Stackhouse Bar, Bridlington

This is a quirky micropub located down a small town centre alleyway in what was previously Higginson’s Bakers. Once you’ve located the easily missed alleyway, you follow it to the end, passing through a very small courtyard space where a few bits of basic garden furniture have been arranged in a spot that I imagine only gets a brief sliver on sunshine through the course of the day. The entrance is at the far end of the alley, taking you through directly to the main bar area with the servery along the back wall and some limited seating around the stone tile floored room. The bar has a corrugated iron counter front and a pleasing minimalist bar back which is enhanced by the muted lighting in this part of the pub. A small pillar breaks the counter partway down its length, with the keg taps to one side and the handpulls on the other. Seating is very limited here due to ample space being set aside for vertical drinking, leaving a couple of small tables to the front as the only options. Most customers had therefore moved into the left-hand room which is reached by doubling back on yourself and walking parallel to the alleyway. This long, narrow room has a terracotta tiled floor, some Chesterfield sofas in front of large floor to ceiling windows that look out to the aforementioned ‘courtyard’, and a row of tables and chairs down the right-hand wall. The whole room has whitewashed brick walls that have been decorated with a few arty posters and some old hairdresser’s wall mounted hairdryers. This sort of quirky feature is repeated towards the far end of the room, where a couple of old airplane seats have been set up for customers to sit in, albeit with no table to put your drinks on. An eclectic soundtrack played in the background and there was a modest Saturday afternoon crowd in, with the overspill space afforded by the side room ensuring that everyone had somewhere to sit. Three ales were available across five handpulls, with options on this visit comprising Exeter Country Best, Thornbridge Market Porter and Bristol Beer Factory Notorious. Two Lilley’s ciders occupied the remaining pumps and my pint of the Notorious was in fine fettle, which is more than can be said for the rather disinterested barman who served us. This is quite a nice pub that didn’t really feel that much like a typical micropub. It’s located in an interesting old building and probably needs a bit more time to bed in and develop some character of its own, but I enjoyed the wacky décor and well kept beer and would suggest it’s well worth checking out if you’re in town.

Hidden down an alleyway next to a Turkish barber, this bar is almost a micropub but with loud music. There is one long room, with the bar at the back and an industrial feel, with lots of corrugated iron and brick. Outside there is a row of pews and a few tables in the courtyard. 5 handpumps offered Kirkstall Pale, Harbour Cornish Bitter, Tapped Oat Stout and a couple of ciders, with a clump of craft keg to the side. Could be good but didn't quite feel right on this visit.

A new real ale venue for Bridlington, opening today. Sister venue to the Stackhouse Bar in Hornsea. Being promoted as a cashless set-up.