Selby gets a bad press from pub bloggers, apart from me and BRAPA; goodness knows what R. Coldwell Esq makes of it.
It helps if you like power stations. Drax is the star round here, an “Angel of the North” for the M62 east, if you like. But my Beer Guide tick takes me to Hensall, where Eggborough has just been decommissioned, hopefully to be rebuilt as a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (writes the man with Physics CSE Grade 4).
That’s a shame; it would have made a great micro pub or art installation. I set off in search of a closer look through the fields,
but clearly someone didn’t want me prowling around.
I was more than welcome in the Railway Tavern, despite the unprepossessing exterior.
This is a pub for the connoisseur, rather than the American tourist looking for Ye Olde heritage. No food, one pump, Hobson’s Choice (actually it’s Marston’s Fever Pitch, but you know what I mean). The list of one beer GBG pubs is short but illustrious.
Immediate eye contact, “Y’allright ?”, and everyone genuinely pleased to see me. Even when I broached the subject of power stations and conversation temporarily stopped like it does in “American Werewolf in London“.
Two other locals, one of whom had been working on the Brampton section of the A14 that so winds me up. What’s the odds of that ?
Wonderful banter, a cool pint with noticeable Burton “snatch” (NBSS 4) and shared agreement that folk who drink at home are missing out on seeing great knees like these.
If you’re planning on a train trip to the Railway, plan carefully. One service a day to Selby, two to Leeds, nothing on Sundays.
Go on. Get it on (bang a gong).
retiredmartin 
Mention of Selby reminds me that Martin Sykes opened the Selby Brewery in December 1972.
It was England’s first microbrewery and I remember cycling to the Board Inn at Howden, the only regular outlet, for the intentionally hazy strong bitter, their only cask beer although I think they might have also done bottles..
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“Intentionally hazy strong bitter”, in 1972 ! The craft beer movement started earlier than I thought.
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Ah, yes, but it didn’t catch on and the brewery closed six years later.
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It went underground, folk meet in power station cellars to drink the murk, to this day.
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CAMRA was actually formed in 1972 to combat the inexorable rise of hazy craft beer, Abject failure, of course.
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I don’t know where Selby is, but the sparkler on the nozzle and the creamflow-look of the beer suggests that it is somewhere up north.
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Is that a polite request for a map showing Selby in relation to the planet, or acknowledgement that sparklers are a legal requirement north of Leicester ?
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A John Smith’s glass as well! Fantastic. Recent holiday train from Malaga to Fuengirola is every 20 minutes and £2.70 – bloody marvellous…They just need some cask on now!
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I should point out that the daily train service runs to Goole, not Selby. The service was temporarily cut back a few years ago due to a shortage of rolling stock, around about the time the bulk of the class 141 bog carts were exported to Iran. Goole is a contender for greatest town on the planet. It is good that trains go there. I don’t understand the morning train running empty stock when it has a driver, guard and train. Everyone should go to Goole.
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Thanks Tom. I knew you’d know. Goole is, indeed, a contender for greatest town on the planet.
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I remember when Selby was on the East Coast Main Line which ran northwards where a main road can be seen but I think it was diverted to the west to avoid being above the workings of a new coal mine. Ah, yes, coal mines – remember them ?
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“Immediate eye contact, “Y’allright ?” –I was just thinking the other day about how “You all right?” is a greeting in England that is not really used in the States; I think we limit that phrase to someone who’s seems to be in trouble, or even possibly hurt. Damned Americans, always changing the meaning of things. 😉
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Americans, using phrases for their literal meanings !
Many think y’allright is unacceptable and “Can I help you, Sir” must be used. Eye contact and good cheer are much more important to me. I expect Pub Curmudgeon has blogged.
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Ooh nice stained glass! Did you steal it for me?
Can almost taste that pint. Shame about the JS Extra Smooth glass…
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Everything has its price ! Private house now.
Agree about JS (and Carling and Guinness) glasses, plain straights best, unless it’s Bass.
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