A trek Around 'Uddersfield

Huddersfield is a town that not everyone would think is a mecca for real ale. However, this is far from the case so get on the train and don’t forget your brolly as it can even rain when its sunny here!!

Starting off, if you are coming from the east, its best to get off the train at Dewsbury to visit the West Riding Refreshment Rooms (WRRR), which is located on the platform that you arrive on if travelling from the York/Leeds direction.

The WRRR has 8 beers available with Timothy Taylor Landlord, Best Mild and Black Sheep Bitter being regulars along with 5 ever changing guests ales.

The guests on the day we visited were:
Abbeydale Absolution 5.3%
Copper Dragon Black Gold 3.7%
Kirkstall Pale Ale 4.0%
Marble Bitter 3.9%
Mordue Pale Ale 3.6% (!)

At Dewsbury there is also an option to visit Wetherspoon’s down t’hill into town, where there is normally an Acorn beer among the guests.

After this its back onto the train for the last 8 mins to Huddersfield before the real action starts !

This is the order that I normally go round the town, starting off with 2 pubs on Platform 1 in the station itself. All beers listed are what was available on Tuesday 9th August 2011

Head Of Steam – Platform 1 (west end)
Coach House Blueberry Bitter 5.0%
Copper Dragon Golden Pippin 3.9%
Edge Brighton Rocks 4.0%
Green Mill Northern Lights 4.5%
Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted 3.8%
Ossett Glorious Yorkshire 4.0%
Saltaire Three Ridings 4.5%
Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Bitter 4.0%
Wylam Heddon Light Bitter 3.2%

Next is the Sportsman, which has just started brewing. Leave the station turning left into John William Street, continue under the railway viaduct and the pub is in front of you next to the lights.
 5 mins from the station

The Sportsman – 1 St John’s Road. HD1 5AY
Golcar Guthlacs Porter 4.6%
Golcar Pennine Gold 4.0%
Mallinson’s 360 Degrees Brusio Viaduct 4.2%
Rudgate Niflheim IPA 4.4%
The Sportsman oow I say 5.8%
The Sportsman Happy Birthday To Roo ! 3.4%
Timothy Taylor Dark Mild 3.5% (Regular)
Timothy Taylor Landlord 4.3% (Regular)

Going back along John William Street, the next stop on the crawl would be the Vulcan, 32 St Peter’s Street, which has 4 beers on and wonderful Yorkshire Puddings with beef and other wonderful meals at very cheap prices. This is on the left hand side and down a small bank just before you reach the Spoons.

On this day we had an extended stay at the station (see above) so something had to be missed, so the Vulcan was left alone.

Next stop is The Cherry Tree, a JD Wetherspoon house (14-18 John William Street). Normally its awash with guest beers worth staying for, but on this day, the bank of 4 beers as you walk through the door which house most of the “winners” were empty – bugger ! There is a second bank further along the bar, but these too had nothing on to write home about - Most unusual, as I usually get at least 2 or 3 new beers here.

After Spoons the next move is The Grove. There a a few different ways to get there from Spoons, so best look at the map at the head of this guide. I normally go along New Street to the end, turn right on to the A62 main road (dual carriageway) and up t’hill until you see the bus station, then go left under the road via the underpass. The pub is then just in front of you beyond the large car park.
 Alternatively go up Kirkgate then along Market Street and under the main road via the underpass.

Now this pub loves high gravity beers, so you are quite liable to be here for a while, either on the strong stuff or working your way through the vast list of guest beers that are on every day.

The Grove – 2 Spring Grove Street, HD1 4BP
Buxton Black rocks 5.5%
Buxton Buxton Gold 5.2%
Conwy Clogwyn Gold 3.6%
Dark Star Carafa Jade 5.0%
Dark Star Victoria Ruby Mild 6.0%
Durham White Gem 3.9%
Fullers ESB 5.5%
Gadd’s She Sells Sea Shells 4.7%
Kirkstall Dissolotion IPA 5.0%
Magic Rock Rapture 4.6%
Otley O4 Columbo 4.0%
Thornbridge Evenlode 6.2%
Thornbridge Geminus 8.5%
Thornbridge Jaipur 5.9%
Thornbridge Raven 6.6%
Timothy Taylor Landlord 4.3% (Regular)
Timothy Taylor Golden Best 3.5% (Regular)

Next stop (if you are still in a fit state) is the Rat & Ratchet, one a brewpub and now owned by Ossett Brewery (soon to brew again apparently). Well worth a look in as there are always interesting guest beers on as well as Ossett / Riverhead / Fernandes beers.
From the Grove, go back to the main road and walk down the hill to Chapel Hill (A616). The Rat is just down the bank on the right.

The Rat & Ratchet – 40 Chapel Hill, HD1 3EB
Atomic H-Bomb 4.7%
Atomic Fission 3.9%
Coach House Gunpowder Strong Mild 3.8%
Cropton Blackout 5.0%
Fullers London Pride 4.1%
Pictish Brewers Gold 3.8%
Mallinson’s Hat’s Off 5.2%
Ossett Big Red 4.0%
Ossett Excelsior 5.2%
Ossett Pale Gold 3.8%
Ossett Silver King 4.3%
Ossett Yorkshire Blonde 3.9%

Finally comes The Star. Please note that they are closed on Mondays, only open at 1700 Tues-Fri (1200 Sat and Sun) but make sure you go here when in Hudds, It is certainly my favourite pub there, and the beer festivals that they do 4 times a year are a must !

The Star – 7 Albert Street, Lockwood HD1 3PJ
Concrete Cow Midsummer Ale 3.8%
Conwy Honey Fayre / Cwrw Mêl 4.5%
Great Heck Supreme Overlord 4.5%
Green Mill Talisman Golden Ale 4.2%
Mallinson’s 360 Degrees Brusio Viaduct 4.2%
Oldershaw Mill Old Cawsey 5.2%
Pictish Brewers Gold 3.8% (Regular?)
Timothy Taylor Golden Best 3.5% (Regular)
Timothy Taylor Best Bitter 4.0% (Regular)
Timothy Taylor Landlord 4.3% (Regular)

So, presuming that you have survived the day after a shed load of new beers, the fun now starts as its mainly uphill back to the station !!!!