BATLEY ALE

Quote: Hillbilly_Red "***The trains are not direct on Sundays and the journey constraints mean little time to enjoy the towns on the way (like we do when going to Huddersfield). So CHECK TRAIN TIMES if stopping on the way. ***

As most journeys will mean a change in Huddersfield, you may want a quick refresher at one of the two station bars and you all know them. Many also use the Sportsman is holding a beer festival featuring lesser known Scottish ales 23 September 2016, 12[sizeMungo, Shoddy, Heavy Woollens and Ale[/size)

[iMIRFIELD[/i is a town with several real ale gems. Sadly, because of the train time constraints for Sunday, few can be reached.
Nearest to the station is the Navigation Tavern on Station Road. Typically featuring 8 to 12 ales (with an emphasis on Theakstons and Caledonian) and two real ciders/perries, it has a reputation for good standards. Easy to see, you cannot miss this white building (unless you’re BeebMalc).
Further up Station Road and then left along Huddersfield Road, is the Railway which serves Taylor’s Landlord and 2 others. If you turned right along Huddersfield Road and then left up Knowl Road, you reach the Knowl, a club open to the public which serves Marston’s.

In the opposite direction (i.e. go the other way down [away from the town] Station Road as it becomes Hopton New Road), cross the river and turn right at the roundabout Flowerpot. An Ossett pub with 4 – 8 beers. As this is really a Punch tavern, I would be cautious except Ossett really look after this place and you can find other local ales on sale. In other words, a rewarding pub..

[iDEWSBURY[/iWest Riding Refreshment Rooms on Dewsbury Station (Platform 2). Eight real ales and real cider are accompanied by good pub grub (the hot butties are recommended). Ran by the same chain as Stalybridge Railway Buffet Bar, The Cricketers in Horbury (Wakefield), and the Sportsman in Huddersfield, this should allow some confidence. All these are very well patronised by Salford fans. Remember the note re the Sportsman in the thread on the Real Ale Trail. The chain also owns the atmospheric Old Turk across the road.
Sadly the Old Turk is closed on Sundays (and Monday –Thursday) (and during the day) (and features thrash metal).
There is no other pub easy to get to once the time constraints of Sunday are taken in to account. The Wetherspoon’s Timepiece is off towards the market on Northgate (left along the main road and along Bond St to NorthgateJohn F Kennedy is also about the same distance but in the other direction before the “by-pass” on Webster Hill[iBATLEY[/i’S ground is to the west of the station and this helps in that the real ale pubs are in that direction as well.
First up is the Cellar Bar on Station Road. It has up to 5 ales including Copper Dragon and Everards Tiger. I’ve never been disappointed by this pub. It can have a unusual beer e.g. one by Yorkshire Heart. It also was the site where the late BartonFlyer and I arrived to find a wedding breakfast and was offered dripping toast.

Now the easiest way to the ground is across Bradford Road and onto the ground. No real ale that way.
Instead, cross on Bradford Road and walk to the town centre on Hick Lane. Just before a fork in the road is the Union Rooms, a very distinctive stone ex-bank. Wetherpoons. Sofas, choice of cheap ale and cheap food. Sunday brunch.
For those who like this type of thingTaproom. The Kray twins remember it as the Wilton. Ossett Yorkshire Blonde and Theakston’s OP are always on and there are other ales as well. Food Sunday 12-4. After the match, blues with Sepp Wainwright. Or maybe not (Beeb Malc would complain) (strange, Beebmalc complaining).