Harry's Bar, Wakefield

Whilst the name may conjure up images of sipping Bellini's alongside the Grand Canal in Venice, the reality is that this is a small and somewhat basic single room bar in an unassuming part of Wakefield, reached via an alleyway from the Westgate. As you enter the room, the servery is on the right hand side, with some booth style seating along the left hand wall and a more open space with standard seating to the rear. Dark beams and bare brick walls give the place a pleasant feel, but the constraints of the small space mean that there isn't all that much to distract the eye. An outdoor terrace provides some room for extra seating, which I would imagine would come in handy on busier nights. Live music was being advertised and I imagine that a decent band could generate a pretty good atmosphere in here. The main draw seems to be the generous range of beer on offer, with Saltaire Winter Ale, Leeds Pale, Cottage Golden Arrow, Bob's Brewing Golden Lion, Morland Old Golden Hen, Ossett Silver King, Thwaites Bomber and Moorhouse Lap Prancer across the eight handpulls. I gave the Leeds Pale and Golden Lion a try and thought they were both in good shape, with the Golden Lion particularly standing out. Having visited on a very quiet Sunday afternoon, I'm not sure I saw this place at its best, but I expect that the addition of a few more punters would quickly transform it into a convivial spot to enjoy some well kept beer.

A small and cosy pub a little off the beaten track, serving up a good selection of ales (from Ossett and elsewhere), continental bottled beers and premium lagers. The interior is all wooden beams and exposed brickwork with some partitioned drinking areas. The size of the place is a double-edged sword - lovely when quiet, awkward and difficult to relax when busy. Live music nights are advertised inside (how do they fit them in?). There was a nice sun deck outside. Well-worth a visit in quieter periods (though given it doesn't open until 5 most weekdays that could prove more difficult to achieve than usual). A pretty good pub.

Wakefield doesn’t particularly conjure up images of good ale houses but it is surprisingly rich in hidden nuggets of which Harry’s bar is just one. The bar itself (calling it a pub is maybe stretching things a bit) is a simple single room with a small but pump laden bar in one corner, a few beams and pillars and an interesting collection of artworks dotted around the exposed brick walls. It’s small, it’s intimate, it’s tucked away and it’s invariably packed but its popularity is justified. There is also a programme of live music if you believe they can fit any musicians in here. The ales were mainly local micros and I just regret that I didn’t get much time on our fleeting visit to sample more than the one but it will certainly be one of the first I head for on my next visit.

went to the pub on sat 15th the beer was off the bar was empty, that might be why the beer was off the landlord was grumpy, better of in the golden lion beer better customers more fun.

Leeds Pale and upto 6 other Hand Pulled Ales available in this small bar opposite Westgate Station. Sun deck and shaded garden for those warm evenings. Live music on Wednesdays. Opens at 5pm. #GBG 2008 listed#