BRIEF ENCOUNTER

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.
 

**This is last years Whitby blog

DEJA VU IN DURHAM

In December last year I tried to do some Xmas Shopping in Durham and ended up in a brewery beer festival .***

Time to do the same again. 

 

Saturday 19th March was St Cuthbert's Day in Durham City.
This was the feast day to commemorate the saint who is buried in Durham Cathedral. Various events took place , mostly at the Cathedral and the Market Place .  

To kick off the day there was an 8 mile walk from Chester Le Street St Cuthbert' s Church   to Durham ( so I got the bus). On  arrival the walkers would assemble in the Market Place then  march behind a banner of St Cuthbert up to the Cathedral.  And guess what, just like at Xmas, the city's Hill Island Brewery were having another  one day mini beer festival.

Arriving early, before the St Cuthbert's thing and the Beer Festival were due to happen at 2pm,   I headed up to the Cathedral to do some tourist stuff. In the cloisters was a farmers market, which included a Hadrian and Border Brewery stall. In the actual market place there was a stall with someone from Black Paw Brewery trying to sell bottles of beer and freezing his nuts off at the same time.  As all the beers being sold by both breweries were familiar, didnt bother buying any.  

By this time the walkers had arrived in the Market Place and I bumped into a pony tailed individual carrying a sign attached to a long pole.  At first I thought it was someone proclaiming "Jesus Saves" or "The End is Nigh" ; but no - it was Mike from Hill Island. He was marching round the square touting for business. Some of the walkers asked him where it was taking place. He explained it was just down the street, turn right after the Post Office.

One of the women declared  "Well we've walked  8 miles from Chester Le Street you know !" I still haven't figured out why she said it and what its cryptic meaning was.  It was obvious they didnt have a clue what a beer festival was. Their loss.

Soon the walkers , following the banner and two guys dressed in medieval costume, headed up to the cathedral. So I headed instead to the brewery. Now Mike only opens up for bank holidays and special days ( like this) and his bar is tiny. I was first in but it soon filled up and everyone was enjoying the beers and having a good chat. There were six beers on, see photo, so order all 6 as thirds

Now since my last visit here, a new micro pub has opened in Durham. Called the Station House , it claims  to be the first micro pub in the city, despite being 10 times the size of the brewery. Mike pointed out, his tiny bar has been going for a lot longer.

In between Hill Island and the Station House is a Wetherspoons. Their spring Beer Festival was on so I had a look in. It was heaving , 2 deep at the bar. Bugger that, off to the Station House.

This pub, having opened in December 2015 by 2 CAMRA members, serves 4 cask and 4 real ciders. There is no music, no TV, just a place for a chat ( like Hill Island). I had a cracking pint of Tyne Bank Farmhouse Saison, and enjoyed another good chat with a punter and the manageress.

Soon it was time to head off to the bus station and home. On the bus I reflected that Hill Island and the Station House were competing with the mighty Wetherspoons. So although I cant knock Spoons beers or prices,  for me that day , there was no contest. 

Good beer, simple surroundings and good crack.

***
XMAS VISIT TO HILL ISLAND BREWERY

HOW AN INNOCENT SHOPPING TRIP ENDED IN A BREWERY.

Now I have to admit , but although this is a local brewer, I have not had many Hill Island Brewery beers. Today I remedied this at the 2015 Durham Christmas Festival. 

In Durham, I got off the bus and headed up towards the Cathedral where the main Xmas Market stalls were. Walking up Silver Street I spied a sign which took my interest - see above  . Thinking "if I go there now I will never get away",  so kept on going towards the Cathedral. Outside was a large Marquee with an entry fee of £4. Bugger that. Straight into the Cathedral and the free entry food market in the cloisters. The place was rammed with like minded people not wishing to pay to walk into a tent. 

There were no beer stalls, mostly food and the Real Cider Company.  Buying some Christmas stuff, headed back downhill, calling into the Shakespeare Tavern on the way down. Great little pub but no imagination re the beers ; London Pride, Deuchars, Cumberland and Hobgoblin. Had a swift half then sought out the aforesaid Hill Island.

 
 The brewery itself is very small and its bar is smaller than a micropub. The place was quiet, only half a dozen punters. I thought this was a disappointing considered the crowds elsewhere. Nevermind, on offer were 6 ales ( see photo). The barmaid was a good salesperson and soon I had all 6 as thirds.

 

Soon the bar filled up - they must have followed me down.  Still it was still possible to have a friendly chat with everyone ( by this time there were 24 of us) , something you don't usually get in a pub. At one point after some more came in I nearly placed a a call to the Guinness Book of Records ! 

I  had brought with me some  of our CAMRA branch magazines and a  couple from Kent were pleased there was an article in this issue about Micropubs in.....Kent.

 

The brewer, Michael Griffin, made a brief appearance, on his birthday but soon disappeared.  

A good time was had by all, good beers and good company. Here's to the next one !

PS - forgot to mention , when I got of the bus I made a slight detour to see if Durham's first micropub had opened. The Station House, (See link here) just down from the Railway Station, is still being decorated but looks nearly ready. If the cameraderie in Hill Island is anything to go by, this place will be a winner.