You may recall a 1945 film starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson called "Brief Encounter". One famous scene is set in a railway station waiting room and on a platform with a steam train.
Yesterday we had a coach trip away from our local Wetherspoons to the Whitby Regatta. On arrival we spotted a steam train ( North York Moors Railway - NYMR) arriving in the nearby railway station. Dashing into the station building to get to the platforms I immediately screeched to halt for there, new since our visit last year, was a micropub called the Waiting Room. It was too early to be open so I got some train pictures ( another hobby) then we headed into town for some touristy stuff, including a climb up the lighthouse , and a look round a classic car show on West Cliff.
Thirsty work all this , so headed back into town, not managing to pass The Granby Hotel and a wonderful pint of Old Peculier. Then it was downhill back to the station. Mrs Ken went off to look round the shops while I dived into the now open Waiting Room.
A folk group type sign song was in progress, including a rendition of " I Saw Her Standing There " There was about 6 Norwegians having a great time, playing, singing and drinking excellent real ale from a choice of five handpulls. The guy sitting next to me on one of the comfy sofas remarked this would be cheap beer for them.
Mrs Ken arrived then the Norwegians left ( a coincidence I'm sure) , presumably to catch a longboat in Whitby Harbour back to the fjords. Soon the sound of alpine cow bells could be heard approaching the pub entrance. It was a small group of Morris Dancers who had been performing on the quay side earlier . One of them , on arrival, suddenly burst into song unaccompanied. It was very funny but I wish I could remember it. Too much beer.
Every one was having a great time. The landlord rang a bell when a train was due to depart and an NYMR guy stuck his head round the door to round up his missing passengers. I thought to myself, would this happen anywhere else in the world ? Steam trains, real ale, impromptu singing, good conversation. Whats not to like ?
Soon the empty bellies took over so we headed over the river to the Endeavour for some fish and chips . Readers of this blog last year may recall you can take your own fish and chips into the pub**. Sadly this time around the place was rammed and they even had a bouncer on the door at 3 o clock in the afternoon !
- I'm thinking maybe so many people read the blog it has proved too popular ( dream on pal- ed)-
So after our fish and chips, but not in the Endeavour , a couple more beers from the Whitby Brewery in a very busy Wetherspoons, then back to the Waiting Room to wait for the bus back. There was a bouncer coming on shift when we left - a bouncer for a micropub ?
There is a continuing rise in the number of micropubs opening around the country and this one does not disappoint. Pick a Saturday, more likely to be singing on.
