I didn't start going out on Westgate until the late 1990s and it was still really busy then. We used to get off the bus from Normy on Kirkgate and walk up the precinct just to feel the full effect of emerging at the top end of Westgate to flashing lights, booming speakers and what looked like 20,000 people! On a Friday and Saturday night it would be packed from as early as 6pm right up to 3am and beyond. Cars could hardly drive up the road for the mass of people. I started to notice a massive decline at the turn of the century, in fact everything just seemed to turn to rubbish overnight after the much hyped Millennium!

The last time I was sat in the Pie Shop on a Friday night looking out over Westgate it was 01.49am. I had to take a photo to send to one of my old drinking partners as I don't think he'd have quite believed it in just a text.

I had my first night on Westgate in about 15 years. Shocked at how quiet it is. The city is moribund.

Elephant and castle still good on a Friday and Saturday night- what about Flares and Buzz?

I can relate. I've had a few reunions and catch ups with mates that have moved down South and Abroad ( some of who haven't been into Wakey drinking since the last 90's) on a number of occasions the past 10 years and non of us can quite believe what's happened to the place and when I occasionally go out with a few mates or have another reunion , the place turns into more & more of a ghost town.
When we were all youngsters from 1990 on-wards, apart from the obvious busy Fridays and Saturdays, which were chaotic. Nearly every pub in Wakey from down at Henry Boons up to the Exchange and over to The Spaniard and everywhere else in-between, were usually packed nearly all year round. We also used to go out on Tuesdays and Thursdays and they'd be a decent number of people up town and of course 10p and pint night at Roofies on Mondays were always heaving as well. It's sad to see tbh.

It is sad to see but in a way I like it. We've started going round the top of Westgate (Unity hall area) again in the last seven or eight years after avoiding it for 20yrs because of all the sixteen year olds as drunk as skunks being a pain in the arris.
There now is a great selection of pubs/bars all relatively full but full enough to create an atmosphere, we also have two thriving music venues in Unity works and Warehouse23. I think it's a fantastic area and the best era for 20yrs for us mature people to enjoy Wakefields nightlife, give it a try, you might just enjoy it.

Yes, I can relate too.

I often go on a Sunday night, when the wife goes to bingo.

My drinking habits have changed somewhat though. Whether it is hitting 40, a couple of years back and just drinking lager when I was abroad, I prefer the taste of real ales these days than lager, so am doing a few different pubs, seeing what is best for a good pint in a decent pub with good atmosphere for the more mature of us.

Anyone got any good reccomendations, that I could try

Our route goes something like this, first, The Priory, formerly Roundabout, Black horse, Elephant and castle, Printworks, Harry's bar, Unity works bar, The Hop, up to the Beer exchange, Black rock, then down to Fernandes for a few before either a taxi or the last train back to Normy, and not a bit of trouble to be seen.

Thanks for that Jinjer.

I had forgotten about Roundabout.

Where is The Hop?

Behind Unity hall, in effect the courtyard looks towards Printworks etc.

That's pretty much the perfect algorithm for a real ale night in Wakey; almost exactly what we do on the rare occasions that a group of 40 something blokes with loads of kids and (ex) wives to contend with can actually get a pass all on the same night.

I always sleep tight after that pub crawl, sometimes fit in the Treehouse (ex Moodies) as an inbetweenie, not as good as the rest but not a bad pub now.

If we're doing a full crawl on a Friday night we'd have a quick one in The Priory then make our official start at Wakefield Beer Exchange then onto Black Rock, Red Shed, Fernandes, Elliotts, Inns of Court, Unity Works, Harry's Bar until closing time then the night would either end in the Pie Shop or descend into trying to find 'one last beer', usually Elephant & Castle, Fanny & Bacardi then the inevitable Graziers. Very few of us have off switches and don't know when to call it a night.