Pub of the Week: Drink? Hebden Bridge

Martin Ogley, in his brewer’s apron, looks every inch the bartender, which is no surprise given his background. “My first full-time job saw me suited and booted working for Tetley’s Brewery in Leeds. From there I moved to an independent pub company and helped set up a small brewery in one of their pubs.” He ran the business for 12 years before moving to Bridestones Brewing just up the road – which is when he began his love affair with Hebden Bridge.
Ogley took possession of a former stove shop on Market Street and opened the Drink? doors in October 2014. Not strictly a pub, he describes it as a “bar and bottle shop”. Then came the devastating Boxing Day floods last year and Ogley had to start again from scratch. Today it’s a cool, stylish space, dominated by a massive, unmissable mural; the other walls are floor-to-ceiling cans and bottles of beer.
Behind the bar, two cask ales – on visit, Nor’hop from Moor Beer Company in Bristol and Tail Whip from Cwrw Ial in Wales. Ogley rotates the cask ales frequently and, apart from beer from local brewery Vocation, never runs the same offer twice. In addition, there are a handful of kegs including Beavertown, Northern Monk and Black Jack.
It’s a trouser shop too. Yep, you heard right. Local manufacturer HebTroCo provides a measuring service here as it doesn’t yet have a shop – so get your moleskins while you’re enjoying a pint. Suits you, sir.
Drink? 15 Market Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 6EU. 01422 844366. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-9pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm.

About The Author

Amanda Wragg

Mandy Wragg is a freelance food journalist, writing and inspecting for the Yorkshire Post, Alastair Sawday, the Morning Advertiser, the AA, Cool Places and David Hancock's Inn Places. She co-writes www.squidbeak.co.uk, an independent guide to eating, drinking and staying in Yorkshire.

Let us know what you think

comments