Just ten miles outside of Leeds in the village of Bardsey sits an extraordinary pub dating back to a time when Vikings were conquering the country and England was yet to see its first monarch.
Called The Bingley Arms, today it's home to a popular family pub and award-winning restaurant - but it's also got quite the fascinating history.
Said to be home to not one but three ghosts (including the ghost of a dog) guests here have told multiple stories of spooky sightings.
One, known to locals as ‘The Cavalier’, is considered a bit of a practical joker. Appearing in the form of a young girl who was apparently murdered here and now haunts the taproom, she allegedly causes a lot of strange activity to happen at the pub.
It's said that 'The Cavalier' was murdered at the pub and now haunts its taproom / Image: The Bingley Arms
Objects are frequently seen to be moving around and there have been reports of both candles lighting themselves and pans of water boiling on hobs that aren’t switched on.
There are various claims as to how old the pub actually is, ranging between 905 and 953AD.
What we do know is that the hostelry is mentioned in the Domesday Book, which gives it a recorded history up to 953AD, although it's thought it could be even older.
It's named as the UK's oldest pub in the Guinness book of world records and it's also said that there was a man called Samson Ellis first brewing beer on the site in the 900's. Its first record as a public house can be traced back to him.
Although today the pub is known as The Bingley Arms, in its early days it was originally known as the Priest's inn in tribute to the patronage of traveling monks that often frequented the pub.
An old tapestry that can be found inside the pub / Image: The Bingley Arms
It sat on a popular route of pilgrimage from Kirkstall Abbey to York for years, and later played an important roles in hiding Catholics during the 16th century.
The pub served as a place of refuge for those fleeing Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, and today it still has two "priest holes" remaining in its chimneys. Both still accessible today, the larger one is reportedly used by Santa Claus during the pub's Christmas parties to give him an authentic entrance.
Later, the building also served as a courthouse - holding offenders before they were taken to the pillory across the road.
Inside The Bingley Arms, which claims to be the oldest pub in the UK / Image: The Bingley Arms
More fascinating still, underneath the pub lie the remains of an underground passageway that once ran between the inn and the village's church All Hallows, itself dating back to roughly 950AD.
Today, it still retains many of its original features - with the entrance to the secret passageway still visible in the walls of a storeroom, once used as a snug for drinkers but currently out of bounds to the public.
The old inglenook fireplace was only discovered in the 17th century when new owner Lord Bingley was doing some work on the building / Image: The Bingley Arms
Some historice artefacts - like a portcullis and some medieval timepieces - were removed by the previous owner, but many other pieces remain including original stained glass windows, a real dutch oven and an inglenook fireplace.
Guests come from all over the world to visit, and the pub even has some famous fans - once acting as a favourite drinking haunt of star players during Leeds United's Champions League era.
On the bar, you'll find three regular cask ales including Black Sheep bitter, and two rotating guests as well as a good mix of spirits and wines.
Whilst in the pub's dining room and restaurant, dishes range from pub grill classics like gammon and chips to pan-seared sea bass, minted lamb kofta and sweet chilli noodles.
The beer garden at The Bingley Arms / Image: The Bingley Arms
Out the back is a charming beer garden that's home to a Yew tree that even predates the pub.
The perfect place for sitting and enjoying a few cold ones in the sunshine with the family and soaking up some weird and wonderful West Yorkshire history.
To see the pub's menus and book a table for yourself, visit their website here.
News
Claire’s shutting down all standalone shops in UK and Ireland
In another hit to the high streets, Claire's Accessories is shutting up shop across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration yet again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire's will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire's closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded in America way back in 1961, Claire's has enjoyed a presence across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they've struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They filed for bankruptcy in the US in August 2025 after having already concluded operations in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
For many, the outcome isn't all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
Slam Dunk festival’s statement in full as director steps down amid allegations
Daisy Jackson
Slam Dunk festival has shared a statement confirming one of its directors has stepped down, in the wake of allegations.
The popular punk festival takes place next month across two sites, one of which is here in Leeds.
This year's line-up is set to include headline performances from the likes of Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose, Sublime, and Taking Back Sunday.
But Slam Dunk has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week after allegations against one of its directors came to light.
Slam Dunk said in its statement, which did not get into specifics about the nature of the allegations, that the festival 'remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers'.
They added that the director has stepped down, but 'strongly refutes' the allegations.
The statement then promised 'transparency and honesty' and said that more updates would be provided when appropriate.
Slam Dunk wrote: "We are aware of allegations published yesterday relating to one of our directors. We take these allegations seriously and understand that they may be distressing and hard to process for our community.
"Our Slam Dunk fans, staff, and artists are, as always, our top priority.
"While he strongly refutes these allegations, the director in question has agreed, in consultation with the board, to step down from Slam Dunk operations while this matter is ongoing.
"Slam Dunk remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers.
"Our values and culture are fundamental to how we operate, and we are committed to upholding them.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further on an ongoing legal matter.
"However, we promise transparency and honesty to our Slam Dunk community and will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so."
Slam Dunk returns to Temple Newsam in Leeds on Sunday 24 May.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd June 2021 
