Which opening hours would YOU trust ?

October 2023. Ossett. Wakefield.

You might assume that CAMRA’s venerable Discourse was a forum for weighty debate on matters such as the outlawing of tasters and those little test tubes showing you what grade of pale the guest beer is, but actually the big issue of late is opening times.

Or more specifically, the inclusion of illusory opening hours in the Good Beer Guide.

The Sheffield AGM voted to reintroduce those in the next, GBG, a move riddled with problems;

Well said, David.

Here’s an example of that “thankless task” from last Wednesday. The George in Ossett, new in GBG 24. Where would YOU start ?

Facebook reckons it’s open all day every day bar a 3pm on Monday.

and clearly Bing Maps takes its data from What Pub;

Meanwhile the Good Beer Guide App reckons late openings continue through to Thursday;

and luckily What Pub agrees so at least CAMRA is consistent with itself

Google has the same times, and recently I’ve started to believe Google more than the pub. Perhaps the GBG should just say “Consult Google”.

Luckily the George has one of those1telephone things invented by Mr Bell, and they also responded immediately to my message via Facebook, so no complaints.

No complaints about the beer (Ossett’s Blonde) in a Proper town pub,

though it was painfully quiet, unlike on Simon’s visit a few days later;

Look ! It’s bouncing for BRAPA !

Never turn up at opening time folks. Assuming you can work out when opening time is.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

5 thoughts on “Which opening hours would YOU trust ?”

  1. Maybe not work for ‘seasonal’ hours but I tend to check the “Popular Times” section on Google generated from when mobiles were in the building.

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  2. Agree that Google hrs seem more reliable than the pubs own Facebook /Website from recent experiences.

    I tend to look at all sources and then pick the most limited hrs, that normally maximises my lack of disappointment! At the George, I went 2pm Thursday.

    I don’t think reintroducing hrs into the GBG would be worth it. I’ve not missed it and forces me to proactively look for up to date ones. Good stuff 👍🏻

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  3. The difficulty of providing opening hours is exaggerated. For many entries, such as Wetherspoon’s and brewery/pubco managed pubs, they’re clearly-defined and predictable. For other pubs they could simply say “Hours may vary”, just as they do with beer ranges. Maybe they shouldn’t provide beer listings either, on the grounds that some might be wrong.

    If I fork out £16.99 on a pub guide, having some indication of opening hours is a basic requirement. If the National Trust handbook didn’t state when properties were open, I wouldn’t be impressed.

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