Northern Rail - Real Ale Trail

[les.]

Hi,

A few weeks ago a friend and I were on a Northern Rail service which broke down and we had to wait a further hour for the next service. I contacted Northern Rail and they have issued us with 2 day passes on Northern Rail services only.

I live in Grimsby but the friend I was in lives in York so I was thinking of visiting him one weekend and as we both like our real ale I was wondering if anyone knows of, or has done any sort of real ale trail on Northern Trains from York.

I know that there is the Transpennine Real Ale Trail which we have done a couple of times but any suggestions of services to get, places/pubs to visit would be more than welcome.

Thanks in advance

Les

 

[Angliarailuser]

Head of Steam at Dewsury ad Huddersfield are excellent.

 

[yorksrob]

The pub just over the road from Greenfield is pretty good as well.

 

[RichmondCommu]

The pub on the station platform at Stalybridge is also very good. A couple of old school pals and I traveled on that route in February 2014 and had a wonderful day out. However its worth mentioning that our day out was on a Friday when everywhere we went in terms of pubs was nice and quiet. However I understand that things can get out of hand at weekends with large groups of people setting out to get hammered and sometimes causing trouble.

 

[crosscity]

Head of Steam at Dewsury ad Huddersfield are excellent.

As is 'The Jubilee Rooms' on Sowerby Bridge station.

Sowerby Bridge gets an hourly Northern service from/to Dewsbury and Leeds and a further hourly service to Halifax, Bradford and Leeds.

To get from Huddersfield to Sowerby Bridge and vice/versa you must change once at one of Mirfield, Brighouse, Halifax, Dewsbury or Leeds . Best take a timetable with you as you can get knobbled for a long wait at the change station if you're not careful!

 

[les.]

The pub on the station platform at Stalybridge is also very good. A couple of old school pals and I traveled on that route in February 2014 and had a wonderful day out. However its worth mentioning that our day out was on a Friday when everywhere we went in terms of pubs was nice and quiet. However I understand that things can get out of hand at weekends with large groups of people setting out to get hammered and sometimes causing trouble.

Yes, we went to The Stalybridge Refreshment Rooms when we did the TPE Trail. It's well worth another visit.

Is there a Northern Rail service that travels the same route as the York-Man Picc line?

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, we went to The Stalybridge Refreshment Rooms when we did the TPE Trail. It's well worth another visit.

Is there a Northern Rail service that travels the same route as the York-Man Picc line?

Yes, there are Northern stoppers all the way between York and Stalybridge, although you'll likely need to change at Leeds and Huddersfield.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Another thought; if you have any spare time in Leeds go and check out Whitelock's which is only a few minutes walk from the station. The decor in the pub is fantastic and the beers are good too.

 

[les.]

Thanks for the advice chaps. I think it might probably be better to take a day off and do it on a weekday.

I thought that they would just refund the cost of the ticket but a day pass is worth a fair bit more and we'll definitely put it to good use.

 

[yorksrob]

Sundays are usually pretty relaxed as well - so long as you don't mind a hangover Monday morning !

 

[Ash Bridge]

Another thought; if you have any spare time in Leeds go and check out Whitelock's which is only a few minutes walk from the station. The decor in the pub is fantastic and the beers are good too.

Is that the really historic old place down an alleyway IIRC?

 

[RichmondCommu]

Is that the really historic old place down an alleyway IIRC?

Yes that's the one. Its not the biggest pub in Leeds but everything else makes up for that.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Yes that's the one. Its not the biggest pub in Leeds but everything else makes up for that.

Absolutely! Ate there on a couple of occasions, both times on early weekday evenings some years ago now, but never forgot the hearty no nonsense traditional pub food they served, and the very busy but friendy buzz about the place, loved it!

 

[RichmondCommu]

Absolutely! Ate there on a couple of occasions, both times on early weekday evenings some years ago now, but never forgot the hearty no nonsense traditional pub food they served, and the very busy but friendy buzz about the place, loved it!

My in-laws live in Dentdale and whenever we head up to Dent via Leeds we meet them in Whitelocks. It changed hands a few years a go but its still just as good. I certainly wouldn't say that we are regulars but we go in every couple of months or so.

 

[Ash Bridge]

My in-laws live in Dentdale and whenever we head up to Dent via Leeds we meet them in Whitelocks. It changed hands a few years a go but its still just as good. I certainly wouldn't say that we are regulars but we go in every couple of months or so.

Many thanks for jogging my memory, if I'm ever in Leeds I shall certainly pay this place a visit again

 

[55z]

Head of Steam are only in Huddersfield not at Dewsbury. Plus it is NOT the Trans Pennine Real Ale trail just the Real Ale Trail,
There are Real Ale pubs opposite Batley station (Cellar Bar), West Riding Refreshment Rooms on Dewsbury Station. Navigation close to Mirfield station. At Huddersfield there is the Head of Steam & the KIngs Head on the station and closeby is the Sportsman (just under the viaduct), the Commercial in Slaithwaite (a short walk down hill), The Riverhead in Marsden (in the centre of the village), The is a real ale pub opposite Greenfield station and couple of real ale pubs close to Mossley station and Stalybridge Refreshment Rooms on the station. Check opening times. Saturdays can be very busy and I would suggest you avoid as it can be a bit hectic at times. Remember also your passes are only valid on Northern Trains. As a matter of interest there are 13 micro breweries in the Huddersfield area.

 

[les.]

Head of Steam are only in Huddersfield not at Dewsbury. Plus it is NOT the Trans Pennine Real Ale trail just the Real Ale Trail,
There are Real Ale pubs opposite Batley station (Cellar Bar), West Riding Refreshment Rooms on Dewsbury Station. Navigation close to Mirfield station. At Huddersfield there is the Head of Steam & the KIngs Head on the station and closeby is the Sportsman (just under the viaduct), the Commercial in Slaithwaite (a short walk down hill), The Riverhead in Marsden (in the centre of the village), The is a real ale pub opposite Greenfield station and couple of real ale pubs close to Mossley station and Stalybridge Refreshment Rooms on the station. Check opening times. Saturdays can be very busy and I would suggest you avoid as it can be a bit hectic at times. Remember also your passes are only valid on Northern Trains. As a matter of interest there are 13 micro breweries in the Huddersfield area.

Thanks, I'll make a note of all those.

 

[theblackwatch]

As is 'The Jubilee Rooms' on Sowerby Bridge station.

Sowerby Bridge gets an hourly Northern service from/to Dewsbury and Leeds and a further hourly service to Halifax, Bradford and Leeds.

The Jubilee Refreshment Rooms at Sowerby Bridge is one we covered on a forum Easter 'alternative' Trans Pennine Pub Crawl a couple of years ago, focussing on the Calder Valley line. As well as Sowerby Bridge, we did Todmorden (pub/hotel just outside station), Hebden Bridge and Halifax - plenty of places doing real ale.

 

[Angliarailuser]

Apologies, assumed bar at Dewsbury was also Head of Steam.

 

[D60]

The Fighting Cock, Preston Street, Bradford..
This was a cracking pub 30 years ago.. Does it still exist?
A quick google search says Yes! And just as good as ever..!
Cheers..! Have one for me..!

 

[telstarbox]

Can recommend various places in Sheffield inc Station Tap, Rutland, Bath Hotel, Red Deer, University Arms, Fat Cat and Kelham Island Hotel. Allegedly as a city Sheffield has the most real ale on tap in the world!

 

[les.]

Ok, I've been Looking into this in a bit more detail and come up with this plan for the day thanks to all your suggestions.

We are going to meet at Leeds station.

10:56 from Leeds to Dewsbury Arr. 11:14 (Pub on the platform I believe)
12:14 Dewsbury to Mirfield 12:21 (The Navigation)
13:24 Mirfield to Huddersfield 13:35 (Head of Steam/Kings Head)
a bit of extra time here for a bite to eat
15:15 Huddersfield to Slaithwaite 15:22 (The Commercial)
16:22 Slaithwaite to Greenfield 16:36 (The Railway Inn)
17:36 Greenfield to Mossley 17:40 (2-3 pubs close to the station I understand)
18:16 Mossley to Stalybridge 18:45 (Refreshment Rooms)
19:25 Stalybridge to Leeds 20:09

All trains are Northern Rail trains apart from the final train back to Leeds which is a TPE, but as my friend works for Siemens at their York depot he travels free on TPE's and I can just buy an advance single when we know the date we will be going.

Obviously all this depends on trains running on time/not being cancelled etc and I'm sure everything won't run smoothly on the day, but does that look like a viable route. I don't think there is much doubling back at all or does anyone else have any little tweaks they might want to suggest.

Cheers
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I have now tweaked this slightly to take in a visit to The Riverside in Marsden rather than going to Mossley so the itiniery now is

10:56 from Leeds to Dewsbury Arr. 11:14 (Pub on the platform I believe)
12:14 Dewsbury to Mirfield 12:21 (The Navigation)
13:24 Mirfield to Huddersfield 13:35 (Head of Steam/Kings Head)
a bit of extra time here for a bite to eat
15:15 Huddersfield to Slaithwaite 15:22 (The Commercial)
16:22 Slaithwaite to Marsden 16:27 (The Riverside)
17:28 Marsden to Greenfield 17:36 (The Railway Inn)
18:36 Greenfield to Stalybridge 18:45 (Buffet Bar on platform)
19:25 Stalybridge to Leeds 20:09

Not sure what day we will be doing this trip but hopefully in the next few weeks.

I just hope we get a nice day for it as it should be a decent day out, obviously depending on the trains being on time/not being cancelled/breaking down etc.