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The Draughtsman Alehouse, Doncaster
Doncaster
DN1 1PE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
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 8117 recommendations about 8117 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 2452 recommendations about 2451 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 3269 recommendations about 2978 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 3339 recommendations about 3276 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 750 recommendations about 598 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 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
Finally found myself with sufficient time between trains to call in here for a half. It's a very nice room, well presented and interesting, with technical drawings of steam locomotives the principal adornments. Three hand pumps on the bar with Abbeydale Black Mass 6.66%, Tiny Rebel Cwtch and James and Kirkman Tha's Northern. This gave me a dilemma, as I had already had too many halves on my cycle ride to indulge in a Black Mass, I can't stand Cwtch and I normally resist drinking beers with stupid names. However, the latter proved to be a very drinkable brown ale so I'm glad I didn't let my prejudice affect me too much.
A few people were drinking in the enclosed area on the platform, and it must be a licensing condition that only non-glass drinking vessels can be used there, as the barman asked everyone if they were drinking inside or out, which must get a bit tedious over the course of a long day. A small gripe of my own - all the beers were priced at 10p more for a half than half the price of a pint. Thus Black Mass was £3.90 but £2.05 for a half. A bit petty, you say? But then it's a petty policy to be applying, I'd reply. And all of the beers here were more expensive than in the Corner Pin, which is only a five minute walk away.
On 19th June 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3746 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Draughtsman Alehouse
The Draughtsman is so called because a local architect who used the station regularly was very keen that the room now housing the pub be converted as long ago as the seventies. A fitting tribute to a noble aim.
It has been beautifully done with the lovely green original tiles painstakingly exposed by removing layers of paint and then polishing them up to their current condition, high ceiling, marble fireplace and chunky wood floor, bar and fittings. A chat with the governor's delightful mother, who was thoroughly enjoying her Plum Porter, revealed that a huge amount of work had gone into the refurbishment and that upon opening a steam train, the Flying Scotsmen I think, came through and blew it's whistle as the doors were opened. A lovely gesture and one which I hope bodes well for The Draughtsman.
It's a small space but has been cleverly designed making the very best of what's there and helped by a small, well defined, seating area on the platform.
The three handpumps offered J & K Maid Marian, Titanic Plum Porter and Hilltop American Pale Ale, the latter two of which were in great shape. That's a good selection for only three offers and is supplemented by 5 keg taps to the left behind the bar with all choices listed on a blackboard at the back of the bar.
In addition to train travellers it's also attracting custom from town and does now get busy on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The first place I'd head to in Donny whether arriving by train or not.
On 6th June 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]