The Big Six is in the Good Beer Guide (Again!!)
#pubpics: The Ackhorne, York
Talk about hidden back street pubs. I had no idea that this place was here.
#pubpics: The Tite and Locke, Platform 3 Lancaster Station
The splendid Lancaster brewery owned Tite and Locke at Lancaster station. Another pub that is worth missing a train for!
#pubpics: The Draughtsman Alehouse, Platform 3 Doncaster Station
This small but gorgeous micropub has lovingly restored a former waiting room at Doncaster station and turned it into a fabulous place to miss your train in!
It gets busy and crowded due to its size (though there is outdoor seating - with plastic glasses), but it is well worth a visit.
New Channel! The Big Six has its own YouTube channel.
Please consider subscribing. Videos previously on my own channel are now there and all new Big Six content will be on this channel.
Great Yorkshire Traction Engine Club Steam Rally, Helmsley
New video coming on Sunday.
I had the pleasure of being paid to attend the Great Yorkshire Traction Engine Club annual rally at Duncombe Park near Helmsley at the weekend.
The mixed weather didn't spoil the fun as working traction engines paraded along with classic cars, trucks, tractors and motorbikes. There was even a section for classic caravans.
Well worth a visit. Video on my 'Moving Swiftly On' channel at 0700 Sunday.
#pubpics: The Big Six is 'highly commended' in Calderdale CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024
There's me on the left along with the pub manager Steven and regular barmaid Sophie.
Well done to everyone on the team and let's try for one better next year!!
#pubpics: Marble Arch, Manchester
There is always a pleasant crowd of regulars in there as well as a very nice beer garden with a mix of outdoor tables and 'pods.' Can't wait until the next time.
The food looks nice, but I'm always there for the beer!
A short walk from Manchester Victoria and Shudehill exchange.
Marble Arch, 73 Rochdale Road, Manchester M4 4HY
#pubpics: Golden Ball, Cromwell Road, York
I spotted this one at the end of the road as I was heading back and as it was still early and a balmy evening I thought it would be worth an explore. And I'm so glad that I did. What a fabulous place. There was well-maintained vintage John Smiths tiling on the exterior. Inside was a cosy multi-roomed layout and outside there was a lovely courtyard beer garden. Most importantly, they had great beer.
This is definitely a must-see/must-return and I hope to do just that when I'm back in York in mid-July.
Golden Ball, 2 Cromwell Road, Bishophill Senior, York YO1 6DU
#pubpics: The Swan, Bishopgate, York
Not much kerb appeal with the white paint looking grubby, but what a gem inside! A former Tetley heritage pub, it has a multi-roomed layout and great beer. A bit busy as it was race day (just after the pictures were taken!) but well worth a visit. A nice courtyard beer garden as well and just up the road from the equally worth visiting Slip Inn.
The Swan, 16 Bishopgate Street, York YO23 1JH
#pubpics: Peveril of the Peak, Manchester
Taken in May 2023, this is the Peveril of the Peak, an old school Manchester pub stuck in the midst of Manchester's constantly evolving regeneration.
It looks like it was a former Wilson's pub. The coloured tile exterior is unique and the interior is unfussy and traditional.
It also served a decent pint!
Peveril of the Peak, 127 Great Bridgwater Street, Manchester M1 5JQ
#PubPics: The (old) Grayston Unity, Halifax
When it opened in 2016 in a tiny corner of what was an old coach house servicing the town hall on the opposite side of the street, the Grayston Unity described itself as the 'smallest music venue in the UK.' Music, poetry and more were crammed into a space no larger than an average living room before the dividing wall came down post-lockdown opening up the bar to a slightly less smaller space!
It really was tiny but it had a loyal and regular crowd drinking excellent beer as part of the revived Halifax real ale scene as well as watching arts and culture in a uniquely small space.
Sadly, this is an image of the past as the Grayston moved to a larger unit on the other side of town in the autumn of 2023 where good beer and music is spread out over three floors. It's still small by many standards, but larger than it's previous home.
The Grayston Unit, 8 Horton Street, Halifax, HX1 1PU.
#PubPics: Sparrow Cafe Bar, North Parade, Bradford
Speaking of the Sparrow on North Parade, here's a photo of the last time I was in there, September 2022. It was early doors on a weekday afternoon and there were a couple of other customers off camera.
I hadn't realised Kirkstall Brewery were the owners at the time.
Closure article from the Telegraph and Argus here.
#pubpics: Exchange Craft Beer House, Bradford
At the risk of upsetting any Bradfordians, the pub options in the city centre aren't what they were. I do need to investigate the legendary Fighting Cock and the Jacob's Well looks interesting. I gather the Victorian masterpiece that was the New Beehive is no more and the North Parade scene seems to have faded away from what I could see.
