Where to find TV’s most famous pubs from The Woolpack to Nag’s Head in real life

With dark timber beams, a bustling bar and cosy corners, the Aidensfield Arms was the perfect spot for bobbies off the beat to discuss crimes over pints in ITV drama Heartbeat which ran from 1992 to 2010.

The real-life pub – The Goathland Hotel near Whitby in North Yorkshire – is on sale for £175,000. Plenty of viewers make pilgrimages to boozers featured in TV programmes. Let’s take a look at where you can enjoy a drink at your favourite small screen pub…

Only Fools and Horses – The Nag’s Head

Rodney and Del Boy were always pulling the wool over people’s eyes so it is no surprise that Peckham’s finest pub The Nag’s Head was not actually located in Peckham.

The pub where the brothers and Trigger met to discuss their latest shenanigan were actually in three Bristol pubs, The White Horse in Bedminster, Waggon and Horses in Easton and Bristol Flyer – but only the latter is still open.

Some episodes were also filmed at The Alma pub in Chapel Market, which is also still going – but probably too fancy for the Trotters these days.

All Creatures Great and Small – The Drovers Arms

The Drovers Arms was the hub of the action in All Creatures Great and Small, the BBC series about veterinarian James Herriot, played by Christopher Timothy, working in the Yorkshire Dales. When he didn’t have his arm up a cow’s bum, James and the Farnon brothers were often found supping a pint.

James Herriot outside pub in All Creatures Great and Small ( 

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Ian McShane as Lovejoy (see below) ( 

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And the pub really does exist, however it is actually the King’s Arms on Main Street in Askrigg and of course it is dog friendly! On the walls fans can also delight in many photos from the filming of the show.

Lovejoy – The Half Moon

Ian McShane’s perm-haired, leather-jacket-wearing antiques dealer was a stalwart of 80s tv for millions.

While the (channel) show was based in East Anglia, many of the scenes were filmed at the Half Moon pub in Belchamp Saint Paul, Essex. This thatched boozer is so picturesque it could be used as a poster to encourage people to visit England, and it is more than 400 years old – a rare antique even by Lovejoy’s standards.

Emmerdale – The Woolpack

Fans of the ITV soap can go and have a drink in the Woolpack, left , which was once the Commercial Inn.

As with many shows, only the exterior was used, with a film set for the interior shots.

The Woolpack was used from 1976 to 1997, when the show was filmed in the West Yorkshire village of Esholt.

Since then, the stars have used a film set near Leeds which resembles the village, complete with a replica pub.

Bergerac – The Royal Barge

You could be forgiven for thinking everyone on Jersey was up to no good if you watched this crime drama between 1981-91. Complex lead character Jim Bergerac, played by John Nettles, and his associates would often visit the The Royal Barge pub.

John Nettles as Bergerac ( 

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Daily Mirror)

The Old Courthouse Inn ( 

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DAILY MIRROR)

It’s actually called The Old Court House Inn, and located in St Aubins – an enchanting fishing village on the south coast of the island.

Gavin And Stacey – The quiz pub

This show starring James Cordon, Matt Horne and Joanna Page was set in both Essex and Barry Island.

However, the pub in series one where Smithy did his hilarious pub quiz was supposed to be set in Billericay, Essex, but was actually filmed in Barry. The Colcot Arms still put on pub quizzes but they will probably be more relaxed without Smithy’s drunken antics.

Doc Martin – The Golden Lion

The idyllic setting of the fictional Port Wenn is actually north Cornwall’s chocolate box pretty village, Port Isaac, with its winding streets and busy harbour.

And grumpy Doc Martin, played by actor Martin Clunes, would drink in The Golden Lion – and you can too. The lovely boozer overlooks the ocean and serves fresh seafood and delicious pies.

Ted Lasso – The Crown and Anchor

New series Ted Lasso features actor Jason Sudeikis star as an American soccer coach who becomes the gaffer at fictional English Premier League team, AFC Richmond.

And the Apple TV show has meant very good business for The Prince’s Head pub in Richmond which served as the exterior of the Crown and Anchor in the series.

Although the interior scenes were shot in a studio, these days the real-life pub is packed with fans and displays paraphernalia from the show on the walls.

Grantchester – The Green Man

It sounds like the start of a joke, what did the vicar say to the copper in the pub? Well, in Grantchester it’s usually who do you think murdered the victim as Robsob Green’s police chief Geordie Keating solves crimes with the help of the local clergyman played first by James Norton and most recently Tom Brittney.

Rishi Nair is soon to replace him and surely will be gracing the tables of The Green Man pub instead. This 400-year-old establishment really exists in the village of Grantchester, however it sadly closed in 2020 due to funding as a result of the Covid pandemic – but they still filmed outside for the programme. Thankfully, the historic spot opened its doors again in January after three years shut.

Early Doors – The Grapes

This BBC sitcom was set in fictional bar The Grapes, a small Stockport pub. Created by and starring Craig Cash, who co-wrote The Royle Family with Caroline Aherne, instead of having a pub in a TV show, the pub was the show.

Running from 2002-2003, the comedy revolved around the hilarious ongoings of the customers and bar staff. Although the show was actually filmed in a studio, it is based on The Grapes pub in Heaton Norris which is currently up for sale, if you’re interested?

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads – The Black Horse

This 70s sitcom, the sequel to Likely Lads, was set in Newcastle and followed the friendship between two mates Bob Ferris and Terry Collier, played by Rodney Bewes and James Bolam.

The pair got up to all manner of mischief in the city and surrounding areas, and one pub they visited was called The Black Horse. It’s actually The Collingwood Arms in Jesmond, Newcastle and it now serves delicious Latin dishes alongside the lagers.

Dad’s Army – The Six Bells Inn

Stupid boy Pike might have looked too young to be buying a round but the rest of Dad’s Army were certainly well over drinking age as they supped pints between their duties in the Home Guard.

Although set in the town of Walmington-on-Sea, the pub they frequented is very much real. The Six Bells Inn is located in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk and has a photograph of the cast behind the bar.

The Last of the Summer Wine – The White Horse

If you watched this BBC comedy about three elderly friends which ran from 1973 to 2010 then you might be familiar with The White Horse Inn in Holmfirth. However, no actual wine was drunk here by characters Compo (Bill Owen), Norman (Peter Sallis) or Cyril (Michael Bates) as only the exterior was used for filming and scenes were shot in a studio.