06/04/23 – Cleckheaton and Wakefield

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Started my day in Cleckheaton, a town in the Heavy Wollen region of West Yorkshire that became well known for it production of heavy woollen cloth. Started here by visiting Steve at Mill Valley Brewery before heading into town to visit 4 more pubs. A bus onto Wakefield, known for being the birthplace of world-renowned sculptors Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Also being well known for coal mining, rhubarb and its cathedral. Lots of great pubs were visited here working from one end to the other.

Cleckheaton

Mill Valley Brewery

Started my day off with a bus from Wakefield Bus Station. The 268 runs between Wakefield and Bradford every 15 minutes during the day. Just over an hour journey to Cleckheaton. A short 15 minute walk out of town brings me to “Mill Valley Brewery”. Had the pleasure of meeting owner and brewer Steve Hemingway here, starting with a look around the brewery setup. The brewery was started in his garage in 2015, quickly outgrowing that and moving to a new location (where the taproom is now). The name coming from where he lived “Valley Road”, hence the name “Mill Valley Brewery”.

The brewery was moved to Liversedge as they outgrew the current premises. When covid hit the brewery was moved back to its current location at Woodroyd Mills in a building next to the Tap Room. A really nice setup with brewery, taproom and kitchen all next to each other.

Into the taproom next, this is where the brewery used to be located and a pallet bar was used for taproom openings. Now it hosts a range of events including singers and comedy nights and more. A great covered seating area outside at the front and very quirky seating around the taproom with walls dedicated to different local football teams.

A fantastic line up on the bar of 6 of their own cask beers, alongside a number of keg and lager options, including their own lager. Great to see local links with the beers, the panther range inspired by local motorcycle manufacturer “Phelon & Moore” who were well known for producing the “Panther” motorcycles. Other beers being a nod to the local Speedway club. “Luddite” is related to the secret groups that were formed in the area who They tried to save their livelihoods by attacking mills to destroy new machinery. I went with a pint of “Panther”, named as their flagship beer, a great crisp and refreshing beer, very sessionable.

A huge thankyou to Steve for giving up his time to show me around and giving me an insight into his beers, where the names come from and the local links surrounding them.

The Chain Bar

A short walk back down into town brings me to my next calling point in Cleckheaton which is to “The Chain Bar”. This had a change of ownership in August 2023 and the new owners seem to be doing really well. The premises used to be a hairdressers before being converted into this pub. The name has 2 local links, the first being the nearby motorway roundabout “Chain Bar”, and the second being linked to local motorcycle manufacturers “Phelon & Moore”, linking to the chains they produced for them.

A really warm welcome here from the owner, a nice one room pub with the bar at the back. A small beer garden and sun trap is also located outside at the rear of the pub.

A line up of 3 cask beers on the bar, alongside 8 keg lines (4 being permanent and 4 rotating). I went with “Buckwild” from Golcar, Huddersfield based Lords Brewing Co. A delicious copper coloured extra special bitter, a really tasty beer.

Spen Tap

A walk around the corner brings me to “Spen Tap”, run by Halifax Steam Brewing Company who I visited a couple of weeks back in Hipperholme, Halifax. This opened in May 2022. A nice small pub with downstairs and upstairs seating, along with a nice small beer garden to the rear of the pub. Great warm welcome again in here.

A choice of 3 cask ales on the bar, all 3 being from Halifax Steam Brewing Company alongside a keg selection, some of their own alongside other beers. I went with “Dreamy”, a scrumptious Strawberry Pale Ale, lovely fruity flavour to this and very refreshing.

Rose & Crown

Another couple of minutes walk brings me to the “Rose & Crown”. A plaque at the front explains that this is one of the oldest pubs in Cleckheaton built in the 17th Century. It used to have its own microbrewery in the rear using the pubs old stables. A great historic pub, warm welcome and some delicious smelling food. A nice courtyard beer garden at the rear of the pub.

A really good range of cask ales on the bar here with 5 to choose from with a number of different styles and strengths. I went with one from York based Yorkshire Heart Brewery, “Scarbados”, a tasty and crisp East Coast Pale Ale. Nice to have Scarborough’s nickname as the beers name.

The Marsh

My last call in Cleckheaton is a short walk past Cleckheaton Bus Station to “The Marsh”. An unusual triangular shaped pub which has has a conservatory added as an extension. It is run by Snaith based Old Mill Brewery. A popular pub and a great warm welcome from the bar staff in here. Very traditional looking inside, with the conservatory being used for diners and a beautiful outdoor seating area both covered and uncovered.

A line up of 3 cask beers on from Old Mill Brewery. The Bitter and Blonde Bombshell being permanent lines alongside a rotational special beer. I went for this one, today being “Yorkshire Pearl” a lovely zesty and light pale ale.

A bus stop over the road here gets me back to Wakefield on the 268 (or a minutes walk to the bus station for other connections).

Wakefield

The Old Print Works

Having got off the bus near Wakefield Westgate Railway Station, I headed to my first call here down a side street to “The Old Print Works). A one roomed pub with a outside area to the front. Interestingly the bar in here was rescued from The Union Pub on Horbury Road and the Last Orders bell was rescued from a Paddy Train on the Selby Coalfield.

A range of 6 different cask ales on the bar to choose from. 5 being from Yorkshire as well as one from further afield. I went with “Farmers Blonde” from Sheffield based Bradfield Brewery. A favourite of mine, a delicious easy drinking blonde beer.

Elephant & Castle

Back onto the main road to my next calling point which is to the “Elephant & Castle”. A beautiful Grade II Pub. The front is a beautiful façade from Warwicks Brewery of Boroughbridge. The pub in the 19th Century doubled as a Magistrates Court and was also used for public floggings in the 1800’s. Inside split into several small rooms with a great outdoor area to the rear.

2 cask ales on the bar for me to choose from today. The first being from local Ossett Brewery, the other which I went with is from Parkway Brewing Co based in Somerton, Somerset. “Norwegian Blue” is a delicious traditional English Bitter, named after a famous Monty Python Dead Parrot sketch.

Harry’s Bar

A short walk back down past The Old Print Works and onto “Harry’s Bar”. A well known one roomed pub (with a new added outdoor extension) with a focus on real ale. A lovely setting inside with bare brick and wooden interior and a real fire for the colder days. Looking out of the side of the pub gives a great view of Wakefield’s 99 Arch Viaduct which was constructed in the 1860s by the Great Northern Railway.

A great line up of 8 cask beers alongside a cider and a couple of keg beers. Always have a great range on here varying in styles and strengths. I started with “Spring Back” from Nottingham based Lincoln Green Brewery, a tasty and easy drinking pale ale. I then went onto “Waikaha” from South Kirkby based Chin Chin Brewing Co. Another lovely crisp and fresh tasting pale ale.

The Black Rock

A short walk towards the Cathedral brings me to my next call in Wakefield which is to “The Black Rock”. A lovely Grade II listed building which is a mainly unspoilt Melbourne Ales house which opened in 1842. This pub was well known for its Christmas Decorations which are very traditional and unchanged which have recently being sold off for charity. CLICK HERE to read more about this.

A blue plaque on the front of the pub shows that John Potter, Bishop of Oxford and from 1737 Archbishop o f Canterbury lived here as a boy upstairs when his fathers drapers shop was downstairs.

A great selection of 6 cask beers on the bar here to choose from aswell as the usual keg/lager selections. I went with “IPA” from North Yorkshire based Pennine Brewing Co. A crisp golden pale ale packed full of flavour.

Wakefield Labour Club / The Red Shed

A walk down to the bottom end of Wakefield for my next call to “The Red Shed” otherwise known as Wakefield Labour Club. It is housed in an old Army hut which has managed to survive redevelopment of the area over many years. A well known place to get served a great ale in Wakefield. The walls have lots of trade union plates and badges as well as numerous CAMRA awards.

A selection of 5 different cask beers, alongside a couple of keg beers and a number of bottles to choose from. I went with “Brewers Gold” from Rochdale based Pictish Brewing Company. A delicious hoppy pale ale with lots of good flavour.

The Hop

Back to the top end of Wakefield again, this time visiting “The Hop”, run as a joint venture by local Ossett Brewery and Mike Heaton, drummer with chart-topping band Embrace. A lovely old converted Victorian Building. A large indoor area split into a couple of different rooms, with a huge outdoor beer garden. Inside bare brickwork, fireplaces and other original features still remain around the pub.

A great line up of 5 cask beers all from Ossett Brewery alongside a large number of keg beers, some of which being from Ossett Brewery. “White Rat” for me in here, a favourite of mine I have had all over the country. A delicious pale hoppy ale, always delicious.

The Polka Hop

A short walk from The Hop brings me to “The Polka Hop”. Used to visit here years ago when it was The Bull & Fairhouse run by Great Heck Brewery. Since the brewery closed, this was refurbished and opened in the Autumn of 2018 as The Polka Hop. The “Bull Fair House” being the pubs original name back in 1874. The bar being on the left as you enter with a couple of small roomed seating areas giving it a really cosy feel. Nice warm welcome from the owner behind the bar in here.

A choice of 3 real ales, 1 cider and a number of keg options for me to choose from in here. “Baby Boa” from Keighley based Recoil Brewery for me. A crisp and light session pale ale.

Luis Bar @ Fernandes Brewery

My last call is down towards Wakefield Kirkgate, this being to “Luis Bar @ Fernandes Brewery”. Fernandes Brewery opened in November 1996 situated in the old Malt House of the Fernandes brewery, which closed before World War II, from which it takes its name. The brewery was taken over by Ossett Brewery in Spring 2007. The bar itself is on the first floor of the building, with an open plan second floor overlooking the first floor. Looks really great since its refurbishment a couple of years ago. Lots of old pub memorabilia around the pub and a very traditional feel to the place.

A great line up of 8 cask beers, 1 cider and a wide range of keg beers to choose from on the bar ranging in style and strength. I went with one of their own beers “Jockin'”, a very refreshing and tasty lemondrop and chinook pale ale. Lots of great flavour from this beer.