The Grove, Huddersfield

This two room pub, just outside the Huddersfield ring road is something of a beer drinker’s paradise, with one of the most comprehensive beer policies I think I have even encountered. Real ale fans have a breathtaking array of all sorts of styles and strengths to work their way through, whilst fans of 'craft' kegged beer are similarly catered for. Cider and perry is also abundant and beer menus list one of the most elaborate bottled beer and spirit selections I've ever seen. I visited the pub on several occasions during a recent stay in Huddersfield and found that the beer was in tip top condition each time. There are a number of handpulls set aside for specific breweries - Brewdog (Trashy Blonde was on during my stay), Marble (Manchester Bitter followed by Lagonda IPA), Dark Star (Espresso Stout), Durham (White Amarillo), Fullers (Gales Spring Sprinter), Gadds (No 5 Best Bitter) and Thornbridge (Branta) - and three more have permanent beers which are always on (Timothy Taylor Landlord and Golden Best, Thornbridge Jaipur). The remaining eight hand pulls are free for guest ales, which when I was there included Buxton Axe Edge Double IPA, Ilkley Mary Jane, Lymestone Stone Faced, Brampton Mild and Jerusalem, Thornbridge Alchemy X and Red Willow Smokeless Porter. There are two cider pumps - one from Saxon (Agostini Perry) and the other a guest (Broadoak). Regular tap offerings include Aspall Suffolk Cider, Brewdog 77 Lager, Jever Pilsner, Fruh Kolsch, Erdinger Urweiss and Moravka Kvasnicove and there is a font permanently dispensing something from Brewdog which was IPA is Dead - Citra whilst I was there. Other keg offerings included Mikkeller Hoppy Easter, Gadds/Revolution Cat Back to Basic Double IPA, Stone Subliminally Self Righteous and Du Pont Bons Voeux. Faced with such a massive selection, it can be a bit confusing trying to work out what you might want to order, but the staff all seemed to know the products inside out and were happy to have a chat and offer tasters in order to help you figure out what sort of beer might best suit you. Blackboards in both rooms detail the range to save you having to pop round to see what's on the other bar. The room to the left, which is set up as a lounge bar, seemed more popular during my visits and it's certainly quite a striking room thanks to some large pieces of artwork including portraits of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, a strange Alice in Wonderland scene and a large naked couple. There is access to a beer garden from this side as well. However, I preferred the smaller tap room on the other side of the pub which had a clean looking green and white colour scheme and a flagstone floor. Banquette and pew seating lined the walls opposite some long tables and a large portrait of Johnny Rotten sneered down on everyone within. I thought it was a bit cosier in this room although it was a bit too quiet earlier in the day when most customers were sat in the other bar. It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the best pubs I have ever had the pleasure of drinking in and it would be a real shame to come to Huddersfield and not give it a try. The landlord has done some great work in getting this pub to the point it now finds itself in and it should be held up as a model of what can be achieved or aspired to. I cannot recommend this place enough - my only regret is that it's several hundred miles away from where I live.