The West Riding - Dewsbury

I had the pleasure of visiting this pub on Wednesday evening, and my first impression was that it was an intimate place with a certain charm. My enthusiasm grew significantly when I saw their selection of beers! The presence of Leffe and Duvel suggested a well-curated stock, and I was not disappointed. West Riding also offered a great variety of whiskies. Although I didn’t have the chance to try their cask ales, they did have some reputable brewers on tap—maybe next time. The 'spice night' curry I tried was delightful, but I definitely need to sample one of their pies! I found it amusing how what started as one drink quickly turned into six hours of enjoyment. That’s the hallmark of a great pub, especially with such wonderful company.

For those who may not know, there's something called the Transpennine Real Ale Train Trail. This interesting route takes advantage of the unique situation on the Huddersfield Line, where several railway stations still have licensed premises. This allows you to enjoy a train-based pub crawl without ever leaving the railway property. There are also some great suggestions for nearby venues, like the Riverhead Brewery Tap in Marsden, which is just a short walk from the station. Among the licensed establishments at the stations, I highly recommend the West Riding Refreshment Rooms, located on Platform 2 at Dewsbury Station. The ambiance is pleasant, they offer a good selection of ales, the service is excellent, and the pub food is satisfying—what more could you ask for?

I really enjoy this pub! They offer a wide selection of traditional beers, and my favorite cider is Thatchers. The food is excellent, and the staff are welcoming and friendly. It's also great that kids are allowed, which is important for me. The only downside to the West Riding is that the toilets are quite small.

Got to say, Rick's spot on with his words there. Get involved in the rail trail, and get involved in the West Riding Refreshments they're dandy as anything. Despite being within the station, this fabulous venue retains all the vibe of a friendly local pub, so much so that you feel as though it's your very own local. The staff here were excellent, and had advice on hand when it came to the beers, as well as a great selection of snacks of which I ordered far too many. But snacks were desired at this stage of the ale trail! For me, I opted for a Buxton Dark Nights, and at 4.6% it was fully flavoursome. The selection however was all too tempting, as they've many in store, including Brew Dog and Magic Rock. With friendly faces all around, bundling in from the cold, laughter as the sound track and your train not far away, what's more to love? A bite to eat? Well, I'll have to go back to let you know for sure. But even so, do it for the craic. It's the business.

Having visited this pub a few times now I have come to the conclusion that it is probably my favourite pub in Dewsbury. I had the pleasure of a couple of visits this Christmas period and on both occasions the pub was pretty full, with a good natured and varied crowd of beer lovers. It's not a large pub but there still seems to be plenty of seating if you look hard enough and are prepared to squeeze in amongst your fellow drinkers. It has a classic old school pub feel with lots of dark wood and simpl furnishings. The walls are covered with an interesting selection of railway and beer ephemera which is very fitting given it's connection to the Anglo Dutch brewery and its location on platform 2 of the train station. Excellent selection of cask ales which are well kept and lovingly poured. Always seems to be Black Sheep and a couple from Timothy Taylor available with the rest of the pumps given over to a quickly rotating localish selection. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to give you a recommendation and a wee taster before you buy. Like all decent pubs of this ilk my advice would be to have a couple if they have something on you particularly like as it will no doubt be gone on your return. For a London visitor the prices are great with pretty much all the ale in the £2.20 to £2.50 price bracket. No wonder these Yorkshire folk moan so much when they come down to the big city. Have never tried the food but I'm informed its pretty reasonable pub fare which will go well with your pint. I have never seen any ankle biters in here, not sure if they have an adults only policy, and this is not one I would recommend to the kiddy and buggy brigade. For the adult beer lover who is looking for a decent pint amongst a friendly, eclectic crowd and a welcoming atmosphere this is my top choice in the area. Cracking pub accessible from platform two at Dewsbury trail station. Excellent selection of well kept local ale. Mix of young and old beer lovers in an old school yet cosy pub. Highly reommended and worth making a point of visiting if you are in this neck of the woods.