Editing Otley (section)

==Culture and community==
[[File:A True Yorkshireman.jpg|thumb|right|Otley Show in 2009.]]
Otley has a diverse range of cultural organisations. It has five active [[Morris dance]] sides, the Wharfedale Wayzgoose ([[Border Morris|Border]]),<ref>{{cite web |title=Wharfedale Wayzgoose Border Morris Side|url=http://www.wharfedale-wayzgoose.co.uk/|publisher=Wharfedale Wayzgoose|access-date=16 January 2011 }}</ref> The Buttercross Belles (Ladies Northwest),<ref name=Belles>{{cite web |url=http://www.buttercrossbelles.com/ |title=The Buttercross Belles |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.buttercrossbelles.com |access-date=9 August 2017 }}</ref> Flash Company (Border, [[Molly dance|Molly]], Appalachian & [[Clogging|Clog]]), Hellz Bellz (Contemporary) and Kitchen Taps (Appalachian Step).

Drama groups include the Otley Community Players, Otley Youth Theatre (OY), and a thriving arts centre in the former courthouse. There is a poetry society, which  meets monthly in the Black Horse Hotel. The town has a [[Brass Band]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Otley Brass Band|url=http://www.otleybrassassociation.co.uk/otleybrassband/|publisher=Otley Brass Association|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> who perform at many events in the town. It is not a regular contesting band, but won first prize in the unregistered section at their first contest at [[Hardraw Scar]] in September 2007 and again in 2008. Since then they have competed in the 1st to 3rd section winning Second prize and Best March in 2014.

Otley hosts the annual Otley [[List of folk festivals|Folk Festival]] in September, a [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] Fayre in December, a carnival in June, and, in May, what is reputed to be the oldest one day [[agricultural show]] in the country.<ref name=OldOtley/> This celebrated its bicentenary in 2009. There is a [[beer festival]], organised by the church, in November.
Otley has four [[Scouting|Scout]] troops, Otley Parish, Otley Bridge, 2nd Otley, and Otley Methodist Scouts.<ref>[http://www.wharfedalescouts.org.uk/centres.html Wharfedale District Scouts], Retrieved 27 May 2011</ref> An [[Army Cadet Force]] detachment is also located in the town.

In January 2013 ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper featured an article in its Weekend section entitled ''Let's move to Otley, West Yorkshire''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jan/11/lets-move-to-otley-west-yorkshire?INTCMP=SRCH |title=Let's move to Otley, West Yorkshire |last=Dyckhoff |first=Tom |date=11 January 2013 |work=[[The Guardian]]: Weekend |page=58 |access-date=16 January 2013}} ''Published online in "Money" section on 11 January 2013'' <!-- Article history link online gives print publication date and page --></ref>

===Hostelries===
The Black Horse Hotel (original demolished, current from 1901<ref name=OldOtley/> and the Royal White Horse Hotel (the former Barclays Bank (closed 2019), in Manor Square<ref name=OldOtley/>) were the original [[Post office#Name|posting houses]] and many of the others were [[coaching inns]].<ref name=OtleyM>{{cite book |last=Brumfitt |first=Elise |date=1988 |title=Otley and Menston – a glimpse of the past |location=Leeds |publisher=M. T. D. Rigg Publications |isbn=<!--none--> }}</ref>  By 1900 there were over 30 inns, and Otley was said to have "a pub on every corner".<ref name=OtleyM/>  This reputation has continued into recent years with BBC Radio 4's statistics programme "More or Less" concluding that it had the greatest number per head of population.<ref name=MoreOrLess>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7370986.stm |title=Which town has the most pubs for its size? |last=Tetlow |first=Daniel |date=28 April 2008 |website=BBC Magazine |publisher= BBC|access-date=11 August 2017 }}</ref>

Today there are 20 [[pub]]s in the town although the ''Roebuck'' (formerly known as the ''Spite''), the ''Chevin'' and the ''Royalty'' are on the outskirts, with the ''Roebuck'' located in [[North Yorkshire]].<ref name=PubClub>{{cite web |url=http://www.otleypubclub.co.uk/otley-pubs-present |title=Existing Otley Pubs |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Otley Pub Club|access-date=12 August 2017 }}</ref> Some of the oldest buildings have been demolished or replaced, but the Red Lion on Kirkgate dates from 1745, the Bowling Green from 1757 (originally a courthouse), the Rose & Crown (originally cottages) 1731.<ref name=OtleyM/>  The Old Grammar School was (as of 2017) the Stew and Oyster pub, this closed in January 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/18143608.high-profile-pub-closure-otley/|title=High profile pub closure at Otley|work=Ilkley Gazette|accessdate=17 April 2021}}</ref> The Old Cock on Crossgate (despite its name) has only recently become a pub, but inhabits former cottages from 1757.<ref name=BLBOldCock>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101135224-11-and-13-sugar-street-otley#.WY4eJNJ9670 |title=11 and 13, Sugar Street |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=British Listed Buildings |access-date=11 August 2017 }}</ref>  These are all Grade II listed buildings.

The ''Black Bull'' in the Market Place, was allegedly drunk dry by Cromwell's troops on the night before the battle of Marston Moor during the [[English Civil War]] and has a 15th-century well in the beer garden.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jack|first1=Jim|title=Otley pub's historic Roundheads visit celebrated in new TV show|url=http://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/news/14428330.otley-pubs-historic-roundheads-visit-celebrated-in-new-tv-show/|access-date=3 May 2018|work=Wharfedale Observer|date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Black Horse Hotel at Otley.jpg|Black Horse Hotel
File:The Red Lion - Kirkgate - geograph.org.uk - 468541.jpg|Red Lion
File:Bowling Green, Otley 7 August 2017.jpg|The Bowling Green
File:Rose and Crown Otley 7 August 2017.jpg|Rose and Crown
File:Otley Old Cock front cropped 7 August 2017.jpg|Old Cock
File:The Black Bull in Otley.jpg|Black Bull
File:The Bay Horse, Market Place, Otley (30th December 2013).JPG|Bay Horse
File:The Junction Inn, Bondgate, Otley (30th December 2013).JPG|The Junction Inn
File:Whitakers, Kirkgate, Otley (30th December 2013).JPG|Whitakers
File:The White Swan, Boroughgate, Otley (30th December 2013) 001.JPG|The White Swan
File:The Yeoman (formerly the Fountain), Gay Lane, Otley (30th December 2013) 001.JPG|The Yeoman (formerly the Fountain)
File:The Ring O'Bells - New Market - geograph.org.uk - 468527.jpg|The Ring O'Bells (now the Otley Tavern)
File:The Cross Pipes - Westgate - geograph.org.uk - 1207285.jpg|The Cross Pipes
</gallery>