Dove Inn, Barnsley

Located just outside the town centre, a five minute walk from Barnsley's Oakwell stadium, The Dove Inn is a friendly football themed pub which welcomes well behaved away supporters. The pub has a nice traditional feel to it, retaining various rooms, despite having been opened out in part to accommodate more people on match days. You enter into a carpeted seating area with a few tub chairs around small circular tables, light wood ceiling beams and wall panels with an off white top half and a servery on the left. In the front window there was a food counter, helpfully offering homemade pork pies (very tasty) and pulled pork rolls at generous prices, although I would guess this is a service restricted to match days. The pub extends a long way to the right, with lots of standard and low stool seating, more of those unusual light wood panels, some stained glass screens and old whisky boxes displayed on high shelves. A separate room to the left, which can be viewed through a round window near the entrance, filled with an old cartwheel, houses another section of servery and acts as a games room, with a pool table proving popular pre-match. A couple of small tables and stools jostle for space, but you're best off staying on your feet to admire the excellent collection of Barnsley FC memorabilia on display, including photos, signed shirts and footballs, a cabinet full of programmes and a weird looking framed club dartboard. A door to the rear left takes you through a small triangular shaped room with stained glass front pieces over the windows and a collection of kid's toys, before emerging into the rear garden, which can also be accessed by a room to the rear right which has a dartboard and limited seating options. The garden is paved and has several picnic benches, but most notably is overlooked by a drinking balcony, which I couldn't figure out how you accessed. The pub is tied to the Old Mill Brewery and two of their beers - Traditional Bitter and Bullion - were available on handpull. I gave the Traditional Bitter a try and thought it was pretty poor, especially given the high level of demand that afternoon. The staff were efficient enough and the atmosphere was pretty relaxed, with supporters mixing with no problems. This is quite an appealing pub that was very different from what I would expect from the usual football style boozer. It's a shame that the beer wasn't up to much, but it remains a good pre-match option, especially if you're after a cheap, tasty snack. I'd probably give this one a second chance the next time I'm in town.

Official site of The Dove Inn - www.oldmillbrewery.co.uk

Official site of The Dove Inn - www.oldmillbrewery.co.uk

Watch out for the opening times here - was closed when I went on a Monday lunchtime