Pub 125, Day 48 – Coach & Horses

By Andy

Setting off around Chapeltown in a circle, we soon came across our next watering hole: the Coach & Horses.

An attractive stone building set back slightly from the road, it could easily be mistaken for a luxury holiday cottage. However, once inside this vision faltered somewhat, as instead of red wine, chestnuts and an open fire; the pub specialised in crap beer, peanuts and a fake fireplace.

The exposed stonework was barely noticeable behind an array of military memorabilia, gathering dust on each wall. I couldn't help think that the pub would be better served changing its name to reflect this, as there was no indication of its theme from the outside. For example, the Shepley Spitfire was one pub we had come across with a clear military-based name.

The beer options were so poor we opted for Tetley's Smooth Flow, a small family brewery who lovingly handcraft a massive industrial warehouse near Tadcaster which pumps out 700,000 hectolitres each year.

As the pub was empty and we didn't want the landlord to stare at us, we wandered round the corner to a small offshoot room... which contained a pool table!

One thing I've learnt from Pubquest is that there is no standard size for a pub pool tables – they range from tiny compact affairs where the pockets are only a few feet apart, to vast snooker-style behemoths where I feel the need to borrow Dennis Taylor's spectacles.

Needless to say I'm a potter by nature (and a short-sighted one at that), so I prefer the smaller tables as I don't need to waste time worrying where the white ball will end up – it never goes far.

As the Coach & Horses was probably built several centuries before pool was invented, they had crammed in the tiniest pool table imaginable – think slightly bigger than those crap miniature versions you get for Christmas.

This suited me to a tee and I proceeded to annihilate Rob by four frames to nil. The Pubquest pool score was now beginning to get away from him.

Before leaving, we hijacked the blackboard to leave a friendly Pubquest message – it was pub 125 after all, a milestone of sorts.

All in all, I felt this pub needed a revamp. Strip away all the shite, put some good beers on and let the building speak for itself. The stone exterior looks just like a pub should, and the low ceilings and strange layout made you feel almost underground while inside.

However, this was all let down by the military memorabilia, gambling machines and the frankly embarrassing selection of beers.

Make no mistake, this one's got potential – it just hasn't fulfilled it.

Coach & Horses pool score: Andy 4-0 Rob
Pubquest pool score: Andy 51-33 Rob

Pub: Coach & Horses (13 Station Road, S35 2XE)

Rating: 6.5/10

Pint: Tetley's Smooth Flow

Brewery: Carlsberg Group (Tadcaster, North Yorkshire)

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