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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Draughtsman Alehouse, Doncaster
Doncaster
DN1 1PE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
They still have a screen on the bar counter from Covid days, but this is used to change the point of service to the right hand edge, while pump clips can be observed through the perspex, though for those of us with an obsession, this makes photographing them very tricky. My half of The Kernel Half Brick 4.7% (a red rye ale) was enjoyable, though drinking out of plastic makes it difficult to judge the quality of the beer (possibly NBSS 3.5). I find it hard to warm to this bar, and it certainly isn't the Sheffield Tap. With more than 40 minutes between trains I would always go to the Little Plough, but with a 25 minute connection for a Sheffield train from platform 3b, it makes sense to call in here.
On 19th June 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
Supposed to be open but they called time at 1.15 on a Sunday afternoon?? Which meant it was take-out only, which I politely declined.
On 16th May 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
Former station buffet housed in a small square room with attractive tiling on the lower third of the side walls and a compact counter at the far end. Cleverly named, best appreciated with the landlord glimpsing at the engineering drawings of steam engines as he pours your pint. Also has a small 'outdoor' area under the Platform 3b canopy, although you will need a plastic 'glass' if you plan to sit out there. With three handpumps in use, I found Abbeydale's Pine Range, Neepsend Alphita (£3.60) and Made in the Shade from Track. Well worth a visit if changing trains at Doncaster.
On 10th July 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
Unusually for a station pub, this pub is located on one of the central platforms at Doncaster station. So, you can't access if from the outside of the station. Nevertheless, there are no ticket barriers at the station. So, you can access the bar easily without having to have a train ticket. Although when I walked down the steps to get to platform 3, I did notice some ticket inspectors checking tickets at the top of the steps opposite. So, I'm not quite sure how you get round that!
The former buffet bar is still very nicely decorated with tiling. It's very small inside, with only a handful of tables. Despite trade mainly being of a transient variety, many of the tables had reserved signs on them, which seemed a little odd.
The bar still has its screens as relics of the Covid era. 3 real ales are dispensed. Yesterday, these were Shiny Cinnabun Swirl, Milestone West Coast IPA & Wilde Child Excluding Preconception. Craft beers listed were Wild Beer Millionaire, North Double Transmission & Open Space, The Kernel Pale Ale & Pohjala Suvila. Although, I did see somebody try to order one of the North beers, only to be told it had just run out.
An interesting addition to the Doncaster pub scene. My Cinnabun Swirl was also enjoyable and in good condition.
On 9th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
Odder than usual drinking experience, covid regs still being over applied, big screens across the counter which is fine if the remaining serving area isn’t full of bar blockers... grrr. Otherwise such a good place and handy for the trains. Fecking cold outside but some choose to drink on the platform, train spotters no doubt.
On 13th February 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
One small room with five craft and three cask ales (one @ 7.00% ABV). Certainly worth a stop off if you are between trains.
On 16th March 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
Excellent use of an old station buffet, which has been turned into a speciality alehouse. The superb tiling works well, while a slightly basic bar has been added dispensing 3 cask and 5 keg craft beers, plus bottles and cans. The room is not large, holding a few tables and some stools round the edges, but there is an 'outdoor' area on the platform, although plastic glasses are required and it is still a no-smoking area. The cask ales on this visit were Geeves Stouty McStoutface, Chin Chin Route 101 and Wishbone Eezee. Certainly worth changing trains for, but you may well miss your connection. Note however that the door is apparently locked 30 mins before closing, which might explain the previous reviewer's problem.
On 31st October 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
As has been noted, this is located on Platform 3b at the station. Prior to double checking the address I had been expecting to find it on the concourse with the shops. Unfortunately when I arrived the door appeared to be locked, with a number pad on the door. Not sure what the deal is here, whether you have to be let in or whether they were closed (though I did spot a handful of people crowded round the bar). In any event I decided not to hang around and tried elsewhere. I would be willing to try again another time.
On 26th September 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 830 recommendations about 657 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
I thought about coming in here on arrival at Doncaster but decided not to as it looked busy. It's set in a former buffet bar and is just a square room with no TVs or other distractions but there is a quiet music track playing that I thought might be for the benefit of the busy bar staff. As noted below there is an enclosed area outside where only plastic glasses are allowed. I got here just after 18:00 on a Saturday and managed to find a seat inside.
The three hand pumps had Tiny Rebel Cwtch & Stay Puft and Wilde Child Outside The Box. I went for the Wilde Child beer and the Stay Puft (both £3.90) which were in good nick but slightly warm.
I thought this place was good but not great. The high prices may well be down to National Rail rents and Doncaster is a busy station. I much prefer places like this on quieter stations. I still wish it well but it seems to have already taken off.
On 13th August 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
Located on Platform 3b of the railway station, as there are no ticket barriers you can get there without travelling by train. A small, square room, beautifully tiled, wooden floor boards and a counter that looks like it’s made of railway sleepers. As noted the decor comprises four large general arrangement drawings of Doncaster built locomotives and some railway works related photos. There are three pulls with small breweries beers from the likes of Box and Wilde Child, the side wall has 5 keg taps. A nice micro pub however passing trains and station announcements make conversation difficult.
On 29th July 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]