please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Rare visits about once a year for our 'anti cup final day out', Beers are smashin', craic is good, and this year they had a band on int middle room! Great view from the benches outside and not bad from room ont left either, taxi a must though XD
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Decent beers on. Just a bit small but other than that enjoyed my visit here.
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brilliant pub seven real ales on brewed in house and on top form friendly staff
decent prices
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I enjoyed the place and the beer, but I'm not a dog lover so won't be returning too often. I've also spent a great deal of time and effort at home, resolving damp patches, so it also seems a bit daft to pay to sit with that smell again.
The reviews made here good reading so thanks all. That includes the ones that went beyond the usual Yorkshire vocabulary of a couple of dozen words too.
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There's still something rather comfortable and friendly about the place. The widely varying reviews show that it makes customers think. I always enjoy the Linfit which has a clean and sharp flavour. I like the stories about intruders found in the fishtank. Always a pleasant trip.
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Returned to the Sair after many a year, on a pub crawl,following on from the Grove in Hudds. After a couple of IPA's inthe Grove and a good 2 mile walk we were thirsty for more and the Sair did not disappoint. The bitter, Special and Old Eli and Leadboiler (rich) were welcome amber -dark style beers. Quality was excellent, if served a little cold but soon came to temperature. A friend stuck with the Pale ale onslaught for an Autumn Gold. The room to right was closed, middle room was packed with fire lit, but no fire in range in room to left. Still, a multi-roomed gem. The Tilus Fractus Maximus still exists behind the new stalls.
brisk - 16 Jan 2013 00:08 |
Jesus wept, who wrote the comments below? It�s like a cross between Private Eye�s Pseud�s Corner and Viz�s Real Ale Twats. Who says things like �as befits this throwback to a gentler age�, �exquisitely quaffable� and �real-alery�? And why is it worth a �!� that your mate had to get the football scores via his phone? BTW it�s CONSIDERABLY more than 2 miles from Hudds station.
We�ve been drinking at the Sair since about 1990. For a few years we went just about every Friday night. It was always a gamble which smell would be strongest � wet dogs, dope or sour beer and piss. The pub was filthy � God knows what the brewery was like. But it relied on its reputation from when it was one of the few real ale pubs about. The beer was hit and miss, but when it was good it WAS good. Ron admitted he only brewed about 5 beers and made the rest by mixing � hence if one dark one was �off� they all were. Bet that explodes a few myths.
Some nights a right good laugh, some a punch-up outside. The oddest thing of all was that it got �pub of the country� from CAMRA just at its nadir � the beer was absolutely rank. Just goes to show CAMRA�s priorities these days. That�s about when we stopped regularly going in.
The fire and Ron�s dotage have been mixed blessings � new brewery, new urinals (that have never been plumbed in), new dodgy wiring, cleaner all round (even the fish tank) but lacking the character it used to have. Three beers tonight, all fine but lacking taste and could have been anything. Same last time, and the time before. And still got the damp patches on the walls in the front room, just not hidden by plants any more.
Time�s moved on in terms of beer quality. The Sair hasn�t.
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Timeless Brewpub high in the hills approx 2 miles from Hudderfield railway station, only started brewing again in October after a fire in June that destroyed the brewhouse roof. I sampled 5 of their beers, all in top form, no food as befits this throwback to a gentler age when a ticking clock, crackling open fire and conversation were the sounds you heard in a pub. Wonderful, just wonderful. Try it soon the landlord now uses 2 crutches and is getting on a bit, talk from the locals is that the community want to buy the pub when he retires to keep it open. Good on them if they manage that.
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Spent a pleasant Saturday afternoon in the Sair Inn. Six real ales as brewed by Linfit were on offer: Bitter, Linfit Bitter, Swift, Gold Medal, English Guineas and Old Eli. All these beers were sampled and each one was top notch and in excellent condition. As there is no TV, we had to check FA Cup final scores via my mates internet phone! The jukebox was also heavily sampled too. The great thing is the The Sair never seems to change. This pub is just superb and we are already planning our next visit, which cannot come soon enough.
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First class night again on Saturday. Pretty well unchanged since last visit, and 7 beers available. The best on this visit were Linfit Bitter, English Guineas and Old Eli.
Ron is still enthusiastically at the helm, and the locals were again a friendly bunch. Jukebox was not overly loud and the choices of music were varied and good.
A real pub, full of real, unpretentious punters. A gem.
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The Sair Inn is a haven of real-alery. A pint (or three) of excellent ale, great music, top banter, beautiful views on a summer evening, and a warm fire-side on a cold january night. There is a lot of joy to be had in the contemplation of a pint, in terms of plain reality of course, there is a good deal more to be had in the draining of one. Started with the Linfit which was deliciously crisp, moved onto the Gold Medal which was exquisitely quaffable and finished any thoughts of leaving in fine style with a dark, rich stout called English Guineas. A friendly chat was had with the eccentric and enigmatic Ron Crabtree over a pint of Old Eli (rich, fruity and hoppy) accompanied with the folklore of the pub, we then put the world to rights with the locals and staggered into the night to flag a horse and carriage. A truly excellent pub.
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Oh my, this must be in my top 1 pubs in Great Britain. The Sair is the worst kept secret in Huddersfield. Heading out towards the wilds of Marsden, there's a little left up a 45 degree hill. Where does this hill go? To the Sair, that's where! Greeted by a godawful sign comprising a cartoony pig you enter the door beneath and take a step back into an age forgotten. 4 rooms, some with fishtanks, some with idle guitars, all with dogs and logs and a rowdy local contingent of rabbit trappers and jazz musos. Don't expect luxury, find ropey alleys to the gents (with a glimpse of the conservatoire brewery!) dodgy wiring, and the ever present master of the brews, salty dog Ron Crabtree! The ales, take your pick of 8+ are all VERY local and they taste absolutely excellent. The range and quality astounds, at unbelievevably reasonable prices. Try the Leadboiler for a strong dark one.
Go there.
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Now brewing again after some years. This pub is a must. Go soon before it changes.
If visiting from Huddersfield, get the Bus to Marsden Hard End (what a name!) and get off at Linthwaite Church. Cross the road and walk down Tommy Lane.
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The Sair Inn is a pub I would love to have as my local. As it stands I have to cross the border into Yorkshire, which is no hardship come journeys end. The Linfit beers are, in my view, peerless. I particularly enjoy the Guineas stout, but all their beers are totally brilliant. The pub itself has a nice timeless and rustic feel, with stone flagged floors, roaring fires in the colder months and some quaint d�cor. There are various rooms to get oneself comfortable and sample the many delights of the bar. Also there is a great jukebox, which caters for those with a taste for classic rock. The locals and bar staff are really friendly too.
Absolutely one of my all time favourite pubs, I can only award this place a big fat ten points!!!
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Walked up to the pub from my home in Slaithwaite on a fine sunny Sunday, got there just after 1.30, and found a most welcoming pub with an excellent range of cask beers and a friendly reception from barlady and customers alike.
I had a wonderful pint of Old Eli to begin with, put some music on the jukebox and had a bit of a chat with one of the - presumably - regulars about the Bo Diddley song that I'd selected. He didn't know it, swapping of musical heritage ensued, and a fine time was had by all.
Yes, there were a couple of dogs lounging around on the floor, as a previous correspondent has mentioned, but so what? Friendly enough beasts, not a murmur of trouble out of any of them, so no problems there. And any pub that's confident enough to have a fish tank in view of the bar is fine by me.
In short, it's pubs like this that help define our country. You'd never find a place like this outside of Britain!
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John Bonser and his one man ale tour has summed this olde worlde pub up a treat. I bought a couple of freshly shot rabbits from a local chap for the price of a pint. Had a couple of the micro brewery ale and left a happy man. Will be going again in the new year. Hopefully will get a duck next time.
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The John Bonser roadshow ( or bus show in this case ) paid its long overdue first visit to this splendidly traditional 4 roomed pub on Thursday evening, 13 November.
Since being voted CAMRA's National Pub of the Year in 1997, this fine pub with its own brewery attached appears to have developed almost legendary status. It regularly crops up in conversations that I have had with fellow drinkers up and down the country in recent years - yet very few people that I have spoken to have actually ever been there or have a reasonably clear idea where abouts it is.
Well, its approx 3 miles from Huddersfield in a small village, reasonably easily accessible from Huddersfield ( 20 minutes bus journey ). So now you know.
Apparently it overlooks the Colne valley, although on a dark November evening, I missed out on the view unfortunately.
Disappointingly, on the evening of my visit, only 2 of the Linfit home brewed beers were on, Bitter and Special, both clean tasting and hoppy and at a reasonable � 1.90p per pint.
Two guest beers from Elland Brewery were also on and these seemed to be selling better than the Linfit beers.
Real fires were lit in those of the rooms being occupied. The floors are stone flagged. It's a real community local, although I, as an outsider was warmly welcomed.
Unfortunately, it's a dog-friendly pub and I counted at least 4 largish mutts, either lolling around, sprawling on the floor taking up room, or getting under people's feet.
Was it worth the effort of visiting - yes, definitely, although I'll try next time to visit in the Summer months when it's still light in order to appreciate the views and the scenery.
Finally, watch out for opening hours - it doesn't open till 5pm midweek
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I am happy to end speculation on the future of this pub, having just received a confident answer from Ronald that the pub is not going anywhere and certainly not being sold.
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Superb value for money great atmosphere even a bunch of southeners like us were given a warm welcome.
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Absolutely superb. Paid a timely vist to this gem on the last Saturday in January, and was afforded a welcome that, although I had come to expect, was still warm and accommodating. Between 2115 and midnight I spent most of the time at the bar chatting with locals, and the brewer Mr. Crabtree himself.
Visitors to this establishment will notice a few changes, namely a new floor has been put down and the ceiling has been renovated. Take a trip to the gents' and have a look at the cubicle door!
The beers all remain mostly exquisite, but note that Enoch's hammer has now been discontinued. Linfit "Bitter" was very good, basically bitter. "Gold Medal" was slightly flowery, but the First Gold hops gave it a very dry aftertaste. "Autumn Gold" was the best beer on, vibrantly hoppy and bitter. "Special" was very good, quite malty but still retained an underlying bitterness. "English Guineas" stout was very much like how I remember proper Irish unpasteurised Guinness to be.
Thanks to everyone who gathered around the piano, and those who helped give me access to it!
Continuing, as ever, to deserve that special 10/10.
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Unbelievable! �1.60P for a pint of bitter. Compare that with pubs in brighton over 2.50 a pint and a likely a lot more than that in London!
Friendliest bar staff and local drinkers I have met since being "won-over" to real ale. Best home-brew beer in England in my opinion.
Have to see this pub for yourselves, best stay in Marsden and go there in a taxi.
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If there is a better pub with better beer I don,t know it.Less than �3 for a pint of bitter & a bacardi & coke(over �4 in the next pub we visited in Marsden)
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Tucked out of the way but worth the trip if you can find a tee-totaller to drive (you need a good hand brake on your car). Great range of beers and a good roaring fire in Winter.
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excellent local pub for local people, the beer is world class as is the lay out of the pub with various rooms and open fires. A must for any real ale lover and you can take your dog along too!
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A cracking pub near the top of a steep hill off the main Manchester Road. the sort of place you can settle in for the evening and really don't want to leave. Several rooms leading off the main bar, it probably hasn't changed much since the 19th century. Home to Linfit microbrewery, a vast range of ales is stocked on handpump. Three of us sampled around seven different beers between us; the best was Gold Medal, a medium strength hoppy light bitter. I also enjoyed the English Guineas stout. A must visit for any ale drinker remotely in the vicinity. They don't open until 7pm on Monday-thursday, and 5pm on Fridays.
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A pub which is truly worth a pilgrimmage to for all lovers of good beer. Too good for words...
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Congratulations on being BITE's best pub! Since the first time I visited in 1999 I believed it would reach the top.
Well done Crabtree - keep brewing the beers!
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You don't expect to find such a little gem on the road between Huddersfield and Oldham! Hidden up a steep side road, this place is a real treasure. The Sair is a rabbit warren full of atmosphere - and it's not a twee Dales pub for the tourists, it's a Pennine pub for real. Good beer, brewed on the premises, and friendly staff. Monster!
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was there last week as a tourist - i dont think they get much passing trade! it was like a step back in time my wife thought that we might get a meal but the fayre stopped at crisps and peanuts (propper order too)
ray - 13 Apr 2004 19:32 |
The Sair is a fantastically friendly pub. I have only been going in recently and have been overwhelmed by how friendly and accomodating people are. I am a naturally a very friendly person and have made some special friends. Try Davey's gravy...its fab!
Izzy - 29 Jan 2004 11:21 |
I worked in the Sair 1984 - 1986 when a student in Huddersfield. Great Pub and Beer back then. Ron has ALWAYS been "enigmatic", good to see that they are both around and I must visit soon.
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Can't wait to sample the Xmas ale again this year, its different every time. This pub is the reason I bought my house, its only 200yrds away from the pub, I hell of a climb up to it but its all down hill at chucking out time. Fantastic.
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My favourite pub of all time !!
just watching larry pull those pumps and ronald, wander around this cosy little pub is a sight to behold.
anonymous - 25 Oct 2003 20:05 |
The Sair Inn no longer has live music due to a complaint by a next door neighbour who recently moved in. She also complained to the council about Morris Dancing but was told to go away. She will not be allowed in again!
Ron Crabtree - 18 Oct 2003 13:06 |
great pub for real ales(well it was 10 years ago, worth a visit)
Andy - 26 Sep 2003 19:50 |
Ron Crabtree independently brews his beers from around 3%-9% and charges accordingly. Also a selection of fine bottled beers, fruit beers and independent bottled beers. A number of small rooms, gas lit with wood burning fires. The jukebox is in a time warp and thank god this was in the 60's and 70's. You won't get a better real ale drawn straight from the back and the landlord knows his brews.
Richard - 26 Sep 2003 17:31 |
Now, we're talking. My favourite pub of all time. Located in a small village on the outskirts of Huddesfield and about half way up a very steep hill 'Hoyle Ing'. A former CAMRA National Pub of the Year. The atmosphere is superb and it can get really busy. Pub is run by the enigmatic Ron Crabtree who also founded the on site Linfit Brewery. If you like real ale, these must be tried. If you're really lucky you may be able to try their very occasional Rauch beer or the Ginger Beer (warning - mouth on fire for 5 mins). Even though it's hard to find, there are still 3 buses from a few mins. walk, back to Huddesfield post 11.30pm.
Simonf - 12 Jun 2003 11:14 |
i live next door, its ace and the atmosphere is excellent, u get to know names easy! real ale, real people, real astmosphere and a dog called molly!
well worth a visit!
john payesme - 23 Apr 2003 19:10 |
Legendary brew-pub at the top of an imposing hill overlooking the Colne Valley. Up to eleven beers in the "LINFIT" range, mild always available. Exquisite "Bitter" that makes Timothy Taylor seem sweet! Enoch's Hammer, their strongest beer is over 8% (Gentlemen request, and others are served, HALVES!!)This is a MUST for anyone visiting the Huddersfield area. Divided up into several rooms, one of which is non-smoking. No food so eat beforehand. Live music Saturdays(mainly rock, blues, folk etc.) Stay in Marsden or Huddersfield then 10 minute bus ride from either town, or very cheap cabs if you dont fancy the walk. No pool tables. Open fires in each room.
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