Goats Head, Keighley

Sadly this pub closed the week before my planned visit, just the weekend before so it didn’t come up as shut during my earlier planning. Apparently the owners of seven years found it unviable in the current situation. A shame as it’s a prominent crossroads location and looks quite sizeable.

Facebook page of Goats Head - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Goats Head - www.facebook.com

The best sort of village local, with an enthusiastic licensee with an obvious passion for real ale and whatever else makes a pub the focus of community involvement. Although it was very quiet at the time of my mid-afternoon, mid-week visit, it was clear that this is a popular facility for local people. Three hand pumps with Timothy Taylor Landlord and Boltmaker, plus Saltaire Blonde. My half of Landlord was as good as it gets, and the whole pub experience, from the friendly welcome, the engaging and helpful attitude, and the general no-frills-just-excellence vibe was absolutely spot on. Apart from the background music, which was plodding, repetitive and boring.