Elliots, Wakefield

This is a gem of a pub which not many people know about. It is tucked away up a cobble type alley which is the first right turn immediately before the Black Swan on Silver Street as you go down Westgate. It only serves foreign beers on draft and has a large selection of bottled beers, including Leffe which I know is coming more into fashion, Duval, Tripel and God knows how many others. Not a large place, but is kept immaculately. Opens at 7pm weekdays (not Tuesday) and at 5.30 on a Saturday. No late licence, but if you drink Belgian beer from 7 to 11 you don't really need an extension! One last point for the lads - if you are lucky enough to visit on the night the extremely fit blonde barmaid is serving (nights vary) - then you've got an added treat.

16 Aug 2005 16:24

The Elephant and Castle, Wakefield

This is my local so I am obviously biased. It is one of the few pubs in Wakefield which serves the superb Dry Blackthorn cider and not the ubiquitous bland rubbish called Strongbow which poses as cider. There is music also on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights. Don't even think about watching foortball on a Friday when there's any rugby league on - this is a Wakefield Trinity pub which routinely hates Loiners (that's people from Leeds by the way). I am from Leeds but have been going in the pub since 1983 - I think I have been accepted by now, especially I have watched Trinity more times than I ever did Leeds Rugby! Can get a bit hectic at weekends and it's worth avoiding whenever Leeds United play Barnsley - mind you I avoid Wakefield entirely when that happens as the two sets of fans hate each other with a passion and you never know what might happen. Give the pub a try though, it's bang opposite Westgate station with excellent Cask bitter, four different lagers, Guinness and the best cider going. The tap room is full of pictures of old Wakefield which are worth a look, then try to pick the remaining buildings out uptown.

16 Aug 2005 16:08