Real Ale, Real Music

I managed to get away from work on time as I had things to do in the evening. It was raining, a miserable evening, but the teatime traffic was not too bad, so I managed to make reasonable progress up the Tame Valley. I drove up through Mossley, and then as I climbed up Quick Road to Lydgate, it began to sleet. By the time I got to Delph, there was more snow in the mix, and as I approached Denshaw, it was all snow. I turned right towards the M62, and whilst there was snow on the road, the car was coping fine. However, as I got past the Ram's Head, I came across a BMW in front of me who was clearly struggling. I had to slow down behind him, losing my traction in the process, and then it was slow progress as we slowly slipped, slided, and snaked our way up to the top of the hill, finally reaching the sanctuary of the M62, where the traffic was flowing as normal. However, as a result of the extra half hour the journey took me, my plans to grab a bite to eat before I went out had...

Halifax's latest real ale bar and music venue opens as cask ale comes to the supermarket.... Last weekend saw the long-awaited opening of the Lantern in Halifax, brought to you by the guys behind the highly-successful Alexandra. I popped along with our Tom and Annie on Friday night to give it the once over. We had a quick pint at the always reliable Grayston Unity before heading across town. We could hear some music as we turned the corner into Alexandra Street. It was coming from upstairs at The Lantern, finally unveiled from behind the scaffolding and displaying its shiny new tiled exterior. A few people were milling outside as we went inside to the new bar. The place - which had only opened a couple of hours earlier - smelt new, and like us plenty of familiar faces were in there trying it out. On the bar, which was doing a roaring trade, there were 4 handpumps and taps. We went for a pint of Blonde Star from Anarchy Brewing, which was on fine form. The atmosphere was buzzing...

I visited York last weekend to meet up with some of the family who were over from Ireland and staying in the city. After a pleasant lunch and catch-up, some had things to do, while the rest of us headed off into the city centre with the aim - well, it was mine, anyway - of visiting the Brew York brewery tap. We arranged to meet the rest of them at the Blue Bell on Fossgate, a wonderful friendly old pub with a tiled exterior, a beautiful wood-panelled interior with two small rooms, and a serving hatch for the corridor, which acts almost as a third room. I opted for a very pleasant pint of South Side, from Roosters, which with both rooms being full, was enjoyed in the corridor. The Blue Bell is one of those timeless pubs that is a reassuring escape from the bustle of the city streets outside. From the Blue Bell it is a short walk down Fossgate, cross the bridge over the River Foss, and then on to Walmgate which eventually leads through a bar in the city walls to another great pub, the ...

Real ale and music in perfect harmony.... One of my favourite venues for live music is the Brudenell Social Club, situated on Queens Road in the maze of red brick streets off Cardigan Road in the Burley area of Leeds. First opened in 1913, it is named after James Thomas Brudenell, aka the Earl of Cardigan, who was the proud owner of Kirkstall Abbey after it ceased being a monastery way back in the 16th century. I only returned to going there a couple of years ago, when I went to see  Simone Felice  with some friends after a decades-long hiatus. Since then I have gone back several times to see artists such as Hurray for the Riff Raff and Hiss Golden Messenger. It tends to get an eclectic mix of artists on who are up and coming, or cult favourites, often playing to sell-out crowds, and as such attracts a generally knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience. Being situated where it is the Brudenell also attracts large numbers of both current and former students. Artists due...