From arthouse to alehouse…
Looking for a live gig, a spot of theatre or a film? How about classical music or comedy? Otley offers a host of venues with an artistic bent.
Otley Courthouse
The star in Otley’s arts scene is definitely Otley Courthouse. Housed in what was once the town magistrates’ court and police station, it offers a wide variety of events including drama, music, comedy, film and even National Theatre live streaming. It acts as a venue for spoken word performances and talks, as well as the home of the Otley Chamber Orchestra (pictured).
The Courthouse also has a varied programme of fairs, festivals and exhibitions, including the Annual Science Fair in early November and the Green Fair in April as well as many children’s activities in the school holidays.
Recent visitors to the Courthouse have included Kiki Dee, Gary Delaney, Dr Marcus du Sautoy, Snake Davis and Maddy Prior….
History buffs might want to check out the first floor of the building which is home to a heritage timeline detailing the building’s past, as well as a former cell from when it was a police station. The Courthouse was used as the setting for the police station in the popular TV series Heartbeat.
See here for listings and tickets
Live music
Don’t be fooled by the quiet streets you may see around Otley of an evening. Behind many of the closed pub and bar doors, you’re bound to find some live music, with the like of Mark Morriss (pictured) of The Bluetones, Nigel Clark of Dodgy and Tom Hingley of the Inspiral Carpets all having appeared on stage here.
Regular gig venues to look out for include The Courthouse (above), hip café Bloomfield Square, Woolpack Studios, Otta’s Leah and The Junction Inn. Otley Folk Club has regular events every Wednesday at the Black Horse Hotel.
Look out for all these and more on our events calendar
If you fancy a drink or a meal, our cafes, restaurants and pubs can be found here on our sister site, Buy In Otley. Want to stay overnight? We have plenty of B&Bs, hotels and rooms for rent. Check out the accommodation section for details.