The Garrison, Barnsley

Originally two buildings with a yard between them, the yard is now covered and the resulting three spaces have different personalities. The counter is housed in a building in George Yard, this has a flag floor, possibly original, very chunky basic wooden tables and forms with a couple of sofas and industrial small tables in one corner. There are a number of screens dotted about. The middle is the covered yard with short modern tables and chairs, I didn’t check the third space but it may have been retail spaces or something, I don’t care I’d lost the will to live by then. No cask beers just a sad collection of the usual kegs. Constant music and some sort of function room upstairs.

The Garrison can be approached either from Regent Street or from George Yard off Market Hill.The building dates back to the 18th Century and in a previous life has had numerous different names and uses and now is a sports bar.If you enter from George Yard the bar is to the left and the limited seating mainly consisting of around 5 or 6 Chesterfield settees.There was also a few TV screens dotted around and beyond the bar a spacious courtyard where live music is performed. There was a couple of impressive features i noticed the large flagged floor and what looked like the original old stone fireplace,which had an ancient oak beam over the top and according to a brass plate on the wall the beam was taken from a building where the old Courthouse is now and dates back to 1430. Although no cask beer here i found the staff friendly and is worth a visit if you are nearby.