ONE PUB ONLY? Gatehouse CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND? Walk out to Moulders then back via George and Dragon and then Gatehouse    SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? Barnsley Cricket Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Gatehouse                                                  35 Eldon St   S70 2JJ T 01226 282394 G NEW OWNERS F Good homely food with true value in both special and main menu 12 to 2.30, 5 to 7 Mon - Fri, 12 to 3.30 Sat  MP   TV   BM O 11 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11 to 12 Fri - Sat, Closed Sun           The Good Real Ale Doctor ordered that Barnsley town centre needed major surgery. Pubs were dying and the fizzy medicine was having no positive effect. Then Robert came to the rescue and the Gatehouse has opened to revive the flagging beast that is a good Barnsley pub scene. The pub has a great location, opposite the inevitable Interchange just five minutes walk from the ground and conveniently out of the main town lager streets.            This is the designated away fans pub. It offers a good range of ales in a modern purposely - designed bar that mixes the lounge - style settee bar with a larger standing area near the bar and a third drinking area overlooking the street. Roberts’s enthusiasm is infectious; he knows exactly how he can make real ale popular while still offering a pint of “the Philistine” to those who take longer to convert. There is a no baseball cap rule, which helps to reinforce the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of a thirty - something's style pub. The lunchtime trade predictably includes office professionals. In the evening the regulars are likely to have come in from the suburbs to seek a quieter pint than is found in town. There is monthly live music. If I was looking for a good meal in comfortable and friendly surroundings then it would be the Gatehouse for me. Get there early though because it will get busy BWV 10.5.06:  Acorn Darkness,  Greene King Old Speckled Hen,  John Smith’s Cask Bitter,  Springhead Roaring Meg,  Wentworth Bumble Bee UPDATE Robert has left the pub                                                George and Dragon 41 – 43 Summer Lane S70 2NW  Telephone 01226 205609 G Keith McManis SP   TV   BM   P   D O 12 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun           In the short time that Keith has been at the George and Dragon he has met a local demand for the golden ales among the Barnsley faithful. In doing so the pub is a welcome standard bearer for local  that others might try to emulate. Two rooms are found on different levels, the upper room being a pool room and bar. I settled in the lower bar with others getting into a horse racing afternoon. The décor is very country - farmhouse style with carpet and upholstered seats and the now slimmed - down tea pot collection as mentioned in the CAMRA guide entry. I returned a day later, the pub was so welcoming; the beer was equally good as the first pint of the day was pulled. This is a very friendly and popular pub, getting busiest in the post - work rush hour. While I was there the order of the day was indeed plenty of the Golden Pippin. So it made a great complementary location to the Moulders Arms, literally a hundred yards up the road. This is the place for a lunchtime pool and ale session. UPDATE:  The beer selection is narrower but the quality still good. BWV 15.3.05:  Acorn Barnsley Gold,  Copper Dragon Golden Pippin,  John Smith’s Cask Bitter BWV 10.5.06:  John Smith’s Cask Bitter,  Flowers IPA Moulders Arms 49 Summer St.   S70 2NU  Telephone 01226 215767 G Update new landlord Conrad SP   TV   BM   P   D O 4,30 to 12 Mon - Thu 2.30 - 12 Fri, 12 to 12 Sat - Sun           This is a classic locals’ pub that would be welcome in all streets in Barnsley, if only! This is a rarity in smooth keg land and as a result it is a very popular local. I arrived just after the 4.30 weekday opening and enjoyed a very pleasant chat and personal gamble on the Cheltenham Festival racing on the TV Kevin offers a guest beer to the regulars that change within the week and the quality is such that it deserves the pub of the season award. The low rooms are host to regular darts, quizzes and, curiously, a buskers’ night. Do as the slogan says and stagger inn to Kevin and Irene's pub. It will be really welcoming, a great oasis in the Barnsley ale desert. Curiously this is the only entry in the CAMRA guide for Barnsley. There is a mini pub crawl to be had on Summer Lane and the distance into town isn’t so great, especially as the ground is literally up the hill from the railway station. So why not settle in here for a few, and avoid the bustle of a traditional Yorkshire town centre Saturday. UPDATE:  A marquee is now up in the pub garden. The pub has remained the same evn though it is now moved to Enterprise ownership. BWV 15.3.05:  Greene King IPA,  John Smith’s Cask Bitter,  York Yorkshire Terrier BWV 10.5.06:  Greene King Ruddles Best,  John Smith’s Cask Bitter 29.6.09 Greene King IPA, John Smith’s Cask Bitter The Shaw Racecommon Road   S70 6AE  Telephone 01226 294021 G Tara Gilroy SP   TV   JB   P   D O 3.30 to 12 Mon - Fri, 12 to 12 Sat, 12 to 11 Sun           New to the pub game and making an impressive impression on the real ale scene is this grand pub on the way into town. Because they liked the place so much, Angela and James have moved from being punters to landlords. It is easy to see why as the scale of the place is inspiring. The best room is nearest the door where a great fire was surrounded by locals sampling ale and spending plenty on the quality juke box selection. There are four large rooms, all with high ceilings and tastefully, yet simply decorated. The back room has a second pool table but is not recommended unless you are very very young, i.e. under five. The Shaw is a place to sit, read a paper, etc. but I suspect a party will often break out without much prompting. On leaving it was appropriate that as my last pint in Barnsley was sunk, a repeat of the Pogues “Dirty Old Town” was thumping out. The community was mourning one of their finest in appropriate pub style, one of the traditions that make great community pubs. UPDATE:  The pub has been redecorated and “turns” are a regular feature on Fridays, as are quiz, darts and pool nights. BWV 15.3.05:  Greene King IPA,  John Smith’s Cask Bitter, Marston’s Pedigree BWV 10.5.06:  Acorn Barnsley Bitter,  Old Moor Porter Shaw Lane Sports Club (Barnsley C.C.) Shaw lane   S70 6HZ  Telephone 01226 203509 G Roy Robinson F Bar snacks and Sunday lunches 6 to 9.30, 12 to 3 CP   SK   BM   D O 4.45 to 11 Mon – Fri, 11.30 to 11 Sat - Sun           The Shaw Lane Sports Club bar has been given the Cricket Club sub - title because the bar overlooks one of the most famous Yorkshire league squares and will draw appreciation from any cricket lovers who know the roots of Mssrs, Gough, Bird and Boycott.  It is a proper social club catering for sportsmen and women in many events from archery to athletics. Unlike the typical sports club it is, however, a genuine real ale bar housed in a sparkling bright new pavilion. There are two rooms. The front bar overlooks the cricket and is light and airy, laid out ready for cricket tea type activity. The larger back bar is the home for regular functions such as weddings and parties. Both offer good value for the member who pays their £5 a year membership. I distracted Roy, the bar manager, from his squash coaching and soon we were chatting about his obvious love of what the bar has recently achieved. It has won CAMRA club awards and seems open to the local community who might like to trek up the drive whenever it is open. The club house has been here for six years and its ale pedigree includes a confidence that encourages the regulars to suggest guest ales. There will always be a Wentworth ale and other surprises found on the members’ travels. I decided to get the full cricket experience and sit in the seated enclosure while writing these notes. The groundsman toiled away creating that perfect finish; someone should give him free beer for life. BWV 10.5.06:  Acorn Darkness,  Phoenix Wobbly Bob,  Wentworth Best BARNSLEY CAMRA OAKWELL         OAKWELL        LOCAL BREWERY Acorn Brewery Limited Unit 3 Aldham Industrial Estate Mitchell Road Wombwell Barnsley S73 8HA Tel: 01226 270734 www.acorn-brewery.co.uk      WETHERSPOONS The Joseph Bramah  15 Market Hill  Barnsley  S70 2PX  Opening Times:  Sun-Tue and Thu 9am-midnight; Wed, Fri and Sat 9am-1am  The Silkstone Inn  64 Market Street  Barnsley  S70 1SN  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am