Victoria Hotel, Castleford

Large two roomed almost rambling Victorian red brick building, still impressive inside but it has been messed about with over the years. I stayed with the large main bar which has the counter across most of the back wall, very much a 1960 or 70s interpretation but nice enough. The neat architrave has been retained along with deep skirting and it’s been sympathetically decorated. It has six pulls in three groups of two but just Bradfield Farmers Blonde was being served, not a favourite of mine but this was a decent drop. Keg wise there’s a selection of the usual, Guinness, lagers and a cider plus John Smith’s Smooth on ten solos. There’s a raised area at the right hand end with tables and chairs, maybe used as a dining area. Just the one machine at one end of the counter and a screen above the quite nasty brick fireplace. There’s a beer garden at the back, sadly not on the river side of the road and a pool table in the back room. Gents through a door at the far left of the counter, ladies the other end along a short corridor at the bottom of the stairs.