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The Barge & Barrel, Elland
Elland
HX5 9HP
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Barge & Barrel
Elland has been on my (largely imaginary) to do list for some time, but my visit this week was prompted by reading that this pub was going to close soon. Last day of service will be 3 December, but for the time being the team running the pub are putting on a brave face and serving up great beer. This is quite a large pub, and no doubt requires a lot of effort to keep it ticking over. I was told that plans to reopen a railway station in Elland mean that a lot of the car park will be compulsorily purchased, which would put further strain on the pub's profitability, I would imagine.
The entrance to the pub has stained glass panels in the porch and lobby, with the room to the left having panels instead of walls. This is not so much a snug as a front parlour, with an impressive fireplace and pictures on the walls that suggest someone is a big fan of the RAF. The bar is centrally placed, with a spacious drinking corridor in front and a large room with windows looking onto the canal to the rear; to the right is a smaller room with pool table and darts board.
Hand pumps are dotted liberally about the bar, with five beers listed on the blackboard opposite, and a handful of pump clips on the bar back announcing what will be coming soon. I went for Wensleydale Gamekeeper, which was a bit cold for my liking, though it went down nicely. I followed up with a half of Phoenix Wobbly Bob, which was in tremendous condition - as good as I remember from the handful of occasions I've met this beer before; and a half of Black Sheep Respire, a sort of session IPA which is said to be carbon neutral, which was in good condition but not my sort of beer. Service was friendly and I almost had a tear in my eye as I said my farewells.
On 18th November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3751 recommendations about 3486 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Barge & Barrel
The Barge and Barrel is located on the north side of Elland bridge on the bank of the Calder and Hebble Navigation. Along the rear windows are three booths with views over this waterway. Either side of the front entrance are seating areas that are shielded from the central U-shaped bar by stained leaded glass partitions. Standard keg is available from the bar that also supports eight hand pumps. During a recent Tuesday evening visit two of these were off which left Abbeydale Moonshine and Double Deception, Phoenix Wobbly Bob, and Donkeystone Brewing’s Javanilla alongside Little Critters Brewing’s Raspberry Blonde and Malty Python. Sunday roasts are advertised (£6 regular and £8 large) but I didn’t see any menus for other food options.
There is a weekly quiz on Thursdays and live music such as Motown and classic rock is held here on Fridays and Saturdays. There are no televisions, but some background music was playing. This is a pub for fans of real ale.
On 14th September 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Barge & Barrel
A multi-spaced pub with a large bar area incorporating a horseshoe counter which is home to 12 pulls. There is also a front snug and a side room as well as a big function room at one end. Some of the original Victorian features remain in the form of a tongue and groove ceiling over the servery and an ornate plaster ceiling in what was the back room. This room has a view over the Calder & Hebble Navigation. Stained glass, the fixed benches and a mix of wooden and Britannia tables add to the ambience. It's well known as a drinkers pub which used to have an onsite brewery, Yorkshire's greatest living brewer, Dave Sanders, was once brewer here. It does suffer from piped music and there are a few machines dotted about but I didn't see any screens. Currently under threat of being sold to Punch and destroyed by conversion in to some sort of eating pub just like a thousand others. I hope it can be saved because it's a fine pub.
On 3rd March 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Jillings left this review about The Barge & Barrel
The Barge and Barrel is now an excellent brew pub, I tried a pint of each of the 4 Barge and Barrel brewed ales and found them all interesting and in perfect condition. If travelling by narrow boat, it has good moorings for several boats. A highly recommended pub.
On 20th July 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 59 recommendations about 54 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
James Joines left this review about The Barge & Barrell
Real Ale and a food offering.
On 26th April 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 841 recommendations about 835 pubs]