Early morning pub crawl

Start of my second week off work....home alone. Jayne is back to work today. I decided I would get up and get on....no lying about in bed all morning for me. So I walked Jayne to the bus stop in the neighbouring village of Gildersome. She was on the bus on her way to work by 7.05am.


Last year, in an effort to keep fit, we mapped out a few walks around the area – each one taking about 90 minutes. So after seeing Jayne safely on the bus I set off through Gildersome and Drighlington at a steady pace.

Armed with my trusty camera I decided to take some photographs on the way....but of what....that was a good question.

By 7.10am I had an idea.

I have a bit of a thing for real ale....and why not when you can get pints of the stuff at Wetherspoons for as little as £1.39. The local supermaket has a decent selection of bottled beer and there is also small independent brewery not far from us – Leeds Brewery....not to be confused with Tetley's Brewery in Leeds which is owned by Danish brewing giant Carlsberg.

It's a disgrace that Carlsberg plan to close Tetley's brewery in 2011 after 186 years....here's a link to a newspaper article about it Telegraph & Argus - Carlsberg to close Tetley's Brewery

According to a British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) report in January last year a record 39 pubs are closing each week in Britain - here's a link to BBC report on their website - BBC Website Report from BBPA

So there I was at 7.10am stood outside the Old Griffin Head pub in Gildersome taking a photograph and listening to Bob Seger singing “The Fire Inside” on my iPod.

I decided that I would photograph all the pubs on my route this morning and see what information / history I could find out about them. Unfortunately it was much too early to have a drink in each one!!!

Not much available on the web about the Old Griffin Head. I found a History of Gildersome which says - “During the Napoleonic wars drilling of ballotted men took place before the Griffin Inn”. This suggests that there was an inn, probably on the same site or nearby back in the early 19th century.

The village wasn't very busy yet. A few dog walkers, people waiting at the bus stops, some hardy joggers and a postie in his van. The Gin Blossoms are playing on my iPod - “Allison Road”....not heard this much before....it's really quite good.

7.19am I am outside the very art deco New Inn, Gildersome....a Sam Smiths pub. Never been in here....must put that right before too long. Again can't find anything interesting about this rather handsome building except that it has a Facebook page - New Inn on Facebook

It takes another fifteen minutes strolling before I reach the next pub. Best song on the iPod so far is “When Rita Leaves” by Southside Johnny. That's just playing as I stand opposite the Valley Inn, Drighlington at 7.34am. Another Sam Smiths pub situated on the A58 Leeds – Halifax road overlooking the Cockersdale Valley. There is no name on the building just a pub sign outside.

I have been in this “establishment” a few times in my youth. My dad's friend used to run the pub many years ago now.

Heading off again the traffic on the A58 is starting to get busy. I've got Patti Scialfa on the iPod now singing “Loves Glory” from her album “Rumble Doll”.

It's 7.49am when I get to the Spotted Cow at Drighlington cross roads. Have to wait for the traffic lights to change so I can get a clear shot of the pub. This place has recently changed ownership and has been getting some good reviews. They serve a variety of real cask beers and the pub has been refurbished. It's been a few years since my last visit to the Spotted Cow. Here is a Facebook page for the pub - Spotted Cow on Facebook  The pub is a venue for meetings of the LA Crusiers – American and Custom car club.

Almost immediately, 7.50am, I am taking a photograph of The Victoria at the same cross roads while listening to “Nothing Without You” by Joe Grushecky. This a Websters pub....although Samuel Websters brewery no longer exists. It originally opened in Halifax back in 1838 and is now part of the Scottish Courage empire with the beers being brewed at the John Smith's plant in Tadcaster, near York.

Next on the iPod is Dolly Parton singing “I Will Always Love You”.... I am smiling because this is one of Jayne's favourite songs.

It takes me about three minutes to get to The Black Bull....just next door to the Post Office and The Pantry bakery....tempted to go in and see if they do bacon sarnies but manage to resist.

There is Facebook page for The Black Bull Three Wheelers 1998 - 2003

OK, starting to flag a bit now – been walking for nearly an hour.

It's 8.03am and I am opposite another pub called New Inn. This place has developed more into a restaurant serving English and Chinese food. They get really good reviews on Trip Advisor. This pub also has a Facebook page - New Inn on Facebook

The Boss is singing “Worlds Apart”.


The first of the plastic places is next at 8.09am – The Old Brickworks....built on the site of the old Drighlington and Adwalton brickworks. This is a Brewers Fayre pub with a Fun Factory for the kids. Can't think of anything else to say about it.

Bruce is now singing “American Land” with beer flowing through the faucets all night long – quite appropriate I think.

My final offering is another plastic establishment at 8.38am – The Gildersome Arms....part of the Two For One Group. This was formerly The Mill House pub and before that it was the site of a Suziki garage....that's going back a good few years. The sign outside says I can have two rump steaks and Vienetta for £9.00....now there's an offer that's too good to miss....well perhaps not eh.

There is a very inactive Facebook page called - Down with the Gildersome Arms we want a pub  This is our nearest pub....we don't go in very much....think I will join the Facebook group.

That's it then....stroll back home to Devils and Dust.

So, I know there are pubs closing down all round Leeds but in the small area I have been this morning all the pubs are still open and seem to be doing well. It was the Leeds beer festival last month....I'm afraid it passed me by.

Memo to myself to support the local pub industry a bit more during the next 12 months.

Quote....Unquote: “Once during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water”. (W.C. Fields).