BEER boffins and coffee connoisseurs have a new venue to try in North Yorkshire.

Businessman Simon Midgley has opened Starling Independent Beer & Coffee House in Oxford Street, Harrogate.

He said: "It's something I have always wanted to do. I worked for 12 years at Market Town Taverns and my role in that time I grew with the company from Operations Manager to Managing Director for the last two years.

"I left to take on the role of Commercial Director at Ossett Brewery Taverns which I did for nearly two years. The opportunity to take on this building in Harrogate was the perfect way to take the next step and build something for myself.

"I know the Harrogate market very well as I have lived here for many years and whilst at MTT oversaw the Old Bell Tavern and Swan on the Stray in the town."

Mr Midgley said the venue catered equally for beer and coffee drinkers.

York Press:

He said: "On the beer side we have 10 keg and 6 cask taps. On cask we'll be featuring the Yorkshire stalwart Black Sheep Best Bitter and a rotating Roosters handpull too.

"The rest of the handpulls will be an ever changing range of interesting beer with a mixture of pale, dark, strong and session on at any one time. Keg wise there will be German Pilsners Warsteiner and Kaltenberg, plus the Czech legend Pilsner Urquell and Thatchers Gold.

"We will also be the only bar in the area to Baby Faced Assassin on permanently, plus an ever changing tap devoted to sour beer. We're also sourcing a great selection of wine and small batch spirits, plus some interesting bottled beers too.

"On coffee we're partnering with Dark Woods, a renowned Yorkshire roastery near Marsden. We will feature their medium espresso roast Under Milk Wood on our La Marzocco Linea, alongside an ever changing selection of guest single origin on pour over. Tea is sourced from Brew in Manchester."

The business will also serve brunch and pizzas.