Puzzle Hall Inn

Bradshaw Mummers Festive Workout
2025-12-28 12:30 - 15:00 (Europe/London)
A traditional Yuletide family celebration
More Details to follow…
The Bradshaw Mummers are a street theatre group, performing traditional and contemporary plays based on the medieval mumming traditions of death and re-birth and the triumph of good over evil. Although most of their scripts are written by members of the group, the performances combine both old and new with the emphasis on entertainment – presenting the plays to modern-day audiences while remaining faithful to the origins of a unique form of theatre including the masking of faces, echoing the tradition that actors believed themselves cursed by the Devil if they were recognised.
Their Plays: For practical reasons, only two of the team’s 15+ scripts are ever current. While the full list includes a handful of traditional plays, the majority are self-written and include such diverse subjects as the Battle of Trafalgar, the Civil War Siege of Bradford, John Bull, the Spanish Armada, Robin Hood, the Witch-finder General and Jack Frost plus a wide range of characters ranging from Roman generals to a 15 foot high giant, an exploding dragon, an elephant with a fondness for buns and a rebellious boar’s head.
Free entry, donations towards events always welcome x

The Richard Royle Band
2025-12-27 21:00 - 23:00
Richard Royle is a Halifax based guitarist and vocalist specialising in bottle neck slide guitar. Richard is joined by Chris Booth on Bass & Graham Ross on Drums to play a mix of folk, blues, soul and jazz. With inspiration coming from greats such as Ry Cooder, Sam Cooke, Robert Johnson and many more Richard’s music is raw, honest and genuine.
FREE ENTRY – Donations towards events always welcome…

Chess Night
2025-12-22 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-12-15 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-12-08 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-12-01 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-11-28 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-11-24 20:00 - 23:00
All welcome for this casual but serious evening of chess.

The Fabulous Mustard Brothers
2025-12-21 16:00 - 19:00
Otley’s finest, The Fabulous Mustard Brothers are Nick Wood, Richard Currie, Rory McLeish and Ryan Griffiths. They live up to their name creating finely crafted folk pop gems (Think a more folky Crowded House or a rootsy Travis.) about the vicissitudes of modern life and the weather (mostly rain). Pop melodies with an Americana/Roots twist to capture your heart.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKeYojHJ85h-EsQRyqyw7Hg
https://www.facebook.com/…/The…/100089981340366/

Kimber's Men
2025-12-20 21:00 - 23:00
Lore at the Puzzle with Kimber’s Men.
Audiences everywhere, rave over the harmonies of Kimber’s Men. They have appeared at Festivals in Ostende, Appingedam, Portmagee, Portsoy, Fano in Denmark, and all over the UK. Featured twice on Sunday brunch for Channel 4 ,they also starred in the BBC2 and BBC4 production of Sea Songs, with Gareth Malone; the latter being the most viewed programme of the year, on BBC 4.
Expect to laugh, sing and be generally entertained.
Free entry, artist donations welcome.

French Fridays
2025-12-19 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-12-12 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-12-05 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-11-28 17:30 - 18:30
An informal group to practice your conversational French – Everyone welcome!

Puzzle World Tour: Becky Taylor
2025-12-18 20:00 - 22:00
Next Stop: Ireland!!
Just a quick stop over the sea, Becky Taylor will be bringing you traditional Irish Folk music on a nice December evening.
George and Joe are excited to continue presenting the wonderful Puzzle World Tour series and are willing to take any suggestions for the next country you would like to visit musically.

The Noonan Trio
2025-12-15 20:00 - 22:00
Sean Noonan is a celebrated N.Y. speaking drummer and composer based in London whose innovative music defies categorization. As a “rhythmic storyteller,” he crafts imaginative narratives akin to modern-day sonic griots, seamlessly blending ancient traditions of wandering minstrels with contemporary musical forms. Noonan’s rhythmic storytelling evolved through collaborations with artists such as Marc Ribot (Tom Wait’s guitar-slinger), Marni Nixon (legendary Hollywood songstress), Malcolm Mooney (singer from CAN), Jamaaladeen Tacuma (bassist for Ornette Coleman), Irish American folk singer Susan McKeown, Malian Griot Abdoulaye Diabaté and the London Symphony Orchestra. Now with The Noonan Trio he is ably assisted by award winning pianist Matthew Bourne (a former visitor to The Puzzle himself) and double bassist Michael Bardon in his quest to explore the outer boundaries of musical radicalism, speculatively blending jazz rock, improvisation, and rhythmic storytelling.
“As far from the smooth-jazz spectrum as it is possible to be. The Noonan Trio create frenetic, dramatic challenging music” – Jazz Journal
“Filled with intsense drama The Noonan Trio’s music is a wild and adventurous white knuckle ride into the deep, dark corners of the avant garde” – Jazz Weekly
“The Noonan Trio create a genre blending idiosyncratic musical world drawing inspiration from punk, classical, and avant-garde music, blending them into a unique and often unpredictable sound.” – Arcane Candy

Tom Hingley
2025-12-14 16:00 - 19:00
Tom Hingley is an accomplished singer songwriter and guitarist , best known as the ex lead singer with Manchester’s finest Inspiral Carpets , he sang on all the bands hits and was present at the height of their success. Tom parted with Inspirals in 2011 and has been forging a successful solo career both as an acoustic singer releasing Keep Britain Untidy (2001) and this Year’s Grand Mal (2024) Tom also fronts a band called The Karpets playing the inspiral’s catalogue. Since 2016 the Karpets have been storming headlining shows and Festivals including Shine On, Kubix, Stone Valley North and supporting the likes of Embrace and Black Grape with the intensity of performance and vocal purity that made This is How it Feels and Saturn Five a success in the first place Spring 2025 sees Tom release a posthumous album by his eldest brother Peter Hingley who died in August 2023, The album Peter Hingley’s Secret Gardens is a memorial to Pete, the big brother who got Tom and the whole Hingley clan into performing music!

Kath & The Kicks + Lillith's Army
2025-12-13 21:00 - 23:00
Formed in 2018, Hard hitting rock power trio Kath & The Kicks have cemented themselves as one of the UK’s most enthralling acts, both live and in the studio. Receiving plaudits from the likes of Louder Than War, Bauer Media & airplay from Kerrang! Radio, Planet Rock and Radio X.They are widely recognised as a blistering live act, who deliver a stunning set with the tightest of musicianship anywhere onthe scene. They’re punk rock at its finest and not to be missed.
https://www.kathandthekicks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kathandthekicks/
https://www.youtube.com/@KathandTheKicks
‘Kath and The Kicks have an exhilarating stand out sound, raw and fresh with the spirit and attitude of grunge, punk rock and rockabilly.’ – Stencil Mag
“Kath and The Kicks come to deliver chaos and wrath….a band that know they can rock the stage to smithereens.” – Good Music Radar
‘Dirty, smack you in the face rock and roll from a band projecting true passion and searing melodies’. – Louder Than War

Northampton’s Lilith’s Army’s mix lo-fi punk, metal and the grungy garage rock of L7 and Mudhoney into an intoxicating brew. Fronted by the raw yet harmonically rich vocals of Sylvie Studente and charging head first with powerful riffs and tight grooves they create a pummeling but invigorating sound.
https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/…
https://www.facebook.com/lilithsarmyOfficial/
https://www.youtube.com/@LilithsArmy
“Blending the best of lo-fi, punk, grunge and metal, Lilith’s Army are a three piece that has class throughout” – Deuce Music
“So heavy and raw, very authentic, lots of emotion and attitude, and just overall fun” – Punktuation

Captain Of The Lost Waves
2025-12-12 20:00 - 22:00
Captain of the Lost waves is an ethereal troubadour, storyteller and free thinking renegade. His musical offerings are inspired by the great songwriters and philosophers of yesteryear. This is visceral music for the mind and body, full of dreamy verses, life affirming choruses and sheer audacity. Where melodic invention meets alternative folk, progressive, world and ambient sounds.Voted Acoustic Roots performer of the year at the Leeds Independent Music Awards in 2005. He was also voted outstanding songwriter of the year from the Yorkshire Gig Guide Awards 2017.
https://captainofthelostwaves.com/
https://www.facebook.com/captainofthelostwaves/
https://captainofthelostwavesus.bandcamp.com/…/beautifu…
https://www.youtube.com/captainofthelostwaves
‘The Captain was born to be an entertainer, perhaps even a prophet…watching his show is a life altering experience, there are no words in the English language to describe him.’– The Huffington Post
“The Captain is a truly unique and emotive performer and there are not a lot of artists out that this music could be compared to.” – Background Magazine

Serious Sam Barrett + David Broad
2025-12-07 18:00 - 20:30
Serious Sam Barrett is a hard touring, folk and country singer/songwriter from Otley, West Yorkshire. Playing honest, heartfelt self penned and traditional songs on 12 string guitar and banjo.Raised in the Dales village of Addingham, Serious Sam Barrett began performing in and around Leeds in 2004, with word spreading further afield with the release of his 2009 debut album Close To Home. Performing at SXSW in Austin, Texas in 2010, he has toured the US widely, usually in the company of friends and fellow skaters The Pine Hill Haints. Along the way, Sam has shared stages with the likes of Martin Carthy, Dave Burland, Katherine Tickell, Lucero, The Young Un’s, Frank Fairfield, Deer Tick and Karine Polwart, and received airplay and praise plaudits from the BBC’s Bob Harris, Marc Riley and Mark Radcliffe as well as Mike Harding.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGKpMjCrfHcb4iqETCvnV5A
https://www.instagram.com/serioussam1980yadig/
https://www.serioussambarrett.co.uk/
“A skater boy, slide guitar whizz and fine solo singer” 4/5 MOJO
“With alluring vocals and instrumental prowess the continued health of the British folk tradition is safe in the hands of exponents such as Serious Sam Barrett.” – The Hobbledehoy

David Broad’s playing is seeped in the tradition of American folk and blues guitar, from the rags of Blind Blake and Reverend Gary Davis, to the delta blues of Robert Johnson and Charley Patton. He is also an accomplished harmonica player in the country blues tradition of Sonny Boy Williamson I and Sonny Terry.
His involvement with the Lindy Hop scene nudged him in the direction of early jazz and swing. He cut his teeth playing in country and folk bands and will still play the odd bluegrass number if the feeling takes him.
His reworking of traditional songs breathes new life into well worn standards and his original compositions give a nod to the rootsy side of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt.
https://www.davidbroad.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/davidbroadmusic/
https://davidbroad.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidBroadMusic
“Wonderful and effervescent finger-picked acoustic guitar playing that hits you right between the eyes” – Maverick Magazine
“David Broad’s music totally conjures up images of old time black and white films from prohibition era America, but at the same time sounds so fresh.” – Suspect Device

Acoustic Singaround Session
2025-12-07 13:00 - 16:00
Join us at the Puzzle Hall Inn, the 1st Sunday of each month for an acoustic afternoon informal singaround. All persons of all ages and skill levels welcome.
Hosting, will be the incredible Dave CalvertIn his own words: “Everyone is welcome to come along and sing, play, join in or just listen, the beer is great, as is the atmosphere. Its a lovingly restored, community owned pub which is continuing it’s long history of music events.”
Entry is free, hope to see you there.

Carnival Of Light DJs
2025-12-06 22:00 - 23:30
Carnival of Light soirée at the Puzzle Hall Inn with DJs Jidgy B & Ben Lewis….…. expect global grooves, deep dubs and cosmic curveballs !

LORE @ The Puzzle: Festive Folk Off
2025-12-04 20:00 - 23:00
Join us for the last LORE of 2025 – compered by GARETH SCOTT (of legendary local land-locked shanty ensemble Kimber’s Men), come along to sing and play (or just listen to) songs and tunes both festive and faithless, as Christmas begins to crystallise!
When LORE fully returns in in 2026 (Thurday 5th February), alongside that evening’s booked artist BRIDGET HAYDEN, we’re going to be tweaking the format to enable floor spots etc from local singers and musicians – so come along on 4th Dec to help us set that more participatory ball rolling!
In the meantime, the following fabulous folk events are also taking place at the Puzzle through the festive season:
Sunday 28th December, 12.30-8pm (times tbc): Bradshaw Mummers + Morris Dancers & a folk sessionhttps://www.facebook.com/bradshawmummers
Monday 5th January, 7-11pm: Long Company Mummers + a folk sessionhttps://www.ryburn3step.org.uk/mummers
Please do join us at these events; spread the word; and invite others to join the LORE Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/820951927392864

The 309s
2025-11-30 16:00 - 19:00
West Yorkshire 5 piece, The 309s, have spent the last 14 years rocking and rolling their swing jive repertoire at events all over the country. Think Hank Williams, Bob Wills and Louis Jordan joining forces to make a classic 20th century sound that is the roots of Rock and Roll. Crowds have danced the days and nights away to the 309s’ beat at an extraordinary range of festivals and gigs such as Hebden Bridge Folk and Roots Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival and Moor and Coast Weekend Whitby and now you can too at The Puzzle Hall Inn!
http://www.the309s.com/
https://www.facebook.com/the309s/
https://www.youtube.com/@the309sband3
“The 309s are first class, hard-working musicians and deserve every encouragement through these hard times.”– Maverick Magazine.
“What if paradise was hidden in the Yorkshire moors? Well with this English quintets’ music you’re nearly there. You’ll rock and swing with jubilation all the way through” – Cri Du Coyote, France
“Optimistic, ironic, lively and very, very danceable.” – How Do Magazine

Lazlo Baby
2025-11-29 21:00 - 23:00
Lazlo Baby is a rabble-rousing fusion band that seamlessly blends the vibrant melodies of Balkan music, the heartiness of folk, the energy of ska, and the rebellious spirit of punk. They revel in combining lively melodies with infectious beats that create a sparkly, celebratory vibe for all to enjoy, and offer energetic and engaging performances that resonate with audiences from all walks of life.
https://www.lazlobaby.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LazloBaby/
https://lazlobaby.bandcamp.com/album/the-best-things
“More energy than a power station. Highly recommended!” Fatea
“high octane exuberance and pounding melodies that’ll clobber you with their enthusiastic brouhaha” – Sunbirdrecords

The Scaramanga Six
2025-11-28 21:00 - 23:00
Since their formation in 1995, The Six have been self-propelled and ceaselessly active as one of the most inventive and prolific underground rock bands in the UK. Noted for their aggressive live act and their flamboyant and theatrical songs, their independent business practices and active promotion of other artists has seen them hailed as “the closest we’ll see to a British answer to Fugazi”
“We operate in landscape, not portrait. Our sound can be very widescreen. Each song is like a short film” states singer/guitarist Paul Morricone. With a blend of music influences as wide ranging as Tony Bennett & Scott Walker to Stranglers & Cardiacs, their genre has been described as cinematic punk. They make loud, adventurous alternative pop music, angular but melodic and often at the same time.

Jazz Night with Threads
2025-11-27 20:30 - 23:00
Jazz Live! @ the Puzzle – Last Thursday of each month.
8.15pm start – Free admission, Collection towards the band taken; Please be generous if you can
THREADS
Jez Hall – GuitarPaul Kilvington – KeyboardsGary Culshaw – Bass Caroline Boaden – Drums
“Threads” has evolved from the connections the band members have shared for many years: Jez & Caroline met at Leeds College of Music in the 1980’s, touring in Germany with Caroline’s father Fred, Gary & Jez working in the Bobby Wellins Quintet in the 1990’s (with the wonderful Nikki Iles & Tony Faulkner), performing at many diverse venues, from the Cork Jazz Festival to Hebden Bridge’s Trades Club. Paul’s invaluable contribution to this group at 20 years seems recent in comparison.Threads’ repertoire re-engages with their shared history and their love of Jazz!
Trains:If you’re travelling towards Halifax / Bradford / Leeds, the last train leaves Sowerby Bridge at 00.05.If you’re travelling up the Calder Valley, and onwards to Manchester, the last train leaves Sowerby Bridge at 23.23.Please allow 15 minutes to walk from the pub to the station, and please check, on the day of travel,that the times have not changed, or that strike actions are being planned.Bus:There’s a 579 bus to Halifax that leaves Station Road at 23.48, just a few minutes’ walk from the Pub,however, give yourself plenty of time, as it’s the last bus, it can be pretty sharp in setting off.

Improv @ The Puzzle
2025-11-23 13:00 - 15:00
These are open playing sessions where weird and wonderful pieces are improvised by the group using some light direction and guidance on the playing.
Bring Instruments and if needed little amplifiers and come down and join in with the improvisations. Arrive by 1.30pm to be ready to play at 2pm.
No previous experience needed. Any questions? Feel free to message.

The Valleys + Nico Harmony
2025-11-22 21:00 - 23:00
Huddersfield Based “The Valleys” Head to the puzzle on the 22nd!
Modern Blues/ Folk Rock band with influences in Jazz, Hip-hop and Pop.Heartfelt human truths, storytelling lyrics, tasteful lead guitar, electrifying harmonica, soulful melodies and harmonies, a punchy rhythm section and catchy hooks!
With support from Nico Harmony
Free Entry, music from 8

Dead Sea Apes + Care Home
2025-11-21 20:00 - 22:00
Dead Sea Apes are a 3 person instrumental leviathan who crawled out of the darkest depths of Manchester to lay musical waste to all who cross their path. Taking influence from space/kraut/post rock and drone together they create a hypnotic sound which is both psychedelic and powerfully visceral. At times they have the sinister tension of Slint at others they bring the full throttle power of Black Sabbath but always they drive things forward in their own uniquely uncompromising way.

https://www.facebook.com/deadseaapes/about
https://deadseaapes.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dead_sea_apes/
“Mind expanding soundscapes of pure psychedelic bliss” – Sea of tranquility
“DSA have the pent-up energy of a long-caged animal set loose to run amok.There’s beauty, violence and the stark, uncompromising spirit of nature to their music.” – The Sleeping Shaman
Care Home pick up the synth-drenched misery typical of early 80s gothic post-punk and new wave bands, and throw out a louder, uglier, more claustrophobic and increasingly abrasive take.Following a run of high profile supports for the likes of seminal noise rock acts such as Oxbow and the Jesus Lizard, Care Home have released their debut album, ‘For Nothing’, through Endless Hum Records in early 2025.
https://carehomeband.bandcamp.com/album/for-nothing
https://www.instagram.com/carehomenoise/
“Doom and gloom never sounded so goddamn good” – Louder Than War
