The Half Moon Free House

Reviews

• Matt H.

  star star star star star 23 June 2026

  This place is great.  I hesitate in outing a hidden gem but frankly nobody is going to read this review anytime soon.  
  
  This small pub/eatery is set in a very clean space with a great ambiance.  There was classy old time music playing while we had a nicely matched cheese and charcuterie plate.  The cask ales while few, were perfect.  The end.

• Hannah Q.

  star star star star star_border 10 June 2026

  Following its refurb a couple of years ago, the Half Moon is now a really cosy and attractive pub offering a good selection of local and not so local ales as well as wines and the usual pubby spirits and soft drinks. For those not partaking in booze they also make decent espresso based coffees served with little tiffin bites which is a really nice extra touch.
  
  Food wise the Half Moon keeps it nice and simple with a meat, cheese or meat and cheese platter. Unfortunately we'd already eaten before we visited but spying other people's platters they did look really good and great value too.
  
  The staff (I think landlord and landlady) were really warm and friendly and even offered table service for my coffee which I wouldn't have expected from a pub.
  
  A really great (new but old) addition to the Knaresborough pub scene, just prepare for a steep walk up Briggate at the end of your night!

• Jonny Q.

  star star star star star_border 31 May 2026

  I'm pretty lucky that when I go back to my in-laws in Knaresborough I'm pretty much heading towards a beer/pub Mecca - and that's no over exaggeration, I've been told that in the past there were more pubs per local resident than anywhere else in the country. Shhhweeet!
  
  But like in any other town, there's very much a full range of the spectrum from the best to avoid to the pretty damn good - with quite a few fairly average ones in the middle. Yeah there's some dodgy ones that aren't advised and in the average category there's about a million Sam Smiths pubs - ok ambience, ok, beer and the low low price is what keeps people coming back!
  
  But in the great category there's the amazing Blind Jacks and relatively new (i.e the past couple of years it's opened) Half Moon. Down the bottom of a ridiculously steep hill, it's definitely worth going to check out even if you use the hill as an excuse to have an extra pint due to all the calories burned off on the walk back up.
  
  There's a great selection of local brewery Roosters ales inside, plus some other tasty brews which are always changing. The food menu is also a good option with the meat and cheese board worth checking out - it really is just a good spot to hangout in for a couple of hours and have a relaxed session. Special mention should also go to the small beer garden in the back - it's a real sun trap if you can hit it at just the right time of day!