The Little Ale House in Harrogate has only been open since June 2016 but has already won awards and is deemed one of Harrogate’s best bars, especially for beer lovers.
Richard and Danni Park are the owners and are familiar faces at the Ale House who are clearly masters of their art. However, running a micropub is only a fairly recent feature in the couple’s busy lives. I caught up with co-owner Danni to find out more about their back story.
What did life look like for you and Rich before The Little Ale House?
Very different. We were both living and working in London in office based careers – I was working in operations management and recruitment, while Rich was working in politics. We were doing the whole ‘Rat Race’ thing.
Where did the idea for the Little Ale House come from?
We’ve both been very fussy when it comes to where we spend our free time (particularly Rich!). We love intimate places that have a passion for something. Back in 2013, we heard about ‘micropubs’ being set up in Kent. They sounded right up our street, so we did a micropub tour along the Thanet coast. On the train home from Broadstairs we decided to quit our careers and give it a shot. The Little Ale House is our slant on the micropub concept.
Why Harrogate?
As we’d been a bit radical in deciding to pack in our careers, we thought we might as well go the whole hog and pick any location we fancied. Our criteria was a place that was pleasing on the eye, had a good community spirit, nice restaurants/pubs, and was nearish family and good countryside. Harrogate ticks a lot of boxes.
Did you have any glitches along the way?
Well the day Rich left London he had a phone call from the estate agent managing the current location – we’d failed in our bid. 4 other potential sites, 1 successful planning, 1 failed lease, and a year of ‘Rich doing odd jobs’ later, we eventually got the site we have now. It wasn’t easy!
What do you feel makes the Little Ale House so successful?
That we’re honest. We stick to serving what we like in an atmosphere that we enjoy. We’ve got a really nice community feel, where conversation is king. We don’t buckle under pressure – we haven’t made a shandy yet..
Looking back, would you have done anything differently?
To be honest, I wouldn’t change much. I would have liked not to have had 2 jobs for the first year though. 75 hrs + a week wasn’t that sustainable!
How do you think a regular customer would describe the Little Ale House?
Honest, homely, nice atmosphere, good quality drinks.
What’s your favourite beer?
Anything well brewed. I love strong and dark. Locally you can’t go wrong with a Harrogate Brew Co Plum Porter. I’m also partial to a nice fruity hopped IPA – Roosters’ Baby Face Assassin does the trick.
What are your plans for 2018?
We’ve just taken on our first full time member of staff – Freddie. A lovely young chap who will enable us to not close down when we need a holiday, and we’ll be opening on Mondays. Also watch this space for the 2nd Women On Tap Festival, and cheese boards…
Describe your job in three words.
Beer, dogs, candles.
Let's beer it for the girls 
This is great. My wife and I visited you in October and had exactly this conversation about quitting our jobs and starting a little pub – just like yours! Its something we’re really thinking about (and sometimes obsessing about). Thanks!
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