Express pub of the week: The British Oak

British Oak landlady Catherine Glover will celebrate 20 years at the helm next month.
The British Oak at Calder Grove. Picture: Simon JenkinsThe British Oak at Calder Grove. Picture: Simon Jenkins
The British Oak at Calder Grove. Picture: Simon Jenkins

The licensee will mark her long tenure behind the bar with a party at the pub on Denby Dale Road, Calder Grove on December 6.

Ms Glover first stepped behind the bar there with her brother Richard Thewlis back in December 1995.

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The pub trade is a bit of a family tradition as their grandparents, mum and dad and auntie and uncle have all been involved in it.

The brother and sister duo ran the British for 12 years before Mr Thewlis left to takeover The Railway at Drighlington.

The British Oak has built up a big reputation for food.

Ms Glover said: “We serve food all day, every day from noon until 9.30pm. We can sit up to about 50 people comfortably in the restaurant side.

“It’s quality food and about 75 per cent of it is homemade.”

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Popular dishes include meat and potato pie and fish and chips.

But the ale is also an important aspect of its businesses. It has held cask marque accreditation for years. That’s an independent sign of approval for a quality pint.

The pub has four cask ales. Tetley’s Bitter and Marston’s Pedigree, plus two guests, like Rooster’s Yankee.

Ms Glover said: “We do tend to favour local breweries. We’ve always kept good cask ale. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the last 20 years. My brother and I have built it up from a quiet pub that had been forgotten a bit. It’s now about quality, consistency and service.”

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The British Oak pub is based on Denby Dale Road in Calder Grove, less than a mile from Junction 39 of the M1.

It is open from lunchtime until late, with food served from noon until 9.30pm daily.

The main menu is also served on Sundays alongside the traditional roast.

There is a wide range of drinks on offer with four cask ales, three lagers and a large selection of wines from Majestic.

See the story opposite for full details of its ale range.

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Children are also well catered for with a large play area out back. It features The British Oak’s pirate ship with swings and a slide.

There is also a beer garden and quiz and music theme nights.

See www.thebritishoak.co.uk for more information, including the menu.

Ring 0124 275286.