Hare & Hounds, Hebden Bridge

Way back in 1976 two of us came to this pub (and the Mount Skip nearby which is now a B&B) to try out the then generally unknown Timothy Taylor beers. I've not been here now for some 35 years so I came with a few questions. Is it the same location? Back then it was remote and high up in the Pennines, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Are Taylor's beers as good as they were especially the Landlord, now a national brand famously guzzled by Madonna? The final question concerns the pub, has it become gentrified or gone gastro? On my first visit it was a typical off the beaten track Pennine pub, very friendly and down to earth. I found the answer to my first question before returning as there is now a 595 bus that runs to the pub from Hebden Bridge Station. It is half hourly up to around 18:00 then hourly up to 22:30. Despite the bus this place is still very remote or as one of the locals put it "This place is right at the centre of the middle of nowhere". There are a few old buildings around the immediate area, but apart from that it's all moorland although it looked like there was some sort of habitation about half a mile away. Hebden Bridge at the bottom of the Calder Valley looks a very long way down and across the valley the square tower of the Church at Heptonstall stands out. The second question could only be answered at the pub although there was a surprise hint a few days earlier at the GBBF where their Boltmaker Best Bitter (they no longer produce an "ordinary" bitter) won the CBOB award at Olympia. On the bar were the five Taylor's beers priced at £2.90 and £3.15 for the Landlord and Ram Tam. I went for the full set and all were in superb condition. My favourites of the five were the Dark Mild and the Ram Tam. I noticed there were a few locals drinking the Dark Mild. So are Taylor's beers as good as they were? I would say yes with one exception, I don't think that Landlord is quite as good as it was when I first came across it. So on to the third question the pub. To be honest I didn't recognise the interior, but it is so many years since I last came here. As you enter there is a very sturdy wooden bar with bar stools on the right, on the left there is what was a pool room that is now more of a dining room and past the bar there is another area with tables and chairs. Further inside on the left there is a door that leads out to a small paved patio with garden furniture that looked like it probably needs tying down in stormy weather. This patio overlooks the superb view across the valley. The whole area inside is carpeted apart from some tiling around the bar. It is a genuine old building built from Pennine limestone so doesn't have to try very hard to achieve an Olde Worlde look and feel. Many of the walls are adorned with paintings by a local artist that are also for sale. I have to say I would rather see the doodles of a local than have a load of rubbish about the Bronte sisters and their tedious books rammed down my throat which seems to be the norm in these parts. Inexplicably, the Gents toilet contained photographs of various breeds of sheep. All in all I thought this was still a great pub and remains one of my all time favourites. Although food does play a part here it is by no means dominant and the lamb shank I noticed being delivered was a proper helping of pub grub with no pretensions whatsoever. According to the website this dish costs £9.25. The only downside is that it doesn't open until late afternoon (18:00 and 17:00 Friday) on weekdays but given the location it is hardly surprising. If you come here with the intention of walking from Hebden Bridge bear in mind that it is about 900 feet above sea level and some of the hills are steep to say the least. I can't think of a better place to check out the full range of Timothy Taylor's beers and given that it does reasonably priced accommodation I'm almost tempted to come here and stay for a few days.