Harrogate Crime Writers' Festival

Okay, this is another day in paradise and we are just relaxing and enjoying our own company in Harrogate town. We had achieved enough on Wednesday so that we knew we had ample time to go to to York by train. The rail stations are great reminders of how good England can look with their floral displays and Victorian architecture. The Railway Museum was interesting and we spent a couple of enjoyable hours looking at the history and carriages of a century or so ago.

We discovered in the station precincts,York Tap, run by The Tapped Brewery Company.that served excellent ales in a building that originated a century or more ago. A high domed roof, stained glass windows, marbled floors and a bar with an excellent range of ales. Wonderful. Michelle had a pint of Motueka from Mallingham Brewery at 3.9 abv and I had a pint of Timothy Taylor best at 3.5. We still had time for a pint of U235 by Mallinsons and Michelle supped another pint of Timothy Taylor Best. Upon returning we found Harrogate Tap and called in for a quick one. These were wonderful bars where the staff were friendly and who knew their beers.

Since this is the start of the festival we went to the Old Swan Hotel to collect our passes, tickets and bags of books. We examined the books having ordered a Guinness (not on draught) and a Pinot Grichot. Both not chilled and as I left almost all of the Guinness it was a tenner wasted! Why it is that some bars cannot function properly? I will stick to water in there next time or free coffee.

Prior to the evenings award ceremony we dined in The Old Bell Tavern. The beer, food and service were superb. Thankfully it is a short event, but excellently presented by Mark Lawson. Val McDermid was presented with outstanding praise from Mark Billingham and the award of the outstanding contribution to crime.
The six authors and books shortlisted were:
Mark Billingham withTime of Death
Eva Dolan with Tell no Lies
Robert Galbraith with Career of Evil (she was not present)
Renee Knight with Disclaimer
Adrian McKinty with Rain Dogs
and finally the winner Claire Mackintosh with I Let You Go.
And now a full day from 9am with events on the hour and every hour.