Boons, Wakefield

Facebook page of Boons - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Boons - www.facebook.com

Well decribed by a&h below although there are 9 handpumps, with one being hidden towards the rear serving a real cider. Loads of bric-a-brac around the place, including pump clips, trophies and books bought by the yard. It's a very comfortable pub and one I'd certainly call in again if I was ever in the area.

Lively and friendly town centre pub, owned by Clark’s brewery, originally an eighteenth century coaching inn. Internally, it’s medium sized and open plan, with a central bar opposite the main entrance. There are low ceilings with exposed beams (reclaimed vs original?), exposed brick walls and high bookcases, plus a good collection of sporting photos, many featuring local rugby team Wakefield Trinity. Scores of pump clips from previously featured beers are to be found tacked to the beams. Behind the bar is a pool table and beyond that the entrance to the large enclosed yard, for fair weather drinking. A couple of overhead screens provide coverage of live sport. Overall, the pub feels quite dark, but that only adds to the sense of enveloping cosiness. At the bar there are eight hand pumps and pleasingly all were in use during my visit. Normally, two Clark’s beers feature along with six guests. On this occasion they included Coastal ‘Hop Monster’, Thornbridge ‘Kipling’, Jarrow ‘Rivet Catcher’ and Orkney ‘Dragonhead’. All were in good condition. Service from the young barmaid was warm and welcoming. A good mellow atmosphere when I called late on a Friday afternoon, though the pub does get very busy at peak times. I have to say, I really like Boon’s and couldn’t imagine a visit to the town without calling in. As a friendly, traditional local it takes some beating. Potential visitors to Horbury should note it’s worth doing as a double header, with The Cricketers over the road, although the two are very different in feel. Despite dipping in and out of the Good Beer Guide down the years, it’s encouraging to see it included once again, in 2015. Visited 11.07.14

A whitewashed traditional pub that has undergone a sympathetic upgrading in recent years judging by the décor. The interior is cosy, with a granny carpet of reds and blues, chunky wooden furniture, comfy padded bench seating, dark wood beams, green trim and plenty of Wakefield Trinity memorabilia on the walls. To the rear is a pool table. There’s some undressed brick walls, an attractive dark wood curved bar and the interior beams and rails are festooned with old pump clips which testify to the pub’s guest ale policy. Half a dozen ales on at the bar, with Tim Taylors, Clarks, Black Sheep, Tetleys and a seasonal from Wye Valley. All the beers I tried were in excellent shape, served up by a genuinely friendly and enthusiastic young lass. This was a little cracker and it’s well-worth the bus ride from Wakefield to sample.