The pubs

[gbb]

Very rare pub visitor here and if I think locally, they're all gone bar one maybe 3/4 mile away and one about a mile away...that's in a urban area with tens of thousands of people. There are pubs just a bit beyond but...
There used to be 4 within walking distance, all gone bar one.
But maybe there is still hope and demand...our local shopping centre has just had a sports bar open up there and it's usually quite busy. Not much ( if any ) character , snooker and pool table, large screen TV, some slot machines...its not my kind of thing but nice to see.

I'm not a very social person but due the loss of pubs as a social focus.

 

[Accy cyclist]

due to me having a mere three pints of some 'real ale', who's name escapes me.

Just remembered it was this one.

 

[Accy cyclist]

The manager of the pub asked me politely why I wanted a receipt every time I ordered some pints. I couldn't say it was because the machine didn't display the amount, or if it did I couldn't see it, suggesting something dodgy might happen, so I said it was so I can keep a record of my spending. The lad behind the bar who served my friend for our first pint was a bit clueless. My friend asked for a taste of the Shipyard Pale Ale, before buying. The lad served the sample in a sherry finger glass. I then asked for a top up on my 2 inches of froth pint. He topped it up right to the top, with only a few millimeters of head. I thought that if he can do those things maybe he could accidentally put a 1, or even a 10 before the total of £9.30

 

[Gunk]

‘Spoons in Witney were doing Pedigree recently for £1.25 a pint

 

[Accy cyclist]

‘Spoons in Witney were doing Pedigree recently for £1.25 a pint

This is why my pub visits are few and far between these days! Yes, that Wetherspoons price surely can't make a profit as it's more than that for Pedigree in a bottle from a supermarket, but even so £4.50 is too high in my opinion! The photos below show the pub I was in last night, taken at 9.20pm. This pub used to be packed out on Saturday nights and quite busy on other nights.

 

[Windle]

£4.50 a pint and you don't even get a beermat!
That's not far off the norm round our way though, the only ones we visit semi-regularly ~ The Old Well in Barnard Castle, No. 22 in Darlo, The Left Luggage Room at Monkseaton Metro station (if we're ever up that way) and a favourite of mine The Keelman (Big Lamp Brewery) in Newburn are all £4 to £5 quid a pint. This is why I'm a fan of 'spoons, bargain priced beer compared to most. The constantly changing variety is one of their strengths too.

 

[wiggydiggy]

The manager of the pub asked me politely why I wanted a receipt every time I ordered some pints. I couldn't say it was because the machine didn't display the amount, or if it did I couldn't see it, suggesting something dodgy might happen, so I said it was so I can keep a record of my spending. The lad behind the bar who served my friend for our first pint was a bit clueless. My friend asked for a taste of the Shipyard Pale Ale, before buying. The lad served the sample in a sherry finger glass. I then asked for a top up on my 2 inches of froth pint. He topped it up right to the top, with only a few millimeters of head. I thought that if he can do those things maybe he could accidentally put a 1, or even a 10 before the total of £9.30

View attachment 733625

At those prices for those beers I can see why it is empty! Both Pedigree and Shipyard are standard 'we need to do an ale' options chosen by pubs that don't know better and neither should be more than £3. But to be fair on that pub when I looked it up it seems to be a more food driven pub so may not prioritise having good value ale.

 

[Accy cyclist]

At those prices for those beers I can see why it is empty! Both Pedigree and Shipyard are standard 'we need to do an ale' options chosen by pubs that don't know better and neither should be more than £3. But to be fair on that pub when I looked it up it seems to be a more food driven pub so may not prioritise having good value ale.

It does have a small restaurant, that sells reasonably priced food. Someone I know paid £11.50 there for fish chips, peas and a small dish of tartar sauce (and a wedge of lemon ) . I think they told me they also got two slices of bread with it as well. 🤔 I know fish & chip shops that charge a tenner for just take-away/eat at home fish & chips on their own, so £11.50 for fish & chips with all the trimmings in a restaurant is a fair price I'd say!

 

[wiggydiggy]

It does have a small restaurant, that sells reasonably priced food. Someone I know paid £11.50 there for fish chips, peas and a small dish of tartar sauce (and a wedge of lemon ) . I think they told me they also got two slices of bread with it as well. 🤔 I know fish & chip shops that charge a tenner for just take-away/eat at home fish & chips on their own, so £11.50 for fish & chips with all the trimmings in a restaurant is a fair price I'd say!

Exactly. Its rare to find a pub that does cheap food and drinks. What they lose on the food they gain on the drinks then I'd say and £11.50 is ok provided its not rubbish lol

 

[Electric_Andy]

We went to a wake on Thursday which was held in one of the pubs on the barbican. Outrageous prices for such a run of the mill place. 2 pints cost us £12. A single shot of sambuca to perk me up was £5. It's not even a particulalrly nice place. It resembles a Wetherspoons inside but with hard flooring. My only guess is that they share an outdoor heated seating area for which the rent has probbaly tripled

 

[Nibor]

You'll have to say which one as theres more than one Victoria in Accrington, and the one I found isn't this one though I am pleased to see it re-opened recently after a refurbishment.

Beautiful walls in the one you linked BTW

That is because it is in Great Harwood as far as I'm aware @Accy cyclist has never lived in Accrington and I think his name owes more to his football allegiencies

 

[Accy cyclist]

That is because it is in Great Harwood as far as I'm aware @Accy cyclist has never lived in Accrington and I think his name owes more to his football allegiencies

I had my tonsils out in Accrington Victoria Hospital in 1968. I was there for a week, so does that count?

 

[wiggydiggy]

I had my tonsils out in Accrington Victoria Hospital in 1968. I was there for a week, so does that count?

A small part of you may be still there

 

[Nibor]

I had my tonsils out in Accrington Victoria Hospital in 1968. I was there for a week, so does that count?

I'll give you that Accy lol

 

[Accy cyclist]

£4.50 a pint and you don't even get a beermat!
That's not far off the norm round our way though, the only ones we visit semi-regularly ~ The Old Well in Barnard Castle, No. 22 in Darlo, The Left Luggage Room at Monkseaton Metro station (if we're ever up that way) and a favourite of mine The Keelman (Big Lamp Brewery) in Newburn are all £4 to £5 quid a pint. This is why I'm a fan of 'spoons, bargain priced beer compared to most. The constantly changing variety is one of their strengths too.

At those prices for those beers I can see why it is empty! Both Pedigree and Shipyard are standard 'we need to do an ale' options chosen by pubs that don't know better and neither should be more than £3. But to be fair on that pub when I looked it up it seems to be a more

Half price last night! Not bad at two pound fifteen a pint.