please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
3rd pub of the day, had been told that they pull White Rat constantly and they were doing that when we reached the bar, our 7 hands added to quite a few more when a barman checked we were all after it. Couldn’t go wrong £2.85 for a 4% beer. Plenty of other Rat beers too as well as Silver King and Yorkshire Blonde from Ossett Brewery to name a couple of the others. Excellent pub, look forward to a longer visit next time.
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Just seems to be slightly losing it's edge over the last year or so, probably due to successive changes of manager. Beer choice a bit limited due to Rat & Ossett ties and quality's (only!) 9/10. However, contrary to comment below the White Rat is probably one of the best pale hoppy beers you'll ever taste.
Fingers crossed it'll settle down and come true soon enough.
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An Ossett pub and home to the Rat brewery. It's situated just outside the town centre and has several different nicely decorated drinking areas in a pub similar to other Ossett establishments I have visited. There's a good selection of ales and one cider on handpull. However look out for the cider list, as there are other ciders in boxes at the side of the bar. Ales on during my visit were Goose Eye Bitter, Ossett Silver King & Yorkshire Blonder, Rat King Rat, White Rat, Dubbel & Soratchi Ace, Saltaire Triple Chocoholic & Butcombe Chinook APA. Ciders were Pulp Damson, Whin Hill Dry, Chant Singing Cider, Once Upon A Tree Tumpy Ground & Dorothy's Orchard & Twisted Desert Dry. I tried the Whin Hill and the Triple Chocoholic. Both were in good condition. It was fairly busy on my Saturday evening visit. But there were still tables to be had. Another Huddersfield highlight. Very impressed. A 9/10 from me.
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Well, there’s no doubt that this is a really good pub. There are about 10 beers on handpump, including some from the Rat brewery (on the premises), Ossett (own the pub) and some guests. Beer quality is pretty good as well. And they also have a couple of “craft keg” Rat beers. The place has a large drinking area by the bar, numerous little alcoves for groups to congregate in.
However, I was distinctly disappointed with the place ! Maybe it’s because Rat beers have such a reputation in my local (Beerdock, Crewe) that I was expecting the brewery tap to be something quite extraordinary. And the exterior proclaims “home of the Rat beers, including our flagship White Rat” – err never heard of that one ! I did try it there, and it’s nowhere near as good as the ones we get in Crewe (King Rat, Crazy Rat, Rat Against the Machine, Rat Poison).
Also, there was annoying music being played, which made it hard for me to hear what my softly spoken friend was saying.
7/10 – maybe it’s better when they have a Rat beer festival on ?
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Just been to their beer festival this weekend. It was a reet good do! Nice chilled tunes in the beer garden and great beer. Nicely decorated since last visit. Must go again soon.
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Having just moved to Huddersfield, this is one of the first pubs I visited. Was very impressed with the number of real ales that were on tap. Is worth a visit, with a warm welcome. Cosy little local.
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this was pub#3 on our annual festive trip from Manchester. It is large pub with a good mix of seating areas, and open plan standing room. A large selection of beers ranging through the spectrum from Pale Ale, red bitters, dark winter beers etc. My selection was Fullers Jack frost 4.5%.
Suprise bonus pinball machine - heaven!
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Another super pub in a town that's fast becoming a mecca for real ale Large bar area split into different drinking areas (raised flooring etc) Single bar with an impressive bank of beer pumps Like other before we went for the very,very drinkable White Rat which is brewed on the premises (even though the pub is now owned by Ossett Brewery) Not busy when we went in around lunctime but soon filled up and it is not difficult to see why this place is so popular I didn't nptice any food but it's the beer again that you go for Ossett ales as well as their own and the kind of pub you could easily spend a few hours in The new tiled floor (with Rat logo) is impressive - but mind the raised edge whe n you go to the bar - my mate nearly lost his beer! Apart from that this is a highly recommended pub
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Third pub on my recent trip to the town. Tried White Rat from the micro "Rat Brewery" which was gorgeous. It was a blonde citrus ale about 4%. I usually go for stouts and porters, but the only one available was less than 4%, so I didn't bother.
I tried standing at the bar but probably because it was Saturday, it was too busy. So, I sat in the snug around the corner. A little dark but had a warm welcoming feeling.
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I have enjoyed this pub for many years and prior to them brewing their own beer it was my favourite
That's changed a bit since as I and my friends do not rate the RAT brewed beers very highly and they cut down the choice quite a bit.
This wasn`t really a problem until our last visit when there was only RAT brewed beer available.
We tried some but didn`t like and left to go to The Grove.
To be fair this was the first time this had happened but if it carries on we will have to stop going altogether. It seems a shame.
The rat is a 8 out of 10 real ale pub but only a 4 out of 10 with just its own beers.
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Great little pub which is on the edge of the Town centre. It was quiet on our visit, but it was very early. The beer range however was very good, inclduing some from the on site, Rat Brewery - the Stout was fantastic.
I'll echo other reviews and repeat that if you are in Huddersfield, then give it a visit along with the Grove some five minutes walk away - If you like good real ale then you won't go wrong here.
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First visit for some years - last time there was a wide range of ales from several breweries which have been replaced with a wide range of ales from their on-site brewery, but none the worse for that. All the beers we tried were in good condition, and the names of several amused. There was a good atmosphere about the place and the pub is yet another good reason to visit the town.
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Good beer, Good pub, Good staff. On site little brewing plant making its own brand of beers with nice badges. Real ale and reasonable. Not much bottled beer or American Craft tho
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Visited with my brother in law last month, he is a frequent visitor but first time for me.
Fabulous range of well kept beers from the Rat Brewery and other lesser know breweries.
If in Huddersfield this pub is a "must visit".
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Lovely, albeit slightly gloomy, interior and a very good selection of ales, a number of which are from the Rat Brewery, which is on site. Along with the Grove, this pub makes me want to return to Huddersfield.
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Loved this pub. Featured towards the end of an already "busy" crawl but despite my inebriated state the quality of this pub's beers shone out. Highlight was a beer from Rochdale's Pictish Brewery - Alchemists Ale. Spot on!!
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I regularly visit this pub and the beers alway on great form. Things are even better now they're brewing there own beers. A great atmosphere and helpful landlord/staff. Good quizz on Wednesday nights.
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I have been visiting 'the Rat' regularly for about 5 years now but just recently it seems to have hit a real sweet spot. The Rat has been a real ale and traditional cider pub haven for ages and has been in the good beer guide for 21 years. Its got 13 handpumps for cask, but for me the beers from the newly opened Rat Brewery on site make the difference. Overall the beer tends towards pale and hoppy beers but always 2 dark pumps featuring porters, stouts and mild ales. Usually at least 6 traditional ciders and 2 perries often featuring locally produced 'udders orchard.
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Very Impressed by this pub. Excellent range of cask ales (some of which brewed in the on-site rat brewery) and a good real ciders and perry on offer. The pub itself is traditional, warm and welcoming. The staff were friendly, competent and more than willing to help find the right beer for me. Nice spacious beer garden, car park and close to to rail/bus stations. Highly recommended!
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Upon entering one is struck by the relative darkness of the place, gloomy would be the wrong word but bright and cheery it aint alehounds. I ventured on and to my delight discovered a bank of handpumps, mostly offering beers from the Osset microbrewery. Sampled at least two of the aforementioned ales and very drinkable they were too, the other guest ales being variable in quality.
Ambience somewhat lacking in the late afternoon, although i have been told the evenings are far more jolly. Decent alehouse and the odd visit would suffice.
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Visited this pub in the early 90's in my student days at Hudds Uni. It was then an excellent real ale pub; sounds like it's still going well.
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Excellent trad pub with good range of quality ale and ciders. Staff have always been friendly and helpful. Would thoroughly recommend.
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Also went here before the Huddersfield-Colchester game after being tipped off that there was a Mild Festival on - and went back again after the game. They had the largest range of milds I've ever seen in a pub (and most beer festivals I've been to too). Several milds I'd not seen before as well. The ones our group tried were all in great form. They also had a wide range of ciders and perries on offer too. Busy but frienldy and efficient staff ensured the wait wasn't too long. The pub itself has several seperate drinking pockets and a beer garden out the back. Very pleased to have found this one!
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Came here before the Terriers v Colchester United game - they had 20 milds on and similar number of cider/perry's...needles to say we'd walked in on the 1st day of a mild, cider and perry fetival. Great pub.
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Spacious Ossett house in a somewhat odd location just outside the city centre. If walking from the town centre, take care on the bizzare road junction that you have to circumnavigate to reach the boozer. Looks fairly similar inside to what you would expect, wooden floors, wooden tables, and generally quite pleasant. I think I saw a pinball machine and a juke box. Plenty of Ossett beers were available and owing to Ossetts fascination with Silver beers, I forget what mine was called. It was fine though. We only stayed for a swifty as it was dead on a Saturday afternoon and there were no ticks for my comrade.
Sharp - 12 Nov 2009 23:21 |
Called in while doing a crawl in March. An Ossett pub with plenty of other beers as guests to choose from. Enjoyed Ossett Copper Fox and a couple of Naylor's beers. Large single room but has different levels and alcove areas which makes it look more interesting. Well situated between the Grove and the Star to make a good crawl of the area.
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Another Huddersfield real ale mecca, this one belonging to Ossett brewery and selling their range plus beers from other small breweries and real cider through the 15 handpumps. No UK kegs except Strongbow although some classier European beers are available. Basically one room divided into a number of drinking areas with slightly odd d�cor, there is more than a touch of 1990s identikit-pub here with exposed brickwork, a dresser with books and bare floorboards. However the beer is of course the thing here and was in excellent order, the pub is friendly and popular although the staffing level was a bit low even for a relatively quiet afternoon session. The food is not of the same standard as the beer and probably best avoided. Retains a dartboard and has a pretty good juke box. Just to the east of the town centre fairly near the Grove, this makes a strong contrast in style to that pub but offers a very high class pub crawl in these two outstanding establishments.
anonymous - 18 May 2009 09:56 |
Great friendly pub. The line up of beers is the best in the area with 3 dedicated real cider pumps and a range of guest ales as well as Ossett beers as it is an Ossett pub. Started doing some food at lunch which is well priced and quality. Atmosphere is brilliant, check out the old CD duke box.
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This was my fourth visit to the pub, and finally I've "got it". Previous visits fairly early on a Saturday morning were marred by a chlorine smell pervading the air, presumably the result of lines being cleaned.
Today, however, I arrived late enough to avoid all that and the pub smelled like, well, a pub. Stone floors and alcoves gain points every time for me, and the pints of Reactor from the Atomic Brewery and the award winning Excelsior went down very well indeed.
As I walked around the place finding a suitable spot to sit down, I turned a corner by the jukebox (good choice of music) and found, joy of joys, a pinball machine. Star Trek: The Next Generation, if you happen to be a fan.
By the way, they've got a Mild, Cider and Perry festival going on over the first Bank Holiday of May from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd, so if it rocks your boat, make a note. Cheers!
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Huddersfield's premier real ale pub since the mid 80s, the "Rat" remains the town's best pub if you want hand pulled beer or real cider. Fans of Ossett beers will be particularly pleased, as the pub was bought by Ossett Brewery in 2005. There are usually around 4 Ossett beers available but there are also plenty of guest beers to sample, and a bad pint is very rare indeed. The pub is close to the University and has attracted a student element since its early days as the Rat, but its also a mecca for real ale buffs and is popular with locals too. Look out for the dedicated mild and real cider festivals during the year!
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Cracking pub - tried most of the guest beers and they were all excellent.
Lamdlord's missus (I think?!) caught the eye.
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Large multi-award winning traditional pub situated to the west of Huddersfield town centre, just outside the ring road.
There's one bar, but with a number of different seating areas.
The pub is owned by Ossett Brewery. As well as their extensive range of real ales, beers from Riverhead and Fernandes were also on. The friendly welcoming barman advised me that both these breweries were owned by Ossett, but were run as separate distinct businesses.
There's 14 pumps in total on the bar. Try the Ossett Pale Gold if you get the chance.
As well as pub and brewery memorabilia, there's a collection of music posters. These, combined with the loudish rock juke box and the pinball machine gave the place a rather studenty feel.
There was a London Pride promotion on at the time of my visit and the pub was proudly proclaiming that the Pride was being served without a head in the proper way.
This is a must visit pub when in Huddersfield - but do note that it doesn't open until 3 pm on either Mondays or Tuesdays
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Called in for the first time in nearly 10 years and it has hardly changed from how I remember it. Still excellent beer and I'm sure some of the locals were still in the same places. You would have thought some of them would have died, found jobs, got girlfriends by now. Highly recommended at a frequency greater than once per decade
Edd70 - 29 Oct 2008 13:00 |
called in to see what all the fuss was about , had the misfortune to have to stay in huddersfiled for the night, found the beers to be on top form , couldnt understand half of what the locals were saying but was still made to feel very welcome by staff and locals alike. can see why it gets good reviews and mentions in yorkshire pub of the year . a shining light on an otherwise unproductive visit to drabtown UK. pub gets a 9 from me
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As good a town centre pub as you'll find anywhere
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This was a brilliant pub even before ossett brewery took over. Massive choice of beers. Best pub in Huddersfield by far - if not yorkshire.
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Went in again on teh way home from work the other week - Budvar dark on tap, and some other great imported lagers including a cherry lager- ver nice good friendly pub, that nevre fails to disapoint.
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Great pub - It's got a festival array of real ales and some top continental beers but it is one of the best places for real cider I know of in Yorkshire with regular offerings from Thatchers! Added to this it does not have pool and the juke box has proper music played at a level where conversation rules!
RussH - 27 Apr 2008 00:08 |
Huddersfield Pub of the Year again. Also Yorkshire Cider pub of the year runner up! Still bloody marvellous.
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Superb pub with a brilliant selection of ales. Very rushed as we were off to watch Orient beat Huddersfield but the pint of porter went down a treat. Would like to return at some point.
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Fabulous! On the way to see Carlisle United play at Huddersfield Town, the ever-reliable Good Beer Guide sent us here. Doesn't the heart just soar when you walk into a bar and there are at least a dozen real ales?!
A friendly and knowledgeable staff (all the beers we tried were magnificent, especially Yorkshire Blonde), good pub grub ... and Carlisle won! Please can we play Hudders in the cup?!
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Popped in again on Saturday night- beer festival on - fantastic!
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brilliant pub, excellent manager. i hear that one of his prot�g�s is now manager of the drop inn in elland, well worth a visit.
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A gem in a town that lacks the real feel good pub atmosphere this is one of the best pubs goinfg along with the star up the road .
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Another visit on Friday 15th June produced the usual result - cracking real ale in a cracking pub. Highly recommended.
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Great pub. Is both Huddersfield's Pub of the Year and it's Mild Pub of the Year!!! Richly deserved.
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the rat for me is a good pub, i have never had a bad pint in there, but i have never had an outstanding one either. though it still is a must call on a huddersfield pub crawl.
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Highly recommended. Has improved since Osset bought it (and it was good before that). Good range of beers, could do with a quiz machine.
Well worth a visit.
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Easily the best pub in Huddersfield with 12 real ales, unobtrusive juke box with hits from yesteryear, pinball etc..
Always four Ossett beers, two Taylors beers and six ever changing guests, one of which is always a varied dark mild, one a stout or porter. This great pub should be your first port of call when in Huddersfield or even Yorkshire.
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Huge choice of ales on here, good atmosphere, light and easy jukebox, cheese + ham rolls on the bar
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Top pub and well worth a visit for the excellent selection of well-kept ales. As said in previous comments, it's an unpretentious place with good beer and polite, efficient staff which is surely all one can ask for. My favourite pub in Huddersfield and will continue to be so.
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Great choice of well served real ales with a smile and a thank you.Just what a pub should be.
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THE pub in and around the town centre to drink. Great beer good jukebox, good range of people, unpretentious.
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I sometimes think about going all the way to huddersfield just to go back to this pub. Keep up the good work.
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Osset Brewery now own this excellent pub. Good and varied range of beers.
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Great pub, great beer.
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The silly name is the only problem with this exemplary
ale-house.
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This is a tip top ale house.
There were 9 or 10 different beers to choose from all well below 2 quid a pint when I visited.
There's a cracking jukebox and the chip butties at �1.30 are a bargain.
cobbo - 30 Nov 2005 19:29 |
Whenever i visit a strange town i always ask Flopper for his top recommendation. He suggested this place and as always he was right.
Twelve real ales on at the time of my visit and those which i tried were top quality. It looks like it has been refurbished quite recently and the service was friendly too.
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Superb. This pub has been tastefully refurbished since my last visit, and the drinking area adjacent to the bar has been opened up affording a warm convivial atmosphere within.
An ever-changing range of exquisite beers continues to be pulled by friendly staff, including two bouncy, singing dancing barmaids. I only had time for one beer there but the pub merits a whole evening session. Go there - you will not be disappointed. I have upped my rating for the pub to 10/10.
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Excellent Real Ale pub. Always worth a visit.
John - 8 Mar 2004 13:30 |
Ace pub, good beer, loads of guest ales, pub cat, wood floors, friendly staff. Old fashioned session drinking boozer for the man (or woman) who wants a night of drink and the craic with mates.
Magnus - 19 Feb 2004 14:50 |
Used to have our Real Ale meetings here when I was at Uni. It was over ten years now, it used to stock a huge range of beers. Not my fav pub, but it used to be great when you needed a real beer.
Mike - 28 Sep 2003 23:53 |
Excellent bare floor boards pub with a superb range of beers, sometimes including 1 brewed on the premises.
John - 5 Sep 2003 13:29 |
A superb, friendly alehouse, offering a constantly changing range of real ales with some home-brews. Up to fourteen beers. Locals very friendly, and this is a superb pub to start a crawl or to spend the entire evening - you will be spoilt for choice! Recommended!
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