The Wellington, Birmingham

For anyone dreading the prospect of whiling away time in the hellhole that is New Street station waiting for a connecting train, this pub is for you.
On the day of my visit there were 16 real ales to choose from, and all those I tried were beautifully kept. Woman serving behind the bar was rushed off her feet but remained frighteningly efficient.
Not only that, but you are positively invited to bring your own food. While there I witnessed some folk bring in a takeaway curry. Now I've been to Indian restaurants which allow you to bring in booze, but to be able to take your favourite curry to a great pub is my idea of heaven.
As for the criticisms levelled below, I do wonder what some of these people actually want in a pub. Let them go to some soulless corporate pine-and-steel "Pitcher and Piano" - or whatever they call themselves now.
The Wellington has plenty of comfortable seating and is ideal for all the other reasons I've outlined above. It makes changing trains in Brum something to look forward to - leave plenty of time for your connection!

2 Jul 2009 13:51

Northmore Arms, Throwleigh

This is a mighty pub: beautiful location, friendly staff and menagerie of pets - apart from the hen who pecks customers! Decent food all day and decently priced; excellently-kept ales straight from the barrel, �2.50 per pint. Nice crowd of locals when I was there who were welcoming, and a strong sense of community and anti-authoritarianism. Smoking area in disused horsebox. What more can you ask for? Only one slight gripe - gents' toilet flush consisted of bucket of water; bit hardcore even by my standards, but a great pub nonetheless. Please don't let places like this die.

3 Jun 2009 21:51

The Pilchard Inn, Burgh Island

From the Kingsbridge and Salcombe Gazette

Something bitter left a nasty taste in the mouth
Monday, 11 May 2009
Michael Powell writes:
I was looking forward to visiting the famous ancient Pilchard Inn on Burgh Island. Unfortunately, on the day I chose to do so (2/5/09) a notice informed me that the main bar was for the use of �regulars and hotel guests only�.
The pub management weren�t too grand to accept our money though � members of the great unwashed could obtain drinks from the Slipway Bar � an overcrowded serving hatch with none of the historic atmosphere this establishment is supposed to possess.
Something left a nasty taste in the mouth � and it wasn�t the beer.
Now, although it may be annoying to have your local overrun by tourists, a public house is supposed to be exactly that � an establishment open to all members of the public.
If the Pilchard Inn�s licensees want to run a private members� club, they should say so openly and submit a licence application to the local district council accordingly.
To be fair, the woman who served me was perfectly pleasant, but the Burgh Island management have a serious attitude problem. I�ve never seen anywhere go to such ridiculous lengths to impose a system of social apartheid on to people who, regardless of what they are buying, are all paying customers.
There was even a roped-off section of the beer garden where the hotel guests could sit like animals in the zoo and be gawped at by their supposed social inferiors.
A visit to Burgh Island made well-heeled Salcombe, where I currently work, appear a haven of egalitarianism by comparison � at least the pubs there don�t impose a residency condition. Neither was the beauty and tranquillity of this wonderful island enhanced by the rich idiots who insisted on arriving and leaving by helicopter, ruining everyone else�s peace and quiet and blowing sand into the drinks and food of those pub customers who chose � or were required by the establishment�s entry criteria � to consume their purchases al fresco. I hope that you will see fit to publish this letter and afford the right of reply to the management of the Pilchard Inn and Burgh Island Hotel.
I would be interested to read of what they have to say to your readers about this state of affairs.

15 May 2009 13:33