The Shoulder of Mutton Inn, Mytholmroyd

When entering the Shoulder of Mutton you will be "greeted" with a scowl (from probably the grumpiest landlord in West Yorkshire) that will let you know instantly that this is a local pub for local people and that 'your sort' are not welcomed here, but tolerated. The beers are inconsistent and unimaginative (Landlord and Black Sheep do not hold a candle to the vast array of great ales to be had from small Yorkshire breweries and a boring selection of the usual suspect lagers leaves you cold). The Robin Hood just up the road in Cragg Vale does a far superior selection of ales and real German lagers and a much nicer atmosphere. The food, however, is excellent and very reasonably priced. Roast belly pork and excellent fish and chips for under a fiver cannot be beaten in the area. I have given it a "1" for the food, because even that is spoilt by the 'host' and the 'atmosphere'.

22 May 2010 09:53

Three Pigeons, Halifax

Went in her yesterday and it's an absolutely cracking pub. The interior is absolutely stunning with beautiful details throughout. The beer was very good and the barstaff amiable. I'll definitely be revisiting soon.

8 Feb 2009 10:59

The Junction Tavern, Kentish Town

I used to frequent this pub when I lived in London. On the whole I found the actual bar staff to be friendly and reasonable. The ales are pretty good and the food decent. It is in a part of North London where you will get a percentage of slightly self satisfied boorish clientele and the woman that owns the place looks like an uptight Tory in Exile. On several occasions I found myself on the end of her filthy looks, which I always found strange as I was spending money, polite and quietly reading my newspaper. Maybe she didn�t like my sort. But other than that it�s an OK place with reasonable ale. If you�re looking to escape the smugness and enjoy better beer up sticks and move to rural Yorkshire. That's what I did.

7 Feb 2009 08:07

Bar Fringe, Manchester

Have been in here a few times and the beer is decent if Belgian beer is your particular interest. The ales are good when they are on (Invariably at least half of the five hand pumps are off) and the building itself is interesting. All I can assume is reviews saying "efficient" service are coming from regulars as the staff are at best aloof (in a provincial, pseudo-hipster kind of way). Went in here yesterday and the "large girl" behind the bar wearing a t-shirt with "69" on it had a face that wouldn't have been out of place on one of guards in an episode of prisoner Cell Block H. She managed to serve me without the slightest nod to service and had the worst manners I've encountered in some time. And as for the music there was a track from Dark Side of the Moon and another by Sting (if this is your idea of good music, you must be drunk). If you like a shot of rudeness with your pint this is the place for you, if not the Marble Arch is a three minute walk with great service, twice as many ales on and better food (that's where I went).

22 Nov 2008 04:26