Pub of the week: Roundhill Inn, Rastrick, Brighouse

MEN often joke with one another about “beer tokens” but at the Roundhill Inn at Rastrick it’s the real thing. When a man, and it is invariably a man, buys a mate a “pint in the pump” he expects it to be honoured without exception.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jun 2011, 01:00 BST

But it was decided to avoid problems with people buying their friends “one on” that pint and half-pint tokens would be introduced, particularly to avoid any confusion when shifts changed over.

Ebullient landlady Maggie Starkey is rightly proud of the innovation and it certainly proved a talking point when I called round, with my beer tokens having to be prised out of my hands.

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This is a great little country-style pub with an enjoyable ambience and the best welcome I have come across in a long time. As well as some great Timothy Taylor’s ales there are no jukeboxes, no lads swearing across pool tables and no bandit machines.

There was the classic pub bore whom I took care to avoid eye contact with but what’s a pub without bores? Every good one should have at least one and preferably a ghost too. And then there are the panoramic views which highlight the landmark, Round Hill, as well as the adjacent Rastrick cricket ground.

There is a nice bright red telephone kiosk in front of one view of the pub which contrasts well with its whitewashed exterior and inside there are decent snugs, low ceilings and the promise of a real fire.

It is thought that the pub and the cottages are built in a strip of land that was probably enclosed from the roadside, Clough Lane being a medieval main road.

Roundhill Inn, 75 Clough Lane, Rastrick, Brighouse. 01484 713418.

THE VERDICT

Welcome****

Drinks selection***

Atmosphere***

Prices***

Related topics:BrighouseTimothy Taylor