The Woolpack

Discovering new ideas for your dream home can be thirsty work, so stop and grab a pint and some delicious pub grub at Emmerdale's iconic pub, The Woolpack.

A well-known address in the Emmerdale village, is the famous Woolpack pub. It is the centre point of the village, a meeting place for all the residents of Emmerdale, and the location of many trials and tribulations through the years. It is the second oldest iconic TV pub behind Coronation Street’s The Rovers Return which made an appearance at last year's Show.

You could probably trace the history of Emmerdale’s famous pub, The Woolpack, back to the days when farmers took their wool over the Yorkshire moors by packhorse.  The Woolpack is supposed to date back to 1776. From 1972 to 1976, The Falcon Inn in Arncliffe was used for the exterior shots. The original pub building was abandoned in 1976 due to subsidence and gave way to the current building which has served as Emmerdale’s watering hole ever since. 

The village pub has had many landlords and landladies over the years, with the longest serving being Amos Brearly who was there from 1948-1991, from before the show even began!  From 1973-1991, Henry Wilks also ran the pub with Amos, and then Alan Turner took over from Amos, and in 2000 Diane and Bernice Blackstock stepped in. The current owners are Charity Dingle and Ryan Stocks. The longest stint of landlady was Diane Blackstock serving 17 years behind the bar.

1973

The Woolpack became a free house and Amos Brearly and Henry Wilks bought the freehold of the pub, which started their 18 year partnership.

1976

A large crack in the fireplace of the pub leads to the exposure of subsidence in the pub and the building is left and a new location found for the pub.

1978

Amos and Henry are both held at gunpoint by Steve Hawker and Pip Coulter who stole the takings.

1991

Alan Turner becomes the new landlord of The Woolpack after Amos and Henry retire.

1995

‘Mystery guest’ Ian Botham re-opened the pub on 21st February following a refurbishment. He cut the ribbon and drew the raffle, which saw Nellie Dingle win a family meal at The Woolpack. Britt & Terry Woods also took over as Woolpack managers.

1998

Sparks literally flew between Terry and Tricia when a box of fireworks went off, setting the Woolpack ablaze, in the hour-long episode. 

1999

Alan Turner decides to sell the Woolpack after suffering a heart attack.

Ploughman’s Pubs consider buying the pub.

Barmaid, turned Manager, Bernice becomes the first landlady of the iconic Woolpack after a bequest from Stella Jones who had an affair with Bernice’s fiancé Gavin. Bernice & Diane become joint landladies of the pub.

2002

Following the breakdown of her marriage to Ashley, Bernice is forced to sell her stake in the pub to Louise Appleton.

2003/4

Disaster strikes the pub with the Great Storm of New Year when the roof falls in after the chimney is struck by lightning, crushing Tricia Dingle outside the front of the pub who later dies in hospital.

2006

Louise sells her shares in the pub to Val Lambert.

2009

Diane becomes the sole landlady of The Woolpack after Val sells her share to Diane

2010

Jimmy & Nicola King planned to buy it from Diane, and took over the running of it for a few weeks, only to discover it was too much hard work, so they pulled out of the sale before it was completed

2011

Diane sells a 50% share in the pub to Chas Dingle.

2013

Cameron Murray takes the Woolpack customers hostage in a siege. Afterwards he dies in the cellar flood when he is electrocuted by touching a light.

2015

Chas accidentally stabs Diane in the pub as Chas is convinced she is subject of a stalker as she struggles with PTSD, however a slightly tipsy Diane happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

2016

Charity purchases a 50% stake in the pub, running it alongside Chas.

2019

Vanessa Woodfield is stabbed and left for dead outside the back of the Woolpack by Donny Cairn after she catches him setting light to the rear of the Woolpack.

The pub is forced to relocate to the Village Institute after the development of dry rot in the building.

2021

Charity sells her stake in the pub to chef Marlon. Al Chapman blackmailed Chas & Paddy into buying a share of the pub after he discovered Paddy was doping horses for Kim. On Christmas Day, Al put a whisk in the microwave, set with the timer and turned on the gas, causing an explosion at the pub.