tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post7161765799656793585..comments2024-03-29T08:01:51.705+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: Pretentious, moi?Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-47969784343828755552014-09-03T14:23:22.897+01:002014-09-03T14:23:22.897+01:00did you reply "what, in here, are you kidding...did you reply "what, in here, are you kidding?"<br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-20719919585137584212014-09-03T13:54:48.470+01:002014-09-03T13:54:48.470+01:00I called in the Farmer’s Arms today to take a quic...I called in the Farmer’s Arms today to take a quick look. Obviously not aimed at the casual drinker, but just as dreadful as I had expected – and £3.40 for a pint of 3.8% Dizzy Blonde to boot. There's a marked lack of comfortable seating even in the “bar” area. And, when you walk in, you’re greeted with dreaded “are you eating today, Sir?”Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-18811900377354526162014-08-26T09:47:06.292+01:002014-08-26T09:47:06.292+01:00Course you are fella, even daft ones.Course you are fella, even daft ones.Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-62107782180040944362014-08-26T09:28:04.033+01:002014-08-26T09:28:04.033+01:00Am I not allowed to have opinions, Cookie?
Histor...Am I not allowed to have opinions, Cookie?<br /><br />History has shown that "gimmick" pub design invariably proves a long-term failure, and interior schemes that are self-consciously modern all too rapidly become dated.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-70373108392199330742014-08-26T08:43:07.132+01:002014-08-26T08:43:07.132+01:00JC said : "Well, who's to say what's ...JC said : "Well, who's to say what's "appropriate" for pubs these days?"<br /><br />Mudgie is, John, Mudgie.<br /><br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-70631847440010974992014-08-25T18:15:08.284+01:002014-08-25T18:15:08.284+01:00The first picture reminds me of 'Spoons in Cum...The first picture reminds me of 'Spoons in Cumbernauld, but less good (that is more "cow and tree"); whilst the second is very "breakfast room of a German pension" (which, mind you, may also serve a nicer beer).Dvoraknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-60906557585002739822014-08-25T16:32:04.841+01:002014-08-25T16:32:04.841+01:00Well, who's to say what's "appropriat...Well, who's to say what's "appropriate" for pubs these days? If you have a certain fixed idea of what a "proper pub" should be like then maybe. However "the pub" as a concept is evolving into a variety of incarnations and what is appropriate for one won't be for another. I don't think these days you can apply a blanket "one size fits all" rule of thumb.<br /><br />Having said that I do agree that this place has been somewhat "over designed" - and will require a lot of attention to stop it looking tatty. The drawers are another facet of this - there was some amusement on opening night that some of them were misspelled ("Vegtables" for example). And as for the "buckets" doubling up as urinals in the gents... John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-29714744674877808592014-08-25T15:50:23.088+01:002014-08-25T15:50:23.088+01:00Absolutely, it may be trendy, but it's complet...Absolutely, it may be trendy, but it's completely inappropriate for pubs.<br /><br />Incidentally, aren't all the rough wood drawers claiming to contain "HP Sauce", "Cheshire Cheese" and "Farmhouse Chips" shown on the first picture another piece of pretentious toss?Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-8808056511291521042014-08-25T15:44:25.565+01:002014-08-25T15:44:25.565+01:00The pub down the road from me painted over its tra...The pub down the road from me painted over its traditional dark hardwood interior in pale blue paint that would be more fitting in a seaside pub.<br /><br />Its completely ruined the room, suddenly it seems cold and grubby, rather than cosy and warm. You suddenly feel exposed sitting in the corner. Trade has dropped off.pynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-9625297793165054062014-08-24T16:57:32.979+01:002014-08-24T16:57:32.979+01:00Here's the offending cow in all her glory. I t...<a href="http://pubcurmudgeon.org.uk/images/ermantrude.jpg" rel="nofollow">Here's the offending cow in all her glory</a>. I think the name should actually be "Ermintrude" as in "The Magic Roundabout".Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-69862924568496457322014-08-24T16:07:15.032+01:002014-08-24T16:07:15.032+01:00There are two different levels of refurbishment: r...There are two different levels of refurbishment: redecoration, which can of course be reversed if it proves not to work in the long term, or alterations to the fabric of the building, which usually cannot. <br /><br />One large pub near here had all the rooms knocked through into one some time ago: it's barn-like and looks empty even when it has a number of customers that would make other pubs appear reasonably busy. <br /><br />Another was knocked through, filled with pool tables, the real ale knocked off even though it was selling well enough, the shelves filled with bottled lager and alcopops, and the name changed to Mr Q's. As an attempt to appeal to the youth market, it succeeded for around 6 months. It has now reverted to its original name and tried to become a local again, but it has lost all its old customers to other pubs. <br /><br />Plain silly.Neville Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10923209266005338452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-31640221073286235922014-08-24T15:47:15.213+01:002014-08-24T15:47:15.213+01:00@Cookie - in just the same way as how for many blo...@Cookie - in just the same way as how for many bloggers the only thing that matters about a pub is how many awesome craft beers it sells :p<br /><br />But I think you'll find that architectural vandalism has seldom been a recipe for success. All those brewers who turned pubs into spaceships or Zulu kraals in the 1960s must have felt a bit sick when people suddenly started going for the old-worlde again in the 1970s.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-72859806811594995422014-08-24T10:40:36.784+01:002014-08-24T10:40:36.784+01:00"As you know, John, I basically approach pubs..."As you know, John, I basically approach pubs as part of the heritage industry - whether or not they are actually successful is not, at the end of the day, my problem."<br /><br />Pubs as museums, Mudge? Not a contemporary, relevant service industry? Sounds like your a bigger threat to pubs than smoking bans.<br /><br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-3715733845407672092014-08-24T10:04:43.664+01:002014-08-24T10:04:43.664+01:00Yes - I don't think we will always agree about...Yes - I don't think we will always agree about pubs and the way some of them are changing. However I think the Farmers Arms is like one of those old episodes of "Changing Rooms" where design was allowed to ride roughshod over functionality. There are one of two good bits, particularly in the areas for drinking rather than eating (although everything is quite light and bright), but the overall impression is of something that hase been seriously over-designed - you will see from the photo you've posted that apart from the stuff on the wall and ceiling, there are also mulitple rows of candles in jars - all needing heavy duty maintenance. <br /><br />I think it wil function very well as a decent place to eat. It wil be interesting to see how it all develops.John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-44628479126496811382014-08-24T09:50:55.396+01:002014-08-24T09:50:55.396+01:00As you know, John, I basically approach pubs as pa...As you know, John, I basically approach pubs as part of the heritage industry - whether or not they are actually successful is not, at the end of the day, my problem. <br /><br />Having said that, the work that Robinson's have done over the past couple of years at the Tatton Arms, Healey Hotel and Davenport Arms (despite slight reservations above) isn't unreasonable and manages to retain something of a pubby feel.<br /><br />The Baker's Vaults isn't remotely to my taste, but I appreciate that they're trying to achieve a trendy café-bar feel, and it wasn't exactly a National Inventory candidate before. <br /><br />But this really does look as though they have been carried away with their own enthusiasm and harks back to the contrived theme pubs of the late 60s and early 70s which, as we know, proved both architecturally and commercially disastrous.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-8347746643755319932014-08-24T09:34:12.840+01:002014-08-24T09:34:12.840+01:00Both Anon and TT on top form here. I've seen ...Both Anon and TT on top form here. I've seen quite a few of the recent Robbies refurbishments and most are pretty good (if not exactly fittng in with your rather strict requirements of what a pub "should" look like, they do seem pretty popular with the people who actually use them). Here though I think the designers have been let of the leash, to say the least, and I have promised myself a return visit in 6-9 months to see how all this stuff is wearing - it certainly looks like it will need a lot of attention if it's not going to get pretty shabby, pretty quickly.John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-34709797005511681642014-08-24T08:41:00.999+01:002014-08-24T08:41:00.999+01:00Have you been in the Thief's Neck since it was...Have you been in the Thief's Neck since it was refurbished earlier this year? Vastly better than the Farmer's Arms, but to my mind it's still lost a good deal of its old charm - for example getting rid of the dartboard from the tap room.<br /><br />You can read twelve pages of discussion about the Poynton "shared space" scheme <a href="http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28676" rel="nofollow">here</a>.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-76495494954395874562014-08-24T08:30:45.216+01:002014-08-24T08:30:45.216+01:00The Farmers is clearly setting up as a restaurant ...The Farmers is clearly setting up as a restaurant so any consideration about pubbiness are irrelevant. Picky drinkers have got that new Bollington Cask place and Spoons, the Legion is great, and of course Woodford has a classic pub 5 minutes away. The <br /><br />Personally I've avoided Poynton since that scary shared space was introduced.Martin, Cambridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-11188999360897292532014-08-23T20:55:01.104+01:002014-08-23T20:55:01.104+01:00"IF>>>>"IF>>>>
T..."IF>>>>"IF>>>><br />Temperance Tim is real,I may agree<br />with some of the aspects of low life pubs,now the festering sumps<br />where back stabbers,traitors,fellow travellers,carpet baggers,appeasers,cap doffers and lick spittles congregate.<br />Their constant wailing of existing laws are for eternity,"cant be changed" proving their spineless<br />credentials. The same breed who once kept 6 years old down the pits because "because Parliament said so" ,cowtowing to every MPs<br />whim.<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-44067452674987717592014-08-23T18:52:23.144+01:002014-08-23T18:52:23.144+01:00People have cottoned on that pubs are disgraceful ...People have cottoned on that pubs are disgraceful unrespectable dirty places of ill health and life ruining addiction, that is why they are dying.<br /><br />The immoral peddlers of poisonous filth continue to think a "make over" will have people view them differently and lure the unwary into their alcohol soaked pits of degradation. <br /><br />It will take more than butterflies to lure the righteous. Those that want life enhancing fun will find it over a refreshing orange and pineapple cordial during a choral recital in the church hallTemperance Timnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-67049889849274413062014-08-23T17:57:00.706+01:002014-08-23T17:57:00.706+01:00As a native of the county (which I continue to vis...As a native of the county (which I continue to visualise in its pe-1974 form) it must be said that most of it doesn't remotely conform to the "Footballers' Wives" stereotype. Poynton is really just bog-standard suburbia.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-84013229140722980342014-08-23T17:20:17.235+01:002014-08-23T17:20:17.235+01:00Laura Ashley meets Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen? But th...Laura Ashley meets Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen? But then we are talking Cheshire here!Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-61700258834638819952014-08-23T17:01:35.427+01:002014-08-23T17:01:35.427+01:00Kind of glad we skipped it last weekend when we di...Kind of glad we skipped it last weekend when we did a walk/mini-crawl from Bollington to Poynton; with the basic aim of visiting the Cask Tavern. We were a bit behind schedule so skipped it. Have been in before and it was a pretty standard Robbies pub. Sounds awful now! There's a new bar/music venue opening next door so competition is hotting up in downtown PoyntonRob Nicholsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14871887147718814739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-58521694319891430062014-08-23T16:40:03.589+01:002014-08-23T16:40:03.589+01:00Went in the Red Lion in High lane a few weeks ago ...Went in the Red Lion in High lane a few weeks ago on a Sunday evening. All modern and pastel shades - not very welcoming! Alright for a meal, I assume, as a table of about 20 were just leaving, but for an evening's drinking...no thanks!<br /><br />We were back a couple of days later and had a few in the Horse Shoe Inn - much more to my taste!PetesQuizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-54526674582655596812014-08-23T14:49:35.441+01:002014-08-23T14:49:35.441+01:00Perhaps Robinson's money would be better spent...Perhaps Robinson's money would be better spent on making less pissy and tired beerLiamTheBrewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17343568963519802907noreply@blogger.com