The Spencer Arms is located in the picturesque village of Cawthorne just outside Barnsley on the A635. (Bus numbers 236 day 92 early evening.)
As you approach the first thing that will strike you is the patio area with its massive hexagonal tables and large parasols with patio heaters for those cooler evenings. The Spencer Arms has two entrances so for the purpose of this article I will describe things as if you went in the front door directly off the main road. As you move inside you will find yourself in the bar area with the bar to your left, Straight ahead is the blue room and to the left of that is the oak room. The layout of all three areas give the impression of three snugs, each one offering a refuge from the problems of modern living. The blue room is the Spencer’s only smoking room and is about as far from the restaurant as you can get.
The bar has a bank of four hand pumps of which three are always in use. On my visit the choices were Black Sheep Bitter 3.8%, Tetley Bitter 3.8% Timothy Taylor’s Landlord 4.3%. I was tempted to try the Dom Perignon Rose but at £285 a bottle I decided to pass and went for the Black Sheep which was in excellent condition. At this point an honourable mention must go to Daniel the barman who happily topped up my pint without having to be asked. There is an early bar special between 6pm and 7.30pm when the Tetley is only £1.50 a pint.
As you look around the bar your eyes are drawn to the open fires which promise a very warm welcome in the cold nights to come. The Spencer Arms has enjoyed quite a makeover since the new year, the carpets are going to be replaced by stone flags, the eighties stone cladding is being removed from the fires and the toilets are moving upstairs to what was the headquarters of the local home guard during the war. This move will allow the creation of a lounge area where comfy leather sofas will provide a chill out zone.
To the left of the bar is the Restaurant and beyond that the other entrance/exit to the car park and large beer garden. There are plans to move this doorway when the lounge is created and the restaurant is expanded. The Spencer runs numerous theme nights with Indian and Mexican being amongst the more recent. The Entertainment consists of a Folk night on the first Wednesday of the month hosted by Steve Rusby, father of folk singer Kate Rusby. A jazz night on either Friday or Sunday with local artists The Pete Round trio and Thursday is quiz night. All in all Steven Cooper and Jonny Hick, both local men have worked wonders in the short time that they have been at the Spencer Arms and I look forward to my next visit to this pub - one of Barnsley’s little gems.
