Coach & Horses, Doncaster

Facebook page of Coach & Horses - www.facebook.com

Official site of Coach & Horses - www.speakeasycompany.uk

Facebook page of Coach & Horses - www.facebook.com

Official site of Coach & Horses - www.speakeasycompany.uk

There's not much I can usefully add to John's copious review below. Since his visit, it looks like trade may have gone down a little, as there's only one real ale available - at least, that was the case at the time of my visit on a Monday afternoon: Everards Tiger, and even that was a little tired. Date of visit: 27th July 2015

Situated in the heart of the village of Barnburgh, 7 miles or so west of Donaster, is The Coach and Horses, one of only 3 South Yorkshire pubs to be listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors ( the others being The Bath Hotel in Sheffield and The Plough in Doncaster). It’s a multi roomed large suburban roadhouse style pub which, so we’re told, has largely survived untouched since being built in 1937. The main entrance leads into a typical northern stand up drinking lobby with the “Refreshment Room” off to the left. This room is effectively the games room and contains a snooker table. It’s decorated with several framed football shirts ( including a signed Wednesday shirt from a few years back ). On the other side of the lobby is the Smoke Room, which is the most comfortable room and features fixed padded seating. Original bell pushes are still in situ. The walls are decorated with photos of old Doncaster and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, on my recent visit, this room was hosting a local bingo club afternoon , so, after a quick look around, I retreated to the Tap Room ( public bar ). The Tap Room has an entirely separate entrance round the other side of the building. Here there’s a dart board and TV screen. It’s basically furnished and decorated with horse racing photos and prints. High up on one wall is a celebrated 1970’s Andy Capp mural showing him leaning against a barrel of beer , pint in hand, with the caption “I’m only ere for the beer” underneath. Of particular note throughout the pub are the drop down glazed counter-screens which, apparently, are still in use after “last orders” have been called. These bear the wheatsheaf logo which is not, as you might initially think, that of Timothy Taylors of Keighley, but of a former brewery, Whitworths, based in nearby Wath-upon-Dearne. Note also the simple bar back with its unusual drawers. In overall terms, the basic simplicity of this 1930’s pubs contrasts dramatically with the more lavish and extravagant pubs of the Victorian area – Liverpool’s Philharmonic, London’s Salisbury ( Covent Garden ) and Birmingham’s Bartons Arms spring to mind. Despite its basic simplicity, this pub is clearly right at the heart of the local community. Notably “ egg rolling” was being advertised for Easter Monday and other events were lined up for St George’s Day and the Royal Wedding. I was told that the egg rolling was an annual event, often bringing the main road through the village to a standstill as the eggs are rolled down the incline from the car park at the front of the pub. I doubt that the pub gets much in the way of passing trade, but I received a warm welcome from Andy, who is clearly committed to keeping the pub unchanged. Three real ales were on – Ushers 1824 ( £ 2.60p ) , Copper Penny from Colwick ( Nottingham ) Flipside Brewery ( also £ 2.60p ) plus Greene King IPA. Andy would like to offer a wider range of real ales, but is constrained by the volume of trade. The pub is not in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, but both the Ushers and the Copper Penny were fine pints. The pub can be reached by bus ( route 224 ) from Doncaster on a hourly service and the return fare is about the price of a pint in a Central London pub. The journey takes about 35 minutes. Despite the limited beer selection, do make the effort to seek it out, and pop in if you get the opportunity, but watch opening hours – except for Sunday, it doesn’t open till 2pm and it’s often closed between 6 and 7.30 pm.

Real Ale available