The Jam Lounge, Wakefield

With a name like O’Donoghues, you would expect a to come across a stereotypical Irish theme bar complete with inflatable Guinness glasses, toucan posters, tricolours and a bar conversation that inevitably ends with “would you like extra cold” before pouring what they will tell you is the best Guinness outside Dublin. Fortunately O'Donoghues rises above the plastic theme pub game and concentrates on being one of Wakefield’s finer ale houses as well as being a regular outlet for live rock and blues music. The simple interior consists of bare floors and basic furnishings apart from the raised sofa area at the front that doubles up as a stage for the weekend live music sessions. The main body of the pub is quite open but there can be a bit of a bottleneck at the bar when there is a band on. There is a small recess on one side containing a not very accessible dartboard and a few upright empty barrels to rest your pint on. At the rear is a small room that offers a bit of intimacy and also houses an old piano if you fancy sneaking in a few numbers. The 6 hand pumps offer a good selection of ales, mainly Micro’s and many locally sourced. Over my 2 visits I noted Newby Wyke Kingston Topaz, Rudgate Well Blathered, Bobs Brewery Co White Lion, Mauldons Mid Winter Gold, Batemans Miss Scotland and East Coast SSB. There is also the now obligatory pump clip collection that gives a good idea of what passes through the pumps. The customer base was quite mature and friendly as were the staff but if you aren’t into the live music side of things then the pub is best avoided on event nights. Definitely one of Wakefields must do pubs but locating the place has thrown a few people into a spin - the trick is to find the Graziers and it is next door round the corner.