December 2025. Horsforth. Leeds.
Visiting these last few West Yorkshire Beer Guide newbies, like Sir Geoff tickling singles off the Australian attach at Headingley in ’64, I head for Horsforth.
Actually, I head for Kirkstall Forge,
a newish station 23 13 minutes walk from the Three Swords, overcoming the discomfort of my recent industrial injury that I don’t like to talk about.
Not sure about that grey, but Kirkstall Brewery‘s newish pub diner is a classy affair. They really are the Thornbridge of the North, in a good way.
It lacks the heritage character of the Cardigan Arms, but it’s still gorgeous.
10 minutes past opening time, just me in, but virtually every table with a reserved sign for post-work trade.
Can a pub that takes reservations really be a pub ? That would be an ecumenical question.
Judge it for what it is, a neighbourhood diner with quality cask; the bellwether Three Swords a tad sharp, but still NBSS 3 and a bit.
The Indian food is fresh, tasty and good value, though the Chicken Byriani is a dull choice.
By the time that bowl arrives a place empty at 12:15 on a post-Christmas Tuesday is filling up rapidly. A young couple, mum and baby, some gentlefolk, dogwalkers, Women Who Wine (Calverley Lodge). All human life is here.
The young staff are great; if it’s their female American soundtrack (Ethel Cain, Julien Baker et al, very Leeds) I applaud them.
And when I’m asked if I want another beer (table service alert !) I have a half of that Sticky Toffee Pudding Milk Stout (NBSS 3.5) I was always going to have.
It’s what Simon would do.
retiredmartin 
Luckily I know KLF is the three letter code for Kirkstall Forge…
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Really ? I assumed it was Keg Liberation Front.
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I assumed they were airport codes and then realised Kirkstall Forge is unlikely to have an airport. Lucky to have a station.
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But when do you get to moo-moo land ..?
Happy New Year from Dom in Bath
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Well, we’re all bound for there.
Happy New Year, Dom. Save us some Bass in the Star.🔺
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As long as you have a master plan. 😉
Still haven’t been to the Star. Shame on me. On the list – I’ll send a report in due course.
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I was doing some research before my assault on The Star. The Bass is served under gravity via a jug – the pictures of the pour make for an unappetitising looking pint. No chance of lacings on that! At the risk of committing sacrilege, is Bass any good from a jug..?
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If the beer is in good condition before entering the jug, it should good to drink if poured from jug to glass before the moon is over the yard arm. If the sky is overcast, or you’re nowhere near a wooden masted sailing vessel, never mind, just drink up and be happy.
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Toffee pudding is a stout I could possibly get on board with. Got KLF is gonna rock ya in head now.
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It’s either irresistible or appalls people like my wife who want their “beer to taste like beer”
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