Pub of the Week: Calan’s Micropub

link and you miss it. Tucked into a quiet corner just off the square in Hebden Bridge, Calan’s, like almost every other building in town found itself submerged under flood water on Boxing Day 2015, having been open only eight months. And like many of them, after a long and difficult clean up, it’s risen from the soggy ashes to become a comfortable, quirky, intimate space where everyone (and his/her dog) is welcome.
There are a couple of pleasant places to sit. Money’s been saved on wallpaper – with hundreds of beer mats on the walls, and over the fireplace, flyers advertising local events. There are books to read – or buy for 50p, all proceeds to a children’s hospice.
On the pumps, five real ales from far and wide; on visit, Steady State from Bingley Brewery, Dragonhead from the Orkneys, Equilibrium from Deeply Dale Brewery, Shankar IPA from Great Heck and Laid Back ‘table beer’ from Electric Bear, connected to casks in a temperature controlled room behind glass at the back of the bar. In 18 months they’ve put on 675 beers from 205 breweries. It’s real ale heaven. They stock some local bottled beers and craft cider, but no kegged beer, alcopops, shots or spirits.
Snacks-wise, tuck into pork pies from Bolster Moor or a mighty Stoodley Swirl from The Bakehouse in Mytholmroyd. The emphasis, say landlords Alan and Alyson, is on real drinks, real people and real conversations. I’ll drink to that.
Calan’s Micropub, 3 The Courtyard, Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8EX.

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.

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