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Pub nicknamed 'Cold Comfort Farm' is one of best in Britain

11/ 2/2001

THE Harrington Arms has no carpet on the floor, no pool table or games machines and doesn't serve food.

But it has been voted one of Britain's best pubs and given the nickname Cold Comfort Farm.

The family-run inn, in Church Lane in Gawsworth was one of the six finalists in a search by the Daily Telegraph to find a traditional country pub.

It has been in the Bayley family for more than 100 years but they seem rather non-plussed about the award.

Susan Wright, mother of landlord Ian Bayley Wright, said: "We never really gave it much thought because we didn't enter. I haven't actually read the paper yet."

Mrs Wright said she only heard that the pub was in the final by an unusual coincidence.

She said: "Somebody rang from London to say we were in. They were researching their family tree and their name was Mottershead which is the same as the man who nominated us."

Telegraph correspondent Adam Edwards visited nominated pubs and said: "Crossing the threshold of the Harrington Arms was like stepping into Jethro Tull's England.

"On the walls are pre-war posters for veterinary surgeons' services. The beer, from Robinson's Brewery in Stockport, is served in gallon or half-gallon enamel jugs and food is 'whatever is in the kitchen'.

The Bayleys have farmed in the area since the late 17th century and Mrs Wright admitted that the pub was still very traditional

"They've knocked the middle out of so many places. We are like an antique because it is an antique

"We haven't got carpeted floors and the stuff here has been here for generations. It's not an eating house but people come here for the beer. They can come and have a good conversation, a good pint and a bit of fun."

The requirements laid down by the Telegraph were that the pub must serve decent beer, be part of the local community with ideally no piped music, no microwaves and no electronic games. Dogs, gumboots and smoking must be allowed.

In his nomination Mr Mottershead, who is believed to visit the pub at least once a month, said: "I have nicknamed it Cold Comfort Farm. It is not a bad description."