Express pub of the week - The Inns of Court

The Inns of Court on Kings Street has a clientèle which is as nearly as eclectic as its jukebox.

The Marston’s pub is a favourite of the music crowd, and counts The Cribs among its customers. But you are just as likely to see a member of the legal or clerical fraternity than you are an indie rocker.

The Inns has something for everybody.

Landlord David Burns said: “It’s just a traditional pub. It is what it is and what people want. We get a regular clientèle.

“The Cribs do come in from time to time but they spend a lot of time in America recording. We get middle aged, retired people, solicitors and the younger end. We get a lot of people from local bands who play in the area. They all use the pub regularly. They come to hang out and listen to the jukebox. People come in and ask if we can put their tracks on. We play heavy rock right down to ballad type stuff. It’s varied just like the clientèle. Some of The Cribs stuff is on there. From time to time we also have bands play here.”

Away from the music, there is pool, darts and, of course, the beer.

Earlier this year the pub won Marston’s real ale pub of the year for the north. The pub won the same award in 2012.

There are six hand pulls on the bar. These features three regular beers - Jennings Bitter, Marston’s Old Empire and Hobgoblin - and three rotating ales.

Hobgoblin Gold has been very popular recently and expect to see Thwaites beers like Lancaster Bomber and Wainwright following Marston’s acquisition of Thwaites beer division earlier this year.

Mr Burns said Marston’s had bought four or five breweries, like Wychwood and Thwaites, but added: “They allow them to produce and brew in their own right. These smaller breweries brew at a full capacity and produce good beers.”

You can sample some of them and others at a mini Marston’s beer festival, which is on at the pub at the moment. They run them about three times a year

Mr Burns, reflecting on the latest ale award, said: “It’s nice to be recognised. Everything is kept just right. Its just a friendly atmosphere. They feel comfortable. It’s surprising the younger end talk to the older end. They speak to each other and pass the time of day and have a laugh. We make it friendly. People remark on the friendliness and the atmosphere of the pub.”

The Inns of Court is on King Street, Wakefield.

It is open from noon until midnight Sunday to Thursday, and 11am to 1am Fridays and Saturdays.

The pub is run by landlord David Burns and landlady Trish Thornton.

There are six handpulls on the bar featuring three regular beers Jennings Bitter, Marston’s Old Empire and Hobgoblin and three rotating ales.

The pub has a pool table, which is free on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The pub has two teams in Wednesday evening Wakefield and District League.

There is a mini Marston’s beer festival on at the moment.

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