The Junction, Shipley

Under new management after previous occupants oversaw a decline that almost saw the pub closed permanently, according to local information. It's back to its best now, looking very spruce and with four cask beers on the bar. I was a bit spoilt for choice, with a chocolate porter, a NE hazy pale, an orange infused pale from Abbeydale, and their Daily Bread too; even the cider was fruity - I mean in addition to apples obviously. My half of Abbeydale Splendour was a bit like drinking orange juice, but I grinned and bore it. Good to see this pub still serving the local community - the guy I was chatting to was born nearby and has been drinking here for 40 years.

This multi-roomed pub, situated at a busy road junction on the edge of Baildon, has an unusual shape - a truncated wedge. The entrance is from the Baildon Road side and the bar is in a room which, at the time of my visit, was fairly crowded. There were apparently six hand pumps on the bar, but on my way out I caught a glimpse of a previously hidden seventh in a corner of the bar. Beers available at the time of my visit were Tetleys Bitter, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, Dark Star Hophead, Fullers ESB and Red Fox, Junction Blonde (which is brewed on site) and Bosuns IPA. The pub was remarkably busy (early afternoon on a Friday) and like Alan (below) I had to look for somewhere to sit in one of the secondary rooms as the main bar area was pretty full. The pub is comfortable, if a little scruffy, which is how I like them - nothing formal about this place. There's a good atmosphere and it feels welcoming and well used.