Stations with GOOD real ale bars?

[DarloRich]

Not a problem - there are still plenty of good value beers anyway.

I chose badly at random then! I had two pints, both £6. One was ordinary bitter, the other was the one with the funny bag name.

I don't mind paying for quality. I just assumed that was the price level as both the beers I had were just normal ales although not the "house" brand.

It is a nice spot and I will be back. Well worth a visit

 

[12C]

Apologies if already mentioned but I recently spent a very enjoyable hour in the recently opened Scott and Brassey pub on Carlisle station. All the usual Lancaster Brewery ales plus a few guests. Great location too in a former first class waiting room. Not a rip off for a station pub at under £5 for a pint of Lancaster Blonde.

 

[Harpo]

I spotted an interesting supplement in last Weekend's i Newspaper entitled "Britain's Best Railway Pubs"

An interesting selection but very subjective. No Lancaster or Doncaster station bars and Porthmadog’s excellent Australia is actually halfway between the TfW and FR/WHR stations which both have their own real ale bars.

 

[Bald Rick]

Thanks for reopening the topic for me!

I spotted an interesting supplement in last Weekend's i Newspaper entitled "Britain's Best Railway Pubs". This was written by "pub expert" Phil Mellows (No, I haven't heard of him, either!), who's chosen his top 20. There doesn't seem to be a ranking, although the list below is shown in the order given in the paper.

The list doesn't restrict itself to pubs on or next door to station - although there are several - just that they're good pubs nearby. Some of them, in fact, are a little way from the station, although that doesn't seem to have been a problem with the list.

This is the list:
Bank of Conwy, Conwy;
The Australia, Porthmadog;
Black Isle Bar, Inverness;
Ryrie's Bar, Edinburgh Haymarket;
The Snug, Carnforth;
York Tap, York;
Sheffield Tap, Sheffield;
Victoria Tap, Manchester Victoria;
Chester Station Taproom, Chester;
Brew Tavern, Nottingham;
Railwayman's Arms, Bridgnorth;
Deya Brewery & Taproom, Cheltenham Spa
Railway Brewhouse, Newton Abbot;
The Foresters, West Worthing;
The Seadog, Hastings;
The Royston, Broadstairs;
Devonshire Arms, Cambridge;
Parcel Yard, King's Cross;
Euston Tap, Euston;
The Three Guineas, Reading.

I've visited eight of these, so clearly I've got a bit of work to do!

Perhaps that article was written with assistance of Fullers, as I wouldnt put the Parcel Yard in the top 100 let alone top 20 railway pubs.

 

[yorksrob]

Perhaps that article was written with assistance of Fullers, as I wouldnt put the Parcel Yard in the top 100 let alone top 20 railway pubs.

I agree. Very expensive and I've not found their beer to be as nice (might be as I've developed a taste for their canned beer over their cask).

 

[Tetchytyke]

Perhaps that article was written with assistance of Fullers, as I wouldnt put the Parcel Yard in the top 100 let alone top 20 railway pubs.

What he’s said about it in the article is this:

MSN

Parcel Yard, London King’s Cross​

Make your way past the Harry Potter fans getting their picture taken at platform 9 ¾ and head up the stairs for the Parcel Yard, Fuller’s spectacular station pub. Across two floors, where they used to sort parcels before loading them on a train for distant parts, it is a maze of rooms with lots of corners to hide in and some private areas for parties and meetings. As well as Fuller’s own beers, you are likely to find one or two interesting guests on the pumps, and this is also a great place to grab a bite to eat before your journey.

Of the mainline London station pubs it’s probably one of the better ones. I actually quite like it in there, but would only go there if I was catching a train. So yeah, definitely not in the top 20. Not when the one at Lancaster doesn’t make the list.

Compared to the Fuller’s pub The Doric Arch at Euston it’s amazing though!

 

[yorksrob]

I rather like the Euston Tap - decent beer and not too expensive for London. Having the loo at the top of the spiral staircase is a downside though.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I’ve always liked the Doric Arch at Euston. It’s still very much the same as its Head of Steam days. Beers are well kept by a knowledgeable manager and a lot of railwayana to look at. Fair prices for London.

 

[Richard S]

I’ve always liked the Doric Arch at Euston. It’s still very much the same as its Head of Steam days. Beers are well kept by a knowledgeable manager and a lot of railwayana to look at. Fair prices for London.

Seconded. Departure screens useful too.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Apologies if already mentioned but I recently spent a very enjoyable hour in the recently opened Scott and Brassey pub on Carlisle station. All the usual Lancaster Brewery ales plus a few guests. Great location too in a former first class waiting room. Not a rip off for a station pub at under £5 for a pint of Lancaster Blonde.

Yes - it certainly is good to see it doing well as I often have long connections at Carlisle and it's probably more civilised to wait there than go into Botchergate! I was in middle of March and paid about £4.50 for a Lancaster Black - though admittedly my memory is a bit hazy... was definitely four pounds something. They do have some pricier specialist stuff on keg but the cask offering is very good and for the location not too badly priced.

Their sister pub in Lancaster (Tite and Locke) has surely been mentioned here but very much deserves a mention too. It would be a good pub anywhere but having it right on the platform is absolutely ace.

 

[Wolfie]

What he’s said about it in the article is this:

MSN

Of the mainline London station pubs it’s probably one of the better ones. I actually quite like it in there, but would only go there if I was catching a train. So yeah, definitely not in the top 20. Not when the one at Lancaster doesn’t make the list.

Compared to the Fuller’s pub The Doric Arch at Euston it’s amazing though!

The Doric Arch has been dying ever since Fuller's opened the Signal Box on the Euston mezzanine. The opening hours have been slashed for example.

I'm actually surprised that Fuller's haven't tried to sell it.

 

[Sealink]

The Ale Way at Axminster. (Closed Mon,Tues and Wed).

Current hours at The Ale Way

Thursday: 12pm - 9pm
Friday: 12pm - 9pm
Saturday: 11am - 9pm
Sunday: 2pm - 6pm

Also dog friendly!

 

[IanD]

The Doric Arch has been dying ever since Fuller's opened the Signal Box on the Euston mezzanine.

I think the Captain Flinders 'Spoons round the corner has also taken a lot of their trade

 

[Bald Rick]

I think the Captain Flinders 'Spoons round the corner has also taken a lot of their trade

I went tho the Captian Flinders once.
Decent toilets.

 

[ASharpe]

Can I recommend The Fox in Shipley. Fast rotating selection of ales real cider and just a minute away from the station. Also has train (and bus) departure boards. I've bumped into a few forum members there. Around about £5 per pint, check the chalkboard.

 

[Trackman]

I think the Captain Flinders 'Spoons round the corner has also taken a lot of their trade

I imagine it's a hell of a lot cheaper too.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I imagine it's a hell of a lot cheaper too.

The Doric Arch is not that expensive for London and as dicussed on other threads, central London Wetherspoons are not that cheap. perhaps a pound or so different to the Doric Arch but with less football hooligans on a Saturday.

 

[Wolfie]

The Doric Arch is not that expensive for London and as dicussed on other threads, central London Wetherspoons are not that cheap. perhaps a pound or so different to the Doric Arch but with less football hooligans on a Saturday.

Firstly not all football fans are hooligans; that's the sort of mentality that led to Hillsborough.

Secondly the Royal George and, further down Euston Road, O'Neill's have long since been football fans' gathering places of choice in the area.

Thirdly, if you want mention a Spoons which very definitely is a football fans' meeting place choice try the Hamilton Hall at Liverpool Street.

 

[Trackman]

The Doric Arch is not that expensive for London and as dicussed on other threads, central London Wetherspoons are not that cheap. perhaps a pound or so different to the Doric Arch but with less football hooligans on a Saturday.

I was thinking more of the Signal Box at Euston rather than the Doric Arch.

 

[Spamcan81]

Can I recommend The Fox in Shipley. Fast rotating selection of ales real cider and just a minute away from the station. Also has train (and bus) departure boards. I've bumped into a few forum members there. Around about £5 per pint, check the chalkboard.

A great little boozer.

 

[AndrewE]

I went to the the Captian Flinders once. Decent toilets.

Although this isn't a Spoons thread, I would say that of another pub by a station, the Captain Alexander, a Spoons opposite James St station where the toilets have always been pristine when I have been there. As opposed to the one on Lime St station where they are really grim.

 

[WestAnglian]

I agree. Very expensive and I've not found their beer to be as nice (might be as I've developed a taste for their canned beer over their cask).

But a fascinating display of railwayana, particularly in the upstairs rooms.

 

[yorksrob]

But a fascinating display of railwayana, particularly in the upstairs rooms.

If they had some well kept Oakham Citra for £5 a pint, it would be perfect.

 

[D6130]

Perhaps not strictly on-topic as it hasn't been built yet....but Darkland Brewery in Halifax have submitted a planning application for a real ale taproom in a vacant room on platform 2 at Hebden Bridge. However it is being vigorously opposed by the station's friends group, who remember some of the problems caused when there was a Friday & Saturday evening pop-up bar in the station café about ten years ago

 

[Port Road]

Edinburgh Waverley; 2 minute walk - Market Street exit, across the road and up some steps is the Halfway House; a small, railway themed gem. In days past it was the rail staff boozer.

Princes Street exit; 2 minute walk - diagonally to the right across the road, up West register Street is The Guildford Arms, one of the finest pubs in Scotland. Seeing is believing.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

£6 a pint for hand pull - worth it in my book for the ambience. The pub over the road is chavvy.

I agree. I would be more than happy to pay 6 quid for a pint in that place. Does not seem too outrageous to me. Just my opinion of course.

 

[DarloRich]

I agree. I would be more than happy to pay 6 quid for a pint in that place. Does not seem too outrageous to me. Just my opinion of course.

agreed - I am tight but will pay for quality or a nice location. Oh and the beer was very nice!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I spotted an interesting supplement in last Weekend's i Newspaper entitled "Britain's Best Railway Pubs". This was written by "pub expert" Phil Mellows (No, I haven't heard of him, either!), who's chosen his top 20. There doesn't seem to be a ranking, although the list below is shown in the order given in the paper.

The list doesn't restrict itself to pubs on or next door to station - although there are several - just that they're good pubs nearby. Some of them, in fact, are a little way from the station, although that doesn't seem to have been a problem with the list.

This is the list:
Bank of Conwy, Conwy;
The Australia, Porthmadog;
Black Isle Bar, Inverness;
Ryrie's Bar, Edinburgh Haymarket;
The Snug, Carnforth;
York Tap, York;
Sheffield Tap, Sheffield;
Victoria Tap, Manchester Victoria;
Chester Station Taproom, Chester;
Brew Tavern, Nottingham;
Railwayman's Arms, Bridgnorth;
Deya Brewery & Taproom, Cheltenham Spa
Railway Brewhouse, Newton Abbot;
The Foresters, West Worthing;
The Seadog, Hastings;
The Royston, Broadstairs;
Devonshire Arms, Cambridge;
Parcel Yard, King's Cross;
Euston Tap, Euston;
The Three Guineas, Reading.

Just my opinion of course (and the authors), but any list that does not have Stalybridge on, is suspect in my eyes!

 

[Meole]

Wylam - Boathouse and Ship

 

[yorksrob]

Perhaps not strictly on-topic as it hasn't been built yet....but Darkland Brewery in Halifax have submitted a planning application for a real ale taproom in a vacant room on platform 2 at Hebden Bridge. However it is being vigorously opposed by the station's friends group, who remember some of the problems caused when there was a Friday & Saturday evening pop-up bar in the station café about ten years ago

That's interesting.

Were the problems worse than one might expect at many of the other station bars scattered around ?