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Black Horse, Wakefield
Wakefield
WF1 1XR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Black Horse
Called in here at the end of a very long day. It was loud and busy with a Halloween party in full swing! Some great costumes on show to be fair. We had Bradfield Farmer Blonde (I think!) Great to see a pub busy. Years ago I'd have stayed till the end but not now - one for the younger crowd!
On 13th November 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Black Horse
Smartly decorated, the Black Horse seems to promise a full range of Theakstons beers, as the relevant hand pumps are depicted around the outside of the beer garden walls (Best Bitter, Black Bull, XB, Lightfoot and Old Peculier). Although the raucous pop music was off-putting, I ventured inside - I was prepared to put up with a little discomfort for the sake of a half of OP. However, there are only three hand pumps on the bar, with beers from Sharps (Doom Bar and Atlantic) and Bradfield (Farmer Blonde). I didn't have a drink.
On 2nd September 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3740 recommendations about 3477 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Black Horse
Two rooms & a garden boasting three hand pumps with fairly boring beers, just one from Theakstons, Lightfoot plus Red Rye from Sharps and someone's Blonde. There's a lower level lounge with no counter. Old photo decor. Nice enough but not spectacular.
On 28th August 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Black Horse
Thoroughly refurbished in a semi-modern style, with some interesting black & white photographs of the town and old-time stars from the nearby opera house on the walls. Various seating areas around the bar, including a side room down four steps. Music on the loud side on a Saturday lunchtime. Three handpumps, all dispensing Theakston beers (although not a tied house) - Lightfoot (£3.10), XB and Old Peculier.
On 8th March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about Black Horse
Recently re-opened after an extensive period of closure, the pub has undergone a six figure refurb and been re-branded, by Enterprise, as Black Horse Pub & Dining. Part of the changes have involved absorbing the vacant shop, next door. Despite the potential extra space, the interior floorplan seems to have changed remarkably little, with only the downstairs room having turned through ninety degrees. The décor and furniture are in the modern ‘IKEA showroom’ style, but so bland and inoffensive, that unless you actually wrote down a description, you’d be hard pushed to recall anything about them.
At the bar, the beer choices have definitely improved with Theakston’s Lightfoot, XB and Old Peculier the regular offerings, compared to a solitary pump of John Smith’s the last time I called. I wanted to try the XB and OP, but with the XB just going off, I bizarrely ended up with two halves of OP (don’t ask). Quality was OK, though it was poured rather hurriedly and lacked a decent head. Also, a tad cold for my palate. However, the young barmaid was undoubtedly friendly and welcoming. I suspect she got a little flustered when the XB cask went off.
Atmosphere wise, it was pretty dead on my Sunday teatime visit with only five or six other punters in the place. As often happens in empty pubs, the music was cranked up to compensate for the lack of custom. From the dining point of view, hot food is available 12-8 Monday to Saturday and 12-4 on Sunday. The menus had been cleared away during my visit, but on perusing the website it would seem fare is based on traditional staples such as lasagne, bangers & mash etc.
On balance, the current incarnation is an improvement on the old, but it does seem to lack a bit of character, a bit of soul. A return visit seems unlikely, unless I get a particular yearning for some Old Peculier.
On 14th January 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 581 recommendations about 563 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Black Horse Hotel
With a little bit of thought and effort, the Black Horse could be a far better pub than it actually is. The premises is decent enough and has been spared from the worst excesses of major refurbishments or attempts to clubbify it to match the gaudy nature of most of its neighbours. It is handily positioned on a main road close to the station and a short walk from the town centre and yet it seems to be stuck in an almighty rut.
Ihe interior is pleasant enough with a traditional if fairly formulaic approach. The main bar has plenty of polished paneling, brass bits and, as it wraps itself around to a pool table area at the rear, various New York themed prints. Off to one side is a separte slightly sunken room with built in seating, brewery mirrors, a plate collection, horsey pictures and, for some reason, a reproduction newspaper proclaiming the loss of the Titanic. The fairly large patio outside seems wasted and could be put to much better use if was suitably furnished.
Whilst it is all very neat and tidy in its own way, the pub is let down by its beers. Of the 5 hand pumps, just John Smiths was available (a second pump with Magnet was reversed and the other 3 unused). A far more interesting selection would at least be a start if this place has any ambitions beyond attracting half a dozen people in here on a Saturday night. As things stand, it is currently not much more than a quick pint stop which is a huge underachiement given the potential.
On 18th August 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about Black Horse Hotel
A traditional two roomed, street corner pub, situated on the city’s main drag, close to Westgate station.
The large main room is lined with wooden panels and is dotted with innocuous, dated art prints, plus a few brasses and decorative plates. Although there are wall benches and traditional round tables, a large amount of the floor space is kept clear for vertical drinkers. A rather plain extension to the rear houses a pool table. There’s also a second, slightly sunken, room opposite the bar, which is smaller and cosier, but with similar décor. Overall, the feel is spartan and a little bit dreary. Outside, there is a large enclosed patio, but with the recent redevelopment close by, the Black Horse is now surrounded by busy roads on three sides.
Just John Smith’s Cask as a real ale and on this visit a pretty poor pint as well, unfortunately. Definitely tainted with either detergent from the glass washer, or line cleaner from the hand pump. However, the barman that served me was friendly and welcoming, all very old school.
Atmosphere wise, it was very quiet when I called mid afternoon, what customers there were taking advantage of the sunshine outside. It almost certainly gets busier towards the weekend, but there did seem to be a whiff of decline about the place. I hadn’t called for several years and on the basis of this visit I’m unlikely to again. There are several places close by with much greater appeal and the imminent opening of a new branch of Wetherspoon’s, just across the road, will probably hit trade even harder.
On 15th July 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 581 recommendations about 563 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Sam Mawson left this review about Black Horse Hotel
It's really nice here :)
On 27th September 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]