Hallcross, Doncaster

A reasonable pub with a slightly strange layout and an even stranger high counter. A good selection of ales though, including several Stocks brews, once produced on site but now brewed at Welbeck Abbey.

Hallcross is a single roomed pub (not including the live music room at the rear) with a well-trodden bare board floor up the right where curved red banquettes run up the right-hand wall. In the front left is a raised area with green banquettes and the serving counter is found in the left rear corner. Standard and premium keg were available alongside offerings from Beavertown and Brewdog. I also noted six hand pumps that were drawing Stocks Brewing’s Old Horizontal, St Ledger Gold and Best, Pig Barn Brewery’s Fool’s Gold, Bradfield Brewery’s Farmer’s Stout and Goffs Brewery’s Lancer. The numerous old pump clips stuck to the ceiling indicate an ever changing cask selection. I don’t recall any televisions so they must have been turned off during my recent midweek late afternoon visit when the likes of the Who were playing in the background. I didn’t find the service from the barman to be overly welcoming and the pub isn’t that comfortable, but it’s worth popping in for the ale selection.

Looks like a nightclub on approach but inside is a good attempt to turn it into a pub space, nicely decorated although a bit gloomy at the bar which is also massively raised so you feel like an Oompa-Loompa when ordering. Pointless muted TVs which made a wet, grey Sunday feel even more like a wet, grey Sunday – why do pubs do this? More positively, there were a nice set of beers from Stocks and Jolly Boys breweries; my Colliers Porter was NBSS 3.5, so the GBG listing is right and proper. Apparently there’s a totally separate sound proofed live room with live music every weekend. Worth a pint, for sure.

Official site of Hallcross - www.hallcrossdoncaster.co.uk

Official site of Hallcross - www.hallcrossdoncaster.co.uk

The Hallcross is located on a busy traffic junction and doesn't exactly look too inspiring from the outside. It has the look and feel of a late night bar/nightclub. However, the external appearance is deceptive. Inside, there is a much more traditional feel. There is one large room, with a slightly raised area to the left-hand side. The bar itself is against the left wall towards the rear and is at quite an uncomfortable height. You have to peer up at the bar staff from down below! Around the room are a number of TV screens. One was showing the horse racing at nearby Doncaster racecourse. I don't recall what another was showing, whilst others were off. The old Stocks beers are back, albeit now brewed by Welbeck Abbey. Their Best Bitter, St Leger Gold & Old Horizontal were all on, along with 3 guest beers - Brewster's Hophead, Rudgate York Chocolate Stout & Jolly Boys Supa-Citra. I did enquire about real cider. Whilst they had try to stock Weston's Old Rosie & Lilley's Mango Cider, neither had proved to be big hits. So, there is no longer any real cider. As with Old Boots, I didn't manage to get to the garden. Whilst I did explore the corridor to the toilets, I missed the function room too! But, after a poor initial impression, I quite warmed to this place and will most likely return some day.