Beat The Crunch: West Riding landlord to open Sportsman pub following BBC TV success

Mar 20 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The new Sportsman, which was built in 1930 on the site of a pub of the same name, will include a range of proper brews including one Huddersfield ale.

The horseshoe shaped bar and many of the tavern’s attractive 1950s features will be retained.

Mike says: “The Sportsman has always been on the radar. As a real ale man you think: ‘That’s a nice pub. I could do something with that.’ The location is good too.”

As for credit crunch blues, Mike isn’t worried.

Mr Field, who transformed a set of semi-derelict waiting rooms in the West Riding, says: “The recession will do what it does but good pubs will do OK. We’re doing record sales at The West Riding and Cellar Bar.

“I’m not discouraged at all. There’s a lot of reasons why pubs are closing but the Government is playing a part in this by allowing cheap alcohol sales in supermarkets.

“As landlords we have to provide what a significant part of the drinking population want and they want quality drink in a clean, safe atmosphere. That has to include all sections of society.

“There’s got to be something about the place that makes you feel at home.”