Wetherspoons on or near stations

[whole diary]

[Western Pathfinder]

I'm fond of a pint of the old Ernst Stavro Blofeld myself.

[John R]

Most ones I've had are creamy, flat with a hint of vinegar.

You've now reminded me why I didn't like it. I never put the vinegar word to the taste, but you are absolutely spot on.

[plymothian]

The North Western at Liverpool Lime Street is the former hotel.

[TonyK]

In Blackpool, you are a little spoilt for choice. The Velvet Coaster is on the sea front between Pleasure Beach and Blackpool South stations. The Layton Rakes and the Albert and the Lion are a 10 minute walk from Blackpool North, but will be a quick tram ride soon, when the railway goes inland to BPN. And a couple of minutes stroll down the delightfully named Hardhorn Road from Poulton-le-Fylde station is the Poulton Elk, although to get there, one would have to pass the Golden Ball. I'm not sure I could do that, even despite the globalisation of Boddingtons, which I first drank there around 1972. Old times sake and all that...
 
If you include close to the trams, the Jolly Tars in Cleveleys is 3 minutes from the tram stop. The Thomas Drummond is in London Street, Fleetwood, just round the corner from London Street tram stop.

[ellendune]

In Blackpool, you are a little spoilt for choice. The Velvet Coaster is on the sea front between Pleasure Beach and Blackpool South stations. The Layton Rakes and the Albert and the Lion are a 10 minute walk from Blackpool North, but will be a quick tram ride soon, when the railway goes inland to BPN. And a couple of minutes stroll down the delightfully named Hardhorn Road from Poulton-le-Fylde station is the Poulton Elk, although to get there, one would have to pass the Golden Ball. I'm not sure I could do that, even despite the globalisation of Boddingtons, which I first drank there around 1972. Old times sake and all that...
 
If you include close to the trams, the Jolly Tars in Cleveleys is 3 minutes from the tram stop. The Thomas Drummond is in London Street, Fleetwood, just round the corner from London Street tram stop.

A warning to anyone considering a 10 minute walk from Blackpool North - In some directions at least it is not the most salubrious part of town, and I would think twice before walking to North Shore after Dark. 

[TonyK]

I would think twice before going anywhere near there after dark! But straight down Talbot Road should be OK, then left towards the Tower.

[eightf48544]

Not a Wetherspoons but a great pub even on match day!

The Great Western opposite the old Wolverhampton Low Level station at back of existing station.

Go through subway at left of entrance to station and turn right and follow path on other side.
 
We choose a match day! place heaving bt fully geared up to task 5 bar staff so drinks obtained quickly. Match day food served from kitchen main dishes curry et al preprepared and served from pots chips continuously frying. Again minimal wait. I had Grey Peas and bacon with crusty bread and chips thick cut home fried. Excellent. Others had chicken curry large chunks of chicken, pork baps crackling and lots of meat. Must return-on a non match day.

Proves the point that as you go north portion sizes increase and price decrease.

[TonyK]

Grey peas! Black peas in my old hometown, and a gourmet treat I have not had in a long time!

In re Wetherspoons, I had a very acceptable steak and chips in the Albert and the Lion recently, washed down with Lytham Blonde before catching the tram back to mum's.

[JayMac]

Word reaches me from a trundling trencherman (guess who?  ) that Wetherspoons have added black pudding to their breakfast menu.

Excellent. 

[Richard Fairhurst]

Not a Wetherspoons but a great pub even on match day!

The Great Western opposite the old Wolverhampton Low Level station at back of existing station.

Agreed - it's a cracking pub. We've stopped there a couple of times when boating through Wolverhampton.

[eightf48544]

I've had black peas, also excellent in eh Refreshment room at Stalybridge Bridge Station.

Pity the trains are so boring!

[stuving]

Wokingham is now a Wetherspoons-free town. But...

Wetherspoons announced last September that the Gig House would close, giving a year's notice. That might suggest they don't love us Wokingham residents any more - or that we don't love them enough in the commercial sense (but see below for evidence to the contrary). However, it was always clear the lease was up for renewal, and maybe they were just arm-wrestling with the landlord.

Then a month ago this closure was suddenly brought forward with one week's notice. There was muttering about the loss of trade due to the obstructive building works, by then on both sides of the Gig House. But, again, the real explanation is obviously the lease - a new tenant had been found, so the old lease could be terminated by mutual agreement. (Bear in mind a lessee can't transfer liability to pay rent to another without the lessor's agreement.)

So it's been quickly and minimally refitted by its new proprietors, Bear Inns, as a Wannaspoons house - they have said as much: "It's the Wetherspoon idea ... so we're not using the Bears model". It opened last night, though I've not been to look yet. Of course that's not near the station, the pub down there is the Molly Millar - or was, as that's also been relet (or sold) and refitted (closed most of April).

In this case the new operators are Stonegate, who have listed it among their Craft Pubs chain, though that's not a strong branding you'd notice. Menu and service-wise it's pretty much a Wannaspoons - and still trying harder when I was there soon after it opened. Beer prices may not be quite that low, though. Certainly the craft offering from the "beer wall" I had was pricey, and the general bar prices were not visible. With the weather so far allowing them to fill the large patio/decking area, even when shh...you-know-what has filled the indoor viewing zones, the new owners probably mark this one as worth taking on.

And it's got a new name: the Station Tap. Historically, it was the Railway Hotel most of the time from being built (ca. 1860) until quite recently. For most of the 1900s, the Railway Tap operated round the back for those not posh enough for the main "commercial" hotel. That building is still there, as part of the "Crisis House" on Station Approach.

[broadgage]

How they can get away with describing their bland 3.6% beer as an IPA I don't know. In reality it is a very ordinary bitter.

Most ones I've had are creamy, flat with a hint of vinegar. I don't like their "smooth" handled glasses either. Maybe I have just had bad examples, but I'd always tend to avoid GK in as much as I'd avoid Fullers brews and Shepherd Neame.

Preference regarding real ales is very subjective, but I agree that Green King IPA is rather bland and tasteless, very ordinary, also very cheap wholesale.
Fullers London Pride is one of my favourites, ESB better still but too strong to drink in quantity, Fullers "golden pride" is exceedingly strong and not regularly available on draught, but well worth looking for IMO^▸ (in my opinion).

[bobm]

Just finished a bottle of Golden Pride - always look a bit more distinguished drinking that than the similar strength Carlsberg Special Brew!

The Mad Bishop & Bear at London Paddington occasionally have it on draft. Handy when they do as it then qualifies for the CAMRA member discount.

[TaplowGreen]

Wokingham is now a Wetherspoons-free town. But...

Lucky Wokingham - especially as the Molly Millar has also gone!