History
let me tell thee
This traditional Yorkshire Dales pub has been at the heart of the local community since the 16th Century when it was first ‘new’! We are honoured to be the current custodians of its rich tapestry of social history.
Well ahead of its time, the New Inn rose to fame in 1971 as the first non-smoking pub in the world under the colourful ownership of Jack Showers. His controversial decision, following the death of a close friend from lung cancer, captured the interest of the media across the globe.
Before the smoking ban, Jack was already setting the New Inn apart from its contemporaries. Inspired by influence of the Vikings on the local landscape, he decided to model the pub on Danish lines, dubbing it ‘Denmark in the Dales’. * This involved removing internal walls to create a spacious lounge with a modern bar with state-of-the-art fittings and extensive wood panelling to create a Scandinavian atmosphere. In keeping with the décor, he introduced ‘Smorrebord’ (open sandwiches on Danish rye bread) with over sixty options alongside a choice of five Tuborg beers from Copenhagen!
New Inn
in the 90's
Later, in the ‘90s, the New Inn became a mecca for cyclists with a mountain bike livery under legendary landlord and endurance rider John Pitchers who described his regulars as the pub’s “crown jewels”.
In 2007, after his tenure Phil and Carol Smith saved the New Inn from the hands of a commercial chain at the 11th hour and stayed until 2019.