The Three Pigeons, Halifax

First time I've been to this brilliant Camra heritage listed Ossett pub when it's not been full to bursting with either football or rugby league fans, so it's really nice to have a chance to appreciate what a lovely pub it is. Eight hand pumps, with White Rat doubled (see photos), but I went for Half Moon Dark Masquerade, an old favourite that I hadn't seen for a few years, and it was as good as I remember from when it was on regularly at the Kelham Island Tavern. As has been said about the Big Six, you haven't done Halifax if you haven't done the Three Pigeons.

Our first stop on a day out of Halifax proved to be just about the best of the bunch in my opinion. This is a pub run by Ossett, which is not too far from Halifax railway station. You enter into a fantastic lobby area from where there are two front rooms either side, the bar itself to the left and a third room also off to the right. From there a corridor leads to a third room on the right and another room at the end. The lobby also has a skylight featuring three pigeons. There are 4 regular cask ales from Ossett - White Rat, Butterley, Yorkshire Blonde & Silver King, with 3 further beers from their range - Fernandes Railway Nut & Citragen & Rat Queen Rat. Ciders were represented by Weston's Old Rosie & Lilley's Pineapple Cider. My Railway Nut was a subtle mild with a nutty taste and was a very good way to start the day. With 12 in our party, we easily filled the room at the far rear, which was lined with pictures of old Halifax. All of the 5 rooms seemed to be a roughly similar size.

Good beer and heritage is a good mix and this pub has bags of both, an Ossett owned pub, there were six of their own beers across nine handpumps but I went for one of the guests in Toms Tap The Mighty Stout which was mighty good, another must visit pub in town.