Wakefield CAMRA Homepage Pub Food Reviews
The Junction
Featherstone
a review by Rod Naylor in the Summer 2009 edition of O-to-K
The
Junction Inn at
Purston, Featherstone, is an easy pub to find on the main A645 road between
Pontefract and Wakefield. It has
been a classic Tetley house for years, although no doubt those days will now be
numbered since the sad decision to close the Leeds brewery.
I have called in several times in recent years, usually to embarrass
myself in the pub quiz, or on the way to and from Post Office Road for the
rugby. I had noticed how popular the
food seemed to be, judging by the number of folk eagerly devouring the carvery
one evening, and vowed to call back and sample it.
First
things first, though, beer. There is just one cask ale on offer, hand-pulled
Tetley Bitter, and I have no qualms in still enjoying this brew, even though
it�s not the beer it was a few years ago.
After all, being a Leeds lad, I was weaned on the stuff. The Junction
always serves it in good condition, and I have never had anything but a
satisfying drop here.
The
pub still has its separate rooms, one bar dedicated mainly to sports, disco, and
TV, and a large lounge, curved to fit between the roads which give it its name.
The corridor is adorned with some classic photos of Rovers� Wembley
trips and cup wins of the past.
Food
is available as a daytime carvery, which finishes promptly at 7 o�clock.
The credit crunch has hit this part of the world as much as any other (as
if it didn�t already have enough problems), so it was refreshing to see the
place busy with drinkers and diners. We
ordered the carvery and received our tokens from the bar.
For a mere �3.50, this entitled us to any 3 of the 4 meats on offer �
roast beef, roast pork, stew and dumplings, and pork fillet in mushroom sauce
were the choices. Between us we had
the lot, and the portions were big. And
I mean big. Don�t come here unless
you are hungry if you want to do it justice.
At
this point we spotted the mint sauce, suggesting that roast lamb had also been
available, but had already been polished off by the early shift.
Then
it�s help yourself to the veggies off the trolley. A choice of carrots, runner
beans, mushy peas, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, and, of course all the
trimmings and gravy.
We
sat down and ate, and despite being starved as we tucked in, we all struggled to
finish. Everything was nice, tender, and well cooked, albeit perhaps a bit too
much in the case of some of the veg. Each meat choice alone seemed to be double
the size of what we�d be served anywhere else, and for about half the price!
For
another �1.50 you can also have a starter or pudding.
Starters were a choice of prawn cocktail, pate, and soup of the day.
Puddings were the classic traditionals - strawberry cheesecake, chocolate
bomb, chocolate fudge cake, jam roly poly, and treacle sponge, with runny cream
or custard. I was needing to leave
some room for another pint of Tetley�s, but the others in the group somehow
managed to fit in a pudding, opting for the cheesecake and choc bomb, both of
which were enjoyed, although not finished!
So
we could only recommend the Junction and its carvery.
I don�t think you can beat it for value for money � you would
actually struggle to do it at home yourself for this price.
On Tuesdays you also have the choice of going for the Steak Night option,
available between 6 and 9 o�clock. This
is billed as two courses for two people with a bottle of wine thrown in � all
for �17.95 for the two. I will
definitely be back to sample this option at some stage.
Whether I can negotiate some Tetley�s in lieu of the wine I�m not
sure, but it�s worth a try. Staff
here are true down to earth Fev folk, and will likely be open to negotiation,
judging by their friendly service during our visit.
Rod Naylor
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