It was once a landmark pub called Town Hall – and the original town hall in Lockwood dates back to 1866.
But, like so many hostelries, it’s now rung time for good and has been transformed into an eating place that’s somewhere in between a restaurant and a takeaway.
So let’s go for the middle ground here and call it a diner.
Inside it’s roomy with comfortable brown and cream chairs and plenty of high seats so it’s an ideal start for parents thinking of introducing their offspring – no matter how young they may be - to the delights of what curry has to offer. There’s even a small booth if you fancy a bit of privacy.
In here you’ll eat in here for the same price you’d take it away. And the menu is kept old style and simple.
Mainly the basics you’d expect from an Indian restaurant with just a sprinkling of specials, most notably chicken cooked on the bone with ginger, garlic, onions and fresh coriander.
And if you like fresh coriander then you’re in luck as it’s sprinkled lavishly on lots of the dishes as a matter of course.
Yes, these guys are eager to please and welcomed us like old chums, asking how far we’d travelled and how we’d heard of them.
In fact, they seemed delighted to have someone to serve at the table rather than sorting out the takeaways.
Politeness is their watchword and you get the feeling that if you ask them to give your curry a twist, then a twist it’ll get.
Starters include old favourites chicken or fish pakora, fish masala, meat or vegetable samosa and onion bhajis. My wife - and dining partner for more years than we now struggle to remember - Ruth, had them – around six, small, deep fried in vegetable oil and spiced. Not too much, not too little. And they came with large squeezy bottles of chilli or cucumber and yoghurt so you could squeeze to your heart’s content.
My starter was the mix sizzler – two seekh kebabs, four pieces of chicken tikka botis, chicken wings and a couple of lamb chops that had somehow become three. Told you they were eager to please.
For £6 you couldn’t knock it’s value for money as all this food nestled neatly on a bed of fried onions.
They’ll never be bland here – all were robustly spiced and the chops tasted as though they’d been marinated while the kebabs had a slightly crumbly texture. That dish could have sorted us both as a starter.
Mains were chicken karahi – cooked in a wok with diced onions, garlic, ginger, peppers and spices – and balti chicken, again cooked in a wok but this time with fresh tomatoes.
You could pick up the subtle variations between them and both were packed with meat – you could even argue they’re too generous and perhaps ought to allow the other ingredients more room, especially in the balti. The peppers in the karahi had been finely chopped to the point of being quaintly shaped.
The pilau rice was fine and the peshwari nan was just the right sweetness and not over fancy – you can get some riddled with almonds and raisins.
The vegetarian options include matar paneer (potatoes and peas), aloo palak (potatoes and spinach) daal (yellow lentils) and aloo ghobi (cauliflower and potatoes).
The other curries were the usual old friends – korma, dansak, rogan josh, makhan, jalfrezi, bhuna, dopiaza, madras and tikka masala.
Something less traditional are the puddings that include Black Forest gateau, ice-cream and a Ferrero Rocher cake. The Ferrero Rocher had artificial cream and was somewhat dry – perhaps they’d be better off putting traditional Indian desserts on the menu such as gulab jamun or kulfi.
Alcohol isn’t allowed but they do have mango lassi and pride themselves on their chocolate milkshakes.
And then there’s always Dixons ice-cream parlour a few doors away ... and a park with swings nearby. Come to think of it it’s getting more family-orientated for an early spring or summer meal out by the minute.
12 Swan Lane, Lockwood,
Huddersfield, HD1 3UB
Tel: 01484 535155
Opening hours: Sun to Thurs 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-late. Closed Tuesdays.
Children: Certainly
Disabled access: Yes, and disabled toilet
The bill: £23.55
Would you go back? Yes, it’s a friendly place with good service
