The Griffin, Carlisle

This pub is in the 2010 Good Beer Guide, but is a large barn of a place with little atmosphere. Had Geltsdale Brampton bitter which was the only guest available. The other beer was Greene King IPA so I was disappointed with the choice in such a big place. Asked for soup of the day and was told it was pea and spinach, but when it came it was orange, more like a spicy carrot. Nice enough and the food menu was reasonably priced too. TV screens showing artists playing their music at a reasonable level allowing conversation.

OK pub for a station pub. Sells a couple of real ales usually at least one is from a micro. Has several large screens for the football so it gets busy when there's a match on. Service is usually OK here even when busy. Not much character has been left in here as it's simply a big room, has an upstairs though that opens at busy times.

2 floor pub close to carlisle train station.Opens 9:00 am food served & 2 real ales on.

Did the old, sneek off while wifey is shopping ploy and headed straight for this place which I'd noticed after leaving the railway station. It had many "were in the good beer guide" and "camra pub of the season" stickers in the window, so I was a little disappointed when there were only two real ales available (Jennings Cumberland and Brains Bitter). Plumped for the Brains. £2.56 Bargain. So I sat down in the not very plush interior and began to make notes. (pretty sad). Its a large building, bit of a drinking den, mainly lager and smoothflow drinkers, not many people eating food. The beer was ok but nothing special. You get a much better pint and better choice 100 yards down the road at the Woodrow Wilson. All the usual - beer pump clips and a big picture of John Barras, but sadly lacking in the art effects and parrot inhaler.

Ok, it was early in the morning, I was in here at 10am, but the pub was already busy. I had an an excuse, honest, its a long way from home, but reminds me of Wetherspoons, large pub, with people getting drunk early in the morning. But actually this is a nice pub with good beer, next to the railway station. I would recommend it.