If you step into the Dog and Partridge in Sowood, you’ll find more than a historic pub. Inside lives the heartbeat of the community and the home of Frank Collins, Britain’s oldest landlord, who has been pouring Timothy Taylor’s beers for 30 years.
Frank has lived in pubs since 1932 and was bottling up for his father on weekends by the age of 10. By 16, he ran the Grey Horse, Birchencliffe for 5 days while his parents were on holiday. The pub life runs in his veins.
His father bought the Dog and Partridge in 1955 but passed away just three weeks before he could take over. Frank's mother, Mabel, stepped in to run it, with Frank helping out in the evenings. Mabel ran the pub for decades, until she too passed away, after which Frank officially took on the license in 2000.
An avid flyer in his earlier years, Frank earned his pilot’s license in 1967 and once flew over the newly built M62. Frank is still agile, still sharp, he walks several miles a week and is a founding member of the Whisky Walkers, a walking group formed during lockdown. He’s survived three near-death incidents, had three major operations but shows no signs of slowing down. He still plays the piano for guests and keeps the pub humming with stories and laughter.
Ahead of his time, Frank's no-nonsense thinking saw him introduce a no-smoking policy at the pub two years before it was made law. Frank and his pals famously organised “Dog Trips”, group holidays for regulars, some of whom had never left the UK before. And then there’s the ghost, locals talk of a small dog that sometimes appears at the bar.
As for the Dog and Partridge itself? Built in 1304 and rebuilt in 1710, it’s one of Yorkshire’s oldest pubs. If you're in the area, pop in for a pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, pull up a seat, and have a chat with Frank or the regulars. Cheers to Frank Collins. A true landlord, a true legend.
