Couple return to Yorkshire Dales pub where they married 30 years ago

A couple has returned to the Tan Hill Inn, where they got married, to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary (Image: Supplied)

A couple has returned to a pub in the Yorkshire Dales where they got married to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.

Sarah Baulch, 59, and John Dalton, 63, from Essex, tied the knot at the Tan Hill Inn on August 6, 1996, after first spotting the remote venue in a magazine.

They returned this year to mark 30 years of marriage, bringing their children Max, 29, and Millie, 25, along to share in the memories.

Mrs Baulch said: "Although the facilities have been upgraded, the pub itself is still just as welcoming and friendly as it was then."

The retired primary school teacher and her husband, a retired IT account manager, first learned about the 17th-century inn — located 1,732 feet above sea level in Swaledale — through a farming magazine.

In 1995, the Tan Hill Inn became the first pub in the UK to obtain a licence to hold weddings.

Mrs Baulch added: "We’re keen walkers and once we realised it was on the Pennine Way we thought we could combine the walk with a wedding."

With only their walking gear, rucksacks, and tents, the pair relied on family members to bring the formal essentials.

About 60 friends and relatives travelled north to join the celebration.

Mrs Baulch said: "We even brought a band up from Colchester and we just took over the whole pub.

"A registrar came from nearby Richmond, and we danced and partied long into the night."

Their 30th anniversary plans included walking the Pennine Way again, with a stop at the pub.

Although health issues meant they couldn’t complete the hike, Mrs Baulch said: "We were determined to get back to Tan Hill."

The couple originally married in what is now the pub’s dining room.

Since then, the venue has built a dedicated wedding barn and upgraded its nine guest bedrooms.

Mrs Baulch said: "The improvements really are wonderful, but the best thing is they haven’t changed the pub itself, and all the character and history are still there.

"It was lovely to come back."

Andrew Hields, owner of the Tan Hill Inn, said: "To the best of my knowledge, Sarah and John are the only couple who have stopped off en route to get married here.

"It just shows how versatile Tan Hill is – you can pop in for a pint and a pub lunch or listen to some live music and stay overnight.

"And, since John and Sarah tied the knot here, we’re welcoming more bridal couples than ever."

The Tan Hill Inn remains a popular stop for walkers and travellers alike, offering food, drink, accommodation, and live entertainment in a setting full of character and charm.

More information is available at tanhillinn.com.