The Flying Duck
The Flying Duck
4.5
12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Monday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Friday
12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
About
The Flying Duck is a traditional Yorkshire Dales real ale and fine wine bar situated in Ilkley town centre. Unique in the area, the Flying Duck incorporates its own brewing facilities with the new Wharfedale Brewery located in a barn at the rear of the pub. The building dates back to 1709 and retains many of its original features including stone and oak wooden floors, beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls and real open fires. Between the pub and the brewery is a raised decked beer garden with an impressive viewing gallery. The Flying Duck serves nine cask real ales, real ciders, continental lagers, bottle beers from around the world and an extensive range of fine wines, whiskies and spirits.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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4.5
196 reviews
Excellent
123
Very good
42
Average
7
Poor
9
Terrible
15
JackNIan
Saffron Walden, UK352 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Saturday night, very busy but still excellent service. Great atmosphere and the giant hot dog was amazing. Well worth a visit. Well done The Flyting Duck
Written 17 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Go16169200597
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
Great little pub with fantastic range of beers. Called with friends one evening. Good banter with friendly and chatty bar staff. Would highly recommend. Will be back.
Written 31 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
1 contribution
Aug 2023
The pub is aesthetically very cosy, olde-worldly & inviting. I know that the owners have spent a huge amount of money in renovating the property in recent times and the refurbishment is a credit to them.
However, when you step through the door to this lovely-looking pub, you're met with an aggressive, customer-hostile playlist that has clearly been selected by the staff, with no thought to the pub's overall ambience of customer preference.
Such a shame and an obvious mismatch which any decent management oversight would correct.
Clearly, the owners/investors who have spent a great deal of money on this venue are completely detached/remote and have no clue about how the pub feels to customers who have been drawn in by its quaint exterior but have to endure an aggressive music playlist.
Simple stuff if anybody cared or was properly managing the place.
I won't be returning and wouldn't recommend it.
However, when you step through the door to this lovely-looking pub, you're met with an aggressive, customer-hostile playlist that has clearly been selected by the staff, with no thought to the pub's overall ambience of customer preference.
Such a shame and an obvious mismatch which any decent management oversight would correct.
Clearly, the owners/investors who have spent a great deal of money on this venue are completely detached/remote and have no clue about how the pub feels to customers who have been drawn in by its quaint exterior but have to endure an aggressive music playlist.
Simple stuff if anybody cared or was properly managing the place.
I won't be returning and wouldn't recommend it.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lotus Lover
Baildon, UK2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
I'd leave minus if I could!!!!! Shocking food and drink, staff very rude, landlord a sleezy pathetic & angry excuse of a middle aged man, I wouldn't leave my daughter near him, very rude to me and my missus, thinks he's in the East End of London the way he acts, silly man!!!
Written 8 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michael_paley
Glasgow, UK222 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
I’m not in Ilkley as much as I’d like and visited this pub for first time yesterday - a great range of cask beers / ales and on fraught as well. I think if I lived in Ilkley I’d possibly make this my local. Had a nice wee outdoors bit as well.
Written 14 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bigbren605
Leeds, UK42 contributions
Mar 2023
Sadly there were so many dogs in the downstairs bar that the smell was over powering. Upstairs need work to make it a more comfortable, relaxing place.
Written 2 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David H
Martlesham Heath, UK8 contributions
Mar 2023
For the Landlord to go on an anger management course, and learn how not to shout at customers might be a good idea.
The staff are generally very good and friendly, albeit sometimes overcharging, and I have visited the pub weekly for several months with a group of friends. The beer is always good. I have never had a meal so cannot comment. The landlord however is obnoxious. Our group were upstairs, I was at the bar ordering drinks. The chairs in the small bar have no cushions, one member of the group got a seat cushion from the other upstairs bar which was, and usually is on the night we attend, totally empty. My wife thought this an idea and went to get one for me as I have pain issues, she tried to move a seat cushion, found it was velcro'ed down, and left it in situ. The landlord bounded up the stairs two at a time and shouted at my wife accusing her of trying to STEAL his cushions! She tried to explain, but he just shouted her down, The man who had brought a cushion explained to the landlord, but he still gave her a lecture and stormed off. I had heard the shouting, thought he was having a go at a derelict member of staff it was that vehement, but when In returned with the drinks and found my wife upset and wanting to leave, I went downstairs and asked him why he had spoken to my wife in that fashion, his response was "Right you want me to apologise do you" and he bounded up the stairs in anger and made a mock attempt at an apology, and left. Not a nice man, not a nice man at all. I have seen him angry several times and he has been sharp with me, when I have asked him to turn lights on etc. Basil Fawlty without the comedy. I will not be returning to the pub.
The staff are generally very good and friendly, albeit sometimes overcharging, and I have visited the pub weekly for several months with a group of friends. The beer is always good. I have never had a meal so cannot comment. The landlord however is obnoxious. Our group were upstairs, I was at the bar ordering drinks. The chairs in the small bar have no cushions, one member of the group got a seat cushion from the other upstairs bar which was, and usually is on the night we attend, totally empty. My wife thought this an idea and went to get one for me as I have pain issues, she tried to move a seat cushion, found it was velcro'ed down, and left it in situ. The landlord bounded up the stairs two at a time and shouted at my wife accusing her of trying to STEAL his cushions! She tried to explain, but he just shouted her down, The man who had brought a cushion explained to the landlord, but he still gave her a lecture and stormed off. I had heard the shouting, thought he was having a go at a derelict member of staff it was that vehement, but when In returned with the drinks and found my wife upset and wanting to leave, I went downstairs and asked him why he had spoken to my wife in that fashion, his response was "Right you want me to apologise do you" and he bounded up the stairs in anger and made a mock attempt at an apology, and left. Not a nice man, not a nice man at all. I have seen him angry several times and he has been sharp with me, when I have asked him to turn lights on etc. Basil Fawlty without the comedy. I will not be returning to the pub.
Written 19 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John H
Leeds, UK19 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Called in here for the first time, couldn’t believe the number of real ales on sale. The Wharfedale Blonde was very tasty and the food was excellent as well. Well worth a visit.
Written 4 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ianx71
Addingham, UK7 contributions
Dec 2022
We had our 50th Anniversary in the Flying Duck. The whole evening ran like clockwork thanks to the organisation from Gerard and the hard. work from his staff.
Written 3 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kilian Sloan
Leeds, UK108 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
Lovely old pub with a good beer selection! Friendly staff and a warm atmosphere (no pun intended with the wood burning stove)! The pub itself must be 200-300 years old with its wonky yet sturdy beams and thick brick work! They’re own on site brewery also appealing, the pilsner was delicious and a good session beer. Not sure if they do food or not as we came for a engagement party, would definitely return!!
Written 8 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SonicDiouf
Leeds, UK2 contributions
Is it possible to get a wheelchair in to the pub?
David W
Shropshire, UK323 contributions
Not sure but I think so.
Feeboo
Derbyshire, UK1 contribution
Do you allow dogs?
FlyingDuckIlkley
Ilkley, UK
Yes, we do allow dogs.
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Claim your listingTHE FLYING DUCK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Flying Duck
- The Flying Duck is open:
- Sun - Wed 12:00 - 23:00
- Thu - Sat 12:00 - 00:30
- Hotels near The Flying Duck:
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- (0.21 mi) Ilkley Riverside Hotel
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- (0.00 mi) Outside the Box Cafe
- (0.01 mi) Chokdee Thai Cuisine
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- (0.03 mi) Pizza Palazzo