Yorkshire Trip

Yorkshire Trip

Friday 31st March 2006 (PHOTOS)
Six intrepid members of the branch set forth on a mission to Yorkshire.
The aim was to present beer of the festival awards to two breweries and have a good time.

We visited, firstly, Abbeydale's new pub, the Rising Sun in Sheffield, to present a runners up certificate to Julian Harrison (partner in brewery) and brewer Richard. This took all of two and a half hours! We were given a tour of the pub's cellars and treated to free beers.
During our discussions we were directed to two other pubs which sell Abbeydale beer.

We visited both the Ranmoor Inn and the Fox & Duck, accompanied by Richard, and were treated to further free beer. Whilst at the Ranmoor, Stan confessed to having drunk Ayingerbrau at the Harbour Inn at Arley, and Colin the Walker / Train / Wall confessed to drinking Taddy mild and brown,and was severley reprimanded for feeding the already oversized dog.

Next we visited the GBG listed Bath Hotel where we were disappointed by the quality of the beer.
Thence we set forth by rail to our ultimate destination, Wakefield.

On arrival, in pouring rain, we found that taxis were non existant, Kirkgate Station being unmanned, apparently. We set off walking and Stevie A met with a lady with a rat on her shoulder called Lucy - the rat not the woman or her shoulder. She sent us off in the direction of our hotel. Or did she? Soon we encountered a taxi office, unfortunately they had none available and hadn't heard of taxis for 6. They sent us in another direction. Whilst getting wetter we found the Fernandes Brewery Tap, but it was so packed we couldn't get in with our luggage. Onwards we went until some lads told us we were going the wrong way. Redirected we plodded on, arriving at the hotel some 20 minutes later.
Fortunately the receptionist at the hotel had heard of taxis for 6 and ordered one for us to get back inton the town centre. We went straight to the Labour Club (Red Shed) at a cost of £3.
Here, despite only about a third of the building open to the public / members, we were heartily welcomed, and the rest of the evening passed quaffingly. Of course, there followed the obligatory curry, which was excellent. A return taxi cost £5, but it was after midnight.

Day two saw us at the bus station after a quick visit to the Red Shed to shelter from the rain. From there we departed for Flushdyke, where we were due to present our Beer of the Festival award at the Red Lion. Here we were met by local CAMRA members Albert and Bob. A little later we were joined by Bob of Bob's (Red Lion) Brewery. There was much discussion about our beer of the festival - Chardonale. Although it is brewed behind the pub it very rarely appears in the pub itself. This being due to most of it ending up in Halesowen|
After a brewery tour and a few more pints, we departed for the Brewers Pride in Ossett. From here we had two taxis take us to the The West Riding Licensed Refreshment Rooms at Dewsbury in Ossett. The first taxi, on approaching the car park was hit by another taxi pulling out from a side road. Both of the wehicles were damaged but the passengers were not, thankfully. So drinking continued until it was time to return to Wakefield. We did this by bus, because it was more likely that attacking cars would be put off by its size.

In Wakefield half our number were complaining that they were hungry, so we went into the Red Shed for a 'half' whilst we decided what to do. Several pints later we emerged and went our myriad ways to the eatery of our choice (some via other pubs).
Sunday came and much of the discussion over breakfast at the Six Chimneys (Wetherspoons) was whether or not to go to the Rugby League match between Wakefield and Wigan or visit another city. I suggested that as the weather was unreliable and the match was on BBC TV we could do both. Off we went to the bus station again and caught the first bus to Leeds. Unfortunately this took the form of a magical mystery tour through every estate and village on the 7 mile journey and probably covered 27 miles.

We were thirsty by the time we got to Leeds, and so went to the Scarborough Hotel, it being the nearest pub to where we alighted. This was a good point to discuss the Lady in Red who sat opposite me for much of the journey and caused a number of the others to move seats so they could get a better view.
Next we visited the Whitelocks, and actually got seats inside. The North Bar, close by, was our next destination. Colin and Stan ate all the pies here, leaving none for anyone else; there were actually only 2 left to start with. This is a continental bar with an excellent selection of beers, so the rest of us made up for lack of food by drinking.

A jazz band greeted us at our next venue - the Duck and Drake. The band was quite good and the beer very good, but we had places to go and beers to drink. A visit to The Palace was required before we returned to Wakefield on a quicker bus.
This time we managed to get into the Fernandes Brewery Tap and we settled down for a session. Stan was obviously a favourite with the landlady, who called him by his first name. The beers in here were excellent, and when we thought last orders were being called we were wrong. It was just an announcement that German sausages were now being served and orders were being taken.
After more drinks (and sausages) were consumed we got our usually expensive taxi back to thw hotel (£5.50 this time).

Monday, being our last day saw us catch an early train for Sheffield. This time we used the GBG and breakfasted at the New Barrack Tavern (brilliant). On to the Fat Cat. Here, I encountered an old friend that I had not seen for a while. He was visiting from Manchester. It's a small world.
The Kelham Island Tavern came and went and we headed off towards the station by tram. Three of us opted to stop off for a drink at the Devonshire Cat before catching our train home,
We arrived at the rail station in time, but the others had left on an earlier train. No stamina some folks!

Tony H

Friday 31st March 2006 (PHOTOS)
Six intrepid members of the branch set forth on a mission to Yorkshire.
The aim was to present beer of the festival awards to two breweries and have a good time.

We visited, firstly, Abbeydale's new pub, the Rising Sun in Sheffield, to present a runners up certificate to Julian Harrison (partner in brewery) and brewer Richard. This took all of two and a half hours! We were given a tour of the pub's cellars and treated to free beers.
During our discussions we were directed to two other pubs which sell Abbeydale beer.

We visited both the Ranmoor Inn and the Fox & Duck, accompanied by Richard, and were treated to further free beer. Whilst at the Ranmoor, Stan confessed to having drunk Ayingerbrau at the Harbour Inn at Arley, and Colin the Walker / Train / Wall confessed to drinking Taddy mild and brown,and was severley reprimanded for feeding the already oversized dog.

Next we visited the GBG listed Bath Hotel where we were disappointed by the quality of the beer.
Thence we set forth by rail to our ultimate destination, Wakefield.

On arrival, in pouring rain, we found that taxis were non existant, Kirkgate Station being unmanned, apparently. We set off walking and Stevie A met with a lady with a rat on her shoulder called Lucy - the rat not the woman or her shoulder. She sent us off in the direction of our hotel. Or did she? Soon we encountered a taxi office, unfortunately they had none available and hadn't heard of taxis for 6. They sent us in another direction. Whilst getting wetter we found the Fernandes Brewery Tap, but it was so packed we couldn't get in with our luggage. Onwards we went until some lads told us we were going the wrong way. Redirected we plodded on, arriving at the hotel some 20 minutes later.
Fortunately the receptionist at the hotel had heard of taxis for 6 and ordered one for us to get back inton the town centre. We went straight to the Labour Club (Red Shed) at a cost of £3.
Here, despite only about a third of the building open to the public / members, we were heartily welcomed, and the rest of the evening passed quaffingly. Of course, there followed the obligatory curry, which was excellent. A return taxi cost £5, but it was after midnight.

Day two saw us at the bus station after a quick visit to the Red Shed to shelter from the rain. From there we departed for Flushdyke, where we were due to present our Beer of the Festival award at the Red Lion. Here we were met by local CAMRA members Albert and Bob. A little later we were joined by Bob of Bob's (Red Lion) Brewery. There was much discussion about our beer of the festival - Chardonale. Although it is brewed behind the pub it very rarely appears in the pub itself. This being due to most of it ending up in Halesowen|
After a brewery tour and a few more pints, we departed for the Brewers Pride in Ossett. From here we had two taxis take us to the The West Riding Licensed Refreshment Rooms at Dewsbury in Ossett. The first taxi, on approaching the car park was hit by another taxi pulling out from a side road. Both of the wehicles were damaged but the passengers were not, thankfully. So drinking continued until it was time to return to Wakefield. We did this by bus, because it was more likely that attacking cars would be put off by its size.

In Wakefield half our number were complaining that they were hungry, so we went into the Red Shed for a 'half' whilst we decided what to do. Several pints later we emerged and went our myriad ways to the eatery of our choice (some via other pubs).
Sunday came and much of the discussion over breakfast at the Six Chimneys (Wetherspoons) was whether or not to go to the Rugby League match between Wakefield and Wigan or visit another city. I suggested that as the weather was unreliable and the match was on BBC TV we could do both. Off we went to the bus station again and caught the first bus to Leeds. Unfortunately this took the form of a magical mystery tour through every estate and village on the 7 mile journey and probably covered 27 miles.

We were thirsty by the time we got to Leeds, and so went to the Scarborough Hotel, it being the nearest pub to where we alighted. This was a good point to discuss the Lady in Red who sat opposite me for much of the journey and caused a number of the others to move seats so they could get a better view.
Next we visited the Whitelocks, and actually got seats inside. The North Bar, close by, was our next destination. Colin and Stan ate all the pies here, leaving none for anyone else; there were actually only 2 left to start with. This is a continental bar with an excellent selection of beers, so the rest of us made up for lack of food by drinking.

A jazz band greeted us at our next venue - the Duck and Drake. The band was quite good and the beer very good, but we had places to go and beers to drink. A visit to The Palace was required before we returned to Wakefield on a quicker bus.
This time we managed to get into the Fernandes Brewery Tap and we settled down for a session. Stan was obviously a favourite with the landlady, who called him by his first name. The beers in here were excellent, and when we thought last orders were being called we were wrong. It was just an announcement that German sausages were now being served and orders were being taken.
After more drinks (and sausages) were consumed we got our usually expensive taxi back to thw hotel (£5.50 this time).

Monday, being our last day saw us catch an early train for Sheffield. This time we used the GBG and breakfasted at the New Barrack Tavern (brilliant). On to the Fat Cat. Here, I encountered an old friend that I had not seen for a while. He was visiting from Manchester. It's a small world.
The Kelham Island Tavern came and went and we headed off towards the station by tram. Three of us opted to stop off for a drink at the Devonshire Cat before catching our train home,
We arrived at the rail station in time, but the others had left on an earlier train. No stamina some folks!

Tony H