A “public house” is an establishment where the public can meet and find a comforting drink and a delicious meal. The term public house dates back to the late 17th century, and was used to differentiate private houses from those which were open to the public as ‘alehouses’, ‘taverns’ and ‘inns’.  It is still a popular term, often called a “pub,” in Ireland and England. We opened The Public House in a space which has been a continuous drinking establishment in Ripon since the 1870s.  We think that is a fitting connection between our name and the history of our location.