Visited the Hillsborough Hotel for the first time last week. Hugely impressed! Tried the pub's own Traditional Bitter brewed under the Crown name - very enjoyable. Didn't eat there but the meals look very reasonably priced. Just a very short walk from the Langsett / Primrose View tram stop.

Also covered the Carlton, the Three Tuns, the Wellington (Cask and Cutler if you prefer) and the New Barrack Tavern all using the tram - top afternoon!

Surprised you didn't try the Rawson Spring, the old swimming baths. Despite the fact that it's a Wetherspoon's, he does have an array of beers on, most of them local. Has the Gardeners' Rest reopened at Neepsend since the floods? Used to be about the best real ale pub in South Yorkshire. Never visited the Hillsborough. I think the beers are brewed by Edale, whose brews are very palatable. Must make the effort some time. Last time I was in Sheff I didn't make it past the Kelham Island Tavern and the Fat Cat

The Gardeners Rest is still closed at the moment but they are hoping to be back in business by the end of the month.

The Hillsborough's beers are brewed at the Pub under the Crown or Wellington names.

I understand about the Fat Cat and the Kelham!

One to recommend in Bradford, the Corn Dolly on Bolton Road (less than 5 minutes walk from Forster Square Railway Station).

Half a dozen real ales and a predominently rock music influenced jukebox!

The food looked very reasonably priced as well.

Perfect pub..............

Real Ales
Unique vibe
Juke box with good tunes
place to play pool, darts*
good company
cheap food
pinball option

oh wait........the Tut n Shive then

*vip area for us regulars that

Wetherspoons International Real Ale Festival - 30 October to 16 November 2008.

Includes Guest Beers from America, Australia, Denmark and Japan.

Orkney Dark Island in Wetherspoons on Leeds Station on the way to Oldham and on the way back. Result!

For those Real Ale fans travelling to Warrington a week on Sunday, the Good Beer Guide 2008 recommends three pubs. On the down side, they are in the opposite direction to the ground if arriving by train at Warrington Central. However, on a postive note, they are only a short walk from the station and two of them are next door to each other. If anyone finds they have time for a visit , try;

The Tavern (Church Street)
The Bulls Head (Church Street)
The Lower Angel (Buttermarket Street).

So the Lower Angel is open again! I hope they're selling Walkers Warrington Ales. If they are, you won't be disappointed lads. The old Walkers Ales were very popular in the south west Lancs area until they were taken over by Greenhalls.
In my younger days, a brown mixed with Walkers Mild and a bottle of Brown Peter brown ale was a very nice drink.

Just received the 2009 Guide and curiously, The Lower Angel isn't in ... Tried the phone number and it wasn't recognised so won't be heading in that direction.