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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Turks Head, Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge
HX6 2AE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Brainy Pool left this review about The Turks Head
Traditional backstreet pub which is very limited for space inside, especially when it is packed. A decent range of beers but it really was a bit too intimate for me in here, late in a long day. All the same, great to see a lively boozer like this.
On 23rd February 2025
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Turks Head
A two roomed locals pub, which had quite a small interior. The bar area was situated on the right along with some seating and a further and comfortable area on the left. The pub was slightly gloomy during the day, but didn't mind that as the interior is traditional so it was like stepping back in time.
The pub was busy on our Friday afternoon visit, so the barmaid was up the wall. She welcomed us and told us she wouldn't be long getting our beers.
Surprisingly for such a small place they had five handpumps, all in use serving Saltaire Blonde, Theakston Best Bitter, Goose Eye Over and Stout, Oakham Citra and Durham Yakima Stars.
On 7th January 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Turks Head
A stone built back street pub located next to the river there’s a handy footbridge nearby giving a shortcut to the station. Inside it’s one squarish room with banquette seating the counter over to the right and with five pulls of local and beyond beers, usual keg offering. Slightly strangely decorated with the odd pigs head nic nak. There’s a multi level riverside terrace with seating and heating. I’ve been before but the beer was awful, now it’s changed hands the beer and service is much improved.
On 28th May 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Turks Head
A proper back street beer house, and seemingly well used by its regulars, a group of whom, surrounded by their luggage, were celebrating their return to Sowerby Bridge from apparently sunnier climes. The bar, at the right hand end of this multi-roomed pub, has five real ales on and was tended by a young man with his long hair covered by a woolly hat. I had a half of Eagles Feather from local Eagles Crag brewery, and when that went down well, another half of Durham Brewery's Fair Dinkum, whose name hinted to me that it probably featured Australian hops; the barman was unfamiliar with the phrase - what do they teach them in schools these days? Probably the best of the conventional pubs we visited (we left town before we could try the 5pm openers).
On 21st June 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Turks Head
Visited on Saturday while on the Calder Valley real ale trail. At the bar was an overly friendly inebriated gentleman warning us about a less friendly man on the other side of us. He kept pointing at the various pump clips and grinning, and thought maybe he was a real ale enthusiast, but instead he trotted off with a massive vodka with some Vimto in it. As we were about to be served the man we had been warned about chipped in and said the lady next to him had been waiting before us. We didn't argue. Service was friendly but there was only one barmaid on so it took a while to get served. The bar area itself was fairly small. There were 6 hand pumps of which 5 were in use. The pub itself was not too busy but the beer garden sounded a bit rowdy. Nice to have tried it but it felt more like a locals' pub and I was glad to drink up and leave and move on to the next place.
On 30th July 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 830 recommendations about 657 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Turks Head
A nice little pub off the main drag. 2 rooms with the slightly larger one to your left as you enter. You can see into both as they are separated by a through way. 6 handpumps on the bar with Abbeydale Twisted Sister, Ghost Reaper, Farmers bitter, White Lion by someone and Salopian Lemon Dream. It overlooks what I assume is the River Calder. Two real fires ablaze today. A nice friendly pub.
On 18th March 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Turks Head
The Turks Head is a proper looking pub that is just off the high street,it is a shame they have now painted the window frames in the horrible battleship grey colour.
Once inside there is a single square shaped room which is divided into two halfs by a fire place.
The bar is on the right side,the seating bench type and small stools,the floor is part tiled and bare boarded.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Brentwood Galaxy,which was quire a nice drink,the other beers were Phoenix Arizona,Salopion Oracle,plus one more i noted but cannot read the name of.
There was a TV to the rear showing football and background music was playing.
This seemed a decent pub to have a drink in,it was also fairly busy on my Saturday afternoon visit.
Pub visited 29/8/2015
On 29th August 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about Turks Head
A small stone built, one time Webster’s house, tucked away just off the high street and perched precariously above the River Calder. Internally, it’s semi open plan but with several discernible drinking areas. It looks as though the floor space originally consisted of four tiny rooms. Some refurbishment has recently taken place with the addition of a new modern pale wood bar and bar back, but some of the old wooden flooring and wooden panelling remains in place, so it may well be a work in progress. However, at present, the upholstered wall benches and square wooden tables also remain.
At the bar five of the six hand pumps were on the go including Salopian ‘Darwins Origin’, Newby Wyke ‘Orsino’ and Millstone ‘Tiger Rut’. Quality was OK, but rather variable. The new landlord is on record as increasing the commitment to real ale, but maybe the footfall isn’t quite there yet? Fairly quiet on our early Saturday evening visit, but we did receive a warm welcome from the two young barmaids behind the bar, which is always a plus.
To be honest, the jury’s still out on this one. I thought there was enough promise to justify a return visit when next in town and perhaps all it needs is just a little more time. However, with some stiff competition nearby it may well have to up its game, somewhat, to remain viable.
On 24th June 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 644 recommendations about 624 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Turks Head
A few yards off the main street through Sowerby, this pub feels like a back street local. Flag floors with 3 separate areas opened up from a couple of rooms and the bar area. Fairly old fashioned seating and covered benches. A couple of handpumps on the bar selling Spitfire & Copper Dragon. The Copper Dragon was OK. Red wine comes from little bottles which is OK by the other half as it saves getting a glass of wine from a bottle that's been open for days. There's nothing particularly special about this place but nothing wrong with it either. It's OK for one.
On 29th November 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]