Brewers Pride, Ossettback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A drinkers paradise - nine beers along the whole bar.
Managed three of them; Bingley's Rakau, Harbury 5 Hop and White Rat.
Took advantage of the offer of two steaks and a bottle of wine for £20 (otherwise the food is pricey).
My steak was far too undercooked for my liking.
I'm sure it was the steak and not the beer that led to the squits later that night!!!
|
Situated near the Calder and Hebble canal, this pub is handy stopping off point if you're walking from Wakefield to Dewsbury. Interestingly, it's adjacent to two breweries - Bobs Brewery (whose Red Lion beer you'll often find in the pub) and Ossett Brewery. The pub always stocks a beer from Oakham (which was Citra when I visited). I think I counted 7 or 8 handpumps. The food is good value no nonsense pub grub.
Incidentally, the pub isn't in Ossett - it's a couple of miles out of town at Healey Mills, which is a former railway marshalling yard. There is an occasional bus that visits, but do check. Failing that, it's a very pleasant 2 mile rural walk along the canal into Dewsbury (where many beery delights await!)
|
Enjoy this pub as my local, good ales, cider and others. reasonable pricing and something for everyone. Having eaten in both the pub and the restaurant i must say i prefer what is on offer in the pub, but that's just my opinion! I have always found the staff to be welcoming and pleasant, I'm looking forward to the beer festival in august too - last years was excellent!
|
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.
One of the most difficult things to deal with in life is change.
OK, so 'fings ain't wot they used to be'. (According to some) and perhaps they are right.
I have seen changes, some good, some not so good but in all aspects of life there has to be change. Change is evolution and that is the situation at the Brewers right now.
Speculate as you will, only time will tell if Sally and Jon have gone in the right direction.
For me, and I will stand up and be counted, I'm Steve Stocks, aka Songara, I shall continue to drink at what has to be the best pub in the Northern Union and no, I have not eaten at the restaurant. I believe it to be a little too expensive for what is on offer but this is very subjective.
Let Sally and Jon get on with their new venture but please remember it is still a great pub selling a fantastic range of real ales (thats great coming from me, a bloke who only drinks cider and dark beer).
Let's see what happens in the next twelve months.
|
I agree with �minesawhitelion� to a certain extent - 1st of September must have it in for the Brewers� because I cannot remember any hog roast either and I was on the strong stuff!
Also the standard of pint presentation has certainly dropped over the last 6 months and this is a much discussed staff selection come management/training issue. The staff seemingly spend more time �playing� with the till than serving beer.
However, the main thing wrong with the Brewers Pride in my opinion is it was a great pub that�s been lost in transition. The focus/emphasis has changed from being a good friendly pub, full of regulars with great beers to a pricy eatery selling pub food at high restaurant prices given the location. The management�s concern at the moment should be the dwindling amount of customers (its haemorrhaging ex regulars at an alarming rate) through the door rather than the white elephant restaurant upstairs. Or are they not that bothered about its regular clientele?
|
That 1st of september posting is fiction, I reckon some people have it in for this pub (bit like trip advisor hotel reviews) and there was a burger bar this year not a hog roast. I certainly don't recognise the description of staff either, they were all doing their best under very trying conditions. However, I notice that the standard of pint presentation has dropped since the influx of new staff and 'restaurantisation' of the place, but they are polite and never surly.
The beer festival was a model of how it should be done, great organisation, all beers served correct temperature and an excellent selection to suit all tastes.
My only gripe is that the pub is attracting more lager types.
|
What on earth is that last posting all about!!! The Brewers Pride beer festival is simply the best beer festival you could ever wish for. There's free live music, God knows how much beer all served on hand pulls and a great atmosphere. Sure it's busy but that's what happens when lots of people want to inbibe and it's been on the local calender for years!! Anyway, I was at the festival every day and there wasn't even a Hog Roast on this year so reckon it's all made up anyway. Cheap shot at a great pub I'll bet.
|
This pub cannot cater for a Beer Festival yet every year the surly staff seem surprised that they cannot cope with the influx of people who cram the bars and tables expecting that alien thing called �service.�
I particularly enjoyed the "hog roast" where the chap serving punched the till and started swearing when I asked to change my order. As I was complaining to the manager (well I think he was the manager):
"are you the manager"
"why who's asking"
"me, you've got a Brewers Pride T-shirt on and I want to make a complaint"
The till chap continued to complain to the queue that he should have been "�u(&!ng finished at 5pm" as the manager looked on witnessing this he said "I'm sorry about that, I'll have a word" which left me thinking �hmmm is this his son or relation?�
Going back to my perch having been given the wrong order after all that, I looked forward to my pint but found I had the wrong drink as my spouse had had an equally bad experience after shunting to the front only to have the barmaid slam the pints down without saying which was which after being asked a few times, answering with snorting nostrils and rolling eyes.
We left pretty early as a group. When we chatted to some other people we met and they confirmed they "never go in there anymore. It's stuck-up."
This is a real shame for this pub. I used to live on the same road and had many a good night enjoying the quiz nights, food and atmosphere but the Beer Festival seems to bring out the worse in it.
If the Brewers Pride is to have a successful beer festival, it needs to get more amiable staff who can cope for that day. Extra seating and canopies need to be provided for the overspill and above all it needs be better managed. Otherwise it will continue to be a scrum at a house party.
|
Love this pub. Love real ales. Love the pub quiz on Monday night! Can't wait for the restaurant to be up and running.
|
Multi roomer, think they are extending the back room. Bobs White Lion and Chardonayle, around two n half quid, perfect beers perfectly kept. Clean and crisp. Plus a bunch of well chosen guest beers. Top notch.
brisk - 28 Jul 2009 13:23 |
As a regular of the Brewers for many a year (Bob was behind the bar when I first came in, and now he's back brewing fabulous beer!), and as someone who travels all over this country, supping and eating,almost every night, in pubs recommended by this site, let me just say this:
The Brewers Pride has the BEST beer, bar none; is the friendliest pub I have ever had the pleasure of drinking in, has some great live music (not your average - I'm talking great musicians!), and is simply a great place to be.
If you are on the "Oz & James" trail through West Yorks, make this a stop-over. You'll be glad you did!
And NO, I have no connection to this place, other than a happy customer!
PS. Why would anyone want to drink lager when they can drink White Lion?
|
Good selection of well kept guest ales.
|
Why does anyone expecting 'real' lager (whatever that is) go out of their way to visit a pub that has set it's stall out as an ale pub since time immemorial? After all, everywhere nowadays is awash with these minimalist trendy lager bars filled with pseudo intellectual trendies and poseurs, whereas pubs like the Brewers Pride are an endangered species.
We weirdie beardies need these dens preserving for consumption of our beloved pig vomit. How would you like it if your lager vomitorium was invaded by anarak beardies,trainspotters and beer tickers !
No - places like this are really doing you a favour by keeping us in one place. Don't worry, we will all die out eventually, and your beloved global brand lagers will rule.
Anyway, nice to see that the place hasn't gone bistro pub, despite earlier
predictions of doom.
|
Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is Alpine lager. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza. Mind you I only drink Alpine lager to make other people seem more interesting, you will know what I mean if you have met my wife, Tina.
Along time ago my father said to me "Son, a woman is like a lager. They smell good, they look good, you'd step over your own mother just to get one! But you can't stop at one. You want to drink another woman!� He was right, it was a woman who drove me to drink and I never got the chance to thank her.
After a good night out an �Irish Coffee� is the perfect breakfast because it contains all four of the essential food groups:- fat, sugar, caffeine and alcohol. I feel sorry for all those people who don't drink. They wake up in the morning and that's the best they're going to feel all day.
After coming home from the pub drunk the other night I came home to find my mother in law was visiting. The old witch said to me �Russell, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea!� After thinking for a short while I replied and said. �Yes and if you were my wife, I would drink it!� I don�t really get on with her too well as you can probably tell.
I once saw six men punching and kicking my mother-in-law. The wife said; �Aren't you going to help?� I said; �No, six should be enough!�
One final thing, take a tip from me never accept a drink from a urologist!
|
The pub is about 10 minutes walk down Horbury Road (there is a bus service going to the bottom). Well worth seeking out. I very much enjoyed my visit.
|
This is a public house is one that specializes in "real ales" and has forgotten that some menbers of the public like to drink "real lagers." What has happened to the free choice of the individual customer?
Have I not right to buy what I want to buy and not what the landlord wants to sell me, at a vastly inflated price.
I don't want to drink something that smells like the vomit of pigs!
|
I too have been a regular for almost as long as I've been legally allowed to drink and I don't know what all the fuss is about! Brewers is one of the best pubs for miles. The lounge has been revamped (not before time!) and there's now chef prepared food which loads of folk have said is superb. As far as I can tell the food times are not interfering with drinkers, the ale is still the best locally and the price which is generally between �2.15 and �2.30 a pint makes it amongst the cheapest around. As for the management, well, I agree with Mr SupOwtMe, Sal and John seem to me to be doing a great job. Put it this way; how many pubs do you know thesedays that are open all day everyday and usually very busy. Anyway, need a beer now; might try all nine just to make sure they're all still ok!!!
|
I've frequented the Brewers (and its previous incarnation) for the best part of 30 years, so I've seen quite a lot of changes of owners, management and staff over the years. Some more fondly remembered than others.
On the whole, I think Sal and John are among the better incumbents.
The beers are almost always excellent and although not the cheapest, are by no means the most expensive in the area. On the few occasions I have tried solids there, the meals were good and reasonably priced, although I believe prices have risen slightly since the appointment of the chef (no, I wouldn't work for nothing either!). I have yet to sample his work, though I am told food quality has improved markedly.
As for dogs, they've never bothered me. Children, on the other hand... Let's just say I wouldn't object if another hour was cut from their quota.
Anyway, I'm with Mr Moonshine and Mr WhiteLion. Come and enjoy the beer and the characters (you wouldn't believe some of them!), just don't bring a busload!
|
I too have been a regular of this pub for two decades.Some people don't like change so the throw their teddies out of the pram, but they don't know how lucky they are with this pub as it isn't owned by a pubco and that means that they certainly will not be seeing 'business opportunity' signs outside.The range of beers is fantastic - 4.3% beer for �2.15 !!!
whereas the recently opened Ossett Brewery pub up the road mostly sells their own beers (which mostly taste the same these days) or beers from their family -- and wow! you can even get Greene King or Fullers in their pubs now. As for the fat John insult, well at least he has cleaned the place up and got the beer temperature right, unlike the previous gang of four, one of whom (the idle bloke) said 'folks don't want cold beer'. Maybe, but they don't want it minging.
As for being dog friendly, I know of many who have moved elsewhere because the placy is like crufts dogshow, especially on sundays, and I go in less as a result. I don't know how they will ultimately strike a balance here, but I will not eat in doggy pubs, but will keep going in for the great beer and characters.
|
As a regular at the Brewers Pride for more than 10 years I feel I am qualified to respond to some of the criticisms levelled by the whingers in some of your latest reviews.
Yes there have been changes to the rules regarding children and dogs caused to an extent by unscrupulous parents and owners. It was not uncommon for children to be brought into the Pub still in school gear and to be still there very late while the parent(s) got their bottle filled. The children running riot among other customers and the same with dogs bothering people. I think the new rules strike a happy compromise for the parents and dog owners and those like me whose family has grown up and gone.
As for the commercial changes you cannot blame the �fallings out� as it has been described in case anybody hasn�t noticed, the �Taps� the �Fleece� and other new establishments have pulled some trade and due to its location other attractions have to be forthcoming at the Brewers to offset the drop in revenue. We are really only talking an extra 2 hours in the evenings of Tuesday and Thursday since Wednesday was always food night anyway. Anyone in the Pub trade knows that a Pub cannot these days survive on wet sales alone and again the decision to provide more food is to some extent an obvious way of offsetting the shortfall in beer sales.
Some of the reviews mention money and profit, well I am sorry the management at the Brewers Pride are not doing it for a hobby and are entitled to make money in their venture! I do not think the beer prices can be described as extortionate try going to a �Non Real Ale� pub and see what they charge!
I am �Big Dave� I frequent the tap room and if any one wants to approach me for a reasonable discussion about this matter please feel free. But please let�s stop this barrage of personal attacks on the management, it serves no purpose whatsoever and detracts from the job in hand which is drinking and appreciating good Beer! Cheers !
|
I think Mr Geezer may have hit the nail on the head. As it says in a leaflet from the management 'The times they are a'changing'. And to 'Gillybean'-20 Oct 2006, It's going to continue to be a dog-friendly pub, but as I understand it, only till the restaurant opens in the evening and the live music/family area will double as the restaurant with children only allowed up to a certain time. It will be interesting to see how this will impact on how many bums on seats there will be when Woody or Tim do their bit to entertain us for free. My rating is for the old BP.
|
Well said Mr geezer. Keep your eye out for one of those "business opportunity" signs, it wont be far off as there's not many good boozers left these days and now there is one less.
|
Unfortunately, I am unable to comment on the pub itself, but my local "down south" is currently selling "Cook's Endeavour", and is proving to be most popular. A note in the diary to pop in the next time I find myself in West Yorks!
|
I can only agree with the comments above. My favourite locally.
|
I live in Ossett and this is my favourite pub! My boyfriend and I have been visiting for about a year now. We normally go at weekends, saturday lunchtime is popular with us as we pop down for lunch and it's got such a nice atmosphere, we dont want to leave once we're there! My boyfriend likes to sample the different ales whereas I normally stick to a cider or two. It's a dog-friendly pub and many people obviously combine walking the dog with a pint in the Brewers! The weekly (Weds) food nights are popular, they have steak, pie and curry on a rotation and live music a couple of times a month. It's a bit out of the way but well worth seeking out.
|
Cracking pub, propper beer, propper staff, propper coal fires Sally has a propper bum, propper food, no boil in the bag muck. And oh yes a photo of me in the back bar!
|
Agree with Paul (15/2). Excellent pub. Well worth a visit for beer and food.
John - 8 Mar 2004 13:22 |
One of Yorkshire's best real ale pubs. 8 real ales including three from the Ossett Brewery located at the rear of the building. Food lunchtimes and Weds evenings. Quiz Monday eve. Themed food Weds eve. Folk club Thurs eve. Loads of ale every day.
Paul - 15 Feb 2004 20:19 |
|
