The building dates to the 17th century, and during the 18th century was used as a
hostelry by workers digging
coal pits, It is unusual for its isolation, but it was previously surrounded by miners' cottages. In addition to miners, farmers and pedlars, frequent visitors at the inn included drovers leading cattle to the coal pits. After the closure of the last mine in 1929, and demolition of the associated cottages in the early 1930s, the pub remained open due to the patronage of local farmers and the development of the motor car. From 1974, boundary changes moved it into
County Durham, but this was reviewed in 1987 after much protest, and it reverted to within the Yorkshire boundary. In 1995, the Tan Hill Inn became the first public house in the UK to be granted a licence to hold weddings and civil ceremonies, after new laws were established to allow couples to marry in places other than churches or register offices. The pub is a
free house and has served a range of beers from the
Black Sheep and
Theakston breweries. Visiting bands have included
Arctic Monkeys,
Mark Ronson and
British Sea Power. Revellers celebrating
New Year's Eve at the pub on 31 December 2009 were unable to leave the pub for three days as they were snowed in. The pub made headlines worldwide once again in November 2021, when
Storm Arwen brought heavy snowfall, trapping patrons inside for a weekend. A reunion was held at the pub in December the following year. In January 2025 six bar staff and 23 guests were rescued after a five days enforced stay following the New Year's celebration as they were snowed in.
Plans for improvement In July 2017 the pub was put up for sale by landlady Louise Peace who had run it for 13 years with her husband Mike. In 2019, the facility was encouraging camper vans and caravans and campers to stay for a modest nightly fee, and a venue for live music acts was in operation. The guest rooms were refurbished in 2019, and electrical work completed; the other plans for improvements were still in the works. Additional plans included a rustic spa and outdoor pool.
Media appearances During the 1980s the pub appeared in an advert starring
Ted Moult for replacement-window company
Everest, and it appeared in the first
Vodafone advert, broadcast during the 1990s. The inn was visited by
James May and
Oz Clarke in
Oz and James Drink to Britain, first broadcast in 2009. In late 2017, the inn again featured in TV coverage, for
Waitrose supermarkets' Christmas advertising campaign. In May 2019, scenes for ITV show
Vera were filmed, for an episode aired in January 2020. In December 2022, it was featured in the Channel 5 documentary series
Beyond the Yorkshire Farm, in scenes filmed that August. ==References==