I feel I’ve neglected Mark Crilley of late by forgetting to add videos of classic 1983 UK pop hits. Here’s one I’d long forgotten from our Antipodean convicts cousins.
I had 12 minutes to wait for the 19:08 from Wigan North Western to Bolton, scene of my final tick.
Time for a quick half in the venerable Wigan Central, a national Top 4 pub. A few minutes delay would be helpful.
EVERYONE I’ve ever met who’s been to Wigan (5.5 people) raves about the Central, mentioning that train times board. It’s not unique, you know !
The train carriage themes seating is a draw, too, and brings in people with pashminas as well as ponytails. It’s a typical “allcomers welcome” station buffet, except it’s round the corner under the arches.
What I like about this place, apart from the mix of visitors, is the unfussy beer selection. You’ll have heard of the breweries if not the beers, so you’re spared the worst tickers excesses.
The staff are unflappable and cheery, so I’ll forgive the branded uniform, always a turn-off in these award-winning pubs.
The Abbeydale was exceptionally crisp and creamy (NBSS 3.5+), so success hasn’t gone to their heads. Even sitting along the side wall, it was a decent places to eavesdrop on Wigan domesticity over a beer.
Just don’t go in the music room if you’re allergic to scatter cushions.
Yes, of course I made the 19:08. By a whole 8 seconds.
retiredmartin 
I recently saw a documentary about Australian pop and rock which informed me that Flash and the Pan were in fact Australian, and came from the same Vanda & Young stable that spawned the Easybeats and AC/DC.
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Indeed. George Young of Easybeats/Flash in the Pan produced some of the AC/DC albums for his brother.
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Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for the shout out, Martin. Here I was thinking I was on top of things when it came to songs that got on the radio in the UK in the early 80s, but I completely missed ‘Waiting for a Train.’ That being said, I didn’t even hear ‘Six Weeks in a Leaky Boat’ until a couple years ago, so clearly my attentiveness was haphazard at best!
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Ah yes, Top 4 CAMRA pubs, because Donning finally ventured out of central Manchester
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Graham ?
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Is there any other?
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Well, certainly not like him !
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Why the hell would you want to venture out of central Manchester when you can drink a slightly different IPA brewed under a railway arch every day of the year there ?
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Have you ever made it to the railway themed bar in Antwerp? Comes complete with an actual open sided carriage along one wall used as booths.
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Sadly, only spent a sum total of an hour in Antwerp 25 years ago. I know, I know. Poor.
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