Trans Pennine Real Ale clampdown

[RichmondCommu]

Craft beers ar eincreasingly popular and ar ehelping to drive the increasing interest in proper beer. I see more younger people drinking the lighter and, dare I say it, more modern ales, in preference to more traditional bitter type beer.

Yes I would agree with this. Our 19 year old twins have really taken to lighter bitters, in particular JHB and Harvest Pale which are very popular where they live in Nottingham. I have to say that this is largely infulenced by my wife and I and a trip to the GBBF last year.

However, student promotions away from the Union Bars very rarely feature Real Ale and when you are away from home for the first time it's natural to want to "fit in". That said they have converted some of their friends up in Notts to Real Ale.

 

[transmanche]

I have to say that you are somewhat ill-informed with your comments.

Not at all, you'll always find an odd exception to prove the rule. But you're living in cloud-cuckoo land if you believe that real ale drinkers make up even a 'significant minority' of 18-24 year olds.

Yes, it's great that some young people are enjoying real ale. (I too was one who was an 'early adopter'.) The fact is that most young people do not drink real ale. Look around the city centre bars that are popular with hen/stag parties in places like Newcastle - and you'll see bars that sell keg and bottled lager, shots and alcopops. But you won't find real ale.

 

[Gareth]

But if I'm going clubbing (which isn't often as I generally hate it) then I drink lager because I don't have a choice. Clubs and bars aren't really comparable with pubs in terms of target market. There's some overlap but still.

I'd say real ale drinkers in your given age category are in the minority but they're not as rare as you seem to think; certainly not isolated cases.

 

[HSTEd]

My local student bar serves Boddingtons and I drink that because its the closest thing they have to real bitter - and it is considerably better than Lager.

I drink spirit-based drinks and alcopops in clubs because they are so much cheaper in such places.

 

[102 fan]

The Ale situation is even worse in N Ireland! People won't even try it because it's 'different' I've seen people in one of the few bars that do ale here look at the pump, then say they'll have bland fizz because it's 'what they know', without sampling the ale! (It was a Wetherspoons).

For a land so famed for drinking, there's a lot of bad beers!

 

[RichmondCommu]

The Ale situation is even worse in N Ireland! People won't even try it because it's 'different' I've seen people in one of the few bars that do ale here look at the pump, then say they'll have bland fizz because it's 'what they know', without sampling the ale! (It was a Wetherspoons).

For a land so famed for drinking, there's a lot of bad beers!

Some of the pubs in Belfast are aboslute Gems though with their ornate decorations.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I drink spirit-based drinks and alcopops in clubs because they are so much cheaper in such places.

Not only that but let's face it you are not going to get a pint of Real Ale in a club!

 

[gordonthemoron]

Some of the pubs in Belfast are aboslute Gems though with their ornate decorations.

The Crown Liquor Saloon opposite Europa Hotel/Great Victoria Street Station is a classic. Good pint of guinness too

 

[starrymarkb]

Hobgoblin seems to be marketing itself to the metal crowd. Their bottles are currently promoting "Bloodstock Open Air" (a festival of very heavy Metal) and they also sponsor the Metal Hammer Awards. I've seen them promoting at Whitby Goth Weekend too

 

[102 fan]

The Crown Liquor Saloon opposite Europa Hotel/Great Victoria Street Station is a classic. Good pint of guinness too

I keep asking Guinness if were that interested in making a good pint they would make it cask conditioned. I'm told there's no demand! That's like saying there's no demand for railway tickets to Comber. The line was lifted in 1951......

They weren't enamoured when I told them that because it's not cask conditioned, there's no yeast in the barrel, so it's not made of more!

 

[martinsh]

! That's like saying there's no demand for railway tickets to Comber. The line was lifted in 1951......

"walks up Cherry Valley from North Road Bridge, railway line
On sunny summer afternoons
Picking apples from the side of the tracks
That spilled over from the gardens of the houses on Cyprus Avenue"

Guinness is solely responsible for me taking 20 years to realise that I like drinking porter and stout

 

[yorksrob]

I keep asking Guinness if were that interested in making a good pint they would make it cask conditioned. I'm told there's no demand! That's like saying there's no demand for railway tickets to Comber. The line was lifted in 1951......

They weren't enamoured when I told them that because it's not cask conditioned, there's no yeast in the barrel, so it's not made of more!

Considering they've tried every gimmick going (remember Guinness extra cold anyone ?) you'd have thought they'd be up for joining the cask revolution.

That said, the original is a decent enough canned beer.

 

[shires666]

Plenty of young ones like the real ale I'm one of them, I and a group of friends did our own 'Real Ale Trail' Which started in Doncaster visiting The Plough, The Sal and Cask Corner (Great Place) before moving onto the The Imperial Club in Mexborough which is right next to the station which brews the beer right inside which a member of staff gave a very helpful tour around. Then onto the brilliant Sheffield taps and then a short taxi ride down to Kelham Island before getting the train back to Wakefield and finishing up in Fernandes.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Plenty of young ones like the real ale I'm one of them, I and a group of friends did our own 'Real Ale Trail' Which started in Doncaster visiting The Plough, The Sal and Cask Corner (Great Place) before moving onto the The Imperial Club in Mexborough which is right next to the station which brews the beer right inside which a member of staff gave a very helpful tour around. Then onto the brilliant Sheffield taps and then a short taxi ride down to Kelham Island before getting the train back to Wakefield and finishing up in Fernandes.

Kelham Island 'Pale rider' (5.2%) is a top notch beer!!
Guinness Extra Stout was bottle conditioned (live yeast) until 1994 uk, and 2000 Eire.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Well today I finished work got off my train went into the Buffet Bar for a nice refreshing pint of lager, the Pub was almost empty and I walked out. Why on earth should I be victimised being a Lager drinker? It's all well and good people complaining about louts etc. but I for one doubt I will use the Buffet bar again which for me is a crying shame as I find the memorabilia fascinating being a railwayman myself. And I love the atmosphere but this is a bad idea, Lager drinkers are not louts, I deal with plenty of so called real ale drinkers and they are a pain in the arse as much as lager drinkers. I am not impressed

 

[Buspilot]

Well done, ANG.

More people need to vote with their feet against this stupid idea/ban.

Hit the clowns who introduced it, in the hope they will sell more of their "in house" produced ales, in the pocket.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Well done, ANG.

More people need to vote with their feet against this stupid idea/ban.

Hit the clowns who introduced it, in the hope they will sell more of their "in house" produced ales, in the pocket.

How to damage profits in an instant! you could make a book out of this lol, it is one of the most pathetic attempts at stereotyping people I have ever seen. now if say all white european nationals drunk "real Ale" and say some people from other parts of our planet drunk Lager and these pubs refused to serve Lager would that be classed as Racist? I am sure it would. Get a grip publicans you are stereotyping people. This is a step way too far and I hope it damages your trade until you see sense.

 

[Blindtraveler]

was discussing this today with a bus driving aquaintance who has just got back from a real ail trail lads trip away. He said it was for him, a fosters or bud man through and through a very saddening expfrience and also reported the empty condition of all pubs on the run, not to mention the telling off he got when trying to drink a can on the train.

 

[yorksrob]

was discussing this today with a bus driving aquaintance who has just got back from a real ail trail lads trip away. He said it was for him, a fosters or bud man through and through a very saddening expfrience and also reported the empty condition of all pubs on the run, not to mention the telling off he got when trying to drink a can on the train.

That's not on. If you can't enjoy a tinny on the train then what can you enjoy ?

 

[dysonsphere]

Well the lack of income will cure them in time or the new owners will stop the silly idea.

 

[Blindtraveler]

apparently the TPE Grip on there service back to Manchester put 2 and 2 togeather given the lively yet inoffensive atitude of the group, plus the fact they were on a rover for the area of the trail
made 4 and ticked them off for having booz and in particular that now illegal substance Larga with them. In a time when pubs are toiling, this decision needs reversing, now!

If the stags and hens are such an issue, replace the G4s R P Is at Man Pic with people who speek English and know
something
about tickets and railways and cascade the current mob who have nothing better to do than atempt to prosicute anyone and everyone no matter there sircomstances and who clearly see themselves as some sort of railway bouncers to the pubs and platforms on the trail where there skills may
actually
be of
some
use to
someboddy???

 

[noddingdonkey]

It's actually only a few pubs that have the silly lager ban, and from a discussion with the manager of one of them it is a publicity stunt to make it look like they are doing something. Mainly to keep certain residents of Marsden quiet who can't grasp the fact that it is a small minority who are being anti social not every ale trailer. And a certain MP who keeps banging on about how he calls it "the lager line" now because most don't drink ale. The fact that the net result is that they just go to another pub or mix their drinks so become even more drunk doesn't seem to matter.

Certainly at Stalybridge I understand the effect has been that people are going into the centre of Staly to get a lager rather than staying within the station where any issues can be contained more easily rather than affecting the wider community. I really don't see any positive from that.

The best bit is the rule about not serving groups in fancy dress. A rule brought in to avoid inconvenience to locals. Marsden's local Morris Dancers pitched up in the Riverhead a couple of Saturdays ago after a practice session or performance, and inevitably the "fancy dress" rule was invoked, thus inconveniencing locals.

I'm not sure how many in Marsden realise that the increased police presence is only temporary. On the up side as soon as the football season starts they won't have to complain about all the police horse manure any more.

 

[sprinterguy]

Hobgoblin seems to be marketing itself to the metal crowd. Their bottles are currently promoting "Bloodstock Open Air" (a festival of very heavy Metal) and they also sponsor the Metal Hammer Awards. I've seen them promoting at Whitby Goth Weekend too

A safe move and one I wholeheartedly support as us metal folk have been enjoying Hobgoblin for a long while before Wychwood brewery officially aligned themselves with our genre. Here in the world of rock and metal, I would say that there is a significant minority, probably even a majority, of the 18 to 25 crowd that drinks real ale, and our clubs do sell real ale, albeit bottled. We're very happy here in our metal bubble.

 

[Buspilot]

Certainly at Stalybridge I understand the effect has been that people are going into the centre of Staly to get a lager rather than staying within the station where any issues can be contained more easily rather than affecting the wider community. I really don't see any positive from that.

If you get off a train on platforms 1/2/3 at Stalybridge, it is as quick, if not quicker, to exit the station, go under the railway bridge into Q for a pint, than walk to platform 4 and go in the Buffet Bar. There is no need to go further into town.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

If you get off a train on platforms 1/2/3 at Stalybridge, it is as quick, if not quicker, to exit the station, go under the railway bridge into Q for a pint, than walk to platform 4 and go in the Buffet Bar. There is no need to go further into town.

But these pubs (I used to use the Buffet bar quite regularly) are discriminating against Lager drinkers. Its the idiots and NOT the drink. There are plenty of so called "Real Ale Drinkers" who are just as bad as Lager drinkers. These pubs will lose a lot of custom in a time when pubs are shutting every week. Its a poorly thought out, Discriminatory, down right stupid idea. I was at work all day getting people from a to b. I finally get a chance to relax in one of my fav pubs and see this nonsense. It's insulting to be discriminated like this.

 

[MidlandMainlie]

But these pubs (I used to use the Buffet bar quite regularly) are discriminating against Lager drinkers. Its the idiots and NOT the drink. There are plenty of so called "Real Ale Drinkers" who are just as bad as Lager drinkers. These pubs will lose a lot of custom in a time when pubs are shutting every week. Its a poorly thought out, Discriminatory, down right stupid idea. I was at work all day getting people from a to b. I finally get a chance to relax in one of my fav pubs and see this nonsense. It's insulting to be discriminated like this.

As I said at the start of this tread the simplest solution is not to ban the sale of larger but not to serve those who are drunk.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A safe move and one I wholeheartedly support as us metal folk have been enjoying Hobgoblin for a long while before Wychwood brewery officially aligned themselves with our genre. Here in the world of rock and metal, I would say that there is a significant minority, probably even a majority, of the 18 to 25 crowd that drinks real ale, and our clubs do sell real ale, albeit bottled. We're very happy here in our metal bubble.

I see the picture in you're signature is a favourite tipple of mine

 

[sprinterguy]

I see the picture in you're signature is a favourite tipple of mine

Aye, it's one of the good ones

 

[Buspilot]

The other problem for the Buffet Bar is that it is now run by the same people who operate the West Riding at Dewsbury Station and The Sportsman with their micro brewery in, just a few minutes walk from Huddersfield Station. So the same management group make the decisions at two pubs on the Trail and one close by.

The Buffet Bar for me, has lost some character since they took over. If John Hesketh were still alive and owned the Buffet Bar, I don't think this ban on lager would have seen light of day.

As for the Morris Men around Marsden, it is only a few weeks ago since they were welcome to perform at the Riverhead at a concert in the car park, bringing custom to that pub. If it is true, that the pub management have now refused to serve the Morris Men on a Saturday afternoon because of the "ban", it just shows how short sighted this pub's management are.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

Typical.
Not long ago the management of these pubs were being slated for "not doing anything about it", not least by Northern guards along the route. Now they are being slated for victimising the "poor old lager drinker".
Did "ANorthernGuard" like the atmosphere in the Buffet bar at teatime on Saturdays before the lager ban. Many peoples experience in having a wind down pint after work or whatever would suggest not. We certainly did not like the atmosphere on many of the trains, not being able to take refuge in a private locked area.
They are trying something to see if it works - it may not be to your advantage at the moment but it could help to make it better in the long run.
They could have just continued to turn a blind eye to the whole affair and continued to "rake in the profits" without a care.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Typical.
Not long ago the management of these pubs were being slated for "not doing anything about it", not least by Northern guards along the route. Now they are being slated for victimising the "poor old lager drinker".
Did "ANorthernGuard" like the atmosphere in the Buffet bar at teatime on Saturdays before the lager ban. Many peoples experience in having a wind down pint after work or whatever would suggest not. We certainly did not like the atmosphere on many of the trains, not being able to take refuge in a private locked area.
They are trying something to see if it works - it may not be to your advantage at the moment but it could help to make it better in the long run.
They could have just continued to turn a blind eye to the whole affair and continued to "rake in the profits" without a care.

What utter cack! As guards we all get trains and runs we hate,at Picc we have Chester races and a hell of a lot of football fans during the season, it's a part of our job and most of us accept that. Regarding the atmosphere the atmosphere when I walked in was more akin to a morgue than a pub. Ideas like this will cause pubs to close through the arrogance that the Lager fizzy drinkers are the cause of all evils, well sorry Sapphire Blue you maybe in the wrong century. Real Ale has not been the drink of choice for many a decade and clinging onto the notion that a "Real Ale Drinker" is any better than a Lager drinker is arrogance in its extreme.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Personally I think this idea will only last a month or so anyway, once there has been the required amount of publicity and some sense of decorum is restored to the pubs, trains and villages en route. I don't think it is intended as a long term thing. In much the same way that the Police response to the issues are not long term - I don't see the need to have 3 x riot vans and a mobile police station with detention cells parked at Marsden station every Saturday (as they were the other week).

There was an issue with safety on the trains and stations, general behaviour in the villages and pubs, and the whole thing getting a bit out of hand. No matter what we think about the rights and wrongs of "people just having a good time" there were complaints from local residents in the various villages, rail staff, and other rail passengers.

Sadly, as often happens, the way of dealing with the issues is similarly a bit OTT. Hopefully, once things have calmed down a bit (which they have seemed to already) then everything will start returning to normal.