Why I travel by train

[whole diary]

[grahame]

It seems this is a good thread on which to say hello to everyone who's already here, so that's how I'll use it. Hello!

Now, why do I travel by train? I've always enjoyed train travel. I think in large part this goes back to when I was a child and train was always our transport for going on holiday - so just turning up at the station meant fun and excitement!

Welcome indeed. I have a feeling that if you're an experienced train travel in your youth, you'll be a natural rail user for life - rather like riding a bicycle, and even if you have a big gap.   It was fun, exciting, almost a game for me in my youth - commuting to school and then to university for 13 years by train, dealing with the delays we had in those days by working a 'game plan' - though it's far less fun just at present in some areas like the Thames Valley and I'm very glad I don't have to face the journey from Paddington multiple times per week.

You have a wide variety of journeys there, Bmblbzzz - are you travelling most days, or just a few times a month?

[Chris from Nailsea]

... at Temple Meads ... if you see a portly bloke with a big nose and a grey flat cap it's probably me. 

If you see him - don't claim your five pounds, get him to buy you a pint in Bonapartes. 

I haven't been in there for a while, but even with a bitecard, five pounds for a pint in Bonapartes seems to be unfortunately rather too likely. 

Better to nip out of the station to the Wetherspoons in Temple Quay - similar / even better beer is much cheaper there! 

[bobm]

...and I can use my 50p CAMRA vouchers in the Wetherspoons.

[JayMac]

A very warm welcome to the forum Bmblbzzz!

Hopefully you don't have a sting in the tail and maybe I'll bump into you sometime at Temple Meads. If you see a portly bloke with a big nose and a grey flat cap it's probably me. 

If you see him - don't claim your five pounds, get him to buy you a pint in Bonapartes. 

I'm half Scot.  You'll have to prise that fiver or cost of a pint from my cold dead hands. 

[TaplowGreen]

... at Temple Meads ... if you see a portly bloke with a big nose and a grey flat cap it's probably me. 

If you see him - don't claim your five pounds, get him to buy you a pint in Bonapartes. 

I haven't been in there for a while, but even with a bitecard, five pounds for a pint in Bonapartes seems to be unfortunately rather too likely. 

Better to nip out of the station to the Wetherspoons in Temple Quay - similar / even better beer is much cheaper there! 

..........where is this Wetherspoons that serves good beer? In my experience a lot of their cask ale is so far past its best that you could pour it on your chips! (I know they keep their prices down by buying stock that's close to its use by date).

[bobm]

I must admit I have had the occasional pint in a Wetherspoons that, by taste, was past its best.  However on the majority of occasions I have been served a decent pint and often in a handle glass too.

[Cynthia]

Welcome to the Forum, Bmblbzzz, and congratulations on having the longest user name without a vowel!  Tht's gt t B th rcrd?!

Wetherspoons?  Boycotted since they refused to let me take the dog even in the beer (if you can call it that) garden.

[Fourbee]

The quality of ale in Wetherspoons can vary from fantastic to off. Generally, I've found it OK. I'm looking for a foamy head, that clings to the side of the glass as you drink it. I do not want to get a whiff of Sarsons.

They normally exchange problem pints without question I've found.

Their breakfasts I've found are very reasonable for the price.

However, I've got a bit of a love/hate relationship with them. IMO^▸ (in my opinion) they price what they can get away with whilst still undercutting what's left of the local competition in smaller towns. I like the Wetherspoons decor, homengenous as it tends to be, but I also want to see smaller independent pubs thrive.

[Fourbee]

often in a handle glass too.

I like the dimpled handled glasses a lot. I find generally you have to ask for them.

It's not just ascetics either, it stops your hand from warming the drink!

[Red Squirrel]

It's not just ascetics either...

Tsk, that old spellchecker... Actually that's rather a good one!

     Ascetic n

     A person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as an act of religious devotion.

Seems appropriate for a Wetherspoons.



(I suspect you wrote 'aesthetics')

[TaplowGreen]

However, I've got a bit of a love/hate relationship with them. IMO^▸ (in my opinion) they price what they can get away with whilst still undercutting what's left of the local competition in smaller towns. I like the Wetherspoons decor, homengenous as it tends to be, but I also want to see smaller independent pubs thrive.

I find them soulless, characterless warehouses selling mediocre beer - they (along with Pubcos) are destroying the traditional independent pub - once they're gone, they're gone forever.....it is good to see some community run pubs finding success though, especially when they promote micro/local breweries (if you happen to find yourself in Plymouth, try the Bread and Roses in Ebrington Street and you will see what I mean)

[bobm]

The Union Rooms in Plymouth (a Wetherspoons) serves a decent pint.

If the chain is so bad I wonder why CAMRA support and promote them?

[TaplowGreen]

The Union Rooms in Plymouth (a Wetherspoons) serves a decent pint.

If the chain is so bad I wonder why CAMRA support and promote them?

Obviously it's just my opinion.

However there's no doubt that the beer discount warehouses of JDW are contributing to the demise of the "proper" pub - same principle as supermarkets knocking out traditional shops - simple economics.

Union Rooms isn't too bad and it works for the area and its customer base but I wouldn't recommend risking the ale in the Mannamead on Mutley Plain (another one of theirs) - last time they had Abbott on and it would have needed a spoon to drink it - the Gog Magog on the Barbican is useful if you need vinegar for your chips too - try (or rather don't) the Greene King on a Saturday night (if you can get served!)

[JayMac]

Wetherspoons have 880 locations out of an estate of around 930 that have attained 'Cask Marque' accreditation.

The "proper" pub, whatever that means, is more likely to be in demise because of the practises of pubcos like Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns. And supermarkets are also partly to blame with their aggressive pricing for off sales of alcohol.

Solely blaming Wetherspoons for the demise of "proper" pubs is wide of the mark.

Mannamead in Mutley is 'Cask Marque' accredited and has a Food Hygiene Rating of 5. 

[TaplowGreen]

Wetherspoons have 880 locations out of an estate of around 930 that have attained 'Cask Marque' accreditation.

The "proper" pub, whatever that means, is more likely to be in demise because of the practises of pubcos like Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns. And supermarkets are also partly to blame with their aggressive pricing for off sales of alcohol.

Solely blaming Wetherspoons for the demise of "proper" pubs is wide of the mark.

Mannamead in Mutley is 'Cask Marque' accredited and has a Food Hygiene Rating of 5. 

BNM if you read my earlier post you will see that I am not solely blaming JDW - if you want to see a proper pub in Plymouth I'd be happy to take you on a tour next time I'm in town!