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Kuja, Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge
HX6 2QD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Firehouse
A nice enough bar place that has 6 handpumps on the bar. A spiral staircase is by the entrance that went up, though I don't know what to as I stayed downstairs. Downstairs is a thin area. Its won 'Camra pub of the year' though I doubt whoever picked it would've said that had they waited about 10 minutes to get a drink cos some people were getting some cocktail crap that took up the bar lads time making. That said it does have a decent selection of real ales. If they can somehow get a amalgamation of Tom Cruise and Percy Thrower together to deal with the cocktail brigade then its happy days all round.
On 18th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Firehouse
A busy and vibrant corner house pub serving a range of craft beer, tapas and real ale. There were six handpumps on the bar on our visit and all in use. We went for the Magic Rock Ringmaster which was in good shape. The interior had a spiral staircase over in the front corner, leading to the upper floor. The colour scheme throughout was dark green colour. The staff were friendly and welcoming also.
On 10th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Firehouse
The Firehouse is a corner pub that is converted from other use.
Once inside there is an oblong shaped room which is bare boarded,the seating is tall tables and chairs to the front and pew seating and chairs to the rear,there is also another room which is upstairs.
There was a good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of beer from Dark Star,which i think mat have been called Express,this was a very nice drink,the other beers i noted were Magic Rock Ringmaster,Saltaire Cascade and Moorhouses Pride of Pendle.
I was quite happy having a drink here.
Pub visited 29/8/2014
On 29th August 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Firehouse
I can't say I took to this place at all. It's an office conversion with a modern interior and a generally trendy feel to it. Beers noted were Saltaire Cascade, Magic Rock Ringmaster, Thornbridge Hopton, Orkney Dark Island and Dark Star Hophead. I went for the Saltaire Cascade which was sour and I had to send back. It was replaced with the Thornbridge Hopton (£2.90) which although good enough wasn't outstanding quality.
Maybe I caught it on a bad day
On 18th August 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Firehouse
This corner bar sits at the top of Hollins Mill Lane,a non descript road which houses three excellent real ale venues all of which are worthy of an extended visit ,including this place.From the outside it just looks like any other town centre bar,but go inside and you will feel uplifted.The bar sports 5 operational handpumps,and there was a friendly welcome from a very knowlegeable barman,who liked to discuss all aspects of both his choice of brews and the local real ale scene.I thought the choice of real ales was well thought out and their condition was very good.Magic Rock Hire Wire,Thornbridge Jaipur and Camden Town Pale on keg also showed some care in selection.
The interior is modern and open plan with two large and comfortable semi circular banquettes to the far end.We didn't eat but the menu looked classy,and a group of young ladies were tucking into a selection of thin crust pizzas.Up a circular stair is a seperate dining area,unvisited by me.
I endorse the recommendations by a&h and ROB Camra ,this is one to include on any visit to Sowerby Bridge.
On 18th July 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Firehouse
We visited on A&H's recommendation and review below and were glad to have done so.
I won't replicate his review other than to say that it feels like a trendy bar, although not in an unwelcoming way and the barman was very knowledgable on the ale front going so far as to describe some of the better bottled ales which he'd sampled from the cheap booze shop close by.
On our early evening visit there were one or two tables busy with people eating and it does seem to attract the younger types. We didn't eat but the menu looked interesting and the tapas selections especially caught my eye as being worth a go.
Beer on cask was: Oakham Citra, Magic Rock Ringmaster, Redwillow Feckless, Moorhouses Pride of Pendle and Five Points Railway Porter. The latter was very good and there were also some interesting keg options available.
Very close to The Works and The Puzzle and equally commendable.
On 16th July 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about Firehouse
A classic example of do not judge a book by its cover. External appearances would suggest that the Firehouse is a fairly innocuous modern bar, with little to appeal to the serious drinker. However, nothing could be further from the truth, as the six hand pumps and six craft beer fonts immediately testify, on entering. Internally, it’s a long narrow bar with black walls and ceiling, a wooden floor (possibly original?) and exposed brickwork behind the bar itself. A spiral staircase, opposite the entrance, leads to a more formal dining space on the floor above. Not a lot to appeal to traditionalists, perhaps, but it works surprisingly well.
I tried four of the six hand pulled beers on offer – Salopian ‘Golden Thread’, Saltaire ‘Dark Matter’, Magic Rock ‘Ringmaster’ and Thornbridge ‘Wild Swan’ and all were in very good nick, rather better than I was expecting. Service from the young bar staff was welcoming and attentive throughout, which added to the already pleasant late Saturday afternoon atmosphere. The food is also worthy of mention, with the ‘2 for £10’ deal an absolute snip, for two good quality, thin crust, Italian style pizzas. However, other dishes were highly rated by those in our party.
Overall, The Firehouse proved a very pleasant surprise. Previous visits to Sowerby have seen me walk straight past on the way to The Works and The Puzzle Inn. However, I suspect that won’t happen again. What was once an enjoyable double header has become an even more enjoyable triple header.
On 24th June 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 578 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Firehouse
Reopened after a refurbishment which hasn't changed the character of the place. There are now 6 handpumps on the bar, 5 of which were on yesterday. The Magic Rock Ringmaster was in good nick. The pizzas are no longer £5 in the bar all the time, but there is an offer of 2 for £10 between 4 & 6:30. Both our pizzas were very good again. We'll definitely be calling back again.
26/10/2010
The Firehouse is a fairly recent addition to the real ale fold and is now listed in the GBG 2011. It has an upstairs restaurant and a downstairs bar area which is not very traditional it’s more of a trendy wine bar look. There are sofas and chairs to the right of the bar and some high tables with stools along the windows facing the bar. The decor is fairly minimalist but it works well. There was a 50th birthday party on in the restaurant so I couldn’t get a look up there. There are 4 handpumps on the bar. The two regular beers are Timothy Taylors Golden Best & Landlord the other two are changing guests. On Wednesday there was only one guest available but this was the excellent Mayhem from North Yorkshire Brewery. They have a traditional clay pizza oven upstairs, so that was the meal sorted. All pizzas are currently £5 in the bar. The ones we ordered came on huge plates and overhung them all the way round, with plenty of topping as well, what a bargain. The blonde girl serving behind the bar was very efficient and did an excellent job and we told her so. It’s not a traditional real ale venue in any sense, but we loved the atmosphere of the place. We’ll be calling in here every time we’re in Sowerby in future I suspect.
On 18th April 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]