Old Ball

A relatively recent refurbishment of The Old Ball has seen some great improvements. It looks better, it serves better food and punters have an overall better experience but its pool tables have gone, and so has the Old Ball's sense of fun.

The Venue
The Old Ball is an ever-popular pub that's part of the Mr Q’s chain. It's spacy, and conveniently located close to the Trinity and All Saint's University campus in Horsforth.

Between the bar's intimate seating areas there'sa roomy mezzanine that's been recently refurbished. The pool tables have been removed in favour of more seating and now the Old Ball is more a drinking den than an all-out sports' bar.

There's a pay and display car park at the back, and you can get the cost of your ticket reimbursed when you buy a drink at the pub. There's also an outside heated shelter for smokers, plus a few large umbrellas and heat lamps out the front.

Three plasma screens make the big matches easy to watch, and the fact that the Old Ball has two Sky boxes means that more than two Sky channels can be viewed simultaneously.

And if those pool tables were still there it would be a sport fanatic's dream. There's a laptop at the end of the bar which is free to use, and there's free WiFi access and an ATM machine.

The People
As the Old Ball is on the doorstep of the university campus it can get busy in term time. But it's not just a student pub, and the Old Ball is popular all year round with many Horsforth residents.

The staff vary in degrees of helpfulness and enthusiasm, but on the whole the Old Ball offers good service.

The Food and Drink
Unlike many chain pubs, The Old Ball seems to get their food right. They serve generous portions of food that is of unquestionable quality. The chicken and bacon caesar salad, piled high with juicy chicken and fried bacon topped with parmesan cheese and caesar dressing, is a good option.

With many draught beers and guest real-ales to choose from, along with a lengthy wine list, it would be a very picky customer who couldn’t find something they like, however, bubbly lovers beware, what features on the menu is rarely stored in the cellar.

The Last Word
If it wasn’t for its chain-pub appearance and the lack of skill demonstrated by some of the staff the Old Ball would tick all the boxes.

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