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A Guide to Wakefield’s Must-Visit Drinking Spots
Wakefield’s drinking scene is rich in history, showcasing its journey from Roman times to a lively cultural hotspot. The city has a strong connection to forced rhubarb, celebrated through its yearly festival. Some must-visit spots include Harry’s Bar, famous for its welcoming vibe and ever changing cask ales; The Hop, a live music venue featuring multiple stages; and The Black Rock, a classic pub with a fascinating past. Don’t miss out on Luis Bar at Fernandes Brewery, known for its distinctive drink options, and The Red Shed, a pub with significant political roots. Each place gives you a taste of Wakefield’s unique heritage.
Wakefield’s roots go all the way back to Roman times. It grew into a key market town during the Middle Ages, especially recognized for its wool trade. Fast forward to the 19th century, and Wakefield became famous for its forced rhubarb, particularly from the Rhubarb Triangle, which benefited from its special climate and soil. The rhubarb industry hit its high point in the early 20th century, supplying markets in London and further afield. Nowadays, Wakefield honours its rhubarb legacy with festivals and exhibitions, showcasing its importance to the local culture and economy.
The Polka Hop
My first call is to The Polka Hop. This pub has gone through a bunch of name changes over the years since it first opened its doors in 1874. It’s been called the Bull & Fairhouse, Friar Tuck’s, and O’Donoghues at different times. I used to hang out here back when it was The Bull & Fairhouse, managed by Great Heck Brewery.
After the brewery shut down, the place got a makeover. They shifted the bar from the right side to the left and reopened in the autumn of 2018 as The Polka Hop. Fun fact: the original name back in 1874 was the “Bull Fair House.” Now, when you walk in, the bar is on the left, and there are a couple of cosy little seating areas that really give it a warm vibe.
There’s a cool addition inside—a big “sketch pad” on the wall that invites customers to contribute their own art, which is such a fun idea. Plus, Daz and Fiona give a super friendly welcome, and today there are three cask ales available at the bar. I started with a lovely best bitter from Cooper Hill brewery (Settle Brewery), followed by “Keras” from Brew York, a delicious, light and tasty pale ale.
The Hop
Next up is Hop Wakefield. This place kicked off in 2008, thanks to Jamie Lawson, becoming the first live music spot for Ossett Brewery. This project teamed up with some impressive partners, like Mike Inman, who used to be the Managing Director at Virgin Entertainment Asia, and Mike Heaton, the drummer from the indie band Embrace.
The venue has two stages: the downstairs area is all about local cover bands every weekend, while the upstairs has hosted some amazing acts like Metronomy, Pulled Apart by Horses, Howard Marks, Embrace, John Cooper Clarke, John Richardson, and Sarah Millican.
The Hop has a warm vibe, featuring a spacious beer garden in its private courtyard. Inside, the front bar creates a cosy atmosphere with its bare brick walls and a snug area with a real fire.
On the bar today a line up of 6 cask ales, alongside an extensive range of keg beers including a number from Salt Brewery. I tried out two beers from Ossett Brewery. First up was the “Yorkshire Blonde,” which is a really tasty and light pale ale with some awesome hop flavours. After that, I switched to “Silver King,” a refreshing and dry American-style pale ale that I really enjoyed.
Black Rock
A quick stroll takes me to The Black Rock. This pub has a fascinating history that goes back to the 1840s. The building itself is thought to be even older, with connections to notable figures like John Potter, who was an Archbishop of Canterbury in the 18th century and spent his childhood nearby. It’s recognized as a Grade II listed building and serves as a largely untouched Melbourne Ales house. There’s even a blue plaque out front indicating that John Potter lived upstairs as a kid while his dad ran a draper’s shop downstairs.
Over the years, The Black Rock has transformed from its early days into a well-loved spot in Wakefield. It started out as a smoky hangout for journalists and police officers, and it’s still a favourite meeting place for both locals and visitors. The pub’s vibe reflects its rich history, featuring a classic tap room with an oak-panelled bar, complete with beautiful lanterns and stained glass.
On the bar a fantastic line up of 7 ever changing cask lines which is fantastic to see and this place is well known for its ales. Today, I went with “HopKick” from Rudgate Brewery in York. It’s a hoppy, juicy pale ale that really packs a punch with its awesome flavours.
Luis Bar @ Fernandes
My next stop is down near Wakefield Kirkgate, specifically at Luis Bar at Fernandes Brewery. This brewery has a rich history, starting back in 1850 when Nowell Luis Fernandes, the son of Portuguese immigrant Jose Luis Fernandes, founded it. The family ran the brewery until 1919, when John Smith’s Tadcaster Brewery took over. Fast forward to 1994, and David and Maureen James took over first selling brewing supplies, eventually brewing at in 1997, and has become a hotspot for beer lovers.
The bar is located in the old Malt House of the original Fernandes brewery, which shut down before World War II. Ossett Brewery took it over in Spring 2007. The bar is on the first floor, with a cool open-plan second floor that overlooks it. It looks fantastic after its renovation a couple of years back, filled with vintage pub memorabilia and a really traditional vibe.
As always a fantastic range of beers on the taps, showcasing 8 cask ales, a number being from their own brewery alongside several guests and a brilliant line up of keg options. I decided to try something a little unique and went for a Dark Mild from Fernandes Brewery, flavoured with cherry. The “Cherry Mild” was really tasty—smooth and rich, with that nice cherry twist.
Old Print Works
A walk up to the Westgate end of Wakefield brings me to, The Old Print Works It’s a cosy little pub with a nice outdoor space out front. What’s cool is that the bar was saved from The Union Pub on Horbury Road, and the Last Orders bell came from a Paddy Train on the Selby Coalfield.
The place is also filled with old photos that tell the story of the print works that used to be here. This link to the past really shapes the pub’s vibe, giving visitors a taste of Wakefield’s industrial roots. The décor features all sorts of memorabilia and images that honour the history of printing and the local community.
There’s an awesome selection of beers at the bar, as usual! Today, you can pick from six different options, featuring a variety of styles and highlighting a bunch of breweries, mostly from Yorkshire. I went with “Full Moon” from Chantry Brewery in Rotherham for my beer today. It’s a tasty pale ale that combines American and New Zealand hops, resulting in a really fruity and refreshing taste.
Harrys Bar
Next up was Harry’s Bar, a popular one-room pub that recently added a cool outdoor area, all about real ale. The vibe inside is super cosy with its bare brick walls, wooden décor, and a real fire to keep things warm on chilly days. If you peek out from the side, you get a fantastic view of Wakefield’s 99 Arch Viaduct, built back in the 1860s by the Great Northern Railway.
The bar is named after Harry Murphy, a legendary rugby league player born in Wakefield on August 26, 1920. He had an impressive career from the 1930s to the 1950s, playing for teams like Wakefield Trinity, Castleford, and Keighley. Murphy also represented Great Britain and England, making significant contributions to the sport. The community honours his legacy by naming this bar after him.
There’s a fantastic selection of 8 cask ales here, each with its own unique style and strength, featuring a variety of breweries. Plus, having slices of pork pie on the bar was an awesome touch! I went with “Citra Pale” from North Riding Brewery in Scarborough. It’s a super tasty pale ale that’s easy to sip on, with hints of grapefruit and lemon shining through.
The Red Shed
I next took a stroll down to the far end of Wakefield for my last stop at The Red Shed, also known as the Wakefield Labour Club. This place is set up in an old Army hut that’s somehow managed to stick around despite all the redevelopment in the area over the years. It first opened its doors back in September 1966, created to tackle the hefty costs of renting meeting spaces for the local Labour Party, which was racking up about £300 a year for a room on Cheapside. The founders wanted a space that was all their own for social gatherings and political events.
Over the years, the Red Shed has kept close connections with trade unions and played a key role in major political happenings, like being a central hub during the miners’ strike of 1984/85. It was a lifeline during that tough time, providing food parcels and soup kitchens. More recently, it’s become known as a cool music venue and a real ale pub, snagging a bunch of CAMRA awards. Inside, it’s a spacious spot with walls decked out in trade union plates, badges, and all sorts of memorabilia.
The bar this evening showcased a choice of 5 cask ales, offering both a range of styles and breweries. I went with “Ship Wrecker” from True North Brew Co in Sheffield. It’s a light and refreshing pale ale that’s packed with flavour and super tasty.
Micropub Adventures 