HEBDEN BRIDGE.

Situated on a hill just outside of Hebden, from the outside this pub looks a little rough, but don't be put off by what turns out to be rustic charm in a Yorkshire sort of way. There are three distinct areas inside. The bar area is where you enter. Facing you is a small corner bar that is full with hand pumps and taps of all kinds. Here is where you will find the up to five guest ales on at any one time. On this occasion they had Wye Valley Ploughmans and Barnsley Blackheart amongst others. All were well served without the sparkler on asking. They also have an extensive whisky selection and a fair few foreign beers, some on draught. The decor here is heavy artex in ice cream swirls, square and round tables with a mixture of chairs and stools. Space is limited and so manoeuvring can be hard - not suitable for the disabled. The second seating area is to the right of the bar up a step. Here there are gents toilets - basic - and some bench seating on one side with a couple of tables to the left. On the walls are all the pump clips they have had (see photo). There is artex here as well, though a little yellow with age or smoking. A further area to the left of the bar has a pool table, ladies toilets are upstairs. There is no jukebox or fruit machines and no food either. The Fox has been a pub since 1777 and as such has never had space for parking, so it might be best to walk up from the town. Very much a locals pub, at first you can feel a little like a stranger, but buy your first pint and they mellow. Just down the road is Stubbing Wharf, another fine pub. Not too far from the railway station either.

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				11.30-3, 7--11	12-3; 7-10.30	View

Not far from the Fox and Goose down the side of the hill out from the town centre. This pub is sandwiched between the river and the canal and you have to cross the river to get to it. This can make it quite misty on cold morning and nights (see picture for ghoulish effect). However, once inside it is quite welcoming and warm. There is one large room with two distinct areas. The bar is on the left as you enter and here the tall wooden bar is covered with handpumps. However, on inspection, only four of these offered any good real ales: Taylor's Landlord, Jennings Snecklifter, Greene King IPA and Castle Eden Ale. All were served without sparkler when asked - though we did get funny looks - and were in good condition. We were a bit surprised to find the pub was virtually empty at 9pm on a Saturday, but were assured this was unusual. As for seating at the bar, there were some tall stools all taken up by locals chatting furiously. To the right of entrance is another area (you can tell it was once many rooms, but that adds to its charm) where there is a mixture of seating low backed booths, cushioned benches and tables and chairs. There is a real fire in this part that seems to warm the rest of the pub. The ceiling here has been stripped back to treated beams that look real enough. The walls are covered with objects of a fishy/water nature and there is some gold leaf writing on the walls. Food is served both lunch and evenings until about 8pm. There is a separate eating area on the way to the toilets, which were by the way average and clean. The food is of a traditional sort and looks wholesome and hearty. For the summer there is a beer garden next to the canal and there are moorings here for your barge. This canal-side path also forms part of the valley cycle route, so can get busy in the height of summer. The Wharf holds regular local club events and has occasional food theme nights as well. Car parking is across the entrance bridge and is large enough to accommodate plenty of vehicles as it used to be a cattle market site. No accommodation here. Access for the disabled is possible, but not to the toilets. No music here.

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An ex-Whitbread house that now serves up to four guest ales. This is a hotel as well and gets booked up quickly as this is popular walking country. From the outside it has the traditional stone built appearance of buildings in the valley and is on the junction to the Keighley Road. Once inside you are welcomed by the warm of the real fire that seems to spread smiles all round on cold winter nights. There are a number of drinking areas and a single bar. On entry you have a seating area to the left which is the window you can see on the picture. Seating here is traditional tables and chairs. Ahead of you there is the bar side on. A long bar it is still difficult to get served on a busy evening and they are here most evenings. However, once served with one of the four guest ales you can move to the back of the bar near the fire to keep warm or indeed to rest on the seat there. A large fireplace, it spreads heat everywhere. Further round the bar there is another drinking area with round tables. Food is served here both lunch and evenings. It has both traditional choices and daily specials to choose from and one room is no smoking so you can eat in peace. Prices are reasonable for the town as it is a tourist trap most of the time. Not far from the railway station, it also has parking close by. There is a disabled toilet here and access is generally good. Close to the river and shops, the old mill at the end of Bridge Gate has been converted to shops and restaurants. Well worth a stop.

Other Places to Stay:

The Carlton Hotel, Albert St, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX78ES. (01422) 844400. E-mail: ctonhotel@aol.com.