Keighley Street-Corner Locals

Pubs included in this article are listed below.

Keighley map(Originally written by 'Craven Crawlers' and published as an article for Alesman in Spring 1999. Brought up-to-date in October 2007. The numbers in brackets show the pub's location on the Keighley town-centre map).

Keighley is a rare town these days in terms of its wealth of small town centre pubs. In many other small towns, all the small 'locals' have been closed, demolished or revamped in some grotesque way as "theme" pubs. This has certainly been a trend over the last two decades, but in Keighley these little hostelries have survived an age of terrific change in the licensed trade, and a good number still belong to independent brewers. Perhaps this is a pertinent point. See for yourself on this crawl, an interesting discovery tour of these relatively unspoilt little gems.

Arriving in Keighley by whatever means head for East Parade and into the (2) BOLTMAKERS ARMS (Timothy Taylors). A delightful small GBG-listed pub, redecorated and refurbished in 2007 but retaining many of its endearing features. The regular beers Dark Mild, Golden Best, Best Bitter, Landlord and Ram Tam are complemented with a constantly changing guest beer from another brewer. A guest real cider is also available. Beer quality is superlative here. Keighley and Craven Pub of the Season in Summer 2001 and Summer 2005, this is a pub not to be missed.

From here cross over the road and go right before taking the first left down Coney Lane. In about 50 yards on the left squeezed into a row of buildings is the (13) CRICKETERS ARMS Free). Formerly a Taylors house the pub was bought by the town's Worth Brewery, a young micro established in 1992. When Worth closed in early 2000, the pub has continued as a free house selling a range of cask ales. This pub has been refurbished over the years and has some interesting features, most notably the new downstairs bar along with the very comfortable seated and sheltered smokers' patio in the back yard. It is a real survivor, and is now being run by owner John Mitchell. The Cricketers was awarded Keighley and Craven Pub of the Season for Winter 2000/2001, Winter 2002/2003, Spring 2004 and Autumn 2006.

Sadly the (10) BREWERY ARMS is now closed indefinitely.

Turn left and go up Worth Way, passing Worth Brewery on your right, to the traffic lights at the junction with Halifax Road. Turn left along this road until you come to Greengates Road. You can see the (8) VINE TAVERN (Timothy Taylors) on your right-hand side. It is a pleasant, snug back street local. Here Golden Best and Best Bitter are dispensed by metered, electric pumps, giving big foamy heads in oversize glasses, don't be put off by the static display handpumps, it IS real ale! Cask ale by electric dispense is a serving method that was widespread throughout the Midlands and North in the late sixties and seventies but now is comparatively rare, at least in Yorkshire. Lively debate has taken place amongst drinkers about the taste and aroma differences between this method of dispense and the handpump for a particular beer has taken place. There are two rooms at the Vine, a main lounge area and a smaller tap room to the side. Sit back and have fun guessing the titles of the tracks from the seventies background music tapes.

Leaving here retrace your steps back down Halifax Road, keeping straight on past the traffic lights at the junction with Worth Way along into South Street. After about 150 yards on your left you come to the (5) FRIENDLY INN (Timothy Taylors) a 'corner cupboard' if ever there was one. Inside, the pub lives up to its name and has a relaxed atmosphere. You will find Dark Mild, and Best Bitter on electric metered pumps, Landlord on handpump, and Golden Best is served from the same cask via an electric pump and a handpump, enabling you to make your own comparisons - is this the only pub in the country to do this? I am told the view down the staircase from the upstairs ladies is awesome.

Continue along South Street from here to the roundabout opposite the Albert, a large Taylor???s house, recently refurbished, and head left up Oakworth Road. You can see the (3) BROWN COW (Timothy Taylors) ahead of you. Handpumps are used to dispense Golden Best, Ram Tam, Best Bitter, Landlord and two changing guest beers, in this friendly, homely pub.

Trough Brewery Iron Sign At the Brown Cow, Keighley

The main front bar area retains a traditional atmosphere appealing to varying tastes. A good selection of reading material is available. Breweriana adorns the walls including a huge wrought iron sign from the now defunct Trough Brewery of Bradford (restored from a VERY rusty state by a local CAMRA member and loaned for public display). There is some outdoor seating on a large lawn area. Keighley and Craven Improved pub award in 2004, Pub of the Season in Winter 2005 and Spring 2007.

Head back down to the roundabout and straight on past the "Koffee Korner" Bar (formerly the Grinning Rat) into the pedestrianised Low Street, then cut across to the right through the Market Place car park to find the (4) BURLINGTON ARMS (Timothy Taylors). The price of the cask beers on sale within are clearly marked on the board outside and excellent value they are too. Golden Best and Best Bitter are sold on metered electric pumps here. It is a friendly multi-roomed, multi-level pub obviously popular with market shoppers during the day.

Go back up Market Street and then turn right down Low Street past the shopping precinct before turning left along Hanover Street. Go right to the end and cross over Cavendish Street at the pelican crossing. Directly in front of you is the Cavendish Hotel, still with one surviving engraved window revealing its former owner Ramsdens Brewery. Hidden right behind this is, yes another coat of arms, the (9) VOLUNTEER ARMS (Timothy Taylors), with entrances in both Lawkholme Lane and also in Back Cavendish Street. Handpulled Golden Best and Best Bitter are all available here. This pub was also recently refurbished by Taylors but retains its two rooms and a comfortable atmosphere. It is very handy for the bus station and the railway station is just a short walk down Cavendish Street.