Pubs & Beer

[Padge]

A thread to discuss, believe it or not, Pubs and Beer.

For those of you in the Midlands (Birmingham particularly) or visiting Birmingham there is some good news on the pub front (makes a change), a pub re-opening.

The Woodman pub has just re-opened after being shut for a few years. It has been refurbished maintaining or restoring its original Victorian features.

10 cask ale hand pumps with an ever changing selection of beers apart from Draught Bass which is a permanent featured beer.

The Woodman is located at Science Garden, Curzon St opposite the old Curzon Street Station building.

[Padge]

Having started the thread on a good note, next is not so good.

Hophurst Brewery, a Wigan based brewery that has produced many fantastic prize winning beers, has closed.

Stuart Hurst owner and head brewer has decided trying to make a living from a small brewery operation is just to stressful and has decided to  call time and look for a more stable occupation.

A real shame as he has brewed some fantastic beers.

 

[Futtocks]

We're having a combined staff meeting/leaving do/general social thing next month at The Parcel Yard, which is a pub inside King's Cross station. it is pretty much over the area where the old Red Star parcel depot used to be, hence the name.

I've never been in, so I assumed it'd be a bit sawn-off and depressing like the station pub at York. You know, full of travelling salesmen in shiny suits looking like they want to  die. But you can go inside with Google to navigate around, and it looks quite nicely done. It is a Fullers pub, but has guest beers too.

Edited September 27, 2024 by Futtocks

[Padge]

8 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

We're having a combined staff meeting/leaving do/general social thing next month at The Parcel Yard, which is a pub inside King's Cross station. it is pretty much over the area where the old Red Star parcel depot used to be, hence the name.

I've never been in, so I assumed it'd be a bit sawn-off and depressing like the station pub at York. You know, full of travelling salesmen in shiny suits looking like they want to  die. But you can go inside with Google to navigate around, and it looks quite nicely done. It is a Fullers pub, but has guest beers too.

Just taken a look, looks good, love the fact they seem to have kept a lot of original features, shame its Fullers, can't have everything, hopefully the guests compensate as long as they don't go for Doombar (gone down the nick) and Landlord (too much of it about).

[Padge]

Another blow is the closure of Hawkshead Brewery and its taproom at Staveley in Cumbria.

The brewing is being moved to Halewood's (the shyster owners) brewery at Flookborough and the taproom is to close completely.

Always been a good day out at the taproom and I know many people who will miss it.

[Ullman]

1 hour ago, Futtocks said:

We're having a combined staff meeting/leaving do/general social thing next month at The Parcel Yard, which is a pub inside King's Cross station. it is pretty much over the area where the old Red Star parcel depot used to be, hence the name.

I've never been in, so I assumed it'd be a bit sawn-off and depressing like the station pub at York. You know, full of travelling salesmen in shiny suits looking like they want to  die. But you can go inside with Google to navigate around, and it looks quite nicely done. It is a Fullers pub, but has guest beers too.

We're regular visitors to our offspring in London and we've used the Parcel Yard many times. It's been pretty well done and usually has a very good selection of cask and keg beers on. Can be difficult to find a seat at times but you'd expect a pub in King's Cross to be busy. As a railway nerd I particularly like the dining areas because they look out over the platforms.

Have also used the German Gymnasium just outside the station but was bitterly disappointed a couple of weeks ago to discover they'd taken out the excellent Rothaus pilsner and replaced it with the OK but fairly run of the mill Warsteiner. 

[Futtocks]

34 minutes ago, Ullman said:

We're regular visitors to our offspring in London and we've used the Parcel Yard many times. It's been pretty well done and usually has a very good selection of cask and keg beers on. Can be difficult to find a seat at times but you'd expect a pub in King's Cross to be busy. As a railway nerd I particularly like the dining areas because they look out over the platforms.

Have also used the German Gymnasium just outside the station but was bitterly disappointed a couple of weeks ago to discover they'd taken out the excellent Rothaus pilsner and replaced it with the OK but fairly run of the mill Warsteiner. 

I need to get down there more often. The street food stalls in Granary Square are usually interesting, Caravan does interesting food/cocktails and actually good coffee, there's Dishoom for uncomplicated Parsi food and a whole lot more. They sometimes put a projection screen on a boat on the canal and you can watch a movie from the tiered steps on the other side.

[glossop saint]

3 hours ago, Padge said:

Another blow is the closure of Hawkshead Brewery and its taproom at Staveley in Cumbria.

The brewing is being moved to Halewood's (the shyster owners) brewery at Flookborough and the taproom is to close completely.

Always been a good day out at the taproom and I know many people who will miss it.

I was there just 3 weeks or so ago. Only had the one but it was nice and heard good reviews from friends up there.

[Shadow]

@Wiltshire Warrior Dragon ‘s local made it into the good beer guide.

https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/24611186.good-beer-guide-goat-downton-camra-guide/
 

The Goat is a nice pub, food is good but not too expensive, Karolina the landlady is great and it’s a dog friendly pub

[Stirlin]

Following your lead , my local The Rook and Gaskell in York has also made the guide , just outside the city walls so prices are no where near the centre. 4 ever changing cask and 20 keg on the beer wall. Big fridge full of tinnies and the food is good , proper brick built wood fired pizza oven and home made burgers.

Edited September 27, 2024 by Stirlin

[OriginalMrC]

Love a good pub. Went to Bristol recently and it has some amazing pubs. Pretty much every type you can think of.

Here in Coventry a lot of pubs have closed but equally a few really interesting ones have opened. There's also a handful of great microbrewery places. Currently sat having a lunchtime pint in Twisted Barrell and the beer is excellent 

[Ullman]

18 hours ago, Futtocks said:

I need to get down there more often. The street food stalls in Granary Square are usually interesting, Caravan does interesting food/cocktails and actually good coffee, there's Dishoom for uncomplicated Parsi food and a whole lot more. They sometimes put a projection screen on a boat on the canal and you can watch a movie from the tiered steps on the other side.

Not so long ago you'd have got out of King's Cross as fast as you could but it's really nice around Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard now. They've got a load of large prints of David Hockney's paintings of the East Yorkshire countryside on display at the moment too.

[Padge]

1 hour ago, OriginalMrC said:

Love a good pub. Went to Bristol recently and it has some amazing pubs. Pretty much every type you can think of.

Here in Coventry a lot of pubs have closed but equally a few really interesting ones have opened. There's also a handful of great microbrewery places. Currently sat having a lunchtime pint in Twisted Barrell and the beer is excellent 

Was once taken on a tour of Bristol pubs by the Bristol Sonics (remember them), went to some great places with them. Stopped over in Bristol a couple of times since, always worth a wander around the pubs.

[Padge]

The Wigan CAMRA branch have voted the Central Bar as branch pub of the year.

For those that don't know it, it is a railway themed pub in two arches below the North Western line behind the station.

If you are in Wigan for a match or other reasons it is well worth a visit especially if you like real ale or craft beer.

Don't expect to be watching sport in there though, a bit of a rarity these days as it does not show any television let alone sports, its screens are to provide information about their beers.

Also handy when waiting for a train as it has live train information screens for both Wigan stations, Wallgate and North Western

Edited September 28, 2024 by Padge

[shaun mc]

On 27/09/2024 at 17:18, Padge said:

Another blow is the closure of Hawkshead Brewery and its taproom at Staveley in Cumbria.

The brewing is being moved to Halewood's (the shyster owners) brewery at Flookborough and the taproom is to close completely.

Always been a good day out at the taproom and I know many people who will miss it.

Halewood sacked a lot of staff as lockdown kicked in, they lost a whole load of goodwill because of that

Good to see that 4 of the sacked employees started up a new brewery, right in the ups and downs of lockdown/no lockdown. Credit to them for making a success of it and perseveering. Lakes Brew do some great brews and open their taproom last weekend of the month, if you are in Kendal

There were signs that Hawkshead were turning the corner recently and started to diversify a bit, after years of just concentrating on volume, but no more. I believe that the recent closure of Hawkshead and treatment of staff echos that previous time (couldn't give a flying foook about employees). Not many round here will give Hawkshead time of day now

Keeping the theme of the thread going....Kendal is a great place for a few beers after the wilderness years of little choice. If anyone needs anymore info, drop me a line

[Jeff Stein]

On 27/09/2024 at 17:00, Futtocks said:

We're having a combined staff meeting/leaving do/general social thing next month at The Parcel Yard, which is a pub inside King's Cross station. it is pretty much over the area where the old Red Star parcel depot used to be, hence the name.

I've never been in, so I assumed it'd be a bit sawn-off and depressing like the station pub at York. You know, full of travelling salesmen in shiny suits looking like they want to  die. But you can go inside with Google to navigate around, and it looks quite nicely done. It is a Fullers pub, but has guest beers too.

The Parcel Yard is very nice and an interesting place to drink (and eat I guess). Last couple of times I had been in all the cask beer was Fullers but disguised by using breweries they have taken over (Gales\Dark Star). There is enough on to avoid Pride.

In the area Scottish Stores and The Queen's Head on Acton Street are also worth a visit. The latter used to host the monthly Skolars supporters meetings after the HS2 related vandalism of the Bree Louise. The Redemption Trinity it sold was ridiculously cheap by London standards

[Padge]

The award winning Swan & Railway Hotel in the heart of Wigan is having a big push on the semi-final between Wigan and Leigh.

The landlord is a Leigh supporter.

The pub is opposite Wigan North Western station and  200 yards from Wallgate station so it is handy for  those travelling by train. Leythers can get the V1 guided bus to Manchester and get the train to Wigan from there. 

On a serious note The Swan and Railway is featured in the book Great Pubs of England which features 33 of the best pubs in England and has been has been awarded the Historic England Conservation Award in CAMRA’s Pub Design Awards.

Recently came a very close second in Wigan CAMRA's pub of the year award.

Five hand pumps with ever changing selection of beers and draught bass always on the 6th pump.

 

[Padge]

Reading about the Holywell Inn, Holywell Green, Halifax.

Seems after 12 years of being closed it has re-opened, another, surprising rescue of a closed pub.

Anyone know it?

Edited September 30, 2024 by Padge

[Futtocks]

From Threads.

johndpoconnell
22 minutes ago
Just had a quick meeting and coffee in the Spotted Horse Pub in Putney. We sat in the booth near the garden, on the right hand side…
Same booth where German-born scientist (and spy) Klaus Fuchs met with his Soviet handlers during and after WWII, to pass them nuclear secrets.

[Jeff Stein]

Has anyone tried Tynt Meadow from Britain's only Trappist brewery?

[Padge]

11 hours ago, Jeff Stein said:

Has anyone tried Tynt Meadow from Britain's only Trappist brewery?

I haven't, but just looked it up and must admit I am now looking out for it, nearest outlet to me is Beer Moth, Manchester.

[Copa]

I’m going to follow this thread so i have some new places to visit the next time I’m in the UK.

I really enjoy the ales and the ciders in England and am keen to try more.

Fortunately here in Canberra quite a few of pubs have a great range from local and regional breweries. It’s very different to Sydney where it’s not unusual for a pub to only have a selection from the generic national and international breweries. It’s easier to get a pint glass in Canberra too whereas in large parts of NSW it’s schooners.

Australia has an extensive range of alcoholic ginger beers from small and large breweries and it is something I miss when in the uk, but I make up for it by drinking lots of English cider.

Edited October 1, 2024 by Copa

[OriginalMrC]

2 hours ago, Copa said:

I’m going to follow this thread so i have some new places to visit the next time I’m in the UK.

I really enjoy the ales and the ciders in England and am keen to try more.

Fortunately here in Canberra quite a few of pubs have a great range from local and regional breweries. It’s very different to Sydney where it’s not unusual for a pub to only have a selection from the generic national and international breweries. It’s easier to get a pint glass in Canberra too whereas in large parts of NSW it’s schooners.

Australia has an extensive range of alcoholic ginger beers from small and large breweries and it is something I miss when in the uk, but I make up for it by drinking lots of English cider.

Alcoholic ginger beer sounds great. I am partial to a whiskey mac or a whiskey and ginger beer. 

[Padge]

29 minutes ago, OriginalMrC said:

Alcoholic ginger beer sounds great. I am partial to a whiskey mac or a whiskey and ginger beer. 

I enjoy a Crabbies GInger Beer (4%) in Summer, a nice refreshing drink on a warm day.

[Futtocks]

4 hours ago, OriginalMrC said:

Alcoholic ginger beer sounds great. I am partial to a whiskey mac or a whiskey and ginger beer. 

A whisky mac is nice, but try it with spiced rum instead of whisky for a delicious variation.