The White Swan, Hebden Bridge

The White Swan, Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge HX7 8EX

In the centre of the village, facing a bridge over the river.

decor - 3

ambience - 2

Traditional pub ornaments of mugs, jugs and brass pots hung all over the ceiling. It is carpeted in all rooms, but all the furniture is wood, so there is nothing really comfortable to sit on.

service - 3

ales - 2

Ales: Bitter & Twisted, and an ale called Elizabeth Wood, which is apparently the pub's own and is named after a woman who was its landlady for 30 years.

features - 2

Children are allowed in before eight o'clock.

Serves reasonably priced pub food, until nine o'clock

Toilets - 4

Pristine

Score 16 out of 30



The Railway, Hebden Bridge

The Railway, New Road, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8AD

A fairly average high street pub, with a mixed range of customers, most of them locals.

ambience - 3

decor - 3

small rooms feel a bit cramped, but there is log fire which gives it a cosy feel, and is very welcome if you've just stepped in out of the rain.

 service - 3

ale - 2

Sunshine Ale, Timothy Taylor's Landlord

features - 2

two dartboards

dogs permitted

toilets - 3

Score 16 out of 30

The White Lion, Hebden Bridge

The White Lion, centre of Hebden Bridge

This is on the edge of the pedestrianised part of the village centre. The photograph doesn't do it much justice, it was taken on a dim rainy afternoon. It is a large, fairly upmarket pub that was once a coaching inn and is now a grade II listed building.

decor- 3

ambience - 3

The interior is very cosy with a real wood fire. But the furniture is a bit uncomfortable and the decor is dark green, which makes the rooms a bit gloomy.

service - 3

ales - 4

When I was there (March 2012) they had Slightly Foxed, Timothy Taylor and Pride of Pendle; can't remember the fourth one.

features -2

It has accommodation

Serves food during the day and into late afternoon. It is not exclusively a restaurant-pub, though, there are plenty of tables for people who are just drinking

toilets - 5

Pristine

Score 20 out of 30



The Fox and Goose, Hebden Bridge

The Fox and Goose, Heptonstall Road, Hebden Bridge HX7 6AZ

UPDATE 2021: I hear this pub was registered as a community asset to stop it from being closed and is now being run by a local co-operative. Nice going. Not enough places make use of the community asset legislation to save their pubs.

This is on the main road into the village, and about half a mile nearer to the village centre than The Stubbings Wharf.

There has been a pub on the site since 1583. The current building dates from the 18th century and retains the original layout. As of February 2012, local people were aiming to form a co-op to buy out the pub from the brewery and keep it open.

Decor - 4
The walls are cream, the wooden beams black. If this sounds basic, it perfectly fits the age and style of the building. It does have a ceiling festooned with 'beer badges' in the main room where the bar is. There are three rooms, with no obvious distinction between a lounge and bar, small but not cramped.The seating is comfortably cushioned.

Ambience - 4

service - 1
This might not be typical of the place, but when I visited the bar staff were too dozy, or too distracted, to notice when people came to the bar for fresh drinks. You practically had to wave your glass in their faces to get served.

ales - 3
When I visited (March 2012) they had Margery's Tiddlywink, Dark Chocolate and Titanic, plus a farmhouse cider

Features - 3
Beer garden at the back.The pub is on the side of such a steep hill that you have to go upstairs to the first floor to get to it.
Dogs and children are both welcome.

Toilets - 4
Nicely maintained.

Score 19 out of 30

Shoulder of Mutton, Hebden Bridge

The Shoulder of Mutton, Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge HX7 8EX

This pub is in the pedestrianised part of the village centre. A traditional pub, and like most Hebden Bridge pubs, it has real ales and you can take pets in.

decor - 2
dark, all wood furniture with wooden floors, divided into two rather cramped spaces
ambience - 3
Lively

ale - 3
When I was last there they had Timothy Taylor, Slightly Foxed and Guzzler

service - 3
features - 1
dogs and walkers welcome

toilet - 3

Score 15 out of 30

Stubbing Wharf, Hebden Bridge

Stubbing Wharf, King Street (A646), Hebden Bridge HX7 6LU

This pub is on the edge of the village, the first pub you come to if you approach from the west (Todmorden direction) on the A646. It's also the first pub you come to if you take the 471 bus from Rochdale to Halifax (80 minutes to get to Hebden Bridge, goes through LIttleborough and Todmorden). If you arrive by train, go to the centre of the village, find the picturehouse, and then follow the canal westwards towards Todmorden. The pub backs on to the canal.

It's a restaurant pub, most of the tables are for diners. There isn't much space for people only there for a drink, though there are a few outside tables in the yard at the back and next to the canal bank. It is a good idea to book if you want to eat here, it gets very busy.

decor - 3
traditional decor, in dark wood, green and red seats
ambience - 4
lively without being rowdy

service - 3
consistently good considering they're rushed off their feet a lot of the time

ale - 4
mostly real ale served, when I was last there they had Guzzler, Eliminator, Copper Dragon, and Black Sheep, plus Orchard Pig farmhouse cider

features - 2
you can take canal cruises from the towpath next to it in summer
they permit dogs on leads (it's too crowded to let your furry friend run loose)

toilet - 4
It would have got a five, but the soap had run out

Score 20 out of 30