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A fairly local trip today taking me to Halifax, West Yorkshire. Halifax was well known from the 15th Century onwards as being the centre of England’s woollen manufacture, being dealt through Halifax Piece Hall. I start today by heading out to Hipperholme to visit “Cock O’ The North”, home of Halifax Steam Brewing Company, before heading back into Halifax to visit a number of Micropubs, Craft Bars and Independent Pubs.
Cock O’ The North
The 548 bus runs every 30 minutes from Halifax Bus Station, (the 549 also goes this way) dropping you near enough outside my first visit of the day. This is home to “Halifax Steam Brewing Company”, who started up in 1999 brewing at the rear of the owners house in Brighouse. This was then moved to Hipperholme in early 2000. This brewery tap named “Cock O’ The North” opened in 2006. The brewery moved into larger premises in 2014 meaning the bar could never extended.
Such a great warm welcome here. Some really interesting features with a fish tank below the bar (never seen that before), and a great outside seating area with covered areas for when its raining. Inside is very warming with a log burner heating the room.
A great line up of 8 beers brewed next door to choose from, alongside a number of keg options (a few being their own). I opted to start with “Aussie Kiss”, a delicious and light 3.8% Blonde Beer. I went onto “Butter Beer”, after being advised to try it first, a mouthwatering ale with added Butterscotch. A really interesting and tasty beer.
A short journey back into Halifax on the 549 bus, getting off at Northgate (a few minutes away from the bus station).
Stod Fold – Dean Clough
A short 10 minute walk out of town brings me to the Dean Clough Mills area. Grade II listed Victorian Mills which were constructed between 1840 and 1870, built by the Crossley family who founded their Crossley Carpet empire here in 1822. The buildings were built from and named from the valley in which they sit – Dean and Clough being Olde English words meaning Valley and Ravine.
A number of pubs, restaurants and businesses are located here. Ive come to visit “Stod Fold”, a brewery and pub that is located within the Dean Clough Mill Complex. A beautifully restored building that has lots of character and some great unique features. Split into a main bar area and a separate function room to the side. A really warm welcome on entering here.
A line up of 4 beers on the bar all brewed in their own brewery, along with space for a guest beer coming soon. I went with their “Blonde+” which has been brewed a number of different times to showcase different hops. This time using “Jester” hops, which are considered to be New World in style. A great refreshing light beer.
The Old Post Office
A short walk back in the direction of the town centre brings me to my next calling point “The Old Post Office”. This stone building was built in 1790 and was used at the towns first Post Office so has a lot of history around it. Great to see Post Office signs inside the pub as well. A great welcome here from the manager. The pub has a main lounge, with another large room at the back which can be hired out.
A choice of 2 cask ales on here, today being from Vocation Brewery and Small World Beers. I went with “Long Moor Pale” from Huddersfield based Small World Beers. A really easy drinking tasty pale ale brewed with both Centennial and Cascade hops.
Union Cross Hotel
A short walk up past the Bus Station brings me into the centre of town, first visiting the “Union Cross Hotel”. This stunning Grade II listed pub the oldest inn in Halifax, being mentioned in Civil War records, being reported as standing by the old market cross in 1535. It was originally known as the “Crosse Inn”, named after the Old Market Cross as it stands on the site of the old market. A really great vibe in here and really warm welcome. The outside drinking area to the side, has some interesting curved windows on the side of the pub.
One cask ale on today from Sheffield based Bradfield Brewery. “Farmers Blonde” is a favourite of mine, very tasty and easy drinking. Cask ales look to rotate here having 3 handpulls.
Dukes
A short walk over to the Market Arcade brings me to “Dukes” which opened in 2020, located in a stunning Victorian Arcade. Set over 2 floors with the upstairs having a great window side view of the arcade. A great feature wall downstairs featuring “The North” is awesome.
A fantastic selection of beers both on cask and keg. 15 keg lines, 4 cask lines alongside a gravity cask of a 10.5% Little Earth Project – 2017 Brett Organic Stock Ale. I started with “Coolship Sour Mango Ale” from Cambridgeshire based Elgood’s Brewery. A easy drinking sour beer which has been blended with Mangos. I went onto “Riddler” from Reading based Dolphin Brewery. A delicious dark sour with figs, plums and cherries. Really enjoyed this.
Was great bumping into Brian and the gang over from Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire CAMRA whilst in here, while they were enjoying a crawl around some of the pubs in Halifax.
Hop In – Craft Beer and Cider
A short walk into Halifax Borough Market next. A beautiful Grade II listed building which opened in 1896 (work having started in 1892) to replace to older 1790 built Market which had previously being on the site. Hop In opened in May 2023, serving a great choice of cans and bottles which can be taken away or drunk in at the seats to one side of the shop. A massive choice of beers in here with some really unusual breweries alongside local ones.
Went for a Vault City sour beer in here, one of their newer ones which has only been out a couple of weeks. “Pear & Elderflower”, a really great flavour and sour at the same time.
Mamil Café Bar
Another short walk outside the Market brings me to “Mamil Café Bar”. This only opened 2 weeks ago and is a sister pub to their Brighouse premises. Located on the corner in a stunning building. A busy bar serving beers, coffees and food. Great to see new businesses opening up. Was great having a chat to the owner and wish them every success in their new venture, going by how busy it was today it will do very well and be a welcome addition to the Halifax beer scene.
2 cask beers on the bar alongside 8 keg beers to choose from. One cask beer “Bread & Butter” from Vocation Brewery is always on alongside a guest which today was “Vocation & Friends with Jopen”, brewed in collaboration with Netherlands brewery “Jopen”. A very tasty pale ale.
Victorian Craft Beer Café
A few minutes walk from Mamil Café Bar brings me to the “Victorian Craft Beer Café”. This opened in 2014 and is located behind the Victoria Theatre. Upon entering the place was really busy which is great to see, with around 20 people at the bar. The bar is a oak bar which is tiled. Lots of small quirky rooms located around the place and such a great feel to this place.
A huge selection of 18 keg lines and 10 cask/cider lines to choose from in a large range of styles and strengths. Something for everyone here. I started with “Temptation” from London based Hackney Church Brew Co. A delicious tropical sour beer, moving onto “Meloncholy Gose” from London based Brew by Numbers. A mouth-watering sour beer packed with Melon, Coconut, Pineapple and Vanilla.
Vocation & Co – Halifax
A short 2 minute walk brings me to “Vocation & Co – Halifax”. This opened in November 2022 as part of a number of pubs run by Vocation Brewery. Set over 3 floors with the top being a roof terrace bar. The second floor named “The Projectionist” as a link to the buildings past as an Art Deco Cinema. Food is offered by Wonder Wheel who serve New York style pizzas by the slice or full.
A great line up of 6 cask beers, alongside a huge selection of 24 keg lines located on the back bar. Lots of choice here. I went with “Frans Souer” from Netherlands based Jopen Brewery. A delicious dry hopped sour beer.
København
A few minutes walk brings to the Westgate Arcade, a great undercover shopping arcade, where my next call is located. “København” opened in August 2019 as a Scandinavian style bar. Really popular bar with seating inside and outside within the arcade.
A fantastic line up of 6 cask beers alongside 24 keg lines, something for everyone with a great range of styles and strengths. My drink of choice here was “Gelato – Passion Fruit, Mango & Peach” from Poland based Funky Fluid Brewery. Had some amazing gelato style sour beers from these guys before and this one did not disappoint.
Was great to finally meet up with “Ging ‘Real Ale Trail‘ for a catch up and chat whilst in here. Check out his page (linked above).
Grayston Unity
A short walk via a cut through from the Westgate Arcade brings me to “Grayston Unity”. This is an independent bar owned by people from Halifax. It moved to these new larger premises in October 2023. A really busy bustling bar which seems very popular with locals.
A great selection here of 5 cask beers and 7 keg beers and ciders to choose from, so lots of choice. I went with “Smashed Atoms” from Harrogate based Roosters Brewing. A delicious pale ale brewed in collaboration with SALT Brewery.
Meandering Bear
Another short walk to the next venue on my list “Meandering Bear”. The name comes from a piece of interesting history about Halifax. In 1913, a grizzly bear and a Russian bear escaped from Halifax Zoo. The Russian bear was captured almost straight away, but the grizzly beer made a dash for freedom and spent an hour and a half meandering around before it was eventually found and returned to the zoo, hence the name “Meandering Bear”. A busy popular pub which felt very warming and welcoming on entering.
A great selection of beers again here, being a choice of 5 cask ales alongside 8 keg beers and ciders. I went with “Blonde” from Keighley based Wishbone Brewery. A very light and hoppy blonde ale. Really enjoy most beers that I have had from Wishbone in the past.
The Three Pigeons
A short 5 minutes walk brings me to my final calling point “The Three Pigeons”. A very unique Grade II listed pub that was built in 1932 by Websters Brewery. It has an octagonal drinking lobby, which splits off into five different rooms. A beautiful art deco pub. This is now owned and run by Ossett Brewery and has been really nicely refurbished.
A great line up of 8 cask beers on the bar, a number of which are from Ossett Brewery alongside a number of guests. I went with “Thor’s Pale Ale” from Rudgate Brewery based in Tockwith, North Yorkshire. A tasty and refreshing triple hopped ale.
Micropub Adventures 