My home town Pontefract. (Pontefract in general)

Member Name: dthpsb

Product:	Pontefract in general
Date:	22/09/09 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Racecourse, shops and Xscape just down the road.

Disadvantages: Smallish town with lots of charity shops. Liquorice.

Pontefract is the town I have lived in all my life, first with my parents and now with my husband and children. Pontefract is a smallish town in West Yorkshire about 13 miles from Leeds for those people who do not know it.

Pontefract is probably most famous for its Pontefract cakes which are pieces of liqourice sweets, I personally don't like them. We also have a racecourse, one of the longest in the country I think, it is over 2 miles long. I love to go to the races and the racecourse is also very popular with joggers. Pontefract castle is also a place to visit but it is pretty much just remains of the castle, not really much to see.

In terms of shops we have pretty much the same you would anywhere else. There is a Tesco, Morrisons, Farmfoods, Iceland and Netto for your food shopping. In town there is a Boots, Wilkinsons, B&M, Bodycare and Home Bargains. There aren't many clothes shops, basically New Look and Dorothy Perkins for women and Ghia for men. So if you want something new to buy then a trip to nearby Wakefield is needed.
The two things Pontefract has in abundance is travel agents and charity shops, they are everywhere.

In terms of nightlife there are two nightclubs; Kiko's and Big Fella's, both I would visit when I was younger but not places I would really go now. There are loads of pubs though and they are really close together which is great if you're on a pub crawl.

When it comes to things to do there isn't really much on offer, there is a squash club, a few gyms and a swimming pool but that is it really.

I think one of the biggest advantages of living in Pontefract is that just down the road is Glasshoughten which is the home to Junction 32 and Xscape. Junction 32, formally known as Freeport is an outlet village which has lots of clothes shops and you can pick up a bargain as most items are reduced prices. Xscape is a big entertainment complex with an indoor ski area. I think the only other place they have an Xscape is Milton Keynes. There are lots of places to eat, pubs, shops, cinema and bowling. I have yet to try skiing as the thought of skiing terrifies me but I do go there for bowling, cinema and the big soft play area.

I think Pontefract is an ok place to live, I think you just get used to where you are and it becomes home, and for me Pontefract is home.

Summary: Come and see for yourself.