PUB OF THE MONTH

MAY 2011 - RAILWAY, HALMEREND

Hands up who doesn't know where Halmerend is. It is well worth brushing up on your local geography, so you can find your way to the Railway. This is a lovely local pub, which has been turned round in the past eighteen months by Steve and Julie Johnson. On the right as you enter is the bar, with four hand pumps, a real fire, and the dart board. Steve has three regular beers on: Marston's Pedigree, Jennings' Cockerhoop and Wychwood Hobgoblin, plus a guest from the Marston's list. The locals get through 2000 pints a week, greatly encouraged by all draught beers (even the lagers) being £2.60 a pint before 9pm. The friendly atmosphere is ensured by Julie's activity as Chair of the local Pubwatch group – unwelcome behaviour is not tolerated.

On the left as you enter the pub is the very comfortable lounge, also with a fire in the darker days, and beyond that is the small back lounge with fireplace and three-piece suite – as cosy as your front room. Steve fancied putting a pool table in here, until he measured up and realised the cues would have to be shortened too much for comfort. The corridor linking the lounges to the bar has, appropriately enough, several replica steam engine nameplates. The pub got its name from being alongside Halmerend station, which was demolished around 1933 (although the original station house is still there on Station Road opposite). The railway itself was closed in 1963, after the closure of Leycett mine. The list of landlords from 1871 and photos of old Audley add historic interest.

No food is served yet, but the pub is very busy at weekends. The darts team plays in the Alsager League on Monday evenings, and on Friday evenings the local poker league plays there. On the last Saturday in the month there is a charity poker tournament, supporting the charity nominated by ROF, Radway Green – this year it is the British Legion.

All right, so where is Halmerend, and how do you get there? It is on the B5367 from Newcastle between Alsagers Bank and Audley, and is well served in the evening by the no. 94A bus from Newastle. It leaves Newcastle at 15 minutes to teach hour, reaching the Railway about twenty minu tes later. For the return journey the bus leaves Audley at thirteen minutes past the hour (last bus 2313), reaching the pub 3-4 minutes later. The trick is to watch for that bus passing on its way to Audley at about 2305, which gives you time to finish your pint in nice time to catch it on the way back.

The Railway is in High St, Halmerend, ST7 8AG, T: 01782-722177. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1600-0100, Sat 1600 – 0200, Sun 1200-0100, although last entry on each day is 23:00 hours (Note that the branch meeting starts at 2pm on the Saturday, for which the pub will open up especially for.)

A Branch meeting will be held at 1400 on Saturday 7th May, followed by the Pub of the Month presentation at about 1630.

The above review was written by Ken Lee for the current edition of the Potters Bar. Pick up a copy in one of our local pubs now.

For earlier reviews, please visit the Archive Section