Flocking to Shepherd’s Boy festival

The days when a pub simply had to open its doors and customers would walk in have long gone.

At the Shepherd’s Boy, in Huddersfield Road in Dewsbury, real ales and ciders are proving to be a successful attraction. Being included in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide and winning CAMRA’s Heavy Woollen Cider Pub of the Year award has brought customers from far and wide.

“We also have a good basis of loyal locals,” said landlady Katie Green, who took over the Shepherd’s Boy in August last year.

“It’s all about offering products that people want.”

Katie, 23, is aware of the traditional role of a pub as providing a focal point to local life, but ready to adapt to changing tastes and times.

Originally from Sheffield, Katie started working part-time in a pub while taking a degree in music at Huddersfield University.

And there is plenty of variety at the Shepherd’s Boy this weekend with its beer and cider festival, which opened yesterday and runs until Monday.

“The beers are on a local theme,” said Katie, “we’ll have over 20 all from within 30 miles. There will also be a large number of real ciders and perrys.”

Tomorrow afternoon there will be a demonstration of apple pressing by Dave Kendall-Smith, of ’Udders Orchard. Visitors can take their own apples and go home with a carton of apple juice.

And at 5pm there will be a guided tasting, sampling a number of ciders and perrys from the festival range. Tickets for the tasting cost £7, including food pairings for some of the samples.

Contact the Shepherd’s Boy on 01924 454116.