The Beer Guide takes you to places you’ve never heard of. Kicking and screaming in the case of Maidenhead, of course, but otherwise it sets you on a lifelong journey of discovery.
That’s how I described our four nights in Pontins Southport back in 2003, before a recent refurbishment raised it from “Hellish” to merely “unbearable“.
“But, £60 for four nights, Mrs RM”
“But nothing, Mr RM. Remember that indoor swimming pool“. She’s right, again.
Luckily our boys were too young to be mentally scarred (that was in St Helens), and rather enjoyed the beaches and sand dunes down the coast at Formby.
I bought a Day Ticket for Merseyrail at Southport station, and headed for the Beer Station in Freshfield, a smart leafy suburb which reminded me a little of Claygate. No plastic glasses here, though.
Outside drinkers are rare for a micro, although they do of course act as an informal sign for a pub, and prevent you walking past twice.
A familiar shape, but benefitting from pews and sofas. Mrs RM would no doubt have had things to say about the colour scheme.
I had my £1.50 in change ready in my hand, a good guess. We’re firmly in the realms of £3 a pint micros here.
But, as with the affluent London/Kent borders like Petts Wood, I sense it also serves as the local boozer in an area with largely gastro based delights.
Old-school friendly service, top notch beers (Hophurst NBSS 3.5), gorgeous pumps.
If I’m honest, it was a bit too quiet for my tastes, but the banter about Eggheads and Victoria Cohen* would have met the approval of the fiercest critic of micros.
And a chap came in, ordered a pint of Freedom lager (£3) and downed it while I was still making a couple of notes. Impressive toping.
As I still had 15 minutes to spare, I skipped down the road to the Freshfield, a rather different beast. This is as close as Sefton gets to a suburban London style diner with cask. You could be in Twickenham. No, I wouldn’t wish that on you really. Perhaps the Hare and Hounds in rural Bury is closer.
I visited here years ago when it emerged as the premier real ale place, and Greene King don’t seem to have restricted the choice.
Not that I care a jot for choice, of course. I’d have had the Greene King IPA. If you can’t keep IPA well etc etc.
Anyway, I couldn’t get served in the time I’d budgeted for. Which is good, as it means a rural pubs is thriving and selling loads of beer. And it looks lovely.
I made it back to the station with 20 seconds to spare, and immediately regretted the closure of the station loos.
On to Chester.
*Victoria Cohen is presumably a tribute act to Laughing Len but even less amusing
retiredmartin 
Looking at the “life” present in today’s photos, I wonder when somebody is going to call a micro “Waiting For God”?
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The lack of youth in micro pubs is both the reason I don’t warm to them, and the reason they make the Beer Guide so regularly.
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It’s not an age things, those could be mannequins!
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I dunno about Victoria Cohen but Victoria Coren reminds me of her husband David Mitchell – comedians who aren’t funny.
A bit like Paul Merton.
And Jimmy Carr.
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I can never really fault your photographs but had the exterior shot of Beer Station been taken a fraction of a minute later, or maybe a few seconds earlier, just imagine how delighted all us beer enthusiasts, who are also ALL rail enthusiasts, would be at a glimpse of a class 507 or 508 DMU !
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😱
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Sorry, that should have been EMU – which only goes to prove that I don’t really know much about trains.
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507 or 508 EMU’s? Parky’s nightmare!!
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So true….
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..but I guess that is why Martin called his post ’30 Minutes between trains….’ to frustrate the train enthusiasts…
😉
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Catching up on your posts…standard micro? Went to one in Melton on Saturday and was first time I’ve felt just like sitting in a shop with little atmosphere… decent if full but soulless if empty
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“Mrs RM would no doubt have had things to say about the colour scheme.” –This had me wondering what those things she’d say would turn out to be. I imagine she’d have an opinion on that shade of green?
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You’re an artist, Mark. I, however, have no idea about colour co-ordination. Only tonight Mrs RM was passing her opinion on the colour of the lampshades in a Northumberland pub.
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Keeping with the artistic theme – that is a beautifully framed beer menu board – even if it has received the shabby chic paint scheme…
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You’re right, it is good. Greene King, too.
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A lot of micros don’t have outside drinkers because they have a condition on their licence forbidding it.
Went in a definite pre-emptive tick in Nottingham on Sunday, not the one you mentioned neither, and they had a condition allowing outdoor drinkers, but forbidding any standing outdoor drinkers.
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