Hope everyone doesnt mind but i thought i would start a new thread regarding suggestions for our Home Meetings. I know Dave has found a couple in the Cubley Hall feedback thread, and if i work out how to transfer them i will post them in here(unless anyone else knows how to do it?)

Right then....I have been oot and aboot this afternoon checking out some possibles, 4 to be exact and here are the findings -

The Fox and Hounds, Hall Park Road, Walton, Wetherby - Sounded good but wasn't. The carpark was way too small, as was the pub and it looked a bit grotty. So nil poins for that place

The Darrington, Great North Road, Darrington(just off the A1, south of Ponte) - Fabulous place, huge carpark, 3 beer gardens, good menu, play area for the kids(next to big beer garden), our own area in the pub if we want it, amenable manager and country(ish) roads around it for anyone that wants to play out, so to speak. A few pics of the place -

The Darrington Pub

The Carpark

Small Beer Garden to side

Large Beer Garden to rear with kiddies play area

Bar

 

Then it was onto The Village, Castleford Road, Normanton(just other side of M62 to the TP). Didnt really like it, although Manager Sarah was very welcoming. Big Carpark, Beer garden, nice menu, pool tables(for the bigger kids) but nothing for the smaller kid variety. Also looked a bit like a chav type hang out. So a NO, NO

Last but not least, my favourite. Now before you all start chelping, i know there are no good driving roads around there, it is however accessible from M1/M62/A1, thus helping people get to it.

Its The Mill House, Stanley Ferry Marina, Ferry lane, Stanley, Wakefield. I think it would suit us down to the ground.
It has 2 big carparks, the bottom one being a bit potholey(nothing that cant be avoided if yr looking where yr going) but the Manager Don is in the process of trying to get it resurfaced, so it should be done in the next few months. If we used the bottom carpark we have a good view of it from the beer garden which is elevated.

The pub has the marina to one side and the canal to the other, and there are beer tables along the towpath. The pub itself is a good size and we will have own reserved area within the main pub(if that makes sense).

I have some copies of the menu if anyone wants one, but the whole menu looks amazing. Don(the manager) has agreed to give the WYIOC a 20% discount on any of the main meals. He has also agreed to us having theme nights(as there is a hotplate type thing near our area), such as curry nights or hot buffets, etc for as little as £6 per head(there or thereabouts) if we give him a few days notice.

He assures me he will put on extra bar staff, should we go there, so there shouldnt be any problems with service.

There is no play area at the moment for kids, however kids are welcome inside the pub until 2130hrs and in the beer garden till whenever.

As another plus point, there is also a large function room, that could be made available to us, should we ever get round to organising some sort of do, such as xmas. It has its own bar, kitchen and dance floor. (Maybe a Northern scoob owners club xmas do? Al?)

Some pics(however my camera fooked up on me, so i only got a few)

The carpark


The view from the beer garden


The beer garden


Our reserved bit of the bar



Anyway, I think its perfect but what do you all think?

 

Originally posted by Corradoboy

T'was too lovely a day to waste, so I went out on a little recce this aft. Headed over the M62 aiming to come off at J.23, only to find that you can't come off there westbound so after a little jaunt to Saddleworth I returned to J.23. Whilst going by "The Farm" in the middle of the 62 I remembered that pub overlooking the reservoir up there. Some stunning fast moorland roads up there, so I may have to go back and inspect the pub as I've never been in it.
Back where I was aiming for, I found a pub on the A640 Rochdale road called the Nont Sarah which looked interesting. Had a car park opposite that would suit and a play area for the younglings. Fast moorland roads (120 either kph or mph depending on who's reading ) but a little remote, and could be unreachable at certain times of year (there were signs warning of this all around the area). Above Slaithwaite there was another called the Jack o'Mitre which may be worth a look. On the outskirts of Marsden there was a nice looking hotel, but it looked more suited to cream teas than 20 burbling rally(esque) cars, so I headed towards Meltham. On the B6107 I spotted the White House and The Travellers Rest which gave a good first impression. Holmfirth seemed a little too populated with quite a few sCams, so I passed through and called in to see Chris (who was out damned inconvenient ) and wanted to ask him about The Foxholes (I think ) which looks like a reasonable sized olde worlde type pub a couple of miles south of Fenay. From there I crossed over Emley to have a nosey at The Station off the A636 near Great Cliff, and The Navigator at Calder Grove. Both of these had child facilities, but The Station was too small inside, and The Nav was both too small and had too little parking, but a lovely setting.

Anyone familiar with these areas who can add anywhere I may (probably) have missed ??

 

Originally posted by Harry Boy

Hi mate. Heard you popped by to witness the grass being cut - sorry I was out.

Right - I'm familiar with just about all the pubs that you mention (mis-spent youth, researching cask-conditioned ales... )

So, comments as follows:-

Nont Sarahs

Not been in for a few years, but it's a largish room with a bar somewhere in the middle. Fine views over the valley and across to Scammonden, combined with some great roads (once did 155mph as a pillion past there... ), but just about completely inaccessible in the winter, 'cos, when it snows, it don't 'alf snow, if you get my, erm.... drift...

In all honesty, the pub used to be a bit grotty, but might benefit from a mid month jaunt out. I can remember every corner of every road round there - years of wagging off Friday afternoon physics in mi dad's Beetle, sideways wherever possible.

Slaithwaite - Jack 'o' Mitre?

Are you thinking of the J 'o' M further towards Huddersfield on the A640? Although this ain't Slawit (as the locals call it), there are signs to this area. If so, again it's OK, but nothing fantastic. Average to largish car park, but still nothing to write home about inside.

Further back into Hudds on the A640 is the Oldf Golf House. That's a hotel, but with a decent car park and pub facilities. Personally, I reckon it's pretty grim, but it might be worth a pint to look.

There's one up on the top of the hill that used to be called The Flying Horse. Can't remember what it's been renamed to (I can check), but that had a great car park, and was a reasonable pub, as well as being a hotel.

Marsden, Meltham and Holmfirth I'd tend to avoid, as they can be a bug**r to get to. They are somewhat out on a limb, as witness the other day when I popped over there for a bike ride. Went 25 miles, circled round them all, and it took a bl**dy age. Longest 25 miles I've ever done....

South of the Fenay?

Are you thinking of the Foxglove?

That's literally 400 yds from the bottom of our road... The one with the sloping car park...

Decent parking (despite the last comment), a good atmosphere with OK beer and good food. Although open plan, it also possesses some good club-friendly areas (a bit like the FB). IIRC, there's also some sort of kid area....

I'd recommend this one, and we did mention it as an alternative to the FB a while ago. Also has access to some decent roads, and is reasonably close for those needing to come from Leeds etc.

The Station

Been there once - didn't like it. 'Nuff said.

Navigator

Good location but, as Dave says, too small inside. Forget it.

So, two distinct possibles - The Foxglove (if that's the one you mean) and the Pub Formerly Known As The Flying Horse (if I can find the name).*

* The Pennine Manor.

PS. There's always The Sovereign, near the BP station on the way to the FB. Average sized car park, but otherwise very decent. Good access to roads over the tops....

 

Steff - some excellent research there.

I know what the next question will be though.... 'What are the driving roads like in the area...?'

PS. Thanks for copying & pasting mine & Dave's earlier comments.

 

Had thought of that Chris

 

Me and my £1.99 Speed Reading course....

 

Stef, I'm liking the sound of the Darrington.

 

Look like a couple of nice places Steff Especially the one by the marina A bit like the TP but hopefully with better service and scenery, but still limited on the roads

I'll try and make it up the A1 on thursday (nice weather coming ) to see if we can find anything up there.

 

Looks like you had a busy day steff we like the sound of The Darrington and The Mill House.

 

Bllody hell dave straight past the end of my road as my local is the Travellers Rest in Meltham.

However.

Across the road from the travellers is a road running to Crossland moor. along there, 5 mins walk from the travellers, is the Wils'o'nats. Big pub with seperate dining area, large car park, beer garden, kids play area and ameanable manager. Might be worth someone checking it out if that is the area being looked at. I do agree though that Meltham is a bit in the sticks.

I would also add a vote (though being a bit removed form ther meets it might not be worth much) for the sovereign. Easy motorway access (watch out for the b'std boxes on the denby dale road) and very much like the FB in layout and carpark.

Kev (who might play out again if the WYIOC comes home!!!)

 

I've just read the menu for the Mill House and had the full run down from Steph, it seems the place is ideal.It has the addes attraction of being in a lovely setting next to the canal.

In order to get us all together in good time after work and without a 60 mile round trip for people we may have to forego great roads for everyone.

I personally think we ought to give it a go.

 

Steph. A great post and some great research...

Both the Mill House and Darrington sound the best so far, and I agree with Paul that it'll be hard to find anything suitable in a single venue..

I think it may be best to keep the suggestions & research coming and discuss the top 3 at next week's TP? We can then plan to visit them all in an Impromptu meet the following week?

Comments?

 

Agree. Top three pros and cons need to be highlighted next Thursday, then a run/runs finalised for as early as possible thereafter to determine the favourite "compromise", all criteria considered.

 

Cheers for all the hard work Steph - both sound good to me. We should defo give them a whirl.

Last time at the Trading Post did it for me...crap food, crap service, long waits for everything!

 

Fair comment Ian mate. I think the time had come to look for alternatives in any event....

 

Thought I might as well join you all in these murky waters

If we can find one decent place, i.e. somewhere friendly, big enough for us, decent grub and decent beer and that is in West Yorkshire we could call that home and use it for our monthly meets and any special events.

It seems to me that the lack of driving roads to and from this venue need not be of particular concern as the monthly meet is all about getting together for a bit of a chin wag and some beer and food, oh and taking the pi$$ out of Sticky oh and Chris oh and Al oh yeah and Daz oh and, ah well you get what I mean rather than driving about like loons.

Then to address the needs of the drivers among our ranks we use the mid month runs, each time a different venue, the primary aim of the evening being to drive some great roads, all meet up for a brief bit of refreshment and then back to the great roads.

Does it need to be any more difficult than this or am I missing something here.

Discuss

ps I'd love to help with suggesting somewhere but being as I am from darn sarf I haven't a clue where anything is up here

 

That was my thinking exactly Barry, couldnt have put it better myself

 

Barry. That was my thinking exactly Barry, couldn't have put it better myself

Oh, I see Steph use the same words, exactly..

the intent is not to make it complex, but to try and find a mutual solution that caters for everyone's wants, needs and requests.

From what we've so far, finding two venues will be as difficult as finding one and Dave's point about confusing matters by doing so is perfectly valid. But as it stands, and with my finger on the pulse , it does indeed feel that the consensus is for one good venue for the meet with the mid monther's for the dedicated run. Having some good roads nearby will be a bonus for the main venue as this will cater for the ones that want a quick zip in these lighter nights..

The TP was meant to be this place, but it didn't turn out that way as Ian quite rightly says.. So we move again, hopefully the one we choose will be the one.. we'll see..

Either way, I think the Main meet, eat & drink with the mid month run being the one to do a proper drive, will be the format..

 

Sounds good to me Alan.

After all, we all need to remember that the nights are now officially drawing in again.....

So, with this in mind, the mid-monthly runs will lessen after October time.... Hence, we need to hit on a good (read pressing as many of the right buttons as possible) venue for the main monthly home.

 

Another one to throw into the mixer Just had another sunny day blast out purely for research purposes

Milford Hall



The place is huge, with plenty of areas which can be sectioned off for private use, including a marquee out the back. There is a huge car park to the front, and another to the rear by the marquee. They have an outdoor play area, and used to have an indoor one but it was decomissioned some time ago due to limited use Children are however welcome in all areas except around the main bar. Prices are comparable with most pubs, and on thursday evenings they have a roast buffet for £6.95 (one serving of meat, but as much veg etc as you can handle). The lady I spoke to said thursdays is a fairly quiet night for them, and depending upon us being a regular feature with enough people she would discuss discounts.
It's 5 miles north of Ferrybridge, just off the A162; about 12 miles north/east of the TP. It can be quickly approached via the M62/A1 or the A63 out of Leeds. I ran it through my Route Planner and it came out as 19 miles via the A63, or 23 miles via the (quicker) M62/A1, compared to the TP's 17 miles ; so not too much to ask travelling wise.

Right, now for the best bit It is slap bang in the middle of a squillion square miles of farm land, with some stunningly fast roads to explore and enjoy Seems to tick every box except the indoor kiddies play area


Whilst I was out I checked out Apples suggestion of The Crooked Billet at Saxton. Lovely little place, but too little and a little too far out of the way maybe. I did enjoy the Yorkshire Pud though

I also had a look at Steff's favourite, The Mill House at Stanley, Wakey. Another lovely place What a glorious setting on a beautiful sunny day and the pub certainly looks suitable in size and amenities. Only let down by the compromise on the roads issue, but fabulously convenient.

 

Sounds great Dave, well done. Looks like we've got a few to choose from. Everyone down to the Optimax garage, we got some miles to do!
Anyone of those listed sounds ideal, so maybe we need a few extra meets to check them out?

 

"Yeeeeaaaah !!! Why can't we 'ave any meets ?"

 

Blimey Dave - are they the locals...?

Run deffo needed..... Will fill up with Morrison's finest NUL....

 

How are we gonna play this then Do we wanna set aside next wednesday for a trip out to see both venues, or congregate at TP on thursday and then have a trip out to them ?

I favour combining it with TP, as I've used enough fuel this week

 

I can do wednesday

 

You can pick me up then, tanks are dry cupboards are bare

Time to put CG on the street

 

I would never find your house again in a million years lol

Wtf is CG?

 

CG Is CorradoGirl I'll let someone else ask what the rates are

Steph.. How does Milford Hall sound for you lot over in Leeds? Seems easy to go through Killingbeck/Cross Gates way and down through Garforth? All the way on the A63... 22 Miles

Trading Post appears to be 18 miles...

*****

I've just got back from a quick trip out to the Millhouse and surrounding area.. Mixed feelings from me. From Steph's description, it'll be a smart place with the hospitality, discount, OK car park (was VERY rutted) and themed nights etc.... However the drive is poor.. From the M62 it's 30 all the way, Pinderfields and Wakefield are to the South with Altofts to the East leading to the Cas. All the roads are frustratingly busy and slow.

Of course the roads are not the primary factor, but they'll make the drive to any place FEEL good.. At the mo this has dropped in my list, with The Darrington and Milford Hall to test from the other suggestions....

Sorry Steph..

 

Come off it There's 6 roads into/out of Pudsey, and we're on the one furthest from you