Stations with GOOD real ale bars?

[IanD]

Perhaps, but I would replace "saving" with "cutting". All pubs are quiet late on weekday evenings, including Wetherspoons, as are convenience stores, whether Tesco Express or independent. The last trains on weekdays have very few passengers on them. It's necessary to strike a balance between maximising profit and providing a service. But my actual point is that I wouldn't have a problem with early closing if it was happening before 2021.

I'd rather they opened shorter hours than closing for good because they are not profitable.

 

[ChrisC]

The West Riding at Dewsbury Station is fantastic, I wouldn’t recommend venturing anywhere else outside Dewsbury station though…!

I also agree that The West Riding at Dewsbury Station is well worth a visit.
I know what you mean about not venturing outside the station. I remember visiting Dewsbury on a number of occasions at least 30 years ago and back then it had a great town centre with a huge market drawing in visitors from miles around. When I returned about 5 years ago I couldn’t believe the state of the place. It wasn’t just the decline of the high street like in many of our town centres but absolute dereliction and neglect. The town centre which was once a bustling place full friendly people was almost deserted and felt unsafe, and I was pleased to get back to the station.

 

[duffield]

I also agree that The West Riding at Dewsbury Station is well worth a visit.
I know what you mean about not venturing outside the station. I remember visiting Dewsbury on a number of occasions at least 30 years ago and back then it had a great town centre with a huge market drawing in visitors from miles around. When I returned about 5 years ago I couldn’t believe the state of the place. It wasn’t just the decline of the high street like in many of our town centres but absolute dereliction and neglect. The town centre which was once a bustling place full friendly people was almost deserted and felt unsafe, and I was pleased to get back to the station.

As per my previous post I enjoyed the West Riding. I did have a brief circuit near the station to inspect the nearby pubs, it did seem rather run down although not positively unsafe (at around teatime). The Wellington had some decent music playing but a freezing cold pint of Strongbow (as the only cider option) was not exactly enjoyable in December. When I found that was the only option at The Black Bull, I returned to The West Riding and then moved on.

I didn't get to go in The Station Hotel**. It's supposed to have some impressive historic interior features, and I was minded to visit again for this (and The West Riding of course), but the reviews I've read about the state of the pub and its clientele have put me off.

** Which is actually 1/4 mile from the current station because it served the long-closed Dewsbury Central

 

[AWWisher]

Yes I saw that on a TRU video this morning.

If you can sort out the bus replacements, the Penistone Line has two pubs which actually adjoin the platforms:- Clothiers Arms, Stocksmoor (opens 16:00 M-F, 12:00 S-Su) & Station Inn, Silkstone Common (opens 12:00 daily).

 

[yorksrob]

Perhaps, but I would replace "saving" with "cutting". All pubs are quiet late on weekday evenings, including Wetherspoons, as are convenience stores, whether Tesco Express or independent. The last trains on weekdays have very few passengers on them. It's necessary to strike a balance between maximising profit and providing a service. But my actual point is that I wouldn't have a problem with early closing if it was happening before 2021.

EDIT
I've just noticed that Dewsbury is mentioned in the OP. Where's that 'hold a pretend gun to your head and fire' smilie when you need it?

Evenings are still the natural time to be in the pub. I can understand why they don't want to do the whole full day opening thing, but they should at least stay open to 23:00.

 

[Sultan1056]

I remember the days when 3pm was closing time.

Very strange.

Yes, how times have changed. I do prefer the flexible opening hours of today, even though it can sometimes be frustrating to find a pub closed that you expect to be open.

 

[duffield]

Yes, how times have changed. I do prefer the flexible opening hours of today, even though it can sometimes be frustrating to find a pub closed that you expect to be open.

What annoys me a bit is things like pubs which are very active on Facebook but don't post their opening hours there, and pubs which are not, but do have fixed regular hours which they show as - say - 1100 opening on Google Maps when it's actually 1200.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Can anyone recommend a decent pub close to Darlington station?

 

[ls2270]

What annoys me a bit is things like pubs which are very active on Facebook but don't post their opening hours there, and pubs which are not, but do have fixed regular hours which they show as - say - 1100 opening on Google Maps when it's actually 1200.

Totally agree with you on both counts! The new CAMRA website (which has recently replaced the What Pub? site) is a very useful and I have found so far, accurate source of pub opening hours. You can do a pub search (including opening hours) without being a member, but if you aren’t you can’t access certain features.

 

[IanD]

Can anyone recommend a decent pub close to Darlington station?

I've visited most of the real ale pubs in Darlington and none of the decent ones are near the station.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I've visited most of the real ale pubs in Darlington and none of the decent ones are near the station.

Ah well, never mind

 

[xotGD]

Can anyone recommend a decent pub close to Darlington station?

A bit of a walk to the Number Twenty 2 but we'll worth it.

Link to CAMRA page for the pub:

CAMRA | Number Twenty 2, Darlington

Town-centre ale house with a passion for cask beer and winner of many CAMRA awards. Ales are dispensed from up to sixteen handpumps, including two real ciders and a stout or porter, along with ten draught European beers. Huge curved windows, stained glass panels and a high ceiling give the...

camra.org.uk

 

[SuspectUsual]

A bit of a walk to the Number Twenty 2 but we'll worth it.

Link to CAMRA page for the pub:

CAMRA | Number Twenty 2, Darlington

Town-centre ale house with a passion for cask beer and winner of many CAMRA awards. Ales are dispensed from up to sixteen handpumps, including two real ciders and a stout or porter, along with ten draught European beers. Huge curved windows, stained glass panels and a high ceiling give the...

camra.org.uk

Oooooh, that’s more like it! Thanks very much

 

[NER1621]

I've visited most of the real ale pubs in Darlington and none of the decent ones are near the station.

I’d go further and say that you should actively avoid all the pubs closest to Darlington Bank Top and North Road stations (I live quite close to Bank Top…)

Number Twenty-Two *is* good, but if we’re going to include pubs within a fifteen to twenty minute walk of every station then this thread will be endless! Do you have access to a copy of the “Good Beer Guide” @SuspectUsual? That would be a lot quicker…

 

[sh24]

It’s a 4 minute walk but if you are “doing stations” I can highly recommend The Boar at Spooner Row. 3 ales in great condition.

 

[duffield]

It’s a 4 minute walk but if you are “doing stations” I can highly recommend The Boar at Spooner Row. 3 ales in great condition.

Shame Spooner Row has such a minimal train service.

As far as I can see your only option is to arrive at 1643 on the Norwich to Cambridge service, have a drink and then get the 1743 Norwich to Cambridge service. Also, it's a request stop so you need to be on the ball and make sure you signal the driver otherwise you're stranded (did not stop today).

(Pedantry: unusually, it's called "The Boars" not the "The Boar".)

 

[Wolfie]

I would massively recommend Holden's Codsall Station bar. Holden's excellent real ales in the old station building.

 

[sh24]

Shame Spooner Row has such a minimal train service.

As far as I can see your only option is to arrive at 1643 on the Norwich to Cambridge service, have a drink and then get the 1743 Norwich to Cambridge service. Also, it's a request stop so you need to be on the ball and make sure you signal the driver otherwise you're stranded (did not stop today).

(Pedantry: unusually, it's called "The Boars" not the "The Boar".)

Agree, it is a shame. I managed to sink 2 pints in that hour and pleased to confirm the 1743 did stop!

 

[ls2270]

I would massively recommend Holden's Codsall Station bar. Holden's excellent real ales in the old station building.

Yes seconded! Not sure if the Mallard at Moorthorpe has been mentioned? Have sampled that this afternoon.

 

[matt]

Thread reopened for @EbbwJunction1

 

[AlanL]

The Codsall station pub (on the Wolverhampton -Shrewsbury line) is really good, plenty of real ales and an outside area to watch the trains!!

 

[Snow1964]

The Three Horseshoes in Bradford on Avon (just across from front of station) has good selection of real ales. Can see trains from garden terrace.

For those who like a stroll, walk out far end of station car park, under rail bridge, through Barton Park country park (or along canal towpath) to Avoncliff, Three Guns, where can pick up train.

Warning : Rail replacement buses next 2 weekends and Avoncliff bus goes from Westwood village instead

 

[DarloRich]

Just been to Chester for the weekend - the station tap is very nice if a bit pricey. Good selection of ales.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Just been to Chester for the weekend - the station tap is very nice if a bit pricey. Good selection of ales.

Thanks for that info. I am going there (planning to) in the next 4 weeks

 

[EbbwJunction1]

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!

 

[Haywain]

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

13 for me!

Whilst going through this thread, which I've only seen today for the first time, I am slightly surprised that the Upside Bar at Paignton isn't mentioned - it's just across the road from the station and has a live departure board in the bar. It also has a sister pub of the same name close to Newton Abbot station with similar facilities.

 

[Bullfield WEst]

Just been to Chester for the weekend - the station tap is very nice if a bit pricey. Good selection of ales.

I do agree that it has excellent beers, including some guest offerings. Pricing, I thought, was similar to other on-station pubs.
I will be making my second visit next week.

 

[DarloRich]

I do agree that it has excellent beers, including some guest offerings. Pricing, I thought, was similar to other on-station pubs.

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

 

[AndrewE]

I do agree that it has excellent beers, including some guest offerings. Pricing, I thought, was similar to other on-station pubs.
I will be making my second visit next week.

I have been often enough to have had a free pint off my loyalty card!

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

I have never seen anything like that price in there, but I usually go for relatively ordinary beers. They have loads of craft stuff at the back which I could imagine costing that much, but a real ale on the bar? Maybe it was a super-strong one or something.

In fact https://spittingfeathers.co.uk/the-station-tap/#does show some at that price, which surprises me. Not a problem - there are still plenty of good value beers anyway.

 

[NeakPed]

Just been to Chester for the weekend - the station tap is very nice if a bit pricey. Good selection of ales.

Just sampling a pint there now. Compared to the prices I paid along the North Wales Coast (Conwy & Llandudno) yesterday it is cheap.