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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 26th April 2026) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Fretwells
A new pub in an old building, with lots of breweriana and other old stuff, some of it not so old and some of it clearly just made up. There's a display of pump clips and beer mats on the beams but a lot of them are for beers that could never have appeared on the bar here. Of the beers that were here, three out of five were rugby union specials. The lass behind the counter in a pub that is equidistant from the city's two rugby league stadiums was puzzled as to why it was so quiet on a Sunday with a match against Leeds Rhinos due to kick off in two hours. I went for halves of the two non-RU beers, White Rose Best and Woodforde's Nelsons Revenge. Both were good but not brilliant (average NBSS 3.25, £4.30/pint). The lass broke open a bag of bar snacks for me and the only other customer, a Dane. I politely declined as I'm vegan, and she went and hunted out a bag of vegan puff ball snacks and presented half to me in a bowl. I ate them out of politeness and gratitude for her effort, but they were absolutely disgusting.
On 23rd March 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4733 recommendations about 4337 pubs]
Real Ale Ray left this review about Fretwells
This is a popular pub and we found the back room behind the bar very relaxing, even though the front and side bar areas were packed. The pub did have a lot of curios, which included an impressive collection of mugs hanging from the ceiling beams, plus an expanding collection of pump clips. The back room had wood paneling, which included a carved mural, boarded floors and some nice old tables and chairs. Six handpumps White Rose Brewery Best Bitter, Black Rose & White Rose, Front Row Brewery Wotcha Treacle & Tight Head and Milestone New World. All three of us went for the Wotcha Treacle and we all agreed it was one of the best beers of the day. The pub also has a Train Board with times, this would be a 20 min walk from here.
On 14th May 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3745 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Fretwells
This pub is run by the people who used to have the nearby Wm Hawkes before they sold it. This one is in a similar style with lots of old pictures and other tat all around the place. 6 handpumps, all on during our visit. Both the pints I had were in good nick. The second one was bought by the owner, who promptly went into Anti Vax, Conspiracy theory crap. Here's "proof" that David Bowie is still alive was one of the total bollocks stories he went on about. He probably has to buy people drinks to force his audience to listen to all his crap. Nice pub though.
On 30th September 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3358 recommendations about 3266 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Fretwells
A veritable cornucopia of reclaimed victoriana awaits the visitor here, however I've no idea how much is original or imported or copies. Six pulls of local stuff plus a few kegs. Dozens of pump clips are affixed to the (fake) beams plus there are more old signs, photos, and newspapers than you can shake a stick at. The furniture is in keeping with the general oldness theme. Not unpleasant and the beer’s good it's just that the fake decor is overdone, and I nearly burnt me cap on the fecking table candle.
On 13th October 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4020 recommendations about 3683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about Fretwells
Newly opened traditional style pub, housed in a former printers (hence the name). Run by the same team behind the nearby Lion & Key and Wm. Hawkes.
On 5th April 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 720 recommendations about 700 pubs]