Bar Review The Hop
Ossett Brewery opens their first Leeds pub under the arches in Granary Wharf
Bar Review: The Hop
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While a lot of the drinkers in Leeds won’t know too much about Ossett Brewery, their counterparts just a few miles south in Wakefield will be very familiar with their beers. Ossett Brewery owns a host of great pubs and bars in Wakefield, and supply their beers to loads more. The most notable of their pubs is, probably, The Hop in Wakefield – nestled on the city’s notorious Westgate run (think the Otley Run but more compact and with more horrendous clubs) and well known for serving up quality ales and quality entertainment.
Indeed, The Hop in Wakefield has become so popular, that the folks at Ossett have decided to bring the very same concept to Granary Wharf in Leeds.
In the archway that was once Bar Home, the Ossett Brewery team have created a drinking den that combines old fashioned pub décor (it looks like it’s been taken out of a historic pub and lovingly recreated in two arches) with rock ‘n’ roll paraphernalia (records on the wall, graffiti-style drawings of rock stars and so on) and some odd neo-classical touches (such as a massive urn and a fake flickering torch – why, it is not clear).
Of course, the most important thing about any pub is the bar, and The Hop boasts a pretty massive one, well stocked with real ales, lagers and bottles from across the world. Real ale is the main offering here, though, with four beers from Ossett on offer alongside some great brews from across the county, including Knaresborough’s Rooster brewery and Heckmondwike’s Great Heck.
The goal for The Hop is for it to offer more than just good beers in a quirky location. On the opening weekend, guests were treated to a covers band hammering out bog-standard cover versions of tracks by The Killers and Stereophonics, and there should soon be regular nights featuring similar tribute bands, as well as jazz, blues and open mics. Plus, there are rumours of pies coming over from Huddersfield to feed the hungry folk at the bar.
When the summer comes around, it should prove to be quite a spot for sun chasers, as the staff bring the tables and chairs outside and give drinkers a chance to lounge in the sun, admiring the impressive Granary Wharf complex and enjoy the breeze from the River Aire.
And the best bit? We’re already planning a mini-South Leeds real ale pub crawl, taking in The Hop, The Grove, The Cross Keys and The Midnight Bell. Who’s with us?
Posted on Wednesday 14th April 2010
TG
The Hop Leeds
Canal Basin, Granary Wharf, Dark Neville St, Leeds, LS1 4BR
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