Beer is never more than a metre away in this carbon negative hotel in Manchester.
Brewdog is known as one of the latest brands to be taking the beverage business by storm, and naturally the next step after opening up bars and restaurants across the country was for them to open a hotel.
The unique concept is one that's had everyone in Manchester talking for quite some time, so we can't believe we've only just cottoned on to the fact that we can just hop on the train and make it to the North's first craft beer hotel.
Image: Brewdog
Located in the city centre, just five minutes from the Northern Quarter, beer fans can look forward to catching some sleep (or staying up all night) into one of 18 rooms of bespoke BrewDog touches at The Doghouse Hotel. Some of the in-room features include in-shower beer fridges, draught beer taps and fully-loaded mini-bar, plus an epic taproom with 30 taps of craft beer and a rooftop bar perfect for stargazing.
From the moment you walk in, expect there to be plenty of booze. Guests will be greeted with a free beer upon arrival and then following check-in, head up to your chosen room and pour yourself a pint from the built-in draught tap, or open a can from the fully-loaded mini-bar.
Even when showering, beer is only an arm's reach away. The in-shower beer fridges is one of the first of its kind.
To make the most of your mancunian surroundings, guests will be able to enjoy an in-room bluetooth-compatible music system, with guitar and record player, plus a vinyl selection from Piccadilly Records celebrating local Manchester artists.
If that wasn't enough, each epic beer-themed rooms comes with access to a rooftop bar complete with a taco hut and ten taps of top quality beer and for guests who prefer to dine in the comfort of their rooms, there’s a room service menu available 7am-10pm, and for the hotel’s night owls, 24h hotdogs are available.
Image: Brewdog
As a sustainable brand, with booze on their mind, Brewdog is encouraging all customers to minimise their environmental impact upon their stay- it is a carbon negative hotel after all. All guests have the option to be rewarded with free beer for reusing room towels and have access to free Brompton bike hire too.
You don't even have to leave your dog at home when you head over to The Doghouse Manchester. Dog-friendly access includes dog beds, bowls and treats, for overnight guests with four legs and comes as standard in all rooms of the hotel upon request.
Image: Brewdog
Speaking about the Brewdog hotel, co-founder James Watt commented:
“DogHouse Manchester marks a new era for the craft beer revolution. In the last ten years we’ve turned the craft beer scene on its head and are once again demonstrating the power of beer. As always, our army of Punks fuels every mission and the DogHouse is just a small part of the epic journey we’re making together.
“From welcome pints of Punk, to in-shower beer fridges; The DogHouse is our gift to the passionate and dedicated army of beer fans that have supported us every step of the way. We are nothing without our community and this hotel celebrates that... and where better to do it than in one of the UK’s greatest cities?
“With our DogHouse hotels, we want to inspire a new kind of hospitality experience, combining our biggest passions: travel and incredible beer - with sustainability at its core.”
Image: Brewdog
It's even the perfect place to grab a beer if you're doing Dry January- in fact, that's the best-value way to spend your time at Brewdog as their bars are offering unlimited alcohol-free pints.
Essentially, you can get free refills of all your favourite pints for the price of one- what’s not to love about that? Bestsellers like the original Punk IPA are available in the offer, just transformed to remove the alcoholic part- forming Punk AF, soon to be your new favourite Dry Jan alternative.
Silver's Bakehouse is finally here, and it's just as fabulous as we'd hoped.
Just when you thought Leeds’ favourite sandwich spot couldn't get any better, they go and open a bakery.
Silver's Bakehouse has opened its beautiful pastel green doors today over in Farsley to queues of excited fans eager to get their first taste.
So, what's on offer at Silver's Bakehouse?
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Well, as masterminds of the almighty sandwich you'll be happy to know you can still get one here. However, their iconic sub sarnies have had an Italian makeover and are now served in fresh, springy sourdough which is baked onsite.
Elsewhere on the menu you'll find brown butter buttermilk brownies (try saying that three times), a range of delicious cookies, sausage rolls, soft amaretti biscuits and Dark Arts tiramisu.
There's also a fab selection of Italian drinks on offer in a swanky new fridge, as well as a coffee menu so you can pick a brew to go hand in hand with your chosen baked good.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The interior is just as gorgeous, complete with yellow walls, red tiles and a mirror hanging above the baker's table so you can really see all the magic happen.
And trust us, it is magic.
There's a couple of benches outside so you can plonk yourself in the sunshine to enjoy your sarnie, which is what we'll be doing in this glorious bank holiday sunshine.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can really tell this is a proper labour of love, and Chris and the team have done a cracking job of keeping that Silver's spirit in there.
Go and say hello to congratulate them on this fabulous new opening, it's a great addition to Farsley and the Leeds foodie scene.
The beautiful West Yorkshire valley walk that ends at a top gastropub
Daisy Jackson
If your idea of a perfect Sunday doesn't involve a stroll in the countryside followed by lunch in a country pub - we can't be friends.
And if that does sound like your idea of a very nice day out, we've found a pretty spectacular walk-roast combo for you, right here in West Yorkshire.
You can start your day by strolling through surprisingly varied and very green countryside, with stunning valley views, before resting your weary legs beneath the table of an award-winning gastropub.
If you haven't guessed it yet - we're off to the Shibden Valley, just outside Halifax, where your gentle hike will lead you straight to the warm embrace of the Shibden Mill Inn.
The walk begins in the car park beside the pub, but don't get tempted in for a pint just yet.
There's an easy-moderate 5.6km circular that will lead you along a country lane, dropping down to cross a brook, then heading back up a gentle incline towards the top of the valley.
The views along the Shibden Valley from here are beautiful - lush green fields dotted with trees as far as the eye can see.
Then the route takes you along some wide open fields, with plenty of wildlife to spot along the way, before heading into peaceful woodlands.
You can take a break here to paddle in the stream before continuing on through farmland, with friendly horses to say hello to.
Views along the Shibden Valley Circular. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Then you'll find yourself back at the Shibden Mill Inn, a pub that's consistently finding itself in the prestigious Top 50 Gastropubs list.
Dating back to the 17th century, it's a pretty white building converted from a former mill, with ivy climbing all up its walls.
There's a sizeable beer garden - with a live musician playing when we popped in - but it's hard to resist the cosy charm of the pub's interior, where staff have to duck beneath the low ceiling beams and no surface feels totally straight.
The Shibden Mill Inn's Sunday roast offering does a set menu, with two courses for £40 or three for £45, changing seasonally.
You'll find pub classics on the starters, like chicken liver parfait and homemade soup, before delving into the main event - the Sunday roast.
We love a pub that gives you both mashed AND roasted potatoes, which the Shibden Mill Inn does, along with roast seasonal veg and a towering Yorkshire pudding.
The Sunday roast at the Shibden Mill InnChicken liver parfait, and soup Chocolate fondant with torched marshmallowInside the Shibden Mill Inn
There's roasted salt-aged sirloin of beef, cooked perfectly pink (though they're happy to give it a bit longer if you prefer your meat to not be blushing); or an excellent wedge of belly pork with crispy crackling.
And on the side, a portion of cauliflower cheese that is actually more cheese than cauliflower. Perfect.
Puddings are a nice mix of heavy winter favourites and lighter, fruitier desserts - but we go full stodge, with a chocolate fondant dessert topped with torched marshmallow, salted caramel, and sugared pecans, and have no regrets.
If you want to replicate this Sunday walk and roast, you can see the full circular route here.
Sophie Smith -
12th January 2022 
