I have lived in Calderdale all my life and visited it on numerous occasions over the years, but I still tend to get lost, especially when I try and take a short cut from my Barkisland home over the Soyland hilltops.

Out of towners have been beating a path to its door since last September, not just for its fabulous selection of hand-pulled ales, but to try out owners David and Glen Giffen's now-famous pizzas.

According to The Times, the Alma serves the best pizzas, not just in Calderdale, Yorkshire, or the north, but the whole of the country. It put the Alma in its top 10 Italian restaurants at the end of last year.
The publicity did the pub a power of good but the Giffens say the "hero" isn't them or chef Dominic Biggs but the way the pizzas are cooked in their wood-burning oven.

The couple, who have had the pub 21 years, had a large extension built four years ago, which now houses their 50-seater mediterr-anean-style Woodstones restaurant.

Off the restaurant is an out-side terr-ace area where customers can enjoy a drink, a bite to eat and take in the best views in Calderdale.

"We have always done food but were limited for space because the pub is only small. Our regulars kept telling us we needed a separate restaurant so we decided to take their advice," says David.

Food is now as popular as drink at the 150-year-old Alma, which has everything you would expect from an historic country inn, including open fires, stone-flagged floors, exposed oak beams and real ale.

Dishes range from chicken, steak, pasta, fish, vegetarian options and lots of specials. But pizzas remain the best-seller, which might have something to do with the Monday-to-Thursday pizza deal. You get two pizzas of your choice, a bowl of fries and a bottle of good Italian wine for £19.95.

A chicken deal for the same price is about to start and there is an all-day two-course menu for £7.50.

And, when we visited the restaurant on a Tuesday evening, most of the other couples were tucking into pizza and wine, so we felt it was only right to join them.

The pizzas at the Alma aren't anything like you would find on the high street. They are not a perfect round shape and the base resembles a naan bread.

There is the usual choice, of course, but lots of different ones too.

My other half tried one topped with chicken in a masala sauce with mozzarella, while I had frutti di mare with scallops, mussels, prawns and smoked salmon with a hint of chilli.

But the bestseller is the make-your-own pizza for youngsters. They put their own toppings on at the table and then watch it being cooked in the oven.

I wish I had made my own because my fish one was okay, but nothing to write home about (the chicken curry one was a lot tastier), but, as my other half pointed out, I'm not really a pizza lover in the first place. I think the sheer size of them overface me. I'd much rather have half of one with a side salad.

I wasn't too keen on the decor of the restaurant either. The pub is full of character but the restaurant is a bit cold and bland. I think that's down to the cheap pictures on the wall. Something more classy from local artists would be much more in keeping.

Having said that, I will return to the Alma because I love the pub and want to try some of the other dishes on the menu. I particularly liked the look of the chicken skewers with lemon juice, chilli, garlic and a touch of honey, hung on special stands, and come with fries, pitta bread and chilli and mint yogurt dips. That is of course, if I can find my way back there.

Ratings
Name: Alma Inn

Address: Cottonstones, Sowerby Bridge

Phone: 01422 83334

Food 3/5
Atmosphere 2/5
Service 2/5
Value 4/5