The first mistake is using TripAdvisor as a guide. For hotels and restaurants, perhaps, but completely useless for pubs. Does this journalist seriously believe a Hungry Horse five miles out of town is the best pub near Reading station?Originally Posted by Tris39
Obviously hasn't got a clue, or is totally brainless or doesn't give a f...., I suspect all of those.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields
That's the sort of job you give to a junior or trainee. Find the best pub? - I know, look at Trip Advisor and that gives you a ranking... The trouble is that most media only have journalists of the status of junior nowadays, and no-one to train them.
On leaving the bar, I felt a strong blow to the back of my head. Turning round, I discovered it was the pavement
Same as BF: 9/24. At the bottom of the article, he states "So there you have it, the product of several months of hard drinking". That's definitely not PuG-standard!
"Breakneck speed we drown ten pints of bitter"
The Colonies ('...a seriously pretty pub') is in Paddington (W2)? It's two miles away in Victoria, SW1. Still, I suppose Victoria is a railway station, even if it's nowhere near the Elizabeth Line.
The Spread Eagle (set into the base of a 1950s' office block) is the best pub near Bond Street?
That the Wilmington is better than the Hand & Shears?
And that the Blind Beggar is worth visiting for any other reason than to say you've been...
...and he missed this one - The Red Lion
If it means I don't have to see his face leering at me over a pint glass yet again, then I don't care.
Last edited by Tris39; 15-11-2022 at 18:11.
Cross checking the stations with pubs on PG, it doesn't appear that the Elizabeth line route gave any consideration to pub-goers!
And it's unlikely I'd take it to Reading to save a fiver, doubling the journey time, though Jonesey may prefer it if his freedom pass gets him there for nowt!
Top 100 Bars in Europe
This list was compiled before the pandemic by The European Bar Guide, and was recently picked up by the Sheffield Star because Sheffield pubs feature very prominantly.
British pubs in reverse order:
95. Wm. Hawkes Hull
91. Cittie of Yorke Fleet Street, London
89. Blake Hotel Sheffield
85. Circus Tavern Manchester
83. Headrow House Leeds
81. Lamb & Flag Covent Garden, London
80. Wellington Shalesmoor, Sheffield
76. Mayflower Rotherhithe, London
73. Brudenell Social Club Leeds
68. Fat Cat Sheffield
64. Sheaf View Sheffield
61. Gordon's Wine Bar London WC2
57. Shakespeare's Ale & Cider House Sheffield
55. Whitelocks Leeds
52. Blue Bell Fossgate, York
50. Nightjar Shoreditch, London
48. Red Deer Sheffield
47. Ye Olde White Harte Hull
41. Cardigan Arms Leeds
34. Ye Olde Black Boy Hull
23. Robin Hood Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge
20. Fagans Sheffield
I make that 22 from UK, with none at all from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I can see why a Sheffield journalist would pick up on this, with seven Sheffield pubs among 22 English selections in the Top 100 in Europe. Even more impressive, but not mentioned in the article, is the achievement of James Birkett, owner of the Wellington, Blake Hotel and Sheaf View. They're his only pubs and all three are in the best 100 pubs in Europe.
I've been to 18 in England, and the only one I that I've been to among the Continental offerings is at no.12: Schenkerla in Bamberg, Germany.
Come On You Hatters!
That's a very interesting and well researched list.I may well use it in future when planning short breaks to Eurpoe. I've been in 12 from the UK and Mulligan's In Dublin in the 80's,I think T.E.A Time in Krakow and Staminee De Garre ,Bruges.
"Good people drink good beer" Hunter S Thompson
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote