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Detail Pages
Harry's Bar, Wakefield
Wakefield
WF1 1EL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about Harry's Bar
Original review 28.12.2009:
A small, one roomed bar, tucked away fifty yards or so from the main road. (Not the easiest place to find if you’re a casual visitor, it’s best approached via a passageway, just up the hill from the nearby Elephant and Castle).
The interior is cosy and very relaxing. Wooden beams, exposed brickwork and partitioned drinking areas all contribute to the intimate feel.
There are usually six hand pumps on the go: Currently the regular beers are ‘White Lion’ and ‘Chardonnayle’ from Bob’s Brewing Co. and Ossett’s ‘Silver King’ leaving room for three guests. There are also, a couple of high quality lagers and Hoegaarden on draught, plus the usual T-bar suspects.
Staff, although polite and efficient, do tend to be a little on the cool side.
The size of ‘Harry’s Bar is one of its strengths, but also a weakness. Fantastic, when fairly quiet, it can be horrendous when busy, particularly weekends and live music nights (Monday and Wednesday). It was originally a refuge from the locally infamous ‘Westgate Run’, but it is now unfortunately part of it.
Handy for several nearby restaurants, including 'Prego', in the same terrace. Westgate station is also very close by, but if looking to kill time before a train, be aware that the pub doesn’t open until five o’ clock, Monday to Friday, four o' clock Saturday.
Listed in the 2010 Good Beer Guide and a must visit pub, for real ale fans, whilst in Wakefield. (The Hop, Henry Boon’s and Bull and Fairhouse are also close by).
Highly recommended.
***********
Nov 2011 Update:
Overall, things remain largely unchanged. However, the current batch of staff are decidedly warmer and friendlier. Beers on hand pump have increased from six to eight, but quality does seem to be more variable of late, suggesting possible problems with turnover. (Hence reduced score to 7) Regular beers are currently Leeds Pale, Bob's White Lion and Abbeydale Absolution. Despite some concerns, it’s still a very good bar, worthy of a visit when in town. Has a GBG 2012 listing.
On 30th November 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 584 recommendations about 566 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Harry's Bar
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.
On 20th February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Harry's Bar
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.
On 3rd August 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5185 recommendations about 5168 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
James Joines left this review about Harry's Bar
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#
On 16th April 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 841 recommendations about 835 pubs]