A £19 per night per room Travelodge comes without breakfast – very poor. Marg and Hector walked into the centre of Huddersfield in search of a suitable venue. Marg spotted a shop which appeared to be more in the business of selling Tea but there was an upstairs. Reluctantly I agreed to enter. An elderly couple sat alone, however, by the time we left a good dozen people has passed through. Soup and a Panini was the best on offer, I really wanted a Bacon Roll. The place was ok.
Wandering back down to the covered market the rain once again became an issue. Marg bought Fruit, this would be her midday snacks, Hector had Bier on his mind, but it was still quite a bit before the 13.00 rendezvous at Huddersfield Bus Station. Avoiding the rain meant Coffee in another establishment I found strange. There was definitely no table service.
Dr. Stan was waiting at the Bus Station, Ricky was due in from Bradford soon. A Day Roamer at a reasonable price was the order of the day. Not that we would get full value, Ricky warned us that the buses would start to disappear around 18.00. We were now a group of twelve.
Holmfirth was the destination, a town Hector associates with Prog Rock given that the old cinema, The Picturedrome, is now on the Rock Gig Circuit. The Ladies, well Marg and Maggie, were excited about visiting the locus where Last of The Summer Wine was filmed. The Summer Wine Brewery was on the mind of The Chaps but there is no dedicated Tap in Holmfirth, allegedly. The bus journey took us along roads a Double Decker had no business on travelling. The adverse camber at one point had us worried. Yvonne was glad she was not sitting upstairs at the point where we all leaned in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, most of us were upstairs!
The Nook was where Ricky was taking us. A large poster did give away its position, arriving other wise it could have been difficult to spot it through the back lane. Sky Blue Blond (Nook, Holmfirth, Yorkshire) at 4.5% at Source would start the very long day. Golden and Hoppy but not particularly outstanding was Hector’s verdict. Another was consumed just to make sure.
The Nook itself was a fine pub. Three rooms in all, we were tucked into the rear. Marg and Maggie went off in search of Nora Batty, Dr. Stan had an ample plate of Bangers and Mash, Ricky as ever kept us amused.
Worried about becoming stranded, we were dragged back to the outskirts of Huddersfield Town Centre to alight right outside the Rat and Ratchet. Howard (and Tracey) had been before courtesy of John and Judith insisting they go a year or so back. This was our second Brewery Tap today, in keeping with our fundamental philosophy. This was another great discovery (?), a large open area at the Bar would provide plenty of Standing Room as required. A large room to the rear complemented two raised alcoves street side. We squeezed ourselves into the lower tier.
King Rat at 5% (Rat Brewery, Huddersfield, Yorkshire) seriously Hoppy, again Golden but Outstanding! Especially drinking it at Source. Little did we know it but this would most certainly be the Ale of The Trip, it ticked all the Boxes, Strong with the now expected Citrus after-taste.
It was no surprise that Robin, Craig, Mags, Jonathan and Yvonne stayed on with Ricky. Offers to keep Ricky out and chip in for a middle of the night New Year’s Day Taxi back to Bradford were mooted. Clive, Maggie, Howard, Marg and Hector took a Bus back to the Town Centre, aren’t’ Bus Apps great? We had plans for Nandos.
Black Flag Half Chicken, Garlic Bread and Spicy Rice, mu Usual. A good way to have one’s final meal of 2012. Curry-Heute was not really an option, yesterday was wonderful in Bradford, a City we were due to return to soon.
Yvonne had arranged the booking of a table at The Grove, she was now perturbed that so few were occupying the seats. The five of us were now after the rendezvous time. Dr. Stan, Robin, Jonathan and Mags had by now disappeared to find something to eat. Ricky had just disappeared, or gone home whilst he could. There would be no more buses until January 2nd, yet unlike Scotland, the trains would be running. I like this.
By 20.00 most of us were at The Grove. Taking it easy was the name of the game, Craig had not read the script. The Magic Rock (Huddersfield, Yorkshire) Highwire at 5.5% was not really doing its job. What was most raved about Ale of 2012 was a Pale Shadow of its former glory. The King Rat may have taken the throne I spent the evening trying alternatives nothing new. Nothing really was hitting the spot, not even Kriek. The good stuff, Cantillon was way over-priced.
Tracey arrived around 22.00, the group was now complete, Craig re-joined the sentient and uttered the Bombshell.
Yvonne and I are to be Married in May, 2013!
The Spanish Inquisition was expected more than this announcement. What was to blame? Fyne Ales – Superior IPA or a broken wrist both featured in the night of The Proposal. It was also proposed that none of tonight’s assembled company would be invited to The Wedding. The Staggs, Musselburgh, on May 18this the Place to be. We are all invited, allegedly…
Happy New Year
The Appropriate Headgear was sported by the Willing Few. Auld Land Syne was led by us who were in the majority in the back room. Yvonne gave me my Calendar, I had Calendars ordered for Everyone present, but Pixum had cocked up the offer. I had nothing.
The Grove put on absolutely nothing tonight. Mein Host and his Lady were visible but made no attempt to welcome anyone or interact with our group who had travelled afar to be on these premises at New Year. Marg had the Party Poppers, enough to go round others outwith our group. This was disappointing. We have been visiting The Grove for years yet none of the staff know us. We were strangers, needlessly.
The Pubs visited today:
The Nook – 3A Victoria St., Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 2DN
The Rat and Ratchet – 40 Chapel Hill, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 3EB
The Grove – 2 Spring Grove Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 4BP