The Station Tavern, Grosmont

I have been coming here for around 25 years, albeit maybe once or twice a year, and have seen the pub go through numerous ups and downs but this is the first time I have ever not physically wanted to go back.
It has never been an ale haven, or a gourmets emporium, but you could get a reasonably priced meal, and decent pint here.
Well not any more.
£3.65, yes that's £3.65 for a pint of not even good ale, to sit in a fly infested pub (with food being served, hideous) with all the atmosphere of a funeral parlour.
Whether the prices had been hiked for the event on the adjacent railway I'm unsure, if so that's bad enough. If not it's scandalous.
Now it may be that during the day they have the monopoly here, I understand the only other drinking establishment, the Crossing Club (private club), does not open till 8. And the village is the end point of the penultimate stage of the coast to coast walk, where a thirsty walker craves a pint. But that doesn't excuse this garbage.
When there are 3 people in a villages local pub at 9.00 on a Saturday night it's pretty clear something's very wrong.
Avoid like the plague, undeserving of any meritorious plaudits.

PS by way of comparison I was in a real ale pub in Pickering that was under £3.00 a pint.
The pub at Egton with a decent range of beers, I paid £3.00 a pint
My friend visited the crossing club and paid £2.90 a pint.

That just confirms my suspicions.

16 Sep 2013 18:53