The Olde Tavern, Pontefract

Bigger than it looks, an old and pretty much an unspoiled pub, two bars; one a traditional public with a pool table, the other an extended lounge with very naff decor in the extension, god it's awful and spoils a decent pub. If they were to fully divide off the nasty bit at the the balastrade it would improve it no end. Having said that it's a long time since I've had a better pint of Black Sheep, anywhere, yes anywhere, for a while and I live 10 miles from Masham! Good local following so obviously worth a visit if you like old style pubs.

The interior of the Old Tavern consists of a left hand public bar and a larger L shaped right hand bar with seating at the rear. I popped my head into the public bar to see a dartboard and pool table, but I spent the majority of my stay in the larger bar. There were only a handful of customers at 20:00 during my recent Monday visit so there was little atmosphere. This atmosphere wasn’t added to by the airing of Coronation Street on a television that sits above a filthy fish tank. Hopefully the advertised aviary in the rear beer garden is a little cleaner! There is a weekly quiz every Sunday from 20:00. Standard keg products were available from the bar that also supports a couple of hand pumps that were drawing Theakstons and Black Sheep. Food is available but the kitchen was closed during my visit, although I did see an advertisement for a carvery. The service was polite without being that friendly. Myself and a work colleague were looking for somewhere local to our hotel to have a few beers and we only stayed in here for a half before moving on, which I think speaks volumes.

The Olde Tavern is a stand alone pub that is situated on a busy main road and a short walk from the town centre. Once inside there is a small square shaped pool room to the front left,there is a small darts room behind this which has two boards. The main drinking room is to the right and is a long oblong shaped room which runs to the rear,the room is carpeted and has comfy bench seating and chairs to the front and a nice looking tropical fish tank,the rear area looks more like a dining area with normal tables and chairs. There was one real ale on the bar which was Theakston Black Bull bitter,this was a decent drink to start my Pontefract crawl on. The pub also has a decent beer garden to the rear. I quite liked this pub. Pub visited 29/7/2015

Official site of Ye Olde Tavern - www.theoldetavern.co.uk

Official site of Ye Olde Tavern - www.theoldetavern.co.uk