Station pubs (part two?)

[CaptainHaddock]

I have never gone somewhere in the country and failed to find a better pub than a spoons. Each to their own though

I take it you've never been to Spennymoor? Which, considering your username, I find surprising!

 

[DarloRich]

I take it you've never been to Spennymoor?

I have been to Spenny many times! Not by train mind!

 

[yorksrob]

It helps if the bar staff know their product. In one such establishment I asked which of their beers was light and about 4.5%. The barman pointed at one that was 4.5% and I again asked if it was light and was assured it was. He then proceeded to pour out something more akin to a porter.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I have been to Spenny many times! Not by train mind!

All flippancy aside, Wetherspoons pubs are an oasis in the real ale deserts of north east England with non league football clubs.

Getting back to pubs at stations, has anyone mentioned the BOD bar at Stoke on Trent? Somewhat unique in that the pub is split in two; one half platform side, the other public side,with no access between the two sections! Presumably this is due to the ticket barriers at the station.

 

[AndrewE]

It helps if the bar staff know their product. In one such establishment I asked which of their beers was light and about 4.5%. The barman pointed at one that was 4.5% and I again asked if it was light and was assured it was. He then proceeded to pour out something more akin to a porter.

Maybe he thought that "light" referred to the alcohol content? I like it when pubs have a small glass or jar of the beer in front of the pump so that you can see what it looks like... I like it even more when they say "Try before you buy!"

 

[1D54]

Getting back to pubs at stations, has anyone mentioned the BOD bar at Stoke on Trent? Somewhat unique in that the pub is split in two; one half platform side, the other public side,with no access between the two sections! Presumably this is due to the ticket barriers at the station.

Must be fun for smokers on the platform side.

 

[yorksrob]

All flippancy aside, Wetherspoons pubs are an oasis in the real ale deserts of north east England with non league football clubs.

Getting back to pubs at stations, has anyone mentioned the BOD bar at Stoke on Trent? Somewhat unique in that the pub is split in two; one half platform side, the other public side,with no access between the two sections! Presumably this is due to the ticket barriers at the station.

For the ones around Newcastle (South Shields, Hebburn etc) I always pay a visit to the Crown Posada in Newcastle

Maybe he thought that "light" referred to the alcohol content? I like it when pubs have a small glass or jar of the beer in front of the pump so that you can see what it looks like... I like it even more when they say "Try before you buy!"

The little jars do help, however I'm sure most people wouldn't consider 4.5% to be "light" in terms of strength. I consider it "session".

 

[DarloRich]

All flippancy aside, Wetherspoons pubs are an oasis in the real ale deserts of north east England with non league football clubs.

We have never struggled to find a decent non spoons in any town we have visited. Never. It really isn't hard to find somewhere.

Getting back to pubs at stations, has anyone mentioned the BOD bar at Stoke on Trent? Somewhat unique in that the pub is split in two; one half platform side, the other public side,with no access between the two sections! Presumably this is due to the ticket barriers at the station.

Passed this many times. Any good? Must make an effort to pop in .

 

[AndrewE]

The little jars do help, however I'm sure most people wouldn't consider 4.5% to be "light" in terms of strength. I consider it "session".

True.

We have never struggled to find a decent non spoons in any town we have visited. Never. It really isn't hard to find somewhere.

I have a walk from Bromsgrove up the Tardebigge flight of locks in prospect... bus back to Bromsgrove afterwards. I looked on the Whatpub website and the only place offering both real ale and lunchtime /afternoon food was... the Spoons! (apart from 1 at the foot of the flight before we get going: not a good idea!)

 

[Jimini]

We have never struggled to find a decent non spoons in any town we have visited. Never. It really isn't hard to find somewhere.

Agree with this, although there must be a few places where alternatives are hard to come by as well (Waltham Cross springs to mind; there’s only one other pub there and it’s right on the outskirts of the town centre).

 

[vicbury]

Maybe he thought that "light" referred to the alcohol content? I like it when pubs have a small glass or jar of the beer in front of the pump so that you can see what it looks like... I like it even more when they say "Try before you buy!"

Just ask for a taster - I don't think I've ever been in a pub which has refused. Although if there's a load of people waiting I won't hold them up with tasters.

 

[Grumpy Git]

It helps if the bar staff know their product. In one such establishment I asked which of their beers was light and about 4.5%. The barman pointed at one that was 4.5% and I again asked if it was light and was assured it was. He then proceeded to pour out something more akin to a porter.

You should have asked for a pale beer.

 

[01d-and]

True.

I have a walk from Bromsgrove up the Tardebigge flight of locks in prospect... bus back to Bromsgrove afterwards. I looked on the Whatpub website and the only place offering both real ale and lunchtime /afternoon food was... the Spoons! (apart from 1 at the foot of the flight before we get going: not a good idea!)

How about doing the walk along the flight of locks "downhill" ? You could then dine in the Queens Head and then walk up Buntsford Hill and catch a 145/145A or maybe walk northwards along the footpath that runs alongside the railway towards Bromsgrove Station. A number of bus services depart from the station forecourt. The Ladybird pub just up from the station has a good reputation for its beer quality , but unfortunately only serves snacks. Enjoy your day.

 

[Haywain]

The little jars do help, however I'm sure most people wouldn't consider 4.5% to be "light" in terms of strength. I consider it "session".

Don't judge everybody by your own standards, many people would regard 4.5% as a bit stronger than a session beer.

 

[AndrewE]

How about doing the walk along the flight of locks "downhill" ? You could then dine in the Queens Head and then walk up Buntsford Hill and catch a 145/145A or maybe walk northwards along the footpath that runs alongside the railway towards Bromsgrove Station. A number of bus services depart from the station forecourt. The Ladybird pub just up from the station has a good reputation for its beer quality , but unfortunately only serves snacks. Enjoy your day.

I find it much easier to walk uphill than down! But I did spot the Queens Head - although it doesn't look like it's for towpath walkers- and not ideal for midday! We might even end up eating back in Brum before we get our trains home.

 

[Trackman]

It helps if the bar staff know their product. In one such establishment I asked which of their beers was light and about 4.5%. The barman pointed at one that was 4.5% and I again asked if it was light and was assured it was. He then proceeded to pour out something more akin to a porter.

Maybe he thought that "light" referred to the alcohol content? I like it when pubs have a small glass or jar of the beer in front of the pump so that you can see what it looks like... I like it even more when they say "Try before you buy!"

A good pub would give you a taste, some breweries put appearance/tasting notes on the back of the pump badge too.
I doubt 'light' is 4.5%, it's not even session beer. I would think of light of a light beer that goes down well opposed to a heavy beer such as yorksrob said something like a Porter which does lie heavy.

 

[yorksrob]

Don't judge everybody by your own standards, many people would regard 4.5% as a bit stronger than a session beer.

It's true, I have higher standards for beer.

 

[Haywain]

It's true, I have higher standards for beer.

Stronger beer doesn’t mean you have higher standards, it just means it’s stronger. There are plenty of excellent ales that come in under 4%.

 

[yorksrob]

Stronger beer doesn’t mean you have higher standards, it just means it’s stronger. There are plenty of excellent ales that come in under 4%.

It was a light hearted retort, rather than a serious assertion.

However, as far as I'm concerned 4 - 4.5% is a session ale.

 

[DustyBin]

Stronger beer doesn’t mean you have higher standards, it just means it’s stronger. There are plenty of excellent ales that come in under 4%.

True, it’s lower strength lagers I struggle with. Having said that, Pardal at 3.8% is pretty good if you come across it.

I haven’t read every page of this thread, but I presume the Centurion at Newcastle has been mentioned? There’s also going to be a new bar in the portico which will replace the previous short-lived one (which was nothing to get excited about in my opinion).

There are also at least a couple of decent pubs on T&W Metro stations; Platform 2 at Tynemouth and the Left Luggage Room at West Monkseaton are the ones I’m aware of. Apologies if already mentioned!

 

[Wolfie]

It was a light hearted retort, rather than a serious assertion.

However, as far as I'm concerned 4 - 4.5% is a session ale.

It's interesting. When l was younger a session ale would typically be 3.7-4.0%. Now it does tend to be 4.0-4.5% as you say.

That likely means a pint or two less.....

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Apparently there's a new Wetherspoons just opened at Waterloo called the Lion & Unicorn. Anyone been in yet?

Wetherspoon The Lion & the Unicorn - The Sidings

thesidingswaterloo.co.uk

Though looking at their prices on the Wetherspoons app I don't think I'll be visiting very often - real ales at a whopping £4.79 a pint????

 

[Ashley Hill]

Though looking at their prices on the Wetherspoons app I don't think I'll be visiting very often - real ales at a whopping £4.79 a pint????

The last time I went drinking in nearby Battersea it was £6.50 a pint! Although that wasn’t a Spoons and the beer was spot on so I didn’t mind too much.

 

[Wolfie]

Apparently there's a new Wetherspoons just opened at Waterloo called the Lion & Unicorn. Anyone been in yet?

Wetherspoon The Lion & the Unicorn - The Sidings

thesidingswaterloo.co.uk

Though looking at their prices on the Wetherspoons app I don't think I'll be visiting very often - real ales at a whopping £4.79 a pint????

Cheap for the Waterloo area.

 

[Pinus contorta]

I was really impressed with the pub at the Hanging Ditch entry to Manchester Victoria Station. Only a clear view of the metro link from there though.

 

[D6130]

I was really impressed with the pub at the Hanging Ditch entry to Manchester Victoria Station. Only a clear view of the metro link from there though.

The Victoria Tap....excellent ambience, excellent beer and excellent staff. Highly recommended and worth missing a few trains/trams for!

 

[alistairlees]

Apparently there's a new Wetherspoons just opened at Waterloo called the Lion & Unicorn. Anyone been in yet?

Wetherspoon The Lion & the Unicorn - The Sidings

thesidingswaterloo.co.uk

Though looking at their prices on the Wetherspoons app I don't think I'll be visiting very often - real ales at a whopping £4.79 a pint????

That's as cheap as you will get in London

 

[Grumpy Git]

That's as cheap as you will get in London

Definitely. I was paying over £7 a pint in the bars underneath the line next to London Bridge last weekend.

 

[Wolfie]

That's as cheap as you will get in London

Not exactly.... I was drinking real ale for £1.79 a pint in the Spoons at Stepney Green on Thursday. Had you said central London.....

 

[Haywain]

Apparently there's a new Wetherspoons just opened at Waterloo called the Lion & Unicorn. Anyone been in yet?

Wetherspoon The Lion & the Unicorn - The Sidings

thesidingswaterloo.co.uk

Though looking at their prices on the Wetherspoons app I don't think I'll be visiting very often - real ales at a whopping £4.79 a pint????

Standard price for their London station pubs.