The Head of Steam, Huddersfield

My first visit for a very long time and it is still a very worthwhile place, albeit perhaps a little more unkempt than days of old. I was intrigued that they separate keg and cask bars - I wonder if the clientele is noticeably different! Anyway there were 8 ales on, including 2 milds, and they were all what I would describe as proper beer-flavoured beers with no hints of kumquats or gooseberries.

Two great drinking venues at the station - I wonder how many people miss their train for the next one. Seating outside and the square is lovely. Broad choice, as you would expect, and I went for a Magic Rock Canon Ball on cask (not noticed at the tap room when visiting earlier) and a La Trappe Tripel on Keg. Lovely town, Huddersfield. First visit and I was impressed.

After missing this one out on our last couple of visits to Huddersfield we called in again on Sunday, or at lease we tried to. Sorry said the barman, we're closed. It was just after 10.

Very disappointing visit to this place last night. There's lots of character to the pub with lots of wood panelling etc, along with a model train over the bar. What a pity the same couldn't be said of the bar staff. The personality free one that served us was wearing a Motorhead Road Crew T shirt. When I commented that it had been a bad week for Motorhead fans with Fast Eddie dying, he didn't seem to know who he was. A poor selection of beer on the bar with several from Camerons. My pint of Partners Hoppy Daze, wasn't hoppy and was poorly conditioned. We weren't going to have a second beer anyway, but the barman came round to tell us that if we wanted another drink we should go to the bar as they were going to close. It was 9:30!! Not good, I'll miss this one out next time.

Well, I'm sorry but tonight wasn't one of the best for this place. I've known far better beers and the front bars are populated by the noisy young. Still worth a seven based on previous visits.

This one has been around for years and after a dodgy patch seems to be returning to its best. The multi-room layout is well documented below. It was very busy on my late Saturday afternoon visit. The 12 hand pumps for beer included three from Anarchy one of which I had to send back as it was cloudy. It was changed with good grace for something called Small Batch #37 Choc-Orange Oat Stout. I went for this (£3.50) which was excellent and I discovered after that it was from Black Sheep. Despite being quite busy and the cloudy pint I liked both this one and the other station pub.