please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I'd heard a lot about this place in the past and happened to be delayed at Manningtree Station on way to Harwich - there was a bar but it looked dishevelled - appeared to be two ales on but didn't look all that - went outside without bothering to purchase and ate an apple instead.
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When I used to frequent this bar in the 80's and early 90's it was full of character (s) with old railway coach seats, open fire and ever changing beers provided by mad Dirk the Dutch landlord. Now it serves 3 handpulled beers but all seem to be from Green King and the bar has been moved to extend the floor space. Still worth getting off the train for an hour, but sadly not the establishment it once was.
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Now a sanitised GK outlet with only GK IPA, OSH and the Seasonal Bonkers Conkers on offer. The BC was drinkable but this place is nowhere near it's former self. Just about worth dropping in to for a pint while waiting on a train whereas in the past (in it's Mauldons and other associated brews days) you would miss trains and hang on for a few beers. It opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays but even then, as the train service is pretty good, would hardly be somewhere to stop for more than a swift pint. It is one of a handful of 'proper platform bars' left in the country but not a patch on your Stalybridge, Dewsbury and Downham Markets.
anonymous - 11 Sep 2010 22:46 |
Last used this bar about 20 years ago when it really was something special. Broke my train journey specially to see what it was like now and was disappointed to see the place had changed drastically. The bar had been moved around and the room opened out into the waiting room next door. Large screen tv on the wall and generally sanitised. 3 beers were on Green King IPA and LBW ,and Old Speckled Hen. Used to be worth missing the train for, sadly no longer the case.
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Excellent beer on offer with Ridleys Witchfinder Porter being the pick of the best from GK IPA & Speckled Hen.
The range of food looked superb & with such long opening hours, who could complain !?!
A great place to sample a couple of beers before embarking on a serious crawl. It's not quite a pub - if you know what I mean.
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For info of Bronxrichie, the address is quite correct.
Though the parishes of Lawford, Manningtree and Mistley are often just referred to as 'Manningtree', Manningtree Station and buffet are well within Lawford, both from the parish boundary and postal address points of view.
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Once this was a classic boozer, but sadly since I last visited it a decade ago it has fallen on hardtimes. Now a rather uninteresting pub with loud music and intrusive TV. No food, and uninteresting beer (although in good condition). Sadly this is an example of why many British pubs are due to close. Its a pity because the location and building suggests there are possibilities here, along the lines of the Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Stalybridge station buffets.
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By the way, Manningtree Station and this buffet are in Manningtree, Essex, not in Lawford, Essex. That is an error.
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Agreed! In the same league as Stalybridge.
Tip - if you're travelling between London or Essex and Ipswich or Norwich, you can alight from one train, get one or two in, check the place out, and catch the next train 30 or 60 minutes later. You don't need to sup up until you see your train coming in.
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One of the best station 'buffets' on the rail network. Good place to sit and quaff a pint of ale while waiting for your train.
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