King's Head, Huddersfield

i visit this pub on a regular basis and find it the best in the area for quality of beer staff live music (sunday afternoon) etc so much better than the head of steam cheers

At the opposite end of Huddersfield train station to the Head of Steam is this welcoming little pub. As you enter, the bar is to the right with the rest of the large, open room extending to the left as far as the platform. The room is perhaps a little sparsely decorated, with the impressive patterned tile floor being the most striking feature and only some old Rizzla adverts and pump clips on the walls. Bench seating lines two of the walls whilst tables and low stools are dotted around the main body of the room, which leaves plenty of space for standing at peak times; enough room even for a stage area against the far wall. Next to the bar there is a small, carpeted snug-type room with some stained glass windows which seems a bit out of place given the look of the rest of the pub. Having said that, it appears that there was some work going on whilst I was there and I spotted a couple of doorways boarded up, so perhaps there are other rooms and snugs currently hidden from view. There was a fine line up of beer on the bar when I visited, all listed on a blackboard at the far end of the bar. I had a choice of Timothy Taylor Landlord and Best Bitter, Bradfield Farmers Blonde, Dark Star Hophead, Salopian Shropshire Gold, Blackwater Baroque, Goose Eye Chinook Blonde, Thornbridge Hopton, Golcar Dark Mild and Northern Deep Dark Secret. I tried the Shropshire Gold and it was in very good condition and went down rather well. The barmaid seemed friendly enough and there was a good crowd at the bar as the place started to fill up as people finished work for the day. I'm sure there is endless debate about which of the two station bars is the best - most of the people I met seemed to prefer this place but I must say I was more taken by the Head of Steam - but the bottom line is that they are both excellent in their own way and I would suggest that if visiting, time is made to ensure both are done justice.

Manager and staff very friendly, very good choice of ales all marked on a large blackboard with info and prices. Prices were the cheapest around and beer well kept. Very basic inside, manager says there's a spectacular glass doom above the ceiling and when they do a refurb it will be on display. There's a lot of potential with this pub just waiting to see something happen. Will return when they do it up.

Specialises in Real Ale from independent micro breweries. Live music evert Sunday.

Housed in part of Huddersfield's impressive station building at the east end of platform 1, although access appears to be only possible from the street side. It is basically a large plain room about 35 foot square, with a smaller room beyond and a smallish alcovelike space next to part of the bar counter. There is some bench seating and tables round the edge with a few Britannia tables with stools in the middle. There is a stage at one end of the room under a window that allows you to watch the trains going by or if you're going towards Manchester see when the next train is due, a very useful if unintended feature. The walls and ceiling are plain painted anaglypta but enlivened with some framed Rizla adverts and a large mirror over one of the fireplaces, there is also a nice victorian tiled floor. It may once have been a more impressive victorian buffet but décor is not the point of the Kings Head, in the words of Fyfe Robertson in a long forgotten TV advert; “No! It's BEER!”. The impressive collection of 10 hand pumps, three serving real cider, have a changing selection of wonderfully well kept ales from mainly small breweries, there are a few kegs also available. A large blackboard over the fireplace shows the usual strength and price information although I wasn't the only customer who totally missed it on entering even though it's right opposite the door! Friendly staff and as you might guess the customers are largely but not exclusively, real ale devotees. By the way, the King in the pub's name is Jimi Hendrix, according to the sign outside.