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Poll for date of Halifax crawl. with ROBCamra
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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Red Shed
A shed, painted in Labour Party red, and more the sort of thing one might expect to find in a former mining village than in a city centre. Two-part bar and seating area with a concertina partition between the two. Three interesting real ales from smaller breweries, including the Razzle Dazzle raspberry stout from Wilde Child (£3.40) that was better than it might sound!
On 10th July 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Red Shed
I'm not really convinced about this one. It is exactly as described on the tin, it's a red shed. An old army hut converted into the local labour club. In theory this is a members club, but none of our group were queried when we entered. Lots of union badges and plaques around the walls in the main room. A decent range of beer on the handpumps and my pint was in very good nick. Very quiet early on a Friday evening when the nearby Fernandes Tap had been busy. I doubt if I'd bother with this one next time I'm in Wakefield, but it's interesting to visit it once. Listed in the CAMRA GBG 2016.
On 22nd September 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Red Shed
This place looks like some sort of storage shed for the huge shopping complex that towers over it, but amazingly it is the home of Wakefield Labour Club, with a reputation for serving excellent beer. The interior was partitioned off when we visited on a quiet Sunday evening, so I only got to see half of the building. The place has something of a spartan interior, with white walls decorated with a few pictures and trinkets from various political rallies and the like. A bookcase on one wall is stocked with a good deal of left wing literature, but given the building’s history, I was surprised that they didn't make more of the fact that some notable Labour politicians have delivered speeches here. Nowadays, you're seemingly more likely to find comedians or musicians taking to the stage than any of the 'New Labour' crowd. There is a decent array of seating throughout the room and one or two locals were positioned around the bar, leaving the rest of the space empty.
There were four hand pumps dispensing Acorn Old Moor Porter, Moorhouse Pride of Pendle, Phoenix Xmas Kiss and Wentworth South Yorkshire Pale Ale. The beers sampled were in good condition with the Porter in particular going down a treat. The barman seemed friendly enough, although he spent much of his time trying to fix a faulty alarm at the front entrance.
This place is a real curio and well worth a look on any crawl of Wakefield, although it's worth remembering that it keeps unconventional hours. I'd certainly consider a return visit and would love to see the place on a busier, livelier evening.
On 19th January 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Red Shed
It’s red and it’s a shed and it could just as easily be a scout hut or full of tools on an allotment but it does make one of the more unusual drinking establishments. Initially it was an old army hut but was moved to its current position by the newly formed local Labour Club in 1966. Whilst it is technically a subscription club, they don’t seem to mind strangers wandering in and they will be quite welcoming if you show some enthusiasm for their ales.
The main bar is to the right of the entrance and is fairly small with tongue & groove wooden strips for walls and ceilings. There are numerous commerative plates depicting various strikes, disputes and marches that leave the occupant in little doubt as to the building’s purpose if they didnt already know and a small quite basic TV in the corner. A set of double doors can be opened to gain extra space when busy and this can open up further into the normally separate function room.
Whilst the political and social activies are the reason for its existence, as a bar the premises does have excellent reputation for ales as evidenced by the numerous CAMRA awards won over the years and regular Good Beer Guide entry. The 4 hand pumps usually have a good range of local ales - my most recent visit they consisted of Salamander Barracuda, Fugglestone Village Life, Bobs White Lion and Five Towns Bodyline IPA. Quality was excellent and they are very reasonably priced between £2 and £2.20 a pint depending on strength.
It’s certainly a quirky place and even the most hardened Tory ale drinker would be hard pressed not to enjoy a few moments on enemy territory.
On 13th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Red Shed
Literally, a big red shed - an old army hut which has somehow managed to survive the redevelopment of the surrounding area. The 'red' is the link it holds to various local trades union and Labour movements who regularly meet there (and whose plaques hang along the wood-panelled walls). There's three rooms, two of which can apparently be hired out for functions. The interior is quite spartan which may put you off staying for a long session but perfectly acceptable for a couple of pints - four keenly-priced ales were available, impeccably served by a friendly barman. Ossett Gold is the house beer, along with three Yorkshire-based guests. It's like having a quality beer in a 70's time warp Portakabin - you might see Gene Hunt's ghost if you're lucky; odd but great fun. Do make sure you go there if you're passing through the area. I hope this is listed in some way - it's a unique treasure.
On 3rd August 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]