The Buffet Bar, Stalybridge

I have visited this pub on a number of occasions, always in the evening after c.19:00hrs. Always good choice of real ales mostly in splendid condition but should be at the high price at which they are served. The pub in general is,of course, physically an excellent example of its type.
Today, at lunchtime, I travelled the c.15 miles or so by bus, tram and train to get there taking my wife and neighbours so that they could savour the experience; good beer,the pie and black peas and the ambience.On entering and joining the other 7 or 8 customers there didn't seem to be the slightest acknowledgement that we had gone in let alone any sort of welcoming noises. The Taylors Landlord served was exquisite ( as usual ).
We ordered meat pie and black peas ( their speciality ). NO BLACK PEAS.
Stunned, we settled for meat pie and "mushy peas". The meat pie was quite good but the peas were not just not mushy but could have been used to good effect as bullets.
After several expensive but highly enjoyable evening visits today proves the point that whilst it takes a long time to earn an enviable reputation it takes a much shorter one to tarnish it severely.
No more lunchtime visits will take place and I shall think twice before making the trip in the evening.

1 Apr 2009 18:27