The Hop, Wakefield

Facebook page of The Hop - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Hop - www.thehopwakefield.com

Official site of The Hop - www.thehopwakefield.com

Facebook page of The Hop - www.facebook.com

Although I've been here a few times, I wasn't a fan of Ossett Brewery and was therefore a bit of a reluctant visitor. Their pub of the same name in Leeds - in the arches below the station - is still pretty awful, as was their venue in Sheffield, though that is long closed. I got a better impression here this time, maybe because it was a quiet Monday afternoon and I was clearly the first customer through the doors, but mostly because my tastes have changed and I quite enjoy Ossett beers these days. My favourites are Silver King and White Rat, and I faced a dilemma because both were on the bar and I had a train to catch. I went for the Rat, which was very good (NBSS 4), but who's to say that the King would not have been better? When it's empty this place is quite pleasant and attractive, with modern brickwork and arches, but they'll not survive long on me drinking halves in an empty pub. On a late Friday afternoon it can be quite noisy, so if I'm going to return - which I think I will - I need to choose my times carefully.

Pretty decent modernish place that I was told is semi-owned by a musician of a band that I've forgotten. A plentiful choice of beers from about 9 handpulls was pleasing. An outside courtyard is available for all fresco drinking.