Arcade Higher and Prior’s Well

Even Barnsley has caught micropub fever, a certain sign that the condition has developed a resistance to all known antibiotics.  The Arcade Alehouse is in, yes, an arcade.  On two levels, its most curious feature is an upper balcony, shown here obscured by its own awards banner.  Arcade higher as it were.

I had the Revolutions brewery Cardinal and Rakau (4.5%) whilst Dr John had the Raw Dark Peak Stout (4.5%), which had more body to it.

Our second stop was the Black Market Venue in Market Warsop.  This is a carvernous music venue (coming soon Think Lizzy) with its own brewery and loads of baize- another pool table lurked around the corner.

It is probably lively at night but calling in late afternoon meant we didn’t really see this pub in its natural habitat. Three of their own beers were on. In the Dark was a 4.8% stout; Imperial a 3.9% golden ale; and Illicit a 4.3% pale.  The latter was on the turn and changed.  The strongest beer was in the best condition.

And so to the bar with the shortest opening hours of any in the 2018 Good Beer Guide.  Based in the tiny Prior’s Well brewery on an industrial estate in Mansfield Woodhouse, it is open for five hours on Thursday and Friday evenings.  Its own website says it is open on Friday “until interest dies or 19.30”  though the sign on the door says until “at least 21.30.”  Anyway it’s not open much because the rest of time is spent brewing. Martin’s visit to the Prior’s Well is written up here retiredmartin.com/…/a-window-of-opportunity-in-mansfield-woodhouse

High above the brewing vessels is a mezzanine that forms the bar area.  It serves workers from the industrial estate and people with sufficient interest in beer to venture out.  The bar has been very thoughtfully put together, using attractive glasswork and a Victorian ‘storyboard’ bar (i.e. the carvings depict a continuous story) salvaged from a barn. 

Dave and Phil produce a number of their own beers.  They have managed to source Citra hops – not so easy for a very small brewery- and Priory Gold (4.7%) benefits accordingly.

The opening hours are challenging for us completists but it’s well worth the effort.