Micro Pubs
Author
Discussion

Lotobear

Original Poster:

8,801 posts

154 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Aren't these a fantastic new phenomena?

I'm currently bagging 'local' ones (via trains) and have done:

The Beer Engine, Skipton
Early Doors, Skipton
The Sound Bar, Skipton (complete with vinyl records you can play)
Cap and Collar, Shipley
Box Social, Newcastle
Split Chimp, Newcastle
The Pele, Corbridge (700 year old fortified tower, mind the steps!)

Any fans out there?

Edited by Lotobear on Thursday 19th October 11:48

Zod

35,295 posts

284 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
There's a great, little place on Threadneedle Street, called the Arbitrager that serves a dozen or so draft craft beer, as well as a wide and eclectic range of gins.

Must try the Cap and Collar when I see my Mum next weekend.

prand

6,234 posts

222 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
I like little pubs, usually selling specialist, local brew. No distraction of food, tvs, pool tables or kids.

A local pico-brewer (moogBrew), run by a couple near us have managed to get their house licensed and opens up on selected friday and saturday nights now. They have their brewery and a comfy little bar set up in a couple of sheds in the back garden. Lovely selection of beers, my favourite is the Selina Saison and the bd Bunny IPA.

Another tiny pub is one we found one that opened the weekennd we were in Bude this year - The Barrel. Extremely small inside, a simple tap room bar selling local beer and cider. Full of people just talking to each other. Perfect drinking place...

Taita

7,977 posts

229 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Is there a directory or list of them anywhere? On a beer equivalent of PH? Boozeheads or similar biggrin

Even better would be Gmap overlay!

PedroB

512 posts

158 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Here you go:

http://www.micropubassociation.co.uk/finder/

I'm down in East Kent where the whole phenomenon kicked off. The Butcher's Arms in Herne was my local for a bit. Generally I'm a fan though the quality of the beer in some of them leaves a bit to be desired.

andyr30

613 posts

212 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Any feedback for Box Social in Newcastle? It's ran by my Uncle & Cousin

joshcowin

7,501 posts

202 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
PedroB said:
Here you go:

http://www.micropubassociation.co.uk/finder/

I'm down in East Kent where the whole phenomenon kicked off. The Butcher's Arms in Herne was my local for a bit. Generally I'm a fan though the quality of the beer in some of them leaves a bit to be desired.
Herne bay lad here, now living in Faversham. Didn't the guy who owned the pub have a bike engine powered van?

Get to the corner tap (in faversham 1 minute walk from the station) if you haven't been, they have a great German lager on tap and Gamma Ray which is my fav beer possible of all time!

Digger

16,415 posts

217 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
None at all in Central London, thats a bit odd?

Truckosaurus

13,078 posts

310 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Digger said:
None at all in Central London, thats a bit odd?
The business model is that the micropub has the lowest possible overheads ie. minimal members of staff (some have no-one other than the owner), renting an unwanted retail unit, no food etc. I don't think Central London rents would make it viable - although some popular central London boozers like The Harp probably aren't much bigger than micropubs anyway.

I visited the new micropub in Deal, Kent, recently as it was close to my mate's house. Went early evening on a Saturday expecting it to be quiet but it was heaving. When the only other pubs in provincial towns that seem to be making a living are massive town centre pubs or ones focussing on food, then there is definitely a niche for somewhere to get a quiet drink.

feef

5,208 posts

209 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
There's one opened up here in St Neots (cambs).

The Ale Taster/Bottle Shop has a few local ales on tap, and 4 or 5 fridges of imported beers and ciders.

Only place I can find La Chouffe in the area, and they have Boon Oude Geuze which is my new favourite (but at £6.90 a bottle in there, I'll be looking to buy some retail for home!)

prand

6,234 posts

222 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Just remembered another one near me:

The Keg in Bourne End, Bucks. Set up in a small shop unit on a side street. Great owners and a wide variety of beers, with a very friendly atmosphere.




Europa1

10,923 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Zod said:
There's a great, little place on Threadneedle Street, called the Arbitrager that serves a dozen or so draft craft beer, as well as a wide and eclectic range of gins.
Do you mean Throgmorton Street? If so, you should also try the cocktail bar in the basement.




Declaration of interest: one of my old crewmates owns them.

prand

6,234 posts

222 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Euston Tap, opposite the station probably qualifies as a micro pub.

rich85uk

4,225 posts

205 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
The Hop Pole in Aylesbury (bucks) is a fantastic one. Generally they have about 8 cask ales, 6 beers on tap including a guest beer and 2 fridges full of Belgian beer lick

They do good pub grub, have a micro brewery and shop. Perfect

Some Gump

13,017 posts

212 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
prand said:
A local pico-brewer..

The Broker

3,131 posts

169 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
There's 2 near me, wky places full of old blokes that could easily pass as peados talking st about how everyone else who isn't an ugly old on state pension is a wker.

Going down on Friday again.

anonymous-user

80 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Not so micro, but seeing as you like trains how about the Ale trail?

http://www.realaletrail.net

Lotobear

Original Poster:

8,801 posts

154 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Yeah, heard about that - must do it sometime.

I don't really like trains, it's just living at the intersection of the Carlisle Settle line and the Tyne Valley line it's good to be able to go and get pissed and not worry about driving. And there are lots of stops on each line with great pubs!

prand

6,234 posts

222 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
quotequote all
Some Gump said:
prand said:
A local pico-brewer..
Ha ha, that was my words, should have put a smiley next to it. Moog Brew are a very small brewery, no more than a couple of gallons a batch, which pays for the brewers to pack up once they've made enough money to go on trips round europe in their camper.