Northern Quarter, Huddersfield

Semi-modern two-room bar located up a few steps inside the front door. The compact bar on one side has the most ridiculously high counter and just a few tall metal stools around the periphery. On the other side, there is a small lounge area plus a number of canteen-style tables awkwardly placed on a couple of wide steps. Live music advertised. Four real ales on handpump: Mallinson's Stadium, Great Heck Patrick, Settle Aftermire and Bad Uncle Barry from Three Fiends (£1.50, half). Overall, a mixed bag, but the unfortunate smell of drains certainly didn't help first impressions.

Despite the four hand pumps, six keg lines and numerous bottles and cans, I got an impression that music was more important than beer. It certainly had the feel of a music bar rather than a beer house. Maybe this impression was the result of listening to some pretty atrocious thrash metal while I supped my half of a beer called Dark Side from Three Fiends, which was fine, though a little on the pricey side at £3.30 a pint. This sort of place presumably floats someone's boat, as it seems to be thriving, but I wouldn't want to do more than pop back for a half - a session in here would not be my idea of a good time. Date of visit: 23rd September 2016

This is a somewhat awkward place with the steep steps and the high bar creating the sweet shop vibe. I was told by the barman that this was officially the second highest bar servery in the country, the highest being one I'd been to years ago called the White Swan in Doncaster. I didn't take too much notice of the decor but on my Saturday afternoon visit it was quiet. The four hand pumps had Titanic Iceberg, Three Friends Dark Side Black IPA, Great Heck Blonde and Mallinson's Mount Chivo. I went for the Black IPA which was slightly on the warm side but tasted great. This place is aimed at the younger set and is not really a micropub for a few reasons but the most compelling is that they don't actually claim to be one. Does it deserve the GBG 2016 listing? I thought the three non GBG ones visited were better than this (the Lord Wilson is confined to Room 101 so doesn't really exist). Despite that I quite liked it and would return.