly service. Dog friendly so was a bonus, traditional English pub. Sunday roast service was great and nice sticky toffee pudding, all a great price. Would definitely return.

Fabulous pub. We enjoyed great food, great beer and friendly considerate service. The food was delicious, home cooked and served promptly in generous portions. We will visit again when we are in North Yorkshire.

Amazing food. Especially the steak and kidney pudding and the onion rings. Timothy Taylor’s beer as well as other good ales.

We had a Sunday roast and it was hearty and delicious. The draught ale blonde White Witch was spot on and the service was excellent. Prices were good, cleanliness was good, location is very good 👏🏻 👏🏻

Brought friends to the best pub in Skipton, the both had the steak pie and were both blown away. They can't wait until next time.

We had never visited Skipton and were entirely dependent on TripAdvisor to locate somewhere for lunch. The reviews of this pub seemed very positive so we decided to give it a go. On first impressions, the place was gloomy and the atmosphere was matched by the lugubrious barman who served us. He was clad in a scruffy tee shirt, jeans and dishevelled trainers, was unengaging, unshaven and monosyllabic. We ordered and paid in advance for our food. There was quite a long wait as it became apparent that the kitchen was small and was quite busy. That was not a problem as we were in no particular hurry. When our eyes accustomed themselves to the relatively dark surroundings, it became apparent that the entire place was in need of a deep clean. Nevertheless, we were committed to our purchase and we waited in trepidation for what would appear. When the meals were delivered (it would be hyperbole to say served) by the barman, we were astonished. My wife's mushroom risotto resembled soup with mushrooms and rice floating in it. My fish and chips had been cooked in fat well past its replacement date. Given that the only member of staff visible was the barman, there didn't seem any point in complaining. We just left after a couple of mouthfuls. I note that the local authority has rated the establishment as excellent in terms of food hygiene which frankly, given the state of the place comes as a complete surprise.

Great food and fab atmosphere Rob went above and beyond to look after us , nice cold beers and the meal was hot , looked good and tasted great and we will spread the word , thank you Rob

Whether you're looking for a nice pint or something delicious to eat, this place is a must. There are lots of good pubs to choose from in Skipton, but this is by far the best. Can't wait for our next visit.

Excellent food, excellent service, fantastic pub. If you are visiting Skipton this pub is a must. Our favourite pub in Skipton!

Visited Skipton today (mothers day) needed to clear my head & keep my mind occuppied as it was also the anniversary of my brothers death. It was a lovely day out even if it was a rainy day. This was our first visit to this pub & it wont be our last. Really friendly staff & lovely food. I got upset when a song played in the background reminded my of my brother. The lovely lady behind the bar brought my food & reached out to ask was i ok. This was a nice caring touch, she wont have known what was going on in my head etc but showed empathy. I felt so comfortable there and will go back on my next visit. Really was so friendly. Thank you for your kindness and making a tough day nice x

All started well ordered drinks and food, friendly staff, good background music, then the owner arrived! In my opinion had an uncomfortable conversation with bar staff that customers didn’t need to hear then carried out some business telephone conversations on loud speaker while sat at the bar, yes rude to listen to others conversations but couldn’t avoid as not quietly spoken! I wouldn’t return.

Sunday lunch for 11 people. Friendly atmosphere and staff, very relaxing lunchtime with the family. We all had roasts; six beef and five half roast chicken. Generous portions and great value for money. Would return, it’s very good.

We visited at 12 noon on 31 December for lunch. We ordered the corned beef hash and cheese pie. The hash was simply a dish of layered mashed potato, corned beef, baked beans and 3 fries eggs. Not really what I was expecting. The cheese pie was adequate, veg was very sparse and chips hard and not cooked. You could actually count how many peas there were on the plate, 37. Quite a disappointing visit as when we left, we saw so.many other pubs that looked so much nicer.

We always pop in to the Shepherd when visiting our friends in skipton . Once again not disappointed Sunday lunch was out of this world . Wonderful Yorkshire beef nice yorkie pudda fresh tasty veggies and something cheesy which both me and the wife praised the chef for ! . Not now bk until 2024 but team Shepherd please keep going from strength to strength your a credit to the owners there

This is our favourite pub to eat in. Good home cooked food with a old fashion feel and dog friendly.

We went to the royal shepherd for Sunday lunch and it was lovely, very tasty, great range of veg, tender beef and generous portions. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, would definitely recommend 😊

Came here for lunch whilst visiting Skipton for the day. Meals were good quality and quite big- very full after but tasty! Could tell the gammon was from the butchers which I loved! Staff were very nice. Pub decor was interesting. We were sat with a printer on the next table which maybe could have been tucked out of sight instead? If you want good pub grub, I would recommend!

This is a proper boozer 👍🏻😁 Great atmosphere, lovely staff, very good range of drinks. Good ales, later and cider. Beer garden, close to the canal. Pickled eggs and pork pies on the bar - can't go wrong!!! Brilliant menu, didn't get chance to try it but looks good. Will definitely come again

Superb pub the staff are very polite and attentive nice cosy atmosphere as well. The steak pie they do Is amazing!

We visited this pub 3 years earlier and had a great experience. This time in Skipton with friends we chose to share the experience with them. We, and they, were not disappointed. First night for drinks only. Second night we were running late and desperately looking for somewhere to eat. We were accommodated wonderfully. Well done to everyone!

Pub was a bit quiet on a Wednesday night. Food wad excellent. Typical pub food menu but clearly prepared on the premises. Steak pie is highly recommended.

I booked this based on feedback from Tripadvisor. It is a very scruffy looking pub with old tables and chairs where dogs are allowed on the furniture. However, the feedback said food was good so we took our table and ordered our food. Husband had sausage and mash, I had shepherd's pie. The mash on my pie was lumpy and quite "dry" for want of a better word, needed a lot more butter. Husband enjoyed a few pints of Landlord which is his favourite ale which is really only the redeeming part of the night. The girl behind the bar was alone all night and served the food as well, which for a Friday night, tells a lot about how busy it was. There are far better places to eat out in Skipton. Beer was good.

Visted the Royal Shepherd for dinner while visiting Skipton for a few days and were met with a very friendly welcome. We ordered the special, chicken with cheese and leek sauce which looked delicious, and I couldn't resist the steak and kidney pudding, it was absolutely gorgeous. Would certainly be happy to return another time.

Lovely Sunday lunch, good food, great friendly service. All ways go here to eat when in Skipton. Would recommend.

Perfect Sunday Roast , excellent service and the chef/ manager was very friendly and welcoming. Definitely well worth a visit and look forward to returning.

Just came for drinks, staff very friendly and welcoming. The food that was coming out looked really nice and plenty of it. Comes across as nice relaxed pub that welcomes families and dogs. Only downside was toilets wasn't the cleanest and bin was overflowing and that was at midday .

The Wensleydale Mushrooms were AMAZING. I need the recipe. I have eaten recently in a Michelin * restaurant and nothing could top that glorious chhesey mushroom dish served in the Royal Shepherd. Pork dirty fries also delicious.

Great hospitality. Steak and kidney pudding exceptional as was Thai curry. Prices very reasonablle. Will be back.

Received a warm and friendly welcome on arrival, great beer selection and wide number of options on the menu, Allergy information was excellent and the staff were helpful with my daughters nut allergy. The food was freshly cooked and delicious. I was able to change...

Fabulous, home cooked food in a wonderful, traditional pub. Staff very very friendly and very accommodating, even made a bespoke sauce for my steak! Would highly recommend.

Amazing food, good customer service. An amazing gem next to the canal. Service excellent, pub very clean, amazing selection of beers, lagers and cider. Good value for money.

Superb service, friendly staff. We just popped in for a quick drink and a sit down and ended up with a fab roast lunch, well cooked and excellent value for money. They got water for our two dogs and made us really welcome. Thanks for...

Called here for a couple of drinks. The location is excellent right next to the canal. It has a very traditional local feel and was incredibly friendly. We felt like locals within minutes. My husband loved the choice of beers and my wine was excellent...

Ordered a small portion of pie and it was small, tiny in fact, about 8 chips and a load of peas to bulk it up and about 2 thimbles full of gravy the pie was tiny. Service was slow and then got overcharged. Beware.

We called in for 2 pints of bitter after a long walk. We had to return the beer as it was not a pint after settling. It was pricey for Skipton at £5 a pint. Didn't eat but food looked to be huge portions. (although...

Our experience was the worst we’ve ever encountered. No idea what the food was like as we weren’t around long enough to find out. A couple of weeks before our visit we emailed the pub as there were quite a few of us and some...

Popped in for Sunday lunch with the family on fathers day. Ordered five meals and have to say they were all excellent. I would definitely recommend this friendly pub in a lovely setting by the canal.

A good choice of beers, great food and a warm friendly welcome in an old world “traditional” pub, right next to the canal and a 2 minute walk from the canal basin where you catch the canal boat trips. What else could you want?

Stopped in for a drink on our day trip to Skipton after a wee sail down the canal. Felt a bit peckish so ordered the pulled pork loaded chips and a portion of the Wensleydale Mushrooms. Wow! Food piping hot and very very tasty. Just...

Steak pie Wow!!! Popped in on a walk round town been before and had burgers and didn’t think they could be beaten . How wrong was I !!!!!! Thank you to little lady cooking and the princess behind the bar you re recommendation on the...

Lovely pub off the Main Street in Skipton friendly personable staff & the best meal we’ve both had for a long time - I had Fish & Chips, the fish was beautiful & the meal amazing & my husband had the homemade Steak & Kidney...

£20 for a massive steak and a rack of ribs. Delicious absolutely flipping delicious. Friendly lads with excellent service. Can’t wait to go back. Well done lads 👌

The food was absolutely wonderful, the best steak and ribs ever had, cooked exactly as we wanted and amazing value for money, Thai green chicken curry was very authentic as was the Cajun chicken sandwich. The staff where very attentive. Can’t wait to come again...

I visited yesterday and I must say it was a lovely experience. The ambiance was great and the decor was beautiful. The food was absolutely delicious and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great meal. I ordered the Cajun...

We ate here today and the 4 of us all had burgers, we had 3 different ones between us and they were all terrible. The burgers were dripping in fat/ grease to the point where it was running off the burger and onto the plate...

Warm welcome, good food. Quiet but it was only Thursday & a beer festival was on in The Town Hall. Lovely to have real kidney in the pud! 😋

Proper pub grub - me and my husband ate there. I had the lasagne which was beautiful and my husband had a burger with blue cheese mushrooms and onions on.

Loved this pub and It’s gone back up in my estimation after a not so good visit back in January. Back to the warm welcome I’m used to. Love sitting outside watching the world and canal boats pass by! If no space at front there’s...

Great pie ( no gristle) and mash lunch. Generous portions and hot on arrival at the table. Good selection of drinks too. Staff very welcoming and friendly even though they were busy with several larger bookings on the day. Toilets clean and tidy.

Called in for lunchtime meal and drinks with our two labradors on Tuesday during a visit to Skipton. Pub looked historical and traditional and dog friendly. We were made welcome even although our naughty 8 month old pup took himself off behind the bar. The...

We had a Sunday roast dinner (beef) and it was delicious. The beef melted in the mouth and the vegetables were lovely with a bite to them. We really enjoyed our meal after a day walking at Embsay Crag and Moor. Our dessert was a...

Long wait for avarage food it was busy for drinkers but there was only one other table eating over priced for the type of pub £14 for a nothing special burger that was in a pub that some of the people should of clearly not...

Not very good experience after visiting 3 weeks ago when food was fantastic. Complained to the owner about value for money and the fact my Carrots were raw and my steak and kidney pudding was rock solid on the bottom due to the fact they...

Super friendly, traditional pub and restaurant! Tasty, good quality home made food, you really can't go wrong giving this place a visit. We did twice in 3 days!! Owners are dog lovers too, so pooches are made very welcome. Don't think ours wanted to leave...

A lovely welcoming friendly pub that does homemade food. The creamy mushrooms and chilli were excellent. So good we went back on the Saturday when there was live music. The dogs loved it too

Went for lunch after reading reviews and not disappointed. I had a most amazing and large corn beef hash topped with beans and two fried eggs. It was very tasty. My wife had a prawn Thai curry with rice which she really enjoyed. It contained...

Came in on a quiet Sunday night when so much else is closed. Still a good range of beers and still warm and cosy like a pub should be

If you go to Skipton (And we often do) don't give this place a miss, I had the gammon which was big as the plate served with chips, mushrooms ,four proper onion rings and all the trimmings. My wife had the steak pie, a large...

I was barred from here just before Christmas. The bar person, Rob, who I had known and liked for over 8 years turned away from me and said he did not wish to serve me or say why. On further inquiry as there was no...

Have always visited in the summer and always had a lovely warm welcome, came in January for the first time, and the bloke on the bar who served us didn’t speak once, just shoved our drinks at us , took our payment n that was...

Booked table for 8. Having walked round Skipton we walked into the pub. Bar staff girl saw one of our 11 year old grandchildren just finishing a sausage roll as he walked in. She pointed and shouted “OUT”, not exactly the friendliest of greetings to...

Slow bar service, yorkshire pubbing flat and looked like it had been sat for days, a 1/4 of a roast potato for me and 3 for hubby, when asked if I could have more potatoes I was told yes but would have to pay extra!!...

Cracking beer with staff happy to have a laugh with the customers (us). Didn’t eat but food looked gr8 and such was the popularity people had to wait and were willing to for a spot. We’ll worth the visit.

Well all I can say is beware of underhanded practices that goes on here with regards to menu pricing. Came on a coach to Skipton for the Christmas markets and was recommended to go for food which in all fairness to the chef was amazing...

We originally went for Sunday Dinner while in Skipton but ended up eating there again. Fresh, well cooked, tasty, food accompanied by well kept beer, what more could you want. Menu choices were good and everybody easily found something they wanted. Staff were friendly, helpful...

Good pub, friendly welcome, delicious food shame no puddings but the Shepherds pie and Steak and ale pie were delicious. Would definitely eat here again.

Visited for 2nd time in 2 weeks, lovely pub , ordered 2x rump steaks, paid at the bar and sat down having a drink, lady came over after 10 minutes and apologised saying she didn’t have any rump steak left but had T bone steaks...

Very friendly staff nice place to stop in for a pint after a long bike ride. Good beer selection and a nice selection of cask ales. The outdoor seating area is perfect for a chilled pint and the inside is full of throwbacks from the...

Two adults and a 7 year old. Popped in for a drink as the pub is unique and a bit different in a nice location next to the canal. Sometimes you get “funny looks” if you go into a local but you’re not a local....

Just had lunch here, what a gem of a pub. Really friendly staff - as others have noted - and a lovely warm feel to the place. Great selection of ales, can’t go wrong with TT Landlord but there are several options. Slow cooked beef...

What fantastic food! A lovely traditional menu with lots of gluten free choices. I had shepherds pie, there was enough to feed two! My hubby had a ‘lock keeper’ burger, delicious! The staff were lovely, helpful and friendly, thank you!

Wow for years me & my husband keep saying we must try this pub! We visited yesterday Sunday and so worth a visit the food was excellent all home cooked and the staff was so helpful we will be back

Visit here recently with my husband and discovered the place by accident. We ordered our food and the staff were very welcoming. Hubby ordered a the ranch burger and i had lasagne and wow when it his burger came out it looked amazing. Great value...

This pub is in a great spot close to the canal. The service was extremely friendly and the food excellent

Situated right on the canal path, good pub food, pleasant atmosphere. Coffee served in large mugs, a great bonus.

We had dinner at the Royal Shepherd on Friday night and sat in the bar area. The Timothy Taylor’s beer was excellent and the dinner was good wholesome fare, we enjoyed our night out and would return if we have time during our trip.

Lovely location, never been before but really made to feel welcome. Steak pudding and steak pie fabulous, very generous portions, well priced. Couldn't fault it, will definitely return if in the area again.

Came with friends from Doncaster as part of Yorkshire Day celebrations. The beer was very nice and the food was amazing, I could easily have eaten it again. Would definitely return in future.

Second time we have been here for lunch when in Skipton. The food here is very very good so much so that we went directly there to eat when we arrived in the town. We didn't bother looking at other places & their menus because...

Met up with friends for Sunday lunch our friends chose the Sunday dinner, just before we arrived so theirs can just as we sat down. Looked good and plentiful so we decided on the same, they had plenty of veg left so they were feeding...

Lovely pub, lovely location, nice beer, friendly staff, nice decor. We sat outside overlooking the canal. Highly recommended.

We're staying in Skipton for 5 nights and saw this place on our first night however didn't visit till our 4th night, what a great surprise. Restaurant quality food at very reasonable prices. On the first visit I had a superb 16oz gammon steak and...

We visited for dinner and were not disappointed. The greeting was warm & friendly and the snug area where we ate was cosy & comfortable. Food and service was really good. Would have eaten here again on our 2nd night if we hadn't already booked...

We were in Skipton for a week and as it was Father’s Day on the Sunday booked a table in advance what a good choice very friendly pub and the Sunday lunch was very very good and the gravy was to die for would not...

We have been coming to The Royal Sheperd every Sunday for the last 5 weeks and have always had a lovely warm welcome and delicious food. We have tried quite a few different dishes and never been disappointed. My personal favourite up to now has...

Decided to try based on other reviews and we weren't disappointed! It's tucked away by the canal but worth seeking it out. The only thing better than the food is the fantastic friendly welcome, but beware....the portions are huge!! Wear stretchy pants!

Stumbled across this traditional and cosy canal-side pub when looking for a quick dinner en route to The Lakes. What an absolute joy. The owner was welcoming, smiley and friendly. Everything was very clean and the menu was full of classic pub grub. I was...

Fantastic food, Lamb Shank just melted , top pint of Landlord too. Warm smiley welcome great find off the Canal

Staying in the area for a few nights for my birthday, ended up not being able to go for food until around 8:30pm and really struggled to find somewhere to eat as everywhere had just closed as we got there. After walking slightly away from...

Booked 2 weeks in advance but received message 1 day before our meal to say they couldn't accomodate us. Rang up to question and was told that some work was being done on the pub the following week and so they hadn't replenished the food...

Decided to go for lunch after reading other reviews on here, and did not disappoint. The food was plentiful and nice. The service was very welcoming. All in all a very pleasant lunch.

We had lunch at the Royal shepherd in skipton sat outside in beer garden area and were really impressed with the food. We had 4 different mains between us and all portions sizes were very generous - even the ones who had selected smaller portions....

Great pub with great choice of ales. Had a couple of meals which were excellent. Very attentive staff, very friendly. Lots of live music planned. Would definitely recommend a visit for both of the above. Also just by canal so nice location, definitely a 👍👍

What a little gem this pub is. Set next to the canal in Skipton very friendly and hospitable. We had the smaller portion of steak and ale pie which was homemade and tasted lovely. Would definitely recommend the chips with this, first time having chips...