The Hop, Wakefield

This is a conversion of an old factory or warehouse. It's been more than well described below. When I turned up late on a Saturday afternoon it was quite busy and had loud music blasting out. A lot of the clientele seemed to be shouty lager swilling blokes yelling at each other because of the din from the speakers. It was more like being in a night club than in a pub on a Saturday afternoon. I didn't note all the beers as there were people propping the bar up and I just wanted to have a pint and get out of there. I went for one of several Ossett beers, Ecselsior (£3.40) which was in good nick. It's not for me this place but at least the beer was OK and reasonably priced which saves it from a poor score. It's GBG 2018 listed.

A large, I'd guess recently converted, Osset boozer which felt slightly too new and slightly too lacking in atmosphere for me despite the live music on in the bar. There's a lot of space here both inside and out and signs to the kebab shop. Don't be confused. If you follow the signs up the stairs you really will find an open kebab shop. Beers were: Ossett Silver King, Excelsior and Yorkshire Blonde, Ilkley Summer, Milestone Black Pearl, Acorn Barnsley Bitter, Great Heck Apocolypse Now and Rat White Rat and Number of the Rat. A very decent selection and the White Rat was well kept and slid down easily. Certainly worth a visit particularly on a sunny day and perhaps it'll age well.

Ossett Brewery offering which now has the room to the right of the bar open and the back room shut. Not sure when this occurred but probably earlier this year. Good selection of ales and a pub I like to visit early evenings before any bands appear.

Quite a small pub compared to the other Hop bars I've been in, all of which are huge. To get to the door you have to walk through a small courtyard which was full of wooden benches. Quite a few people were sat out here as it was a pleasant day. Once inside the bar is facing you, to the left there's a stage. Nine handpumps on the bar including a real cider. My pint was in excellent nick and served by a friendly barman. It's a very good pub.

A short dash across the car park from Harry's bar will find you here quite quickly. We entered the pub via a courtyard and once inside, we found a long room with undressed brick walls, flagstone floors and a mock Tudor bar with oak counter top. There were nine handpumps along the bar. We went for the Salamander Barefaced and White Rat Brewery White Rat, without hesitation, both beers were in top condition. The pub had a good atmosphere and the bar staff were friendly and helpful.

Rather hidden away in a side street and quite basic inside (as you would expect from a live music venue with a small stage in one corner). Rear lounge and upstairs room (neither open when I visited). Also joined to The Jam Inn next door, with the connection open at weekends. Some patio seating out in the entrance courtyard. As an Ossett house, the nine handpumps feature four of their own beers (including Pridewood Progress, £2.60), two from Acorn and one each from Rat Brewery, 4T's and Whitstable.

The courtyard entrance was being monitored by doormen,but this was a hot Saturday night and as things transpired the pub interior was not as rammed as the outside seating.A band were setting up to one side of the tap room off the courtyard,and there was no sign of the promised coverage of the World Cup.However the friendly barmaid directed us to the rear of the building where there is a charming back lounge with it's own wood burner,away from the action,but with it's own bar access and some interesting features such as carved wood among the exposed brick.The whole of this pub's interior is surprisingly large and to one side is another bar area with a VW camper van converted to a freestanding bar with a single handpump.Another section exists upstairs.Ossett own the pub and three of their ales were on together with Rat White Rat,Acorn Gorlovka Imperial Stout,Partners Triple Hop,Saltaire Raspberry Blonde (tip top),Kirkstall Dissolution IPA and Fullers London Pride.A very impressive line up. Although popular with the younger drinker,the discreet areas work well and the live music does not impinge on the other rooms to any great extend.Yet another Wakefield winner,I would certainly pop back if that ale line up is likely to be repeated in future.