Winter Pub of the Season 2008/2009
The Huntsman, Thurlstone
Last time we wrote about the Huntsman being an award winner, we mentioned that
history has a habit of repeating itself as it had won both 2004 and 2005 Spring Pub of the Season. Well guess what? It’s just done it again. Yes, this time it’s followed
up Winter 2007/2008 award with this season’s.
This repeat award-winning pub, and Good Beer Guide stalwart, makes its success more consistent especially in the real ale department – always the overriding feature of course. The
Huntsman’s three permanent beers, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Tetley Cask and Taylor Landlord, are all great beers in their own right. However the other three guest ales mainly from microbreweries make an evening out an even more enjoyable experience – working one’s way through them!
You can sit and enjoy any of these fine ales in a number of cosy corners or up against the glowing real fires at either end of this welcoming stone country inn. We’ve Dave and Gwynny Fields to thank for all this success as over the years they’ve built up their loyal customer base – not an easy achievement in the current climate of the trade.
Congratulations to all at the Huntsman for making and keeping a cracking good pub and supporting real ale choice. Please join in Gwynny and Dave’s success at our presentation evening on Tuesday 13th January 2009, where the award will be made at around 9pm.
Bus number 20 leaves Barnsley at 6.52pm and the 20A leaves at 7.52pm, they both drop outside the Huntsman. Return times back to Barnsley are 9.34pm (20A) and 10.34pm.
Autumn Pub of the Season 2008
The Station Inn, Darfield
This year's autumn pub of the season award goes to the Station Inn at Darfield. The pub had been closed for a long period of time, during which it was threatened with demolition. Then along came Rodger and Kris Smith who sympathetically restored the pub back into a traditional village local. To accompany the traditional local theme the pub's bar was also graced with eight hand pumps dispensing ever changing guest ales from national and local micro breweries. The ales are served in oversized glasses and are always in great condition. One of the regular real ales on offer is Oakwell brewery's Barnsley Bitter one of the few pubs in the area to offer the brew. The pub has a great friendly atmosphere with a wide ranging clientele mix. Children are made extremely welcome. As well as refurbishing the pub the outside beer garden and smoking area have also had a makeover.
It was these factors that impressed the CAMRA judges. The pub gained high marks and praise from all the judges.
The pub has been open now for a few months and in that time Rodger and Kris have made a few changes. The pub now offers good value meals, and a traditional Sunday lunch. In the next few weeks they'll be unveiling their new full evening menu which I'm sure will be a great success. The Sunday lunch has proved very popular and booking is advised. Another change is the introduction of a quiz night on Tuesdays which again has proved extremely popular with the locals. Over the next few months forthcoming events planned are a Halloween party and a regular weekly music night. In the near future they would also like to offer draught real cider.
On hearing the news Rodger and Kris were elated. "It's great news! At last we're getting some recognition for our hard work, and winning pub of the season has come as a big surprise. The real ales and the bottled beers are all selling well and we're really pleased with how things are going."
Barnsley CAMRA will be holding a presentation evening on Friday 24th October at around 9 pm. On the current form I'm sure this will be the first of many awards for the Station, well done!
Summer Pub of the Season 2008
The Keel Inn, Canal St, Barnsley
This year’s summer pub of the season award goes to The Keel Inn, Canal Street, Barnsley. The Keel is situated just ten minutes walk from the Barnsley Interchange just before Asda and McDonald’s on the Wakefield Road and is well remembered by real ale fans as the pub which, in 1975, served the last pint of the old Barnsley Bitter from the Oakwell Brewery which had been taken over by John Smiths.
Mine hosts, Dave and Lisa, moved to The Keel in December 2003 from the George and Dragon on Summer Lane where they had established a reputation for their real ale and soon installed two handpumps to serve beers exclusively from local micro brewers. Beers from Wentworth, Ossett, Acorn, Durham and Fernandes feature heavily but other micros beers make occasional appearances, all served in lined glasses and at reasonable prices.
The Keel is a genuine free house, being privately owned, and has been extended over the years from the original small canalside pub, and although ostensibly open plan, there is a lower level ’best’ area with comfortable seating and an open fire which is partioned off from the areas surrounding the bar. The pub has a nautical theme with photographs and artefacts, including a suit of armour, and has a mixed clientele, from those who make up the highly successful men’s and woman’s darts and pool teams midweek to the large posse of real ale drinkers, drinking from 5pm Friday and to the more formal atmosphere of Saturday night. Sunday afternoon features football on the large screens.
There is a function room at the back which has been the venue for the last four Barnsley Beer Festivals and accomodation is available in the adjoining motel.
The Keel is a friendly, welcoming and well ordered pub where anyone, young or old, can drink in a safe environment, and this award is a well deserved accolade to Dave and Lisa who also recently became parents for the first time, young Billy appearing on the scene in February.
Dave and Lisa were presented with their well earned Pub of the Season award on the evening of Friday 11th July.
Spring Pub of the Season 2008
The Gatehouse, Barnsley
This year’s Spring Pub of the Season goes to a town centre stalwart. The Gatehouse on Eldon Street, Barnsley.
It’s opposite the recently refurbished Parkway cinema and right next door to the new multi million pound bus station.
The Gatehouse is quite possibly the pioneer of the recent town centre revival of real ale outlets and is also according to the judges the best. The pub got outstanding marks from the Barnsley CAMRA volunteer judges with top marks on the real ales quality, service and choice. “Over the judging period the five real ales were always in great condition” was the comment from one judge.
The Gatehouse is an open plan pub. It has a modern interior with wooden floors, wood paneling and tasteful décor, not to mention the cozy sofas. The Gatehouse has a large screen TV that shows most of the major sports. The pub also offers very good value food. Meals are available 12 -2.30 and 5 - 7 Monday’s to Friday’s and 12 -2.30 on Saturday’s. Karaoke night is held here on Thursdays, while beer festivals are held throughout the year. Indeed the next beer festival will be held during CAMRA’s community pubs week in February. The festival will run from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th of February. The four-day event will showcase 15 cask ales.
The pub offers the drinker a range of five real ales. The permanent house beer is Acorn Brewery Barnsley Bitter and the other four guest beers are usually sourced from small independent microbreweries.
On hearing the news that he’d won the award licensee Robert Rudge was delighted. “I’ve put in along with Pub People and Enterprise Inns a lot of hard work over the last two y ears to transform what was a rundown pub.
It’s always nice to get recognition for your work. I love to showcase new cask ales and new breweries!”
So if you’re in town and fancy a pint of quality real ale give the Gatehouse a visit or pop along to our presentation night on Friday 22nd February. I promise you’ll not be disappointed.
Winter Pub of the Season 2007 2008
The Huntsman, Thurlstone
Some pubs seem to win our hearts no matter what the season. This is certainly the case with The Huntsman. This Thurlstone gem has again been awarded the Barnsley CAMRA Winter Pub of The Season.
This previous award winning pub got high scores from all our judges and is testament to the hard work of licensees Gwynny and Dave Fields.
The pub has a great country atmosphere with lots of exposed stone, woodwork and a roaring open fire, it’s everything a country local should be, family friendly, great hospitality, good food and a fantastic range of quality real ales. You are always guaranteed a good pint and the range usually consists of six real ales, three regulars which are usually Black Sheep Best Bitter, Tetley’s Cask and Taylor Landlord. The other three guest beers often from micro breweries. On my visit the pub had Clark’s Special Brew, Banks and Taylor's Prince Harry and Bateman's Salem Porter all of which were in excellent condition.
The pub has various theme nights throughout the week. Tuesday is quiz night and Wednesday is Acoustic music night. Also on offer is a two course Sunday lunch special that changes from week to week. An event to note for Christmas day is the pub holds a carol concert from 12 till 2.30 pm.
On hearing the news about winning the Pub of the Season Award Gwynny and Dave were over the moon. "It’s always nice to receive recognition for our hard work!" Gwynny rejoiced.
CAMRA will be holding a presentation night at The Huntsman on Tuesday 15th January where I’m sure everyone will be able to enjoy a great night with a great pint!
The number 20 bus passes (and stops, may I add) just outside the door on Manchester Road, the pub doesn't have a car park so an even better reason to use public transport. The bus we will be catching for the presentation night will be the number 20 which leaves Barnsley interchange at 7:15pm. Last buses to Barnsley are at 10pm, 10:26pm and 11pm.
Autumn Pub of the Season 2007
The Dove Inn, Barnsley
This season’s award is unhesitatingly given to a pub now "restored to life", the Dove Inn on Doncaster Road. Formerly a run-down, smoky John Smiths house, since December 2006 Old Mill brewery from Snaith, East Yorkshire, have done a fantastic job in completely revamping the premises, including changing the bar position and bringing into use the outside areas, making a sheltered beer garden and separate verandah affording scenic views over Oakwell and the Dearne Valley Country Park. With a plethora of flower baskets the Dove has a very cheery and welcoming aspect considering its main road location.
Inside you can expect a refreshing pint of Old Mill Bitter (at 3.9%) and Bullion (at 4.7%) – both rarely seen beers in the Barnsley area and sit amongst a mixture of comfy chairs and table seating in either the cosy bar area to the left, larger games room to the right or the back room which leads onto the decked verandah.
It is rare for Barnsley CAMRA to bestow a Pub of the Season Award to any pub where the ownership has so recently changed, however such is the transformation both in terms of building and beer that although a close contest the voting went decisively in favour of the Dove. A drinker’s delight then – and very handy for the thirsty football supports – We had a great night, with a few free pints thanks to Keal and loads of sandwiches which helped us drink more beer. please call in and congratulate the licensee, Keal and his staff when passing. The presentation evening was on Friday 2nd November.
Summer Pub of the Season 2007
The Milton Arms, Elsecar
This year’s summer pub of the season award goes to the Milton Arm’s, Elsecar. This Barnsley jewel lies in the historic village of Elsecar, a village that’s a real ale drinker’s paradise. To find paradise in summer you’ve only to visit the Milton Arms. This fantastic community pub has a lovely award winning beer garden with beautiful summer flower displays and even aviaries.
No matter what age the Milton Arms caters for all. Accompanied children are welcome here until 9:45pm.
The multi roomed pub also has a restaurant serving good value meals, and traditional Sunday lunch.
There is always something happening as the pub has events most nights. Monday is Domino knock out night, Tuesday is quiz night and Sunday evening they have a family fortunes style quiz.
The real ales here are excellent, offering locally brewed Wentworth Pale Ale (or Woppa as it is more affectionately known) and Stones Cask (now a Midlands brew as the Sheffield brewery as been closed for many years). Both beers are served in oversized lined glasses so a full pint is guaranteed.
The pub has recently been a previous award nominee and is highly regarded by Barnsley CAMRA. On hearing the news the licensees Vikki and Phil were speechless and unaware of the impact the pub had made on CAMRA members.
If you enjoy a great pint in great surroundings then The Milton Arms is well worth a visit. It was a packed pub when Barnsley CAMRA and the pubs regulars presented the award on the evening of Tuesday 4th September.
Buses to the pub are the 65 and 66 or the train to Elsecar.
Spring Pub of the Season 2007 The Engineers Arms, Higham
Barnsley CAMRA were extremely pleased with the winner of the spring pub of the season this time around.
The Engineers Arms at Higham is a lively community local where conversation is what people use as entertainment. No TV or music here to stop you in your soap box ranting, just the other half…
The pub offers Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Bitter which is a wonderful malt dominated beer that has hops and fruit in the taste. Value for money and quality is very important to the brewery and this reflects on what you get here at the Engineers Arms. Tony and June Foster have been at the helm for about five years now, their friendly approach to running the pub is also a key to its popularity.
A large beer garden is set at the rear and is a safe area for families, and those wishing to take in the rolling views (over the M1)… The open door to the public bar is a welcome to all to join in with the local talk and the small lounge is a great place to relax and read or chat. Games are also on offer, pool, darts, dominos and cards, just ask at the bar.
Sports fans of all ages make up many of the sports teams that are based here at the Engineers Arms. Pool and darts have two teams each, there is a football team as well as a junior team, and the pub boosts three cricket teams as well as two junior teams, but no Nipsy teams…
It’s always great to offer a pub of the season award to a pub that offers great beer, and even better when the pub offers a great community service to the locals.
We thank Tony, June and all their staff for making this pub a wonderful watering hole and congratulate them all for a job well done.
Open daily 12-3, 7-11 (could possibly stay open longer during cricket match lunch weekends)
Barnsley CAMRA will be making the presentation to the Engineers Arms on the evening of Wednesday 18th April at about 9.15pm, just before the quiz. So please come along on the evening or drop in at some point and wish them all the best.
Bad luck to the close runners up, the Rose and Crown at Hoylandswaine, Darfield Cricket Club, the Milton at Elsecar and the Horseshoe at Wombwell.
Winter Pub of the Season 2006/2007 The Market, Elsecar
Again the volunteers of Barnsley CAMRA have been out to some of the best pubs in the area choosing Winter Pub of the Season and I can say (being one of the judges) that it was a tight win with all the pubs visited getting top marks on beer.
This year the award is to a very traditional multi-roomed inn just inside our branch boundary, luckily for us!
The pub was built around 1860 and set in Earl Fitzwilliam's model coal mining village of Elsecar, the Market Hotel on Wentworth Road offers several unspoilt rooms either side of a drinking corridor which runs the length of the pub. Many hostelries were constructed in the same simple fashion but you can probably count less than a dozen in Barnsley's area that have been untouched by "pub vandals" opening them out and then calling it an improvement.
However the Market is primarily judged on the quality of its real ales (as are all our nominations) and this time it came up trumps for serving an excellently conditioned range of real ales from the likes of Wentworth, Acorn and other rotated brewery guest beers.
The cosily furnished rooms, are warm and comfortable with each having its own ambience, you can even if you wish opt for the patio and enclosed garden at the rear but it might be a bit cold, or the large function/pool room to the right.
Barnsley CAMRA thank all at the Market Hotel especially for their commitment to serving locally produced real ale and pub traditions generally and hope to see another full house on their presentation night of Friday 23rd February at 9pm.
Please do call in to wish all the staff the very best with a fine pint of real ale of course. The bus to catch from Barnsley is the 227 at 7.30pm, from Wombwell catch the 65 at 7.25pm. Last buses back are 227 at 10.40pm and 65 at 10.35pm. On the way home pause for a moment outside to see the quaintly inscribed stone frontage: Licensed to let Horse and Gig for hire.
Autumn Pub of the Season 2006 The Cock Inn, Birdwell
As the dark nights settle in, a pub with that bit of extra cosiness seems to be the order of the day. A friendly atmosphere, real fire, a tasty bite to eat perhaps and of course a first class pint of real ale. The Cock Inn at Birdwell fits the bill very nicely. Always a pub worth a visit and a previous Pub of the Season winner. The pub is run by Glyn and Phil, service is friendly and the pub is comfortable, just the place for an Autumn (and Winter) drink.
The pub has four hand pumps two house beers (John Smith’s cask and Black Sheep bitter) and two changing guest beers. A wide range of beers has already been offered with lots to tempt the real ale fans. Over the summer the pub ran it’s first and highly successful beer festival.
The pub has a lounge with real fire, a no smoking room and a family room which leads into the garden area. Good food is regularly available. The pub has quiz nights on Thursdays and Sundays, and music on most Fridays with open mic nights. On the 1st of December the pub have organised a charity ‘Stars in your eyes’ night with all proceeds going towards Barnsley Hospice.
Barnsley CAMRA are pleased to present our latest Pub of the Season Award to the Cock Inn and we congratulate Glyn, Phil and all their team for the excellent job they are doing to make the pub such a welcoming place.
The presentation will take place on Tuesday 12th December around 9.30pm.
Buses from town are the 39, 65, 227 and 265.
Summer Pub of the Season 2006 The Ring O'Bells, Silkstone
There is a good way to prove that you are a good pub serving great beer in wonderful surroundings with a pleasant atmosphere and that is by being presented with Barnsley CAMRA’s Pub of the Season Award. You can better it by doing it again… Well that’s what Maggi and John Espin at the Ring O’Bells in Silkstone have gone and done. After picking up the 2005 Summer Pub of the Season our judges who go out and do this tedious work of surveying the quality of the real ales and other criteria found that the Ring O’Bells in the heart of the village was good enough to beat the others (just).
The pub sits on the main street which goes through this historic village, and is quite a new pub (for the area). Once builders cottages it became a pub in the mid 1800s and was originally called the Six Ringers, the new pub sign is in recognition of its old name, the sign was designed and drawn up by Maggi.
Inside, this ’still’ Hardy and Hansons house you find three real ales, two permanent beers, Hardys and Hansons Bitter (3.9% abv) and Olde Trip (4.3% abv) plus a seasonal ale. And you will also find Maggi and John who have been successfully running the pub for the last four years.
The pub is famed for holding the first Miners' Union meeting in January 1843, and within a month of the meeting here the union had successfully passed a resolution that reduced the hours of labour to eight.
Outside, the front and side drinking areas are awash with colour, not just from the new coat of paint, but from the potted plants and flowers. John is hoping the pub can come first in the Hardy and Hansons Pubs in Bloom Competition this year, in 2005 the pub picked up Bronze. From the outside of the pub you can also see the village stocks which date from 1405.
You will always enjoy a cracking pint of real ale and a cosy, friendly atmosphere here.
The pub also offers its facilities to some regular organisations, as well as being home to three cricket teams and Silkstone FC, it is also home to Silkstone Brass Band, the Luncheon Club (for over 60's) and gets regular visits from groups of Morris Dancers!
The pub does not offer food but Maggi and John can provide pre-ordered or booked buffets. The pub is open 12 noon to 11pm daily.
Come and show your support, join Barnsley CAMRA and the regulars on the evening of Wednesday 6th September when we will all congratulate the team at the Ring O'Bells by presenting this award at around 9pm.
Runners up were (in no order) Milton Arms, Elsecar; Waggon and Horses, Langsett; Old Moor Tavern, Broomhill; Hope Inn, Cundy Cross. Well done and best of luck for next time.
Spring Pub of the Season 2006 The Darfield Cricket Club, Darfield
What a wonderful past twelve months for the Darfield Cricket Club. Last year Frank Hoyland was delighted to pick up the Club of the Year Award on behalf of the Club from the branch of Barnsley CAMRA. Later in the year it was announced that the Cricket Club was voted the Regional Club of the Year. The cask ales offered to the members have doubled. And Barnsley CAMRA managed to scrape some members together to play cricket which made for good entertainment…
But what has the Club done now to keep the flow of achievements coming in, well how about Spring Pub of the Season winner? Yes Pub…
Barnsley CAMRA make four season awards each year and we call them the Pub of the Season Awards, now just because a Club goes and beats all the other entries in this season’s competition does not mean we are changing the award name.
Frank and Sharon Hoyland have now been offering a choice of rotating cask ales to its members for nearly two years, Frank said "I wanted to offer more to the club members and asked the committee if I could put on a guest beer, and since being given the backing of the committee the members have been drinking bigger and better choices of real ales. And "bigger" is quite right, because we decided to put our real ales in oversized lined glasses."
As a visitor to the club you notice that it is not like most others, great food is served on Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes, real ales are being drank by many of the members and the whole place has just a great atmosphere.
I would like to congratulate Frank, Sharon, their staff, and the committee of Darfield Cricket Club for their well deserved award of Pub of the Season Spring 2006. I would also like to say how envious I am at not being a regular member of this wonderful and well-run club.
The presentation evening will be on Wednesday 3rd May and will kick start Mild Month and the very popular Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby 6% abv is hoped to be available alongside three other beers. The award will be presented at around 9.30pm and will be followed by the Club Quiz, so please make a date and come and show your support to what is still the current Yorkshire’s Club of the Year and now Pub of the Season for Spring 2006.
May I mention the runners up in this season’s awards, the judges reported that all the pubs/club that where entered were of high standard. So well done to (in no particular order) the Travellers, Pogmoor; The Engineers Arms, Higham; Ring O’Bells, Silkstone; The Edmunds Arms, Worsbrough and The Huntsman, Thurlstone.
The Darfield Cricket Club will be holding a summer beer festival from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th August this will feature around 20 real ales and the CAMRA charity Cricket match on the Sunday lunch. More news to follow.
Winter Pub of the Season 2005/06
The Dog and Partridge,Hazlehead
On the far western outskirts of Barnsley – just inside the Peak District National Park - lies an old coaching inn, this inn has been licensed since about 1742. Continuing this pub tradition into the present and serving some top-notch real ales are owners Stephen and Audrey Marsh, who have built up (literally) their pub, hotel and restaurant business over the last five and a half years.
Mainly due to the quality and variety of their hand pulled beers, Barnsley CAMRA are delighted to name the Dog and Partridge, Winter Pub of the Season for 2005/2006. The four cask beers usually consist of our local Acorn Barnsley Bitter with three rotating guest ales from other local independent breweries – recently Bradfield beers from just down the road.
In addition to the quality of the real beers, the cosy real open-fire atmosphere provides a proper country inn feel to the place, having accommodation available you’ll probably want to stay over especially if the weather closes in! On certain weekends helicopter flights can even be booked from here as well.
Because the nearest bus stop (Flouch roundabout) is nearly two miles away we’ve arranged with Stephen and Audrey to make our presentation on the afternoon of Saturday 18th March 2006, meeting up from 1pm onwards with the award being presented at around 2.30pm. Please join us for this lunchtime social and congratulate everyone. (See below for a no walking plan.)
Buses from Barnsley are currently the 23 at 10:30am and 12:30pm, or 24 at 11:30am and 1:30pm, or from Penistone the 20 at 11:30am or 1:30pm. [The last bus back from the Flouch to Barnsley is as late as 10:39pm but remember the 30 minute walk first!]
Autumn Pub of the Season 2005
The Cock Inn,Birdwell
As the dark nights settle in, a pub with that bit of extra cosiness seems to be the order of the day. A friendly atmosphere, real fire, a tasty bite to eat perhaps and of course a first class pint of real ale. The Cock Inn at Birdwell fits the bill very nicely. Always a pub worth a visit and a previous Pub of the Season winner, it is now run by Glyn and Phil who have settled in so well they seem to have been in residence longer than the few months since they arrived. Service is friendly and the pub is comfortable, just the place for an Autumn (and Winter) drink.
One significant change since the arrival of Glyn and Phil has been the additional choices for the real ale drinker with John Smiths Cask, Stones Cask and up to two changing guest beers. A wide range of beers has already been offered with lots to tempt the real ale fans.
The pub has a lounge with real fire, a no smoking room and a family room which leads into the garden area. Good food is regularly available, including curry nights and occasional Gourmet evenings. There are also Quiz nights should you wish to test your brains with your pint.
Barnsley CAMRA are pleased to present our latest Pub of the Season Award to the Cock Inn and we congratulate Glyn, Phil and their team for the excellent job they are doing to make the pub such a welcoming place.
The Award presentation will be made on Tuesday 6th December at around 9.30pm.
Public transport to the Cock Inn is quite simple from Barnsley. Catch the 7.30pm 227, the 7.55pm 265 or the 8.15pm 65. These buses drop you on Sheffield Rd and its just a short walk to the Cock Inn down Chapel St or The Walk. A direct bus to the pub is the 39 and leaves Barnsley at 8.45pm, this gets you there well in time for the presentation.
A pat on the back to the runners up this time, these were the Waggon and Horses at Langsett and the Darfield Cricket Club, Darfield. (Clubs can be entered into Pub of the Season).
Summer Pub of the Season 2005
The Ring O'Bells, Silkstone
Joining our illustrious award winners list for the summer season is the Ring O'Bells at the heart of Silkstone village. Sporting a brand new pub sign showing six ringers, which was a former name of this old inn, this hostelry is all about tradition.
Situated on the main street thorough this picturesque village, the frontage and outside drinking areas are adorned with plants and flowers providing a very welcoming feel. Inside, this Hardys and Hansons house offers two of their permanent beers, Hardys and Hansons Bitter (3.9% abv) and Olde Trip (4.3% abv) plus a seasonal ale (due to be Friars Fancy at 4.4% abv) and has been successfully run by Maggi and John Espin for the last three years.
Come rain or shine (the pub was flooded recently soon after refurbishment) you'll always enjoy a cracking pint of real ale and a cosy, friendly atmosphere. This is backed up by the number of local organisations regularly using its facilities, as well as being home to Silkstone Brass Band, there's three cricket teams, Silkstone United footie team, Silkstone Shuffle, the RAOB, South Yorkshire Fire Service, the Luncheon Club (for over 60's) and visits from Morris Dancers!
Maggie and John are also able to provide pre-ordered or booked buffets, please ring in advance on Barnsley 790298. At present the pubs opening hours are 12 noon to 11pm Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 10.30 on Sundays.
Please join up with Barnsley CAMRA and the regulars on Wednesday 24th August when we will all congratulate the team at the Ring O'Bells by making this award at around 9pm.
Spring Pub of the Season 2005
The Huntsman, Thurlstone
They say history has a habit of repeating itself, and the same could be said of our Spring Pub of the Season Award because the same inn has won it twice in two years.
However this is the kind of daja vu beer drinkers will applaud; not just for the warm cosy atmosphere, not only for the real fire, not even just the genuine welcome, as it is of course all these things, but mainly for the quality ales served.
Dave and Gwynny Fields have successfully built up all these qualities over the two years of their tenure of the Huntsman. Usually Clark's Classic Blonde is on permanently, alongside an ever-changing guest range of four to five beers often from micro-breweries
Sit back and enjoy this fine selection of ales in any of the comfy corners in this rustic stone pub whenever you can; but especially if you can join Barnsley CAMRA for the presentation on Tuesday 3rd May when the pop quiz evening is also held. The Pub of the Season Award will be made around 9pm.
Congratulations to all the team at the Huntsman for their hard work and dedication to real ale, and we look forward to a full house for the award night.
[Bus 21 at 18:15 and 19:15 from Barnsley Bus Stand A6 will drop outside the Huntsman; return buses are 21 at 21:55, 23 at 22:20 and 21 at 22:55]
Winter Pub of the Season 2004 - 2005
The Royal Albert, Blacker Hill
A year is a long time in politics as the saying goes. It's probably even longer if you're running a pub, and it is now just over twelve months since Peter and Amanda Down took over at the Royal Albert at Blacker Hill. One of their first visits to the local competition was a visit to the Edmunds Arms for their Winter Pub of the Season 2003/04 Presentation night. If they secretly wished it could have been them then their wish has now come true.
The Royal Albert is a two roomed community local serving three real ales, usually Wentworth Best Bitter and two guest beers from other micro breweries. On the day we visited the two guest beers on offer were Golden Delicious from Burton Bridge Brewery and Scimitar from Durham Brewery, neither of these beers is normally found in the Barnsley area and both were in excellent condition.
The pub supports the local community and offers meeting places for such groups as a metal detectors club and a ratting society, known as the rat pack, it also supports a ladies darts team who play on Monday and Thursday.
When you visit the Royal Albert you will easily understand just why it has become Winter Pub of the Season for 2004/05. The warm welcome that is offered from Peter and Amanda is for everyone, both the locals and first time visitors so pop along on the presentation night Saturday 8th January and show your support to a truly traditional local pub.
Autumn Pub of the Season 2004
The Market Hotel, Elsecar
Barnsley CAMRA's choice for Autumn Pub of the Season is this year deservingly awarded to a very traditional multi-roomed inn just inside our branch boundary, luckily for us!
Built around 1860 and set in Earl Fitzwilliam's model coal mining village of Elsecar, the Market Hotel on Wentworth Road offers several unspoilt rooms either side of a drinking corridor which runs the length of the pub. Many hostelries were constructed in the same simple fashion but you can probably count less than a dozen in Barnsley's area that have been untouched by "pub vandals" opening them out and then calling it an improvement.
However the Market is primarily judged on the quality of its real ales (as are all our nominations) and this time it came up trumps for serving an excellently conditioned range of Wentworth Pale Ale, Acorn Barnsley Bitter and a rotated guest beer.
Apart from the cosily furnished rooms, drinkers can opt for the recently upgraded patio and enclosed garden at the rear. The large function/pool room to the right, or, for that last pint, the benches across the front of the Market to watch out for the last bus home, both bus stops are conveniently just outside. On the way home pause for moment outside to see the quaintly inscribed stone frontage: Licensed to let Horse + Gig for hire?.
Barnsley CAMRA thank all at the Market Hotel especially for their commitment to serving locally produced real ale and pub traditions generally and hope to see another full house on their presentation night of Friday 29th October at 9pm.
Please do call in to wish all the staff the very best with a fine pint of real ale of course.
Summer Pub of the Season 2004
The George and Dragon, Barnsley
Every month the Barnsley branch members are out working very hard, drinking in pubs in and around the Barnsley area and reporting back their findings. Through recommendations and suggestions, judges are sent out again and report back to branch meetings to reward one pub with the Branch Pub of the Season award.
So now you know just how hard it is to find a pub serving good beer, you will appreciate the fact that the George and Dragon on Summer Lane has been awarded the Summer Pub of the Season for 2004.
Keith and Noreen have been in the pub since coming out of retirement in December 2003. They were steward and stewardess for many years at the Trades Club on Racecommon Rd. The George and Dragon is a real family run affair with their daughter Mandy and her husband Darren helping out. The pub has a real community feel to it, like a small village pub but on the edge of Barnsley town centre.
The George and Dragon could win any of the season's awards but with the new addition of a patio, the pub now offers a great outdoor drinking area. The pub attracts many regulars and visitors, and is very popular due to everyone working hard to deliver high quality real ales in oversized lined pint glasses.
Barnsley CAMRA wishes everyone at the George and Dragon the very best and keep the quality real ales flowing. The presentation to Keith and Noreen will be made on Wednesday 1st September at around 9pm. Why not call in and congratulate them for all their hard work.
Spring Pub of the Season 2004 The Huntsman Thurlstone
The Huntsman, Thurlstone is a stone pub at the heart of the village and has been a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide. It retains much of its original cottage architecture and exposed beams and log fires. It has been a frequent winner of Barnsley CAMRA's Pub of the Season Award in the past, but not with the present couple in charge.
Dave and Gwynny Fields are both ex weapons technicians and have returned from Saudi Arabia after 14 years to start a very different life running the pub.
Well they must be naturals to so quickly produce the quality they have. They have done it by concentrating on the beer and the welcome. Dave insists visitors are guests not just customers.
As a guest, you will enjoy some of H.B.Clarks cask ales with the occasional guest from another brewery. You can join in a pop quiz on Tuesday evenings, a general knowledge quiz on Thursday evenings and on Wednesdays it's Acoustic night where audience participation is apparently a must.
If you would like to be one of Dave's and Gwynny's guests then the pub is open:
6 - 11 Mon to Thurs; 4 - 11 Fri; 12 - 11 Sat and 12 - 10:30 Sun
Join Barnsley CAMRA when they will be making the presentation of Spring Pub of the Season to the Huntsman on Tuesday 20th April. The award will be made around 9pm.
Congratulations to everyone at the Huntsman, a wonderful pub worth visiting any day.
Winter Pub of the Season 2003 - 2004
The Edmunds Arms, Worsbrough Village
Nestled in sleepy Worsbrough Village is the Edmunds Arms. At first glance you might think it's a small quaint country pub but first impressions can and often are deceiving. After leaving the ample car park you come to the entrance hall, entering the pub here you can go left or straight on. Going straight on you find yourself in a large "best room" area where you can relax with your pint or as the pub has an extensive menu you can sit and eat a meal. The pub also has a restaurant, this can be found beyond the best room through the doors at the rear.
Of more interest to the beer drinker, by taking a left on entry you find yourself in the first of two taproom areas. The first room contains the television but you can stand at the bar in the second room and not listen to the football if you don't want to. While heading to the bar I suppose I had better mention the beer (well this is the main reason you go to the pub). The Edmunds is a Sam Smiths house so the cask ale is obviously Sam's Old Brewery Bitter 4% abv, don't automatically dismiss this just because it's not brewed by a recluse living on top of a pole in the outer Hebrides. The price will also appeal to some people as at only £1.26 a pint it can give even Wetherspoons a run for their money. The beer was very well received by those who judged this Pub of the Season.
The landlords, landladies and staff of the pubs nominated do not know they are being judged. Adding to this, most of the judges go on different days and at different times so the pub needs to serve constantly good beer to win. And the beer isn't the only thing the judges are looking for, the pub has to be suitable for the award it's up for. In this case Winter Pub of the Season so if when we go in the pub and the pub is colder than the beer it wouldn't be a warm and welcoming place on a cold winter's night. The Edmunds is well catered for in this case as it has three real wood burning coke fires, which are good enough to put you to sleep.
The last room of the three could only be described as an old fashioned snug where one can sit and talk (or whatever?)
In conclusion The Edmunds Arms is an ideal place to spend a cold winters night with a warm welcome and a wonderful pint of Old Brewery Bitter..
The presentation of Winter Pub of the Season 2003/04 will take place on Tuesday 10th February at around 9pm. If you need a reason to get out to the pub here it is. If however you cannot make the presentation evening, congratulate everyone at the Edmunds for all their hard work and commitment to serving you a truly great pint of real ale.
Opening times: Mon to Sat. 11.45am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm; Sun. 12noon to 4pm and 7pm to 10.30pm
Food times: Mon to Sat 11.45am to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm (No evening meals on Monday); Sunday Lunch 12noon till 2pm
Wed 3rd Dec
Survey crawl of Penistone. Meet at Britannia, Sheffield Road, at 7.45pm. Catch the 7.09pm train or the 7.22pm 21 bus.
Sat 13th Dec
Yorkshire Regional meeting in Keighley. 12 Noon. Contact Nigel for more info, contact details at the foot of the page.
Tue 16th Dec
Early branch meeting at the George and Dragon, Summer Lane. Starting at 7.30pm followed by the "Donate Your Change" pub crawl, all for the Barnsley Samaritans.
Mon 29th Dec
Brewery trip to Theakstons with Sheffield CAMRA. Please contact Nigel for more
information, contact details at the foot of the page.
Sat 10th Jan
Eastern outpost survey, visit about 10 pubs with time for a half in each. Depart the Joseph Bramah, Barnsley at 5.15pm. Drop offs afterwards. (CAMRA members only)
Sun 11th Jan
Beer festival meeting at the Milton Arms, Elsecar. Also a site visit of Milton Hall. 2pm start. Catch the 1.25pm 66 bus from Barnsley.
Tue 13th Jan
Winter Pub of the Season presentation to the Huntsman, Thurlstone. Presentation 9pm, full write-up from this link, including travel times.
Sat 17th Jan
Not the Christmas Party, the Dove Inn, Doncaster Road. Cost is £7 per ticket. This includes 2
halves of real ale and buffet. Quiz and games, raffles. Meet from 7.30pm
Mon 19th Jan
GBG Voting Meeting held at the Courthouse, Regent St, Barnsley from 8pm. Closing for online votes 4pm, closing for voting 8pm at the meeting.
Tue 20th Jan
The Bar distribution social, pick up copies of the Feb/Mar edition from the George and Dragon, Summer Lane, Barnsley from 8pm.
Thu 22nd Jan
Wentworth Brewery visit. £10 to cover food and drinks. Wentworth Brewery will kindly donate this money back to our charity the Barnsley Samaritans. So catch 227 bus at 6.35pm, or the 66 bus at 5.10pm and change for the 227 at Elsecar at 6.10pm - Bar 6.30pm till 9.30pm ish - This is open to all, not just CAMRA members.
Sat 24th Jan
National Winter Ales Beer Festival, New Century Hall, Manchester. Catch the 9.40am train from Barnsley. £14.
Tue 27th Jan
Branch meeting and social at the Chestnut Tree. Barugh Green. Upstairs in the small dining
area. Meeting starts at 8pm. Buses are the 92a at 7.15pm or the 95a at 7.45pm. Buses back are the 9.23pm or 10.23pm 95a.
Last time we wrote about the Huntsman being an award winner, we mentioned that
history has a habit of repeating itself as it had won both 2004 and 2005 Spring Pub of the Season. Well guess what? It’s just done it again. Yes, this time it’s followed
up Winter 2007/2008 award with this season’s.
