West Kyo

The pub is known locally for Sunday lunches, karaoke and other intermittent entertainment on Saturdays, though since the COVID-19 pandemic the Thursday night quiz is no longer run.

Elton John is rumoured to have visited the Earl Grey for a meal back in 1978, though this is unconfirmed as is the alleged presence of his signature on the wall behind the southern end of the bar.

The village developed during former periods of heavy coal mining in the area during the 19th century and a gas works used to be situated on its northern edge.

West Kyo was the birthplace of John Buddle (1773), the famous colliery viewer and mining engineer, who later went on to work with Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry in the development of Seaham Harbour.

[1] Kyo Village was the birthplace of Hugh Simpson Rodham (on 16th Aug 1879), Hillary Clinton's grandfather who emigrated to the United States.

West Kyo in the winter, showing the Earl Grey Inn
Earl Grey Inn - a copy (not an original) of a Banksy artwork is installed in the men's toilets.
West Kyo as photographed from the Earl Grey public house south towards Fines Park, Annfield Plain
Kyo Pond adjacent to the C2C, not to be confused with Kyo Tarn , 800 m to the east. The pond still exists despite several attempts to fill it in.