Real Ale, Real Music

I've just paid a visit to the attractive market town of Skipton, often referred to as the Gateway to the Dales, where there had been a few changes on the local beer scene since I had last visited. Here's what I found this time.... As is often the case these days, I was later setting off than I'd intended and when I arrived at Halifax railway station at about 2pm I did wonder about changing my plans from going to Skipton and going somewhere a bit nearer to home, but as I deliberated I bumped in to a guy I know from the Grayston Unity who said it sounded like a good idea. And so in the end Skipton it was. I caught the train to Bradford Interchange and walked along the pedestrianised streets towards Forster Square, from where my next train departed. But I had time for a quick pint first, so I popped into the Exchange where I enjoyed a pint of Ticket to Ride from the Escape Brewery who are based in Westhoughton. Despite the fact they have been around since 2019 this was the fi...

In which I return to this proud Lancashire city after a gap of a few years to check out the state of the local beer  scene, and at the same time have a wander around what is a very interesting and friendly place.... It takes just over an hour on the direct train from Halifax to Preston, and an early morning dental appointment meant I was well-placed to get away early. And so I duly arrived via an unexpectedly quiet Blackpool-bound train at about 11.40. I walked up the concourse to Fishergate, where across the road the Old Vic was already open. Once across the always busy road, I popped into this popular, no frills free house and got myself a half of Moorhouses White Witch, which I nursed for half an hour or so whilst I made my plans for the day. As I sat there with the January sun streaming in through the windows, there was a steady flow of early drinkers; the old guy calling for a leisurely pint or two with his pals, the couple calling for a bite to eat, the triumphant shopper wi...

We are in the first days of the New Year, 2025 limping to a close, and after a week or two of inertia over the festive period I dragged myself over to Manchester to see what was going on somewhere else.... It was certainly a change going to Manchester; I hadn't moved far over the first 3 days of 2026. The first two days I had been very local, my first pint and the only beer I consumed being Bradfield Farmer's Blonde at the Dusty Miller in Hove Edge, a beer which can often be rather bland, but is normally very good here. I did get some football in though even though there was a blank fixture list in the National League, and so it was the local derby just around the corner from me where Brighouse Town lost 2-0 to Bradford Park Avenue in the Northern Premier League East. The day was cold, the air crisp, the sunshine bright in a clear blue sky as I waited for the Victoria train to arrive at Halifax station with very few other travellers around. The skeletal trees in their winter pl...