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On Wednesday 26^th September 2024 Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA members presented the Autumn 2024 Pub of the Season Award to Jordan, Logan and Stuart at The Upper George Hotel, Halifax. In his speech Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA Branch Chair, Richard Lee, praised the bar staff for their friendliness and welcoming attitude, the range of cask ale and the ambience of the pub. He commented that the pub was not only praised by locals, but was also appreciated and held in high regard by visitors and CAMRA members from other branches who visited Calderdale.

The Upper George is regarded as an institution. Some customers have visited the pub for many years and have fond memories of times in the 1970s and 1980s, but the Upper George has continued to evolve with the times and now has a wide-ranging and appreciative clientele from all age groups. It is a cosy, traditional, pub with a vibrant and friendly atmosphere and knowledgeable and attentive staff. It serves eight beers on handpump which include Greene King IPA, Moorland Old Speckled Hen and Moorland Old Golden Hen as well as five rotating guest ales mainly from Yorkshire breweries; on the presentation evening two of these were from Little Critters in Sheffield, two from Bridgehouse in Keighley and one from Salamander in Bradford. Cask beers in a range of styles and ABVs are sold and at least one dark beer is always available. In addition to cask ale The Upper George also serves craft ales, wines, spirits, champagne and a range of bottles and cans.

2024 Yorkshire Cider Pub of the Year

On Saturday 17^th August 2024 Nan Moor’s Bar in Todmorden received its third CAMRA award in five months. The first award presented to Nan Moor’s was the Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA Pub of the Season, Spring 2024; then the Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year 2024, presented in May, and now Nan Moor’s has received the highest county cider award, Yorkshire Cider Pub of the Year 2024.

The award was presented by Yorkshire CAMRA Regional Director, Kevin Keaveny. In his speech he congratulated Lauren and Alice, the owners of Nan Moor’s, for winning every round of CAMRA ‘s Cider Pub of the Year Competition 2024 so far and stated that by winning the Yorkshire CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year, it placed Nan Moor’s in the top 17 regional winners. As the Yorkshire Regional winner Nan Moor’s Bar will now go through to the 2024 National CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year Competition and he wished Nan Moor’s all the best in its attempts to achieve the top cider award.

Also in attendance at the presentation was Christine Jane, Yorkshire CAMRA Regional Cider Coordinator, who said “The panel of judges were very impressed by the range and quality of ciders available at Nan Moor’s Bar. It is good to see that quality bag in box ciders are always on offer at Nan Moor’s and we were also impressed with the other cider options including keg cider and the quality English and European real ciders sold in bottles. The judges feel that this award is well-deserved”

The ciders on offer on the presentation day were two real ciders in bag in box from Celtic Marches in Herefordshire and Udders’ Orchard in Lindley, Huddersfield and a farmhouse perry from Gywnt Y Ddraig in Pontypridd, South Wales. A keg cider was also served from South West Orchards and bottle and sharing bottle real ciders were on sale from English, Austrian, Italian and French cider producers.

Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA, and other Yorkshire CAMRA branches, wish Nan Moor’s Bar success in the National CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year Competition as, no doubt, do all cider drinkers in Calderdale and throughout Yorkshire.

On Thursday 11^th July 2024 Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA members attended Barkisland Cricket Club to present the branch’s top club award – Club of the Year 2024. On the day of the event five beers were being served on handpump. It is not unusual for so many cask ales to be available making Barkisland Cricket Club one of the top clubs in Calderdale for selling and supporting real ale. The beers on sale on the day were Coach House Innkeeper’s Special Reserve (4.5%), Abbeydale Moonshine (4.3%), Craven Blonde (4%), Moorhouse’s White Witch (3.9%) and Saltaire Blonde (4%). In addition a range of wines, spirits, lager, snacks and sweets were also available.

In his speech, Richard Lee, Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA’s Branch Chair, congratulated Barkisland Cricket Club for achieving the award and stated that the Club of the Year award was the highest award presented to clubs by the branch. He praised the Club for its commitment to real ale, the range of other alcoholic drinks available, the friendliness of the bar staff and the welcome Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA members had received.

Barkisland Cricket Club is situated in beautiful surroundings and is well-supported by its members and local people of all ages.It can be reached by using the 561 and 562 buses from Halifax and the E4 service from Brighouse.

Barkisland Cricket Club will host its annual Beer and Pie Festival from the 8^th-10^th November 2024. Approximately 24 handpulled beers and plenty of pies will be available during the event. Last year’s festival was a tremendous success with virtually all the beers being sold, plus 700 pies. This event is highly recommended by Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA.

On Wednesday 26^th June 2024 Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA members presented the Summer 2024 Pub of the Season Award to Doddy and his staff at The Hop Monkey, Hipperholme. The pub is situated on the crossroads of the junction at Hipperholme between Halifax, Brighouse and Bradford and re-opened in a building previously occupied by The Whitehall Pub in August 2022. The focus at The Hop Monkey is on real ale and there are ten handpumps on the bar. On the day of the presentation seven beers were served on handpump and the breweries represented were Nightjar (Rave Racoon), Phoenix (Wobbly Bob), Salopian (Port in a Storm), Vocation (Bread and Butter), Yorkshire Heart (two beers – Hearty and Blonde) and the Hop Monkey’s house beer (Hoppy Pale Ale). The Hop Monkey also has 16 keg lines and serves a range of lagers, ciders, wines and spirits. Bar snacks are also available.

In his speech Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA Branch Chair Richard Lee praised the bar staff for their friendliness and welcoming attitude, the range of cask and keg ales (which always included pale ales, bitters and a dark) and the ambience and rustic feel of the pub. He stated that The Hop Monkey was a welcomed addition to the Halifax real ale drinking scene and a big asset to outer Halifax.

The Hop Monkey is well worth a visit and can be reached by catching 548, 549 and 255 buses from Halifax, 548 and 549 buses from Brighouse and the 255 bus from Leeds. There is a spacious beer garden at the back of the pub, a quiz on Wednesday, music on Sunday (5-7pm) and music occasionally on Saturday evenings.

The Hop Monkey’s sister pub, The Hop Monkey Music Bar, is situated in Dean Clough, Halifax and also has a focus on real ale, but please check opening hours before you visit.

Halifax & Calderdale CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year 2024

On Tuesday 28^th May 2024, the day after the Spring Bank Holiday, the party had not stopped at Nan Moor’s Bar. Amongst an ambience of apple-themed vinyl records, surrounded by apple cake, numerous ciders and a barrel of apples for an apple-bobbing challenge, the cider enthusiasts gathered. They were joined by locals, regulars of the bar and CAMRA members as the bar was presented with Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA’s Cider Pub of the Year 2024 award.

As the dulcet tones of ‘I am a Cider Drinker’ by The Wurzels drifted off the decks, a very enthusiastic and exuberant Lee-Anne Burgess, Cider Representative for Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA, presented the award. Lee-Anne stated that she had been a customer at Nan Moor’s for a number of years and during that time their offering of real cider had expanded and customers could now be guaranteed to find several real ciders available at all times. She praised Nan Moor’s for offering a mix of local ciders as well as ciders from further afield and ciders in a variety of forms.

On the day of the presentation three boxes of real cider were provided, including two from Celtic Marches in Herefordshire (‘Slack Alice’ and ‘Abrahall’s Dry’) and one of the very last available boxes of Pure North’s ‘Deanhouse Dry’ from Holmfirth, who have now sadly stopped real cider production. On keg, ‘Southwest Orchards’ from Sheppy’s in Devon was provided and there were an array of bottled ciders in the fridge including Hogan’s from Warwickshire and Pilton’s from Somerset and a rotating selection of rarities from France and Italy that customers would have difficulty finding anywhere else.

Lee-Anne said that one of the things she particularly admired about Nan Moor’s Bar was their commitment to serving quality real ciders and not compromising their standards by serving poorer non-real alternatives. In addition, she praised Nan Moor’s Bar for its real ales, craft beers and sour beers and for the regular community events it holds including regular open decks sessions, music evenings and many different themed events. She also praised the owners and bar staff for providing a friendly, sociable space that caters for everyone and for the warm and friendly welcome. Lee-Anne concluded by stating that Nan Moor’s Bar was a well-deserved winner of Halifax and Calderdale’s CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year.

Pub of the Season Spring 2024

Nan Moor’s Bar, Todmorden

On Wednesday 26^th March 2024 Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA members attended Nan Moor’s Bar in Todmorden to present the Spring 2024 Pub of the Season Award to the owners Lauren and Alice. In his speech Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA’s Branch Chair, Richard Lee, praised the bar for its welcoming and friendly staff, the picturesque setting, the vibrant atmosphere, the range of beers and ciders on offer, the gravity dispensed real ales and bag in a box and other real ciders. The event was well-attended by locals and CAMRA members and the Mayor of Todmorden, Tyler Hanley, was also present to show his support.

The cask ales on offer at the presentation were Torrside Yellow Peak APA (4.2%) and Wishbone Velvet Stout (5%) and the real ciders in bag in a box were Udders Orchard Brigantia (5%) and Deanhouse Dry (6%), all of which were in excellent condition. In addition another real cider, an English Pilsner, Budvar and two craft ales were available on keg as well as a range of ales and ciders in bottles and cans, including French ciders, and a full range of spirits, cocktails and other drinks.

Nan Moor’s Bar is located in Todmorden town centre, is adjacent to Rochdale Canal Bridge and is easily accessible from Todmorden Railway Station and bus stops within the town. It is frequented by drinkers of all ages and is dog and family friendly. The single room is split level and there is a garden which is accessible from the back of the bar area and from the canal towpath. A range of events and community activities are organised including Open Decks, a folk club (twice a month), other music events, a book club, a scrabble club and a pinch pot workshop. Nan Moor’s is the only bar/pub in Calderdale to permanently serve real ale by gravity dispense.

Elland Brewery News – 12th February 2024

Many of you will have been aware of rumours circulating today regarding the future of Elland Brewery.  We have been in contact with the brewery today and can confirm they are currently closed and have started the process of voluntarily winding up of the Company.  This is early days in the process and many things need to be discussed, including the future of affected staff.  We will publish further information here and our social media channels once we have confirmed information to pass on.  This is a very sad time for all involved and ask that you are considerate to everyone involved.

The Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA Branch are absolutely ‘gutted’ by this news. We know the owners well and they have done everything possible to support the branch and the Calderdale Beer and Cider Festival. Likewise we hope we have pulled the stops out to support the brewery. We know you will all be disappointed by this news because Elland Brewery has many supporters. They have brewed great beers for our enjoyment over many years and we are sure that no serious beer drinker in the UK won’t have heard of 1872 Porter and won’t appreciate what an outstanding beer it is – the most celebrated and award winning beer in modern British brewing history.

Pub of the Season Winter 2023

The Market Tavern, Todmorden

On Saturday 6^th January 2024 Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA members descended on the Market Tavern, Todmorden to present the Winter 2023/2024 Pub of the Season Award to the owner Mark Arrowsmith. The Market Tavern was Calderdale’s first market-based micro pub and opened in the 1879 Victorian indoor market hall in October 2019. It is well-known for friendly customer service and currently serves three beers on handpump which are usually provided by Reedley Hallows Brewery near Burnley and Red Rose Brewery, Ramsbottom. The Market Tavern also sells a range of other drinks including keg lager and cider, wine, soft drinks and a small selection of spirits and bottled beers are available from the local Eagles Crag Brewery.

In his speech Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA’s Branch Chair, Richard Lee, praised the friendly and hospitable welcome that is always extended to customers at The Market Tavern, the minimalistic and well-planned bar area and the high quality real ales on offer.

Since it opened just over four years ago, The Market Tavern has developed a very positive feeling in the market hall, has a loyal band of regular customers and always serves excellent real ale. As well as the Market Tavern, Mark and his wife Sue also run Jack’s House on Burnley Road, Todmorden and own Foras Bars Limited, a mobile bar hire and catering business.

The Market Tavern is easy to reach by public transport being less than a five minute walk from Todmorden Railway Station and next to Todmorden Bus Station.