The Hop is situated just off Westgate, the main road going through the towns clubs and bars area and indeed the centre of the town.
The Hop is a well-run smallish to medium sized venue managing to mix a live music bar-type feel with the charms of a british pub, which it does so quite successfully creating a venue of alternative appeal. As a converted old building, it houses two rooms with two separate bars, and an upstairs venue where most bands play. The longer, more bar-like room downstairs has a stage at one end allowing bands to play there, and is frequently the podium for rock-covers bands that play on a friday night, as well as established jam sessions. In the summer long glass windows are pulled back mixing inside with outside for a really relaxed atmosphere. Re-claimed bare clay bricks, dark stained woods and stone slab flooring give The Hop a hardy and traditional 'pub' feel whilst the longer room downstairs successfully works as a bar at busier times. There is seating outside parallel to the bar in an enclosed high walled courtyard, however, the tree overhanging the courtyard appears to be an old plum tree which was shedding its fruit around May, and hence, well, making quite a bit of a mess really, but hopefully no-one will pull it up despite the inconvenience.
A selection of local real ales from Osset brewery lends the place both authenticity and a sense of choice, instantly gratifying the more demanding drinker for his determination in finding the Hop above the bars littering what is known locally as the 'Westgate run' with their own less-than-fine selection of Stella, VK, Stella and, er, Stella. It's also great to see real ales placed in an establishment where they might tempt a much younger market than they are traditionally associated with.
Throughout the week the Hop is moderately busy and is a good place to go for a 'quiet' drink, whilst on the weekends being so busy it it sometimes hard to get to the bar, being almost a battle to find a drink. This isn't a criticism per se, more of a warning that, The Hop is more of an alternative music bar in reality.
A thriving music scene is starting to grow around it featuring local band nights run by promoters Rubharb Bomb, acoustic jam sessions named PURE run by Kate Honeyman (organiser and champion of Clarence Park Festival and the citys yearly Blues festival), comedy nights under the 'Kill For A Seat' name and now emerging artist gigs, which seem to verge onto the bluesy/alternative/rock side of things. It's pleasant to see local cover bands downstairs from time t time - reaffirming that the Hop is not snobby or pretentious and its crowd is welcoming and friendly , a mixture of young and old alike.
The Hop is recommended, and is a safe venue to visit on the weekend with plenty of doorman presence - not because the place has ever had any reputation, but purely because it seeks to preserve this image, as it sits only a few seconds away from some of the more 'seedy' venues in Wakefield.
Well worth a visit on a weekday around 6pm in summer to sit in the courtyard for contemplation with a pint, and worth a ganders on a weekend for a thriving and energetic music venue with a balanced and interesting crowd. read more