Walkers love this welcoming country pub

Phil Thompson recounts an intriguing snippet of information about the pub he manages in the village of Hipperholme.

“One of my friends was born here in the pub in 1961. His dad was a boxing trainer who would use the ring. One of the regulars, who sadly died during lockdown, helped his dad to build the boxing ring as a teenager.”

Phil mans the pumps

Phil has been at the helm of the Travellers Inn - our Telegraph & Argus Pub of the Week - for three years. “It’s a great location, with lovely countryside and a 15 minute walk from Shibden Hall. We get loads of walkers coming in - one party regularly walk over from Shelf after playing golf and have a drink. Many people bring their dogs - we are very dog friendly.”

The pub has a resident dog, Phil’s cocker spaniel Norm. “Everyone has fallen in love with him.”

Norm the resident cocker spaniel

This corner of Calderdale has seen a sharp rise in the number of visitors since the popular TV drama Gentleman Jack - set at Shibden Hall - hit our screens. “We had a group of women from London last week - they absolutely loved it,” says Phil.

The mid-19th century, stone-built inn, on Tanhouse Hill, is part of the Ossett Brewery stable, which also runs Rat Brewery in Huddersfield. “We had a Gentleman Rat beer, which we still sell when special events are on.”

There are eight Ossett real ales including Silver King, White Rat and Yorkshire Blonde, as well as three guest beers featuring local breweries such as Bingley and Elland.

“We are a real ale drinkers’ pub. Ossett collaborates a lot with the smaller breweries,” says Phil, who altogether has worked in the pub trade for 40 years.

Inside, the pub is full of character with stone floors and dark wood fittings.

“It’s very traditional. There is no juke box, just low background music,” says Phil.

Outside, at the front of the pub, five tables soak up the sun all day and plans are afoot to create a beer garden at the rear.

Twice a month, on a Sunday at 4pm, acoustic singers perform at the pub and a brass band performs at Christmas.

Quiz night is Thursday at 8.30pm, with a gallon of beer up for grabs, a raffle and a free supper.

In the early 20th century the pub benefitted from custom derived from trips to Sunny Vale, the nearby pleasure gardens which opened in 1880 and fell into disrepair following World War Two.

Sunny Vale pleasure gardens once stood close to the pub

“Sunny Vale was like the Blackpool of Yorkshire and had a boating lake and miniature railway. The lake is still there,” says Phil.

With many regulars, the inn is solidly part of the community. “We fit in very well here,” adds Phil.

*Travellers Inn, 53 Tanhouse Hill, Hipperholme HX3 8HN

If you would like to nominate your own pub or a favourite of yours, email helen.mead@telegraphandargus.co.uk