Britain’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn, has once again found itself at the centre of headlines — this time not for its altitude or ale, but for its enduring ability to capture the public imagination.
From snow-bound guests and film crews, the remote Yorkshire inn has seen it all.
Standing 1,732 feet above sea level on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the Tan Hill Inn is officially recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest pub in Britain.
Built in the 17th century and once a refuge for coal miners and drovers, it remains a lifeline for travellers on one of England’s most exposed moorland routes.
Its stone walls, low-beamed ceilings and open fires preserve the character of an earlier age — but it is the setting that steals the show.
On clear days, the view stretches for miles across Swaledale and the Pennines; on stormy nights, it becomes a test of endurance for anyone who makes it to the door.
Headlines in the Snow
The inn shot to recent international fame in November 2021, when Storm Arwen trapped 61 guests and staff inside for three nights.
What began as a night out became a community in miniature — with quizzes, sing-alongs, and meals shared around the fire.
History repeated itself in January 2025, when heavy snow again left two dozen guests and six bar staff stranded for five days.
Emergency services eventually dug them out, but not before the episode revived fond memories of the 2021 lockdown-by-weather.
A Place on Screen
The Tan Hill Inn’s stark beauty has made it a magnet for filmmakers for decades.
In 1970, the pub was transformed into a moody backdrop for a film adaptation of Jane Eyre, starring George C. Scott and Susannah York. Recently unearthed photographs by former Northern Echo photographer Ian Wright reveal how the crew braved the wind-swept moors to capture the Brontë atmosphere.
Since then, the inn has appeared in a roll call of British television: Vera, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Top Gear, All Creatures Great and Small, and more.
It even featured in Everest window adverts and a Waitrose Christmas campaign.
From Historic Hostelry to Cultural Icon
Beyond its screen credits, the pub’s own story reads like a social history of rural England.
Once surrounded by miners’ cottages, it survived the collapse of the local pits in 1929 and later boundary changes that briefly moved it into County Durham.
In 1995, it became the first UK pub licensed for weddings, with couples travelling from across the country to marry “on top of the world”.
Read more
- 3 North East pubs crowned among the best 100 in Britain for 2025 - been to any?
- 4 North Yorkshire pubs crowned among Britain's best for 2025 - is one your local?
- North East pub hits the market for £210,000 in 'exciting opportunity'
- Pub in 'charming' County Durham village has price slashed by £100,000 after month
Bands from Arctic Monkeys to Mark Ronson have performed there, and its owners have steadily invested in upgrades — including refurbished rooms, restored barns, and plans for a rustic spa and event space.
A Symbol of Northern Spirit
Through blizzards, film shoots and front-page headlines, the Tan Hill Inn has become more than a pub: it is a symbol of resilience and community in the face of the elements. Whether hosting snowed-in strangers or serving hikers their first pint after miles on the moors, it continues to embody the warmth that defines the north.
- Location: Tan Hill, Swaledale, North Yorkshire
- Altitude: 1,732 ft (528 m) — Britain’s highest pub
- Built: 17th century
- Appeared in: Jane Eyre (1970), Vera, Top Gear, All Creatures Great and Small
Share