But behind the warm glow of its on-screen windows lies not one pub, but two.
The Devonshire Arms in Grassington and the Green Dragon Inn in Hardraw, near Hawes, work hand in hand to bring the much-loved Darrowby local to life, each playing a unique role in Channel 5’s hit adaptation of James Herriot’s veterinary tales.
The cobbled market square of Grassington has become synonymous with All Creatures Great and Small, standing in for the fictional town of Darrowby since filming began in 2019.
The fictional Drovers Arms (Image: CHANNEL5)
At its heart sits The Devonshire Arms, an 18th-century inn that provides the exterior for the Drovers Arms.
Its stone frontage, window boxes and traditional sign are instantly recognisable to viewers as the pub where James Herriot and Siegfried Farnon unwind after long days tending to the animals of the Dales.
The Devonshire team say their involvement in the show has been “a fascinating adventure.”
“In July 2019, a location scout approached us about using our pub for a new TV series,” the owners recalled.
“We said yes, without knowing it would become the new All Creatures Great and Small. It’s been incredible to watch the transformation.”
Filming days see the square filled with vintage cars and extras in 1930s costume, while shopfronts are dressed with period props.
The Green Dragon Inn in Hardraw (Image: TRIPADVISOR)
Locals often gather to watch as The Devonshire temporarily becomes Darrowby’s social hub once again.
Off-screen, the pub has enjoyed a steady stream of visitors eager to experience “The Drovers” for themselves, with fans stopping by for a pint or a photo outside the famous frontage.
Step through the door of the on-screen Drovers Arms, however, and viewers are instantly transported to a different corner of the Dales.
The Green Dragon Inn in Hardraw, near Hawes, provides the interior setting for the beloved pub, complete with its roaring fires, low beams and flagstone floors.
Dating back to the 13th century, the Green Dragon oozes history and character, making it the perfect fit for Darrowby’s community hub.
The pub’s atmospheric interior has remained largely unchanged for centuries, lending an authenticity that no studio set could match.
Just beyond its back door lies Hardraw Force, England’s highest single-drop waterfall, which also features in the series.
Visitors can enjoy the same pint by the fireside as the show’s cast, then wander the woodland path to the thundering falls immortalised on screen.
The Devonshire provides the face of the Drovers Arms, the familiar exterior seen in nearly every episode, while the Green Dragon offers the soul, the warm, lived-in atmosphere where friendships unfold and stories are shared.
Both have benefited from a surge in tourism, as fans of the show flock to the Yorkshire Dales to visit Darrowby’s favourite drinking spot in both its guises.
Locals say the show has given their communities a renewed pride, shining a national spotlight on traditional village life.
