Port Erin Posted August 30, 2008 Author Share Posted August 30, 2008 Well don't expect H & B to rise to the challenge and provide what you (and everyone else) wants. No wonder the pubs are so quiet...extortionate prices, piss poor service, fair to bad food and bland pubs with no character. Expect another price rise soon and blame the SP for the rise in freight charges - I'd say within the next 6 - 8 weeks before the Christmas party season. London prices, Manx service and standards - enough said. Oh, BTW, before any smart arse says 'boat in morning' - look outside of your small minds and see the bigger picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickster Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Expect another price rise soon and blame the SP for the rise in freight charges - I'd say within the next 6 - 8 weeks before the Christmas party season. London prices, Manx service and standards - enough said. I've just visited London for a boozy weekend, and found the prices for food and drink in pubs to be significantly cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodolite Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Up until about 20 years ago the price of Beer on the Isle of Man was always significantly cheaper than anywhere in the UK. Those days there were two main breweries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Erin Posted August 31, 2008 Author Share Posted August 31, 2008 This Island doesn't do competition, and the public suffer as a result. It will be interesting to see who takes over The Old Courthouse. We could do with a Weatherspoons over here, but no doubt the Government will block that as well. H & B are a disgrace. They have no imagination and they have got away with ripping people off for far too long. As a result, they are now reaping what they have sowed. I don't think there are many of their pubs that do decent food, and it just tends to be reheated Jack Frost crap passed off as home made at extortionate prices. I can see a lot of the pubs either closing next year or just opening on a part time basis, as it's not viable to keep them open all the time with the current mindset that H & B have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeddan Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 I see that once there used to be 177 brewers on the Island! http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iomnhas/lm3p106.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Well don't expect H & B to rise to the challenge and provide what you (and everyone else) wants. No wonder the pubs are so quiet...extortionate prices, piss poor service, fair to bad food and bland pubs with no character. Sure, there's a lot of crap pubs serving microwaved food, but there's also some superb pubs that are so busy you have to book where the food is very good indeed. You need to open your eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 I see that once there used to be 177 brewers on the Island! http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iomnhas/lm3p106.htm in those days (early 16th C) beer was very local, there were very few roads to carry it along, mind you Peel Castle had to import beer from Peel when the brewing pan broke and and lost much in the carriage (in those days by boat) - however by end of 19th century the era of few big brewers was established (with also yet another attempt to set up a monopoly but this went badly wrong and many lost out in the speculation) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triskelion Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 This Island doesn't do competition, and the public suffer as a result. It will be interesting to see who takes over The Old Courthouse. We could do with a Weatherspoons over here, but no doubt the Government will block that as well. H & B are a disgrace. They have no imagination and they have got away with ripping people off for far too long. As a result, they are now reaping what they have sowed. I don't think there are many of their pubs that do decent food, and it just tends to be reheated Jack Frost crap passed off as home made at extortionate prices. I can see a lot of the pubs either closing next year or just opening on a part time basis, as it's not viable to keep them open all the time with the current mindset that H & B have. Oh sweet irony. You say "fair to bad food and bland pubs with no character" yet say the Island needs a Wetherspoons, who specialise in reheated crap and are quite possibly the most unimaginative pubs of all, being a chain. If you don't like it, why don't you start your own brewery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GD4ELI Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Well don't expect H & B to rise to the challenge and provide what you (and everyone else) wants. No wonder the pubs are so quiet...extortionate prices, piss poor service, fair to bad food and bland pubs with no character. Sure, there's a lot of crap pubs serving microwaved food, but there's also some superb pubs that are so busy you have to book where the food is very good indeed. You need to open your eyes. Anyone been to the Grosvenor in Andreas recently? Is there anywhere in the north worth going to these days for food at lunchtime? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Sure, there's a lot of crap pubs serving microwaved food, but there's also some superb pubs that are so busy you have to book where the food is very good indeed. You need to open your eyes. Exactly. If you can find a decent pub that has a good chef (as opposed to serving "ping" meals) then they are well worth visiting. However a busy pub doesn't automatically mean good food, it may be cheap crap served in large portions which billies like a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
When Skies Are Grey Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 We could do with a Weatherspoons over here...... I hope to God that's not a serious comment..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manshimajin Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 We could do with a Weatherspoons over here...... I hope to God that's not a serious comment..... A pub with gastro seems to suit some tastes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesultanofsheight Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 We could do with a Weatherspoons over here Why? We have enough crap pubs why would we want to bring over the cheapest crappiest pub chain of them all. It might keep the tramps out of the promenade gardens though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananaman Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 We could do with a Weatherspoons over here Why? We have enough crap pubs why would we want to bring over the cheapest crappiest pub chain of them all. It might keep the tramps out of the promenade gardens though. Jebus - if ever there was a company that can suck the atmosphere out of any pub it's this lot. Hate Weatherspoons. Bah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparx Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Well, its nice to join such a fracas half way through but I'll give it a shot. Yeah, most people have hit the nail on the head when it comes to the pubs over here. I'm from Castletown (whoop)........ ok I take that whoop back. I must say that this town's nightlife, and I use that term in the loosest way possible can only be described in the following way. If it were any more dull it would tear a hole in the fabric of our reality and usher in a new dark age for mankind. I really can't remember the last time I had a really decent night out here. For those of you who aren't familiar with what we have to offer here I shall give you all a brief rundown of our quaint little town. The Viking. A freehouse situated next to the railway station, possibly the most overlooked pub in the whole town due to the fact that mars probably has more of an atmosphere than this place and a bar of gold is probably a damn sight cheaper than buying a pint of just about anything they sell. The food is ok, but buy the time you've been served you could of probably killed a cow, butchered it, sold half of it for a profit and made it into a nice stew. The Sidings. My personal favourite in the town, cheap ale, and a big selection too. Just about every real ale they sell is priced at around £2 - £2.20 and even the lager is cheap at around £2.50. They've got a real fire too, always handy in the winter and if you're willing to overlook the near permenant smell of farts that seems to linger like beijing smog then its a good choice. The Castle Arms (Glue Pot). Now don't get me wrong, I used to work there, but it's just not got it anymore. I'd say the only reason that this place is still running is the tin bath races and the fact that it's situated next to a castle. You could probably fit 20 people in there tops, food is not amazing but if you've ever seen the mousehole of a kitchen they have then you'll understand. The Ship. Dingy, seriously in need of a fun injection and for some perplexing reason seems to attract the "upper class" of Castletown. By that I mean it attracts people who assume they're better than you because they're wearing tweed and sitting in a bar that's made to look (vaguely) like the interior of a ship. The Union. My early memories of this pub were happy ones, no matter what day of the week it was the sounds of laughter could be heard echoing from this place. That was nearly 20 years ago. These days its a much different story. The only sounds you can hear echoing from this place now are ususaly the sounds of an ashtray being smashed through a window or the sounds of yet another drunk being escorted from the premesis by the local police. Oh how the mighty have fallen The George. Oh yes readers, I've saved the best till last. H&B's shining example of refubishment, turning a mediocre slightly dated looking pub into a mediocre modern looking pub. I must say they have outdone themselves here. This pub is overpriced, the staff look like they may commit suicide at any given moment and most of the patrons are... colourful to say the least. It's been the host of quite possibly the biggest pub brawl I've ever witnessed. When its not totally dead on the weekend it can be quite lively and interesting, in the same way that covering your hand in blood and dipping it into a tank full of pirahnas can be lively and interesting. But hey. I dont have to drink in Castletown do I? I could always spend more money drinking in Douglas, in establishments that are pretty much exactly the same, and as an added bonus, I get to spend nearly £30 on a taxi home at the end of it. I really makes me wonder why more people dont come over here for a stag do or hen night, its awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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