The Crafty Fox, Brighouse

Very good shopping centre bar, as described by previous reviewers. Six cask beers on (see photo) and I had the excellent Acorn Hoptathlon 4.5%, and easy NBSS 4. It was very relaxing after the tensions of the football and then having to run for my bus to get here. I could happily have spent my final hour here before my train, but you know how it is. So many pubs, so little time.

This is one of those places that is somewhere between a micropub and a bar. Situated on one of Brighouses's main shopping streets, it is definitely a shop conversion. However, stretching over a couple of floors, you wouldn't exactly describe it as micro. In addition, there appeared to be a slight leaning towards craft beers, as opposed to cask ales. A handful of locals were in when I arrived, but by the time I'd left, the ground floor was fairly packed and including a fair few dogs. I'd bagged a table nearer the front and quite happily whiled away an hour or so, which for me is a long time in a pub! 6 cask ales are served. On my visit these were Salopian Oracle, Big Trip Spektrum, Darkland Riwaka, Neepsend Willbrand, Kirkstall Jasper & Brew York Yorkshire Parky. Craft beers were Verdant Random Rules, Polly's Mular, Neon Raptor Memory Tapes, Twisted Wheel Moral Panic & Siren Mucha Mocha. There were a number of lagers on sale too. Having never tried Yorkshire Parkin cake before, my Yorkshire Parky had a rather unique taste, which I couldn't quite get to grips with. Not wishing to leave without having another, I thought I'd try the 10% Mucha Mocha - probably a mistake considering I wanted to try at least 4 more pubs. It was much more to my taste. Although I find that anything in double figures tends to be enjoyable! I'd say this rivals the Market Tavern for the honour of being best pub in Brighouse. They both have different strongpoints, but I did enjoy my first visit here.