The Station, Hither Green

The Station Hotel has been my local for over 10 years and I have often been tempted to abandon it for some of the reasons others have highlighted below. I have kept the faith, mainly due to lack of competition in the area, while clinging to the hope that it may one day live up to its potential. Bizzarely, my decision was made for me last week when the landlord barred me from pub! My heinous crime was to ask for half a pint! I kid you not. Having strolled down for a quiet couple of pints and to watch a game of football. With the match and my second pint almost finished, I decided to squeeze in a quick half before heading home. I was told by the landlord who was serving that they wouldn't serve halves while the football was on and that if I wanted a half I would need to pay the cost of a full pint! I was shocked by this, as I'd never heard anything like it in this or any other pub. The landlord claimed that this had been the rule since he had been there for over 2 years, but for me squeezing in a cheeky half at the end of a football match has been a regular part of my ritual (and I have watched a great many games in there over the years). When I pointed this out and chose to hang on to what little was left of my 2nd pint the manager became verbally aggressive and told me that I could finish my drink and leave! The moment my glass was empty the barman, who was keeping a close eye on me) pointed this out and asked me to leave. As a respectable, 43 year old social worker who has not been kicked out of a pub in the past 25 years this was absolutely unbelievable, particularly having seen some of the levels of yobbishness that this landlord has turned a blind eye to at times. I stood my ground and said that I had come in for a quiet drink and to watch a game of football and would not leave until the end of the match (which was in about 5 minutes time). The landlord then threatened to phone the police, which was ironic, as half of the clientele would probably have scattered if the police had turned up! As I called his bluff on this one, he gave me one last option, which was to stay to the end of the match, but then I would be barred. I pointed out that I would not want to go back to a pub which treats its customers like that, so I would gladly choose that option. At one stage during our discussions the landlord explained that he paid a lot of money to be able to show the football and that he did not want 'people like me' coming in to watch. When I asked what he meant by that, he paused for thought (?) and actually said to me 'People who can't afford to have Sky TV in your house!' You really couldn't make any of this up! I should point out that I am a clean cut, well turned out and well spoken kind of guy who had been simply standing quietly on my own watching the game and had been careful throughout this incident not to shout, swear etc (although I felt like it). I Just thought I would share that anecdote and urge you all to steer well clear of this pub. It's a real shame, as the Station has always had real potential to be something bigger and better than this and to become the focal point of this very mixed local community. While I agree that trying to go too �gentrified� or gastro would be a mistake, there is plenty of scope for going a little bit upmarket, to become the kind of place that all the locals can feel comfortable going in. Sadly this clearly won't happen while the current landlord is in place. It is some consolation to know that this is unlikely to be a very long tenure. In the meantime, if you are in the area I would recommend the Holly Tree, a friendly, welcoming little local nearby.

16 Jan 2011 10:25