EXCLUSIVE: Ripon’s award‑winning Portly Pig unveils an arresting new development

 🔐🐖 Real ale lovers and visitors with a thirst for beer in Ripon’s historic surroundings can now enjoy a captivating afternoon or evening out. 🍺✨

Stuart and Katie Ross, owners of the popular Portly Pig on Kirkgate, are now providing a unique custodial experience for customers — turning the clocks back to the reign of Queen Victoria. 👑

Their fine selection of locally sourced craft ales, combined with exemplary behind‑the‑bar service, saw them receive the Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA Pub of the Year 2026 title in April. 🏆

Now, with the total conviction of seeing their establishment reach its full potential, the hard‑working couple are taking a step back in time.

This morning (Friday 5th June), Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog, along with members of Ripon Civic Society, Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst and Ripon Museums’ curator Laura Allan, were treated to a sneak peek as Stuart and Katie showed how they have unlocked another of the city’s heritage gems 🔓 — by opening up the four Victorian prison cells that are part of the historically rich building they have operated from since taking over the business in October 2024.

They have recently increased their floorspace and seating areas by expanding into the adjacent premises, and their latest development looks sure to capture the imagination of customers looking for something a bit special. ⭐

Stuart told Tim:
“We knew the building had housed a Borough Police Station between 1875 and 1887 and had been Ripon council’s principal office — among other occupancies recorded on the Civic Society’s green plaque — but it wasn’t until we saw the four prison cells with their vaulted ceilings that we realised they could give us an added wow factor.”

Katie, who has been responsible for the Portly Pig’s distinctive decoration and choice of furnishings, pointed out:
“We thought that by introducing modern‑day comforts — such as tables, chairs and electric lighting — to this heritage space, we could provide our regular customers and visitors to the city with a taste of times past.” 🕯️➡️💡

She added:
“I’m pleased to report that we already have our first bookings for tomorrow (Saturday 6th June), when two of the cells — or Pig‑Pens as we call them — will be in use.
Because of the interest our customers are already showing, advance bookings will be required and can be made by calling us on 0791 922 1100 or emailing info@theportlypig.co.uk.” 📞✉️

Richard Taylor, formerly chair of Ripon Museum Trust and now chair of the city’s civic society, said:
“This is a remarkable space that would have been known in the Victorian era to the beat bobbies and miscreants who were on the wrong side of the law — many of whom will have partaken of the particularly strong ales of the day, which could be purchased for between a penny and twopence a pint.” 🍺🪙

He added:
“The Portly Pig cells are a virtual mirror image of the ones at the nearby Prison & Police Museum on St Marygate and, alongside the Workhouse Museum on Allhallowgate and the Courthouse Museum at Kirkgate Park — all run by Ripon Museums — they provide another piece in the jigsaw that helps us understand what life was like in Victorian Britain.” 🧩

Lilla said:
“Last week the Rejoicing in Ripon blog, run in association with the BID, exclusively reported on the newly illuminated medieval well unearthed during the £400,000 rejuvenation works at HALLS OF RIPON, carried out by Sterne Properties Limited.
Now we see new life being breathed into another element of our city’s wonderful heritage buildings. 🌟

From AD 672 and Wilfrid’s first foundation stone, to the gas‑lamp‑lit poverty of the Victorian era, The Cathedral City of the Dales is a shining example of how heritage assets benefit our community of independent businesses — by attracting the additional visitor footfall that is essential to a tourism‑led economy.” 🏛️➡️👣💛

All photos were taken by Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog for Ripon BID.

Caption 1 Custodial but comfortable – Stuart and Katie Ross invited Laura Allan of Ripon Museums, Lilla Bathurst of Ripon BID, and Ripon Civic Society members Mandy Whitehead, Richard Taylor and David Winpenny to have a sneak peek at their captivating cells.

Caption 2 The cells maintain the prison theme, as the former exercise yard on the Kirkgate premises has been open to customers since November. Here Stuart Ross is pictured with Laura Allan.

Caption 3 Katie’s decorative skills can be seen in the corridor leading to the cells.

Caption 4 The Civic Society green plaque gives an insight into the hostelry’s past history.

Caption 5. The Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA pub of the year for 2026 has plenty of hidden surprises.