Micro Musings....

One of our local micropubs recently celebrated its 7th birthday, and that set me off thinking about the growth of these small pubs and how they have became an integral part of the drinking scene over the past few years....

I called into the Market Tavern in Brighouse the other evening as the popular micropub, situated not surprisingly beside the town's market, was celebrating its 7th birthday. The place was busy, the beer was flowing, and the complimentary sandwiches and other bits of food on the bar were being eagerly consumed. I enjoyed a pint of both Goose Eye Chinook and Blue Bee Triple Hop, both spot on, and enjoyed conversations with friends, as I always do when I call in there. It doesn't seem that long since Snap and Debbie opened the town's first micro in a former storeroom for a nearby butchers, making it one of the first in Calderdale, following on from Calan's in Hebden Bridge, since when it has established itself as an indispensable part of the local drinking scene. This evening our hosts were Snap's son Adam and Tara, as is regularly the case these days, with much good-natured banter flowing as ever between staff and customers. The beer choice may not be as cutting edge as other places, but you always get a beer here in excellent condition, there is a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and overall the Market Tavern encapsulates what's best about micropubs. Happy anniversary guys!

And it is fair to say that the micropub scene over the country has mushroomed since February 2016 when the Market Tavern opened, spawning many variations on the theme over the intervening period. Back in those distant days, what met the criteria of what a micropub was, according to the Micropub Association, defined pretty strictly as follows: "A small free house which listens to its customers, mainly serves cask ales, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks." The first one was set up in a former butchers in Herne Bay in Kent by Martyn Hillier way back in 2005 and that tended to set the template which is still pretty much the norm today of micropubs opening in former retail units, although other buildings have been used, and some conversions from former uses have been quite imaginative. 

The first micropub in the country: Butchers Arms, Herne Bay (Image: Kent Online)

Many of the earliest micros were set up in Kent, not surprising when you consider the first one was established in the county, but another area which took to the concept very quickly was the North East, where the country's second micro pub, the Rat Race Ale House was established at Hartlepool Railway Station in 2009, and created a precedent for a whole sub-group based in former station waiting rooms and other disused spaces around the rail network, and in the North East there are several of the country's best micros at stations on the former railway lines that have been incorporated into the Metro network.

One thing that micropubs do need is plenty of passing foot traffic, which is why they can work well on busy streets, in shopping centres, and railway stations. And as a means of bringing life back to a flagging area with a host of bordered up shops, with the only other signs of life being charity shops, vape shops, fast food joints, and bookies, a good micropub where people can go linger and return regularly is an ideal antidote. And with so many parts of the country seeing their local pubs close and those that remain run by pub chains where you walk in and you could be anywhere in the country (although Wetherspoons, to their credit, do celebrate the local history and links with the area in many of their pubs), a good micropub can reflect the locality of the area and provide a sense of belonging to the community in which it is situated, just as a good local pub has traditionally done.

Just Beer, Newark

As pub numbers have declined in recent years, the growth in micro pubs has bucked the trend, and whilst the sector has itself seen some casualties, it has been pretty resilient in the face of pressures brought on by the lockdowns, increased energy and product costs, and the like. But the small size does have benefits compared to larger operations, with for example generally lower running costs over a smaller footprint and less staff to pay for, and they don't need as many people to fill them. And whilst it is difficult to establish the exact number of micros across the country, the numbers have grown significantly since the Market Tavern opened 7 years ago when the Micropub Association listed a total of 168 members. Pubs Galore currently list 839 micropubs on their website although it is most likely that the total number is somewhat higher. And they continue to open even in these difficult times which are not exactly conducive to launching a new business.

Over the years, whilst many micropubs listed on the Pubs Galore list stay close to the original format, many have adapted the model to suit their personal tastes or local needs. Many will have music playing in the background, with some even featuring live music from time to time. In fact Northern Quarter in Huddersfield is primarily a music venue with bar whilst The Record Cafe in Bradford even has its own vinyl store on site. The range of food available has increased generally, although this is limited by size, but depending on location and particularly if there is an outside drinking area there may be an opportunity to have pop-up street vendors at the weekend. Some like the Cob and Coal in Oldham's Tommyfield Market have an array of food vendors available on neighbouring stalls that customers are allowed to buy from and then being their food back to the bar to consume. Another development recently is the number of micro pubs where the owner may have another bar or bars, an example being the D'Ale House in Rochdale which is owned by the same people as the Old Post Office in Castleton, whilst Cob and Coal has a sister bar in Oldham, the Fox and Pine, which is situated in a former solicitor's office. And one or two are the de facto taproom of a number of breweries, with for example Hemel Hempstead brewers Mad Squirrel having a number of small taprooms dotted around the local area in Amersham, Berkhamsted, and Chesham which are listed as micros, although they do have a few other larger bars in neighbouring towns.

And whilst I appreciate micropubs are not to everyone's taste, I would say that there have only been a few I have visited over the years that I have not enjoyed. And in many ways, the definition is somewhat blurred. For example when the Grayston Unity opened in Halifax a month or two after the Market Tavern in May 2016, with its commitment to featuring regular live music according to the strict micropub definition it did not meet the criteria. But in terms of size, with two small rooms back in those days, one of them the UK's smallest licensed music venue with a capacity of just 18, and in terms of the way it soon created its own community with a loyal band of regulars whilst being welcoming to all it more than fitted the bill. And another favourite, The Crafty Fox in Brighouse, has the same ethos but is physically a much bigger place. And, on the other hand, old, small pubs do not qualify as micro pubs; for example those two tiny near neighbours on Portland Street in Manchester, the Grey Horse and the Circus Tavern, which have been around since well before the micropub was born. In terms of size they would qualify but not being independent they can't be included according to the strict definition. And whilst as I said the barriers are somewhat blurred and the definition has been stretched, but in essence they need to have at least some of the following qualities:

"A small free house which listens to its customers, mainly serves cask ales, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks."

The Golden Smog, Stockton-on-Tees

Aside from many of the afore-mentioned places, the following are in my experience all well worth checking out if you are thereabouts:

Left Luggage Room, Monkseaton, NE26 3NR - quirky and characterful bar situated in the former parcel office and left luggage room at Monkseaton Metro Station. 6 beers on the bar, often from the likes of Two by Two. Loads of seating outside on the platform.

Just Beer, Newark, NG24  1BG - the country's 3rd micropub when it opened in 2010. Situated in a yard along the road from the castle, it features a good range of beers on cask and tap. A friendly atmosphere and welcome awaits in this single room bar featuring pub memorabilia and framed CAMRA awards on the walls.

Enigma Tap, North Shields, NE29 0AR - friendly and welcoming bar in a  former shop a few minutes walk away from the town's Metro Station. Good range of beers on cask and tap. Attractively decorated inside, plenty of seating outside.

Mean-Eyed Cat, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LE - friendly bar in a former newsagent's near to Haymarket bus station. Ossett White Rat is a  big seller here, the house beer is by Almasty, whilst interesting beers from all over served on the remaining 4 hand pumps.

Golden Smog, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1DS - wonderful little micro tucked away down an alleyway off the High Street. A warm welcome awaits alongside a range of 4 cask beers and a large range of Belgian beers. Not to be missed.

Partizan Tavern, Nottingham NG2 4PB - warm and welcoming bar in a former shop in the Sneinton area of the city offering a good range of beers on cask and tap as well as a range of ciders.

I could go on. One thing is for certain - whilst micropubs were once something of a novelty, they are now an essential and vibrant part of the drinking landscape....

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