The Commercial

The Commercial, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD1 2AX

A four-square, stone-built, three-storey pub on a corner site towards the south end of Huddersfield’s main shopping street. It appears to date from the early part of the 19th century, and is noticeably older than most of the surrounding buildings.

It’s a Samuel Smith’s pub, with their characteristic comfortable, traditional interior. This includes two cosy rooms with bench seating on either side of the front door, plus a longer room with a pool table at the back left running along the side of the bar. A glass cabinet in the left-hand room contains a collection of beer bottles.

Sam’s usual beer range is on offer at good-value prices, including cask Old Brewery Bitter and a wide selection of kegs. No food is served. I read a description a while ago of its lively, convivial atmosphere, with the typical more mature clientele. After an extended period of closure, it has recently reopened, and hopefully its former character will be re-established. In such a central position there should be no shortage of trade.

The Templar

The Templar, Leeds, Yorkshire LS2 7NU

A long but shallow street-corner pub on the north-east side of the city centre, the Templar has an impressive tiled façade advertising Melbourne Brewery, who were later taken over by Tetley’s. It now belongs to Greene King, but still offers a wide range of other beers, including Tetley Bitter as a permanent beer, and brews from both Yorkshire brewers such as Acorn and Bradfield, plus ones from further afield. The licensee and many of the staff have been there for over thirty years.

The interior was opened out somewhat in the 1980s, but retains plenty of original features, including wood panelling, seating booths and a cosy snug at the far end. It merits a one-star entry on CAMRA’s National Inventory. No food is served, and a strict over-18s only policy is applied. It has a varied clientele, although tending toward the more mature end of the spectrum.TV sport is shown on numerous screens, so it does not offer the full hair-shirt Sam Smith’s experience. A fine example of a busy, atmospheric, traditional city-centre drinking pub.

The Slubbers Arms

The Slubbers Arms, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD1 6HW

Stone-built pub in the sharp apex of two roads about half a mile north of the town centre. The cosy core of the pub surrounds the horseshoe-shaped central bar, with comfortable bench seating and a real fire on either side. There’s also a games room and a separate snug in the angle of the building which can be closed off for private meetings.

Formerly a Timothy Taylor’s tied house, it still features Boltmaker and Landlord as permanent beers, alongside typically three guests. It normally doesn’t open until late afternoon, but may open earlier when there is a match at the nearby John Smith’s stadium, when straightforward pub grub may also be served.

The name comes from a traditional wool processing technique.

The White Horse

The White Horse (Nellie’s), Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire HU17 8BN

Old pub in a wonky terrace at the north end of the town centre close to St Mary’s church. For many years, it was run as a free house by Nellie Collinson, from whom it takes its nickname, prior to its acquisition by Samuel Smith’s in 1976. At that time it was something of a timewarp pub; since then it has been somewhat improved and smartened up, but it retains an interior of great character, resulting in its inclusion as a main entry on CAMRA’s National Inventory.

It still has coal fires, stone-flagged floors, gas lighting and a warren of small rooms surrounding the main bar, which is at the rear left. There’s even an unexpected pool room at the back on the right. There’s the usual range of Sam’s beer, at their usual good value prices, and lunchtime food is available. The only signage is the rocking horse and a small nameboard above the front door.