The Grove, Huddersfield

I remember this pub long before the Co-op signs and also before it was a real ale pub. I happen to like Thornbridge ales as opposed to some of the other contributors and rate the Jaipur highly. Not quite a 10 but not far short.

My first thought as I approached this place was "That's not a pub it's a bleedin' Co-Op". Looking at the pictures it would seem that this bizarre signage was added some time last year. It's been well described below but the place is really an old school two bar boozer that just happens to do 19 cask ales a whole load of "craft" keg and real cider. I went to the saloon side and sat near the off putting nude paintings mentioned below. I can imagine the ale list being overwhelming but I spotted Thornbridge Jaipur IPA which I hadn't seen for months but had heard talk of the brewery having problems and that it wasn't the beer it was. My pint of it (£3.20) didn't really resolve the issue as it was hazy (not uncommon) tasted OK but not as good as the Rat beers tried down the road earlier. Having spent extra time in the Rat & Ratchet I only had time for one in here but it does seem to be a great pub.

Situated close to The Rat and Ratchet is The Grove Inn, probably as equally well known for its beer range. Externally, one’s first impression is of an unremarkable typical street corner local. Internally, there’s two adjoining bars with rooms denoted as Lounge and Tap Room, although there’s no obviously discernible difference in comfort and facilities between the two rooms. It’s a quirky interior, with a rather horrible light green colour scheme and modern artwork, with seating consisting largely of long wooden benches with similar wooden tables. There’s a tiled floor that may or may not be original, but it’s a rather featureless modernised interior that is not perhaps what one might expect in this part of Yorkshire. The smaller Tap Room, on the right hand side, is the more pleasant room. Disappointingly, I don’t recollect seeing anything to tell me I was in Huddersfield ( eg – old white and photos pictures, photos etc ) or even the North. The beer range is the thing here, with an extensive selection of handpumped beer available across the two bar counters, supplemented by an extensive range of foreign bottled beer. There’s 18 pumps in total. This is definitely one for the tickers On my recent Friday evening visit, beers on included, notably, beers from Brodies ( can’t recollect seeing them this far away from base before ) plus local micros and other more established beers such as Thornbridge Jaipur IPA and Fullers ESB ( which, coming from down south, I noted were priced at £ 3.10 and £ 3.00p a pint respectively ) . On the food front, I noted that there was a cheeseboard available - £ 6.50p. There’s also a range of snacks ( nuts crisps etc ) which one might describe as unusual. Jazz features on the first Sunday of each month from 4 – 7 pm. Rather like the pub itself, the customer base appears to be somewhat different from The Rat and Ratchet nearby. Customers appeared to be mainly young urban professionals and trendy looking thirty somethings. Staff seem to be those irritatingly laid back studenty types that I largely detest, principally because they often give you the impression that they’re doing you a favour by serving you. Asking for a dark beer, I was recommended the Dark Star Six Grain - £ 2.80p. I wasn’t looking when he pulled the pint, but it quickly became evident that this was a pale blond beer. Commenting on this to the barman, I was informed, rather nonchalantly, that “it tastes darker than it looks”, which, believe it or not, it didn’t really. Had he admitted his mistake and offered to change it with good grace, I’d have made light of it and we’d probably have exchanged a joke and a smile, but this response did rather sour my mood. Perhaps I just came in on a bad day and, in fairness to the staff, it was quite hectic, but, taking the experience as a whole, this pub left a rather poor impression when compared to The Rat and Ratchet.