please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
With a little time to spare in Blackburn whilst waiting for the train (or is it some kind of tram?) back to Preston, we stopped off for a quick pint in this Wetherspoon's. It was my first stop in Blackburn in more than 6 years. The Postal Order is very much as I remember it. Busy as usual, there appears to be less seating here than in other Wetherspoon branches. Service was a little disorganised and the bar area can get quite crowded, as it is quite narrow. Ales were Evan Evans Grand Cru, Three B's Pinch Noggin, Loddon Ferryman's Gold, Sharps Doom Bar, Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best, Beartown Bearly Literate, Phoenix Monkeytown Mild, Cross Bay Red IPA & Bridgehouse Blonde. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie & Rosie's Pig. I had the mild, which was in a decent condition.
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Paid a re-visit earlier this week around lunch time. A fair few real ales to choose from spread across two banks of hand pumps at opposite ends of the bar. First up for me was Doff Cocker by Three B's Brewery of Blackburn - I always like to try something local where I can. This is a 4.5% pale beer and a bargain at £1.79. Very pleasant.
Next up for me was Dark Age by The Celt Experience, a 4.0% mild. Apparently a Welsh brewery, so not so local, but I fancied the mild in contrast to my previous pint. It did not disappoint - dark and tasty and definitely hit the spot.
Some interesting characters in the pub at the time of my visit. One guy appeared to be complaining about the amount of time he had been waiting for his food order; however he looked like he'd been drinking since 9am so I couldn't help suspecting he had a very limited concept of time. The staff placated him though and his meal arrived shortly after. For living up to the stereotype of Wetherspoons clientele, well done that man!
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Called in here on a Friday afternoon. In front of me was a bank of 6 pumps, 5 of which were on. 2 real ciders, others were Deuchars IPA, Moorhouse's Black Witch and Harpoon Brewery Long Thaw White IPA.
A friendly older chap at the bar recommended the Black Witch, which I had been eyeing up. As the name suggests, this is a dark ale, 4.2% and set me back £1.79. The helpful and obviously experienced customer also pointed out there was something else on offer at the other pumps further down the bar, but by this point I had made my mind up! Service was fairly quick and I had no problems finding a seat despite the pub being quite busy. Seating is a mix of booths and tables with a separate family friendly area to one end of the pub.
It looked like a few of the punters had spent most of the day in there, but it was a pleasant atmosphere and not at all intimidating.
Decided to indulge in a second pint and this time went for The Long Thaw White IPA, 5.5% at £2.09. Service was a bit slower this time, but not unbearable.
Both very different but very enjoyable ales. Would be inclined to pay another visit if I am in the area again.
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Credit where it's due. At long last we have some lighter cask ales on. Still nowhere near as many as the last gaffer Craig did but small mercies and all that..
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This place as you may have gathered due to the number of my reviews, is my local. The cask selection is appalling. It's the worst I've known it and have been a regular for over 10 years and God knows how many come day go day Managers. Staff are excellent to be fair. There's 15 hand pumps and last night at 6pm there was 2 guest ales on. Garbage.
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My last review of here was pretty good on the whole. Since the we have a new Manager, and so far so good - except the beer choices. Way too many 4.5% plus beers and a disproportionate number of stouts and porters. It's Summer for goodness sake, where are the nice light sub 4% session bitters? I'm not alone in these observations, and our table is slowly but surely voting with its feet.
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This place has improved dramatically. The beers have always been half decent but the cleanliness and clearing have been poor.
Not now, much tidier, faster service, tables cleared and dare I say the staff seem much friendlier.
The Manager is regularly behind the bar too, an excellent example.
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Indeed, a very standard Wetherspoon's albeit with a good range of ales at very good prices. It was very busy on a Saturday early evening and is a handy stopoff for a quick pint before catching a train from the nearby station.
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Not much has changed since my last visit here. This is a fairly standard Wetherspoons. Yesterday's range was Marstons Long Hop, Hawkshead Brodies Prime, Greene King Abbot Ale & Ruddles Best, Cains FA, George Wright Mild, Cotswold Spring Codrington Codger, Moorhouses Blond Witch, Coach House Flintlock Pale Ale & Woodfordes Nog. Two ciders were also on - Mr Whiteheads Cirrus Minor & Westons Vintage Organic. There was still plenty of signs of glasses left on tables, as mentioned in previous reviews. But most pubs can struggle on match days. So this may be an unfair comment for my visit. I still don't know of a better pub to visit in Blackburn, which is a pretty poor place to visit for pubs on the whole.
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went in curry night. order a pint of abbott which was very good pint. the curry was served within 10 mins of order.choose strongboow as the drink to go with it.which was fine. a good allround spoons which i would again if in blackburn.
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Just had sunday dinner wich was lovely washed down with a pint of pendle witch. staff were great prices very good as well and the real ale choice is wonderful highy recomend.
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I think this pub has increased ten fold since the new managers took over a couple of months ago, when I went in the service was great and they have some nice looking new staff now, the food in here was the best I've eaten in a wetherspoons. I agree with the staffing issues but find that in every wetherspoons I have been in, so I kind of except how a wetherspoons is going to be when I visit one so i don't bother moaning when I have just paid less than 2pounds for a pint and 1.99 for a ham and eggs meal!!!
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this pub has gone to the dogs - its always had its faults as all chain pubs do but the last year has seen all the decent staff disapear and be replaced by people who have no business behind a bar.... expect to wait 20+ to get served - if u are lucking enough to get a drink you will have an array of dirty tables greeting u . Glass collecting/table clearing as mentioned by martyn T appears to be a foreign concept ....... Where have all the decent staff gone? (Glenn being the only one from the old school still hanging onto a sinking ship) ..... xxxx
mcfly - 21 Dec 2010 17:34 |
This caper of not collecting glasses and/or plates on the way back to the bar amazes us too.
If it's so obvious to the punters why can't the Managers see it? To be fair, it is under new Management but the glass collection nonesense went on previously so no change.
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We cleared our table of plates, glasses and coffee cups and added them to the pile on the adjacent table. Two and a half hours later they were still there. In the mean time, five of us had eaten lunch and built up a collection of plates and glasses on our table, none of which were collected. One member of staff was delivering meals to tables and then walking back to the bar empty handed. What sort of training does Wetherspoon give to these idiots? Two guest ales, Old Bear "Sun Bear" was in decent condition.
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Usual characterless Wetherspoon branch with poor service. The bar staff were more interested in serving the people they knew, and I was overlooked several times. Nevertheless, the beer range was fairly good - Davenports Beer Hunt, Ruddles Best, Richard Chennell's Zulu Blonde (South African), Batemans Hedgerows, Holdens Burton Runner, Everards Flourish, Goose Island Honkers Ale (American), Green King Abbot Ale and Theakston Grouse Beater. Cider was Westons's Organic and Old Rosie. Handy for the station. But I've still to find a decent pub in Blackburn.
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Since my last rating (2006) this pub has improved greatly, with generally brisk service. The ales are well-kept and the Wetherspoon food presented well.
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Well to be fair if scroats like "RIVERSIDE" who.....bless his cotton socks, thinks the Adelphi is the best pub in town which says everything about him since he is all mouth and no trousers ( its all good bad mouthin people but it means newt if u aint got guts to tell us who you are!) didnt spend all day proppin up the bar with their dole money the pub would be a lot nicer place!!!!
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Well there is now yet another Manager in place. Lets hope she lasts longer than the last one...
Three key members of staff have left since her arrival, coincidence maybe??
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NEWS FLASH.KATIE IS LEAVING THUR,S 21st FEB
ALL 200 SHE BARRED GET BACK IN AND DRINK IN PEACE WITHOUT LOOKING OVER YOUR BACK.CHEERS/
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Forget trying to get served in this pub anytime over the weekend it's impossible. The drinks are cheap and there is usually a good crowd in there, but the staff are terrible, and just serve the people that shout the loudestand are very slow. We have walked out the last 3 times having waited for ages to be served, we just give it a miss now!
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There is certainly some inconsistency at this place, for me it's concerning the real ales. Quite often you can go in and there will be as few as 3 on, last night there were 8. No food a couple of weeks ago, they couldn't find a cook... There have been some management issues so I am informed and I suspect they are not quite resolved. Hopefully when they are, some continuity will return.
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not used this place for awhile due to bad management and even worst bar staff 1 female duty manager even barred a bloke for yawning .have lost dozen.s of customers over last year all good drinkers .must be worst j.d.w in the country
anonymous - 16 Oct 2007 20:15 |
Well what an improvement in this place, no less than 7 cask ales last night with 3 more ready to come on, credit where it's due I say. Tried Waggledance and Pendle Witch, both in good shape.
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As almost all of our locals have closed down, we have made the Postal Order (The P O), our "local". We have, over 18 months, watched it going down the pan. Staffing issues, lukewarm food, filthy tables etc. We got quite friendly with the manager (Rob), who's ear we regularly bent on these issues and to be fair to him he did his best but he failed to lift the place. A new gaffer (Dave?) is in place and there are clear signs of improvement. Tables getting cleared and (for us) best of all, the guest ales regularly changing. As for the "weirdo" at the end of the bar, I think I know who you are on about, and to be truthful he's sound. Despite his hair/occasional loudness/appearance...
anonymous - 15 Mar 2007 12:00 |
Good selection of well-kept cask ales. Good prices. BUT never enough bar staff. On two of my last five visits have walked out after waiting more than ten minutes to be served - at 1130 on a weekday morning!
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fantastic place to meet and then start the pub crawl,beer quite reasonable. some top totty goes in, who is the bald guy who is always stood in the same spot when you go in. wierd..
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might well be a good pub but we waited 10 mins be served on a sunday teatime before walking out.Having said that how they expect 2 barmaids to cope when there live footie on the tv and the pub is heaving ive no idea.Come on get some more staff weatherspoons!!!
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Great place, if you can get there before the crowds. Be afraid of the weirdo at the left end of the bar. Be afraid, very afraid.
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great place, cheap and cheerful,mainly wer people go to meet b4 goin out round blackburn. nice family section also. get the odd weirdo, but wot else wud you expect being smack bang in the middle of blackburn town centre?lol. xx
bradshaw - 5 Nov 2004 11:46 |
Glad to see its on the site! Very cheap, very friendly and with a good mix of people.
Tony - 12 Jun 2004 16:54 |
Great Northern pub with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. A Wetherspoon, it has won much praise for giving its Blackburn punters "The Chreapest Pint in England" too. Guest beer and variety is good. They're also very strict on who they allow in now, so there tends to be none of your under-aged boozers crowding the bar! I recommend it for a chilled afternoon bevvie or for a couple prior to a club. On the other hand, it only has a couple of outdoor chairs and the food is obviously your JD bog Standard stuff.
Marie - 11 Jun 2004 15:27 |
