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Station pubs (part two?)

AndrewE

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Guinness was £7.00 a pint on PS WAVERLEY at the weekend. I stay at a nice country house hotel in Devon which has three real ales. Just around £5.50 a pint - bargain by comparison.
But servicing Waverley is more like running a buffet on a train than a pub. Besides, everything they do is intended to make a "profit" to help keep her steaming. I can forgive that!

I went to the new bar in Chester station last month - twice... It is excellent, beautifully restored, good beers and not over-priced. Lots of craft ales too, besides the real ones.
 
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D6130

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Bringing the thread back on topic, I've always found the beer prices at Stalybridge station buffet to be very reasonable....even though they - presumably - have to pay a fairly hefty rent to Network Rail.
 

DustyBin

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Someone talked dismissively of it in this thread last year but I visited The Draughtsman on Doncaster station a couple of weeks ago and it's rather good. I also liked Steamworks on Seaford Staion.

I think the Draughtsman is a great little pub. I try and call in whenever I can which isn’t that often in truth, but it’s good to show some support.
 

Grumpy Git

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Public service announcement:

If you find yourself at Blackfriars station and have a bit of a thirst on, don't amble into Doggett's on the South Bank.

£8.00 for a pint of Madri o_O

Blimey.

That and the absoute swill that is Cruzcampo should be banned. Dreadful stuff.
 

DustyBin

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Blimey.

That and the absoute swill that is Cruzcampo should be banned. Dreadful stuff.

I don’t actually mind Cruzcampo, at least it’s Spanish (albeit brewed in the UK). I’m with you regarding Madri though, and that awful Moretti!
 

Harpo

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True but a lot of pubs that only serve a token one or two real ales don't tend to keep it very well. That's why these days, unless it's a pub renowned for its real ale I'll tend to go for craft.
‘Craft’ is the 21st century’s ‘keg’. It gives brewers and landlords the opportunity to avoid the skill, time and effort (i.e. expense) needed by real ale.

Carbonated Refrigerated Ale From Tins.
 

Bradford PA

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‘Craft’ is the 21st century’s ‘keg’. It gives brewers and landlords the opportunity to avoid the skill, time and effort (i.e. expense) needed by real ale.

Carbonated Refrigerated Ale From Tins.
And, although it takes less effort to look after, keeps for longer and therefore has less wastage, why is it so much more expensive than beer from the pump ?
 

yorksrob

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Calling it the new "keg" is probably a bit unfair. Craft ale does tend to taste of something, albeit in an overly gassy, over priced sort of way.
 

D1537

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It was mentioned a while back, but I can definitely recommend the Waiting Room at Durham. Excellent pint of Wylam Brewery Gold at £4.80, and plenty of seating outside to watch the trains go past. Very useful alternative if I can't be bothered to walk to the Holy Grale (or it's one of the days it isn't open!).
 

CaptainHaddock

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It was mentioned a while back, but I can definitely recommend the Waiting Room at Durham. Excellent pint of Wylam Brewery Gold at £4.80, and plenty of seating outside to watch the trains go past. Very useful alternative if I can't be bothered to walk to the Holy Grale (or it's one of the days it isn't open!).
The Waiting Room's okay but, if you've got time to kill at Durham before your train, The Station House at the foot of Station Approach is way better!
 

Harpo

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And, although it takes less effort to look after, keeps for longer and therefore has less wastage, why is it so much more expensive than beer from the pump ?
Clever marketing that leads folk to believe that ‘craft’ is a premium artisinal product.
 

xotGD

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Clever marketing that leads folk to believe that ‘craft’ is a premium artisinal product.
One set of mugs think Madri is Spanish.

Another set of mugs think Craft equates to quality.
 

D6130

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Or not far away the Colpits Inn.
The Colpitts is a Sam Smith's house....so don't dare to get your mobile out, or you'll be thrown out, the manager will be sacked and the pub closed and boarded-up. If I had the time, I could start a whole new thread about Mr Humphrey Smith and his shenanigans! :frown:
 

DustyBin

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Clever marketing that leads folk to believe that ‘craft’ is a premium artisinal product.

Yes, it’s all marketing, likewise the sudden popularity of Madri etc. There were perfectly acceptable (and in some cases quite nice!) premium lagers before Madri, Moretti etc. came along, most of which are now harder to find.
 
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NorthOxonian

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The Colpitts is a Sam Smith's house....so don't dare to get your mobile out, or you'll be thrown out, the manager will be sacked and the pub closed and boarded-up. If I had the time, I could start a whole new thread about Mr Humphrey Smith and his shenanigans! :frown:
If it's any consolation, the manager (an acquaintance who I've drank with a couple of times) isn't much happy about it either off the record!

I think the Draughtsman is a great little pub. I try and call in whenever I can which isn’t that often in truth, but it’s good to show some support.
The only issue I have with it, and why I've never made it there yet, is the slightly awkward opening times - but that probably reflects the fact Donny can be a bit lairy of an evening! I'm rarely there early enough to catch it open sadly, but do hope to do so at some point - the beer list and prices seem very good.
 

yorksrob

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The Colpitts is a Sam Smith's house....so don't dare to get your mobile out, or you'll be thrown out, the manager will be sacked and the pub closed and boarded-up. If I had the time, I could start a whole new thread about Mr Humphrey Smith and his shenanigans! :frown:

No naughty language either !
 

DustyBin

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The only issue I have with it, and why I've never made it there yet, is the slightly awkward opening times - but that probably reflects the fact Donny can be a bit lairy of an evening! I'm rarely there early enough to catch it open sadly, but do hope to do so at some point - the beer list and prices seem very good.

Yes that’s a fair point; I’ve missed it a few times on an evening.
 
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‘Craft’ is the 21st century’s ‘keg’. It gives brewers and landlords the opportunity to avoid the skill, time and effort (i.e. expense) needed by real ale.

Carbonated Refrigerated Ale From Tins.
And if you add in the autovac, jobs a guddun , from a financial perspective.
 

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