My fourth annual beer ticking pub awards.
I’m a beer ticker – I like to try as many different beers as possible and as such I’ve ranked my top ten pubs in order of the number of ticks that I’ve had there. I’ve not included beer festivals. My list is only a bit of fun – ticking isn’t the be all and end all of pub life, but it just so happens that I rather do like most of the pubs I’ve visited.
1. The Queen Crafthouse & Kitchen, Doncaster (1st in 2018, 3rd in 2017; opened during 2016)
Still not the biggest selection of beers in my top ten but usually a great selection when I visit – there’s not much else to say! If they were in a more beery town or city then I’m sure they’d have a much bigger range as they’d sell more. Even though my rankings are on ticks alone, an added bonus are the staff here – friendly and welcoming to all.
2. Turks Head, Leeds (9th in 2018)
Climbing quite a few places, it seems strange that the second pub in my list isn’t in Doncaster. A brilliant range of beers and like the Queen, welcoming and knowledgeable staff. Yet another bonus is food – only a fairly small menu but good quality and home cooked. The Sunday dinners are probably one of the best pub ones I’ve had. Ok, you pay a bit more but it’s worth it – how many pubs serve their roast lamb pink? Sunday afternoons are so chilled here – nice and quiet, great background music with amazing food and brilliant beer.
3. Friends of Ham, Leeds (2nd in 2018, 1st in 2017, 2nd in 2016)
Things seem to have settled down in FoH since the takeover and they’ve even got some new warmer temperature taps for the darker beers. They’re not what they were, but business models change. The beers keep rolling in though!
4 Mr Foley’s Cask Ale House, Leeds (new in 2018)
Climbing a place is Foleys. Again, They too had a takeover back in 2018 when Black Sheep bought York Brewery but the owners didn’t mess with the Foley’s concept and there’s always a great range of cask and keg beer. Once again, another pub with that great vibe and excellent staff – love it that the staff in a pub outside of my hometown recognise I have the loyalty card before I even order!
5 Doncaster Brewery Tap, Doncaster (5th in 2018, 6th in 2017, 11th in 2016)
Doncaster’s own micropub. Or are they a bit too big for that? As with the Queen, they’re not the quickest to rotate the choice of keg beers, but it’s not for want of trying – there’s a fantastic range that are always in excellent condition but sadly they get overlooked by many of the drinkers. Either way, great beer and also great staff. There’s a theme starting here – staff. If you’ve got knowledgeable staff, or those dedicated to delivering great customer service, people will visit. This in turn will increase beer sales. Looking down my list of ticking pubs, there’s none in my top 20 where I would say the staff aren’t great.
6. The Corner, Huddersfield (3rd in 2018, 9th in 2017)
Sliding a couple of places is the The Corner, there’s always a few of the excellent Mallinsons beers available along with amazing home cooked food too.
7. Box Social, Newcastle (new entry)
Creeping into a top ten place is Box Social in Newcastle. Tucked away in a railway arch away from the main pub area yet again another great selection of cask and keg.
8. Doghouse, Selby (new entry)
Another new entry into the list in a town that’s a bit of a beer ticking desert that has no less than 12 keg lines, 6 hand pumps, ciders and their own gin. They only opened in September 2018 but were an instant hit – I’m looking forward to visiting the new Castleford branch too.
9. Arcade, Huddersfield (6th in 2018, 7th in 2017)
Slipping slightly is Arcade in Huddersfield. Since last year, they’ve expanded into the next door building and grown from 4 keg lines to 18 kegs and 2 occasional cask.
10. Crown & Kettle, Manchester (11th in 2018)
Only pub in my list on the wrong side of the Pennines. Located in a beautiful building but looking very tired – I understand that there’s not a lot they can do due to a maze of listed building regulations.
