Anyone had a drinking experience at Bruxelles Midi Station or in the 
immediate area?
I will be passing through the station on August 4th in the afternoon so will 
be looking for a decent beer.
The "pdf" map of the station shows 4 "Taverne/Pub"... any info / reports?

Ken Ward.

Ken Ward wrote:

> Anyone had a drinking experience at Bruxelles Midi Station or in the 
> immediate area?

It's not the best area (in a number of ways!). The station itself is 
okay to wait for train, but the immediate area is a bit grotty, and the 
bars I've found have also been pretty grotty and/or since been demolished.

There have been some suggestions in the misc.transport.rail.europe 
newsgroup in the past, but many are along the lines of "first take a 
tram to...".

-- 
Arthur Figgis               Surrey, UK

"Ken Ward"  wrote in message 
news:LnKam.101207$ay4.89461@newsfe27.ams2...
> Anyone had a drinking experience at Bruxelles Midi Station or in the 
> immediate area?
> I will be passing through the station on August 4th in the afternoon so 
> will be looking for a decent beer.
> The "pdf" map of the station shows 4 "Taverne/Pub"... any info / reports?
>

This area really is dire for 'decent' beer. From the main circulating area, 
the tunnel under the whole complex, at the Eurostar end - so in fact where 
you hit the tunnel when exiting Eurostar, exit the station and directly 
opposite are several fairly modern cafes. Most will offer one or two 
Trappist beers, perhaps one other beer of interest, but they really don't 
have much to recommend them if interested in quality beer.

I presume you may have luggage in tow, so hopping to Brussels Central is 
probably impractical, but there are number of fine cafes within striking 
distance of that station.

David

In article <LnKam.101207$ay4.89461@newsfe27.ams2>, Ken Ward 
 writes
>Anyone had a drinking experience at Bruxelles Midi Station or in the
>immediate area?
>I will be passing through the station on August 4th in the afternoon so will
>be looking for a decent beer.
>The "pdf" map of the station shows 4 "Taverne/Pub"... any info / reports?
>
The Cantillon Brewery is located at 56 rue Gheude 1070 Brussels, about 5 
minutes walk from the Gare du Midi. Apparently this also houses the 
Brussels Museum of the Gueuze, where your admission fee also gets you a 
glass of beer. Have a look at <http://www.cantillon.be/>.

I must confess that when we stayed near the Midi station some years ago 
I never took the opportunity to visit the brewery.

Roy.
-- 
Roy Bailey
West Berkshire.

In article <AP0bm.86165$l73.82666@newsfe11.ams2>,
 "David Thornhill"  wrote:

> you hit the tunnel when exiting Eurostar, exit the station and directly 
> opposite are several fairly modern cafes. Most will offer one or two 
> Trappist beers, perhaps one other beer of interest, but they really don't 
> have much to recommend them if interested in quality beer.

I had a couple of beers at one of these cafes waiting to board Eurostar 
home two weeks ago - it was a hot day and the beers I had went down 
rather too well. Even basic Belgium lager like Jupiler isn't that bad 
compared with English lager (well, isn't anything...).

E.

"Roy Bailey"  wrote in message 
news:r$1$JeDAeYbKFwNs@roy.bailey.waitrose.com...
> In article <LnKam.101207$ay4.89461@newsfe27.ams2>, Ken Ward 
>  writes
>>Anyone had a drinking experience at Bruxelles Midi Station or in the
>>immediate area?
>>I will be passing through the station on August 4th in the afternoon so 
>>will
>>be looking for a decent beer.
>>The "pdf" map of the station shows 4 "Taverne/Pub"... any info / reports?
>>
> The Cantillon Brewery is located at 56 rue Gheude 1070 Brussels, about 5 
> minutes walk from the Gare du Midi. Apparently this also houses the 
> Brussels Museum of the Gueuze, where your admission fee also gets you a 
> glass of beer. Have a look at <http://www.cantillon.be/>.
>
> I must confess that when we stayed near the Midi station some years ago I 
> never took the opportunity to visit the brewery.

Thanks for all the info,
I now have a good idea of the area.... and... my chance's of getting a 
decent beer.
May have to get a "bag of chips" instead :-).

Ken Ward (next time I'll go for a longer stay!)

Roy Bailey wrote, On 07/27/2009 03:54 AM:

> In article <LnKam.101207$ay4.89461@newsfe27.ams2>, Ken Ward 
>  writes
> 
>> Anyone had a drinking experience at Bruxelles Midi Station or in the
>> immediate area?
>> I will be passing through the station on August 4th in the afternoon 
>> so will
>> be looking for a decent beer.
>> The "pdf" map of the station shows 4 "Taverne/Pub"... any info / reports?
>>
> The Cantillon Brewery is located at 56 rue Gheude 1070 Brussels, about 5 
> minutes walk from the Gare du Midi.

Cantillon is about 1km from Gare du Midi, so a five-minute walk would be
a pretty rapid clip.  More like ten to fifteen minutes.

The most worthwhile cafe near Gare du Midi was Au Laboreur, but it shut
down (most unfortunately).  Drinking possibilities in the area within a
short walk are not great.  You're better off catching one of many "free"
trains up to Gare Centrale and walking to, say, A La Mort Subite, which
is, in fact, about a five minute walk.

Ken Ward wrote:
> "Roy Bailey"  wrote in message 
> news:r$1$JeDAeYbKFwNs@roy.bailey.waitrose.com...
>> In article <LnKam.101207$ay4.89461@newsfe27.ams2>, Ken Ward 
>>  writes
>>> Anyone had a drinking experience at Bruxelles Midi Station or in the
>>> immediate area?
>>> I will be passing through the station on August 4th in the afternoon so 
>>> will
>>> be looking for a decent beer.
>>> The "pdf" map of the station shows 4 "Taverne/Pub"... any info / reports?
>>>
>> The Cantillon Brewery is located at 56 rue Gheude 1070 Brussels, about 5 
>> minutes walk from the Gare du Midi. Apparently this also houses the 
>> Brussels Museum of the Gueuze, where your admission fee also gets you a 
>> glass of beer. Have a look at <http://www.cantillon.be/>.
>>
>> I must confess that when we stayed near the Midi station some years ago I 
>> never took the opportunity to visit the brewery.
> 
> Thanks for all the info,
> I now have a good idea of the area.... and... my chance's of getting a 
> decent beer.
> May have to get a "bag of chips" instead :-).

If you are there after dark, you might well get offered lots of 
entertainment possibilities just outside the station - or least the 
chance to learn the French for "business, gents?"...

It might be worth mentioning that a Eurostar is ticket is valid for free 
travel onwards from Midi to Central station (or any other Belgian station).
-- 
Arthur Figgis               Surrey, UK

In article ,
 Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote:

> It might be worth mentioning that a Eurostar is ticket is valid for free 
> travel onwards from Midi to Central station (or any other Belgian station).

Indeed - I used my ticket recently to travel to Leyven (about 30 mins 
away) for a business meeting. Leuven, I'm told, is a Belgium beer mecca 
but sadly I didn't have time to sample any.

E.

In article , dgs 
<?@echten.treu.invalid> writes
>Roy Bailey wrote, On 07/27/2009 03:54 AM:
>
>> In article <LnKam.101207$ay4.89461@newsfe27.ams2>, Ken Ward 
>> writes
>>
>>> Anyone had a drinking experience at Bruxelles Midi Station or in the
>>> immediate area?
>>> I will be passing through the station on August 4th in the afternoon 
>>>so will
>>> be looking for a decent beer.
>>> The "pdf" map of the station shows 4 "Taverne/Pub"... any info / reports?
>>>
>> The Cantillon Brewery is located at 56 rue Gheude 1070 Brussels, 
>>about 5  minutes walk from the Gare du Midi.
>
>Cantillon is about 1km from Gare du Midi, so a five-minute walk would be
>a pretty rapid clip.  More like ten to fifteen minutes.
>
Their website says: 5' from the Gare du Midi. I assumed that the 
apostrophe after the 5 meant minutes.

If Ken was really thirsty he might do it in 5 minutes!

Roy.
-- 
Roy Bailey
West Berkshire.

"Arthur Figgis" <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in message 
news:4eKdncE09K_rAvPXnZ2dnUVZ8j6dnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>
> It might be worth mentioning that a Eurostar is ticket is valid for free 
> travel onwards from Midi to Central station (or any other Belgian 
> station).


Thanks for the "tips" arthur but, I'll be away from Midi at 19:59, hopefully 
in daylight.
I will be using my "self printed" Eurostar ticket from Charleroi to Midi. 
Hope it works :-).

It seems to be a drink and something to eat in Midi and on the Eurostar 
home.. must stay
longer next time, especially after practicing with some lovely "Saltaire 
Blackberry Cascade" yesterday in Bolton Spoons.

Ken Ward.

Ken Ward wrote:
> "Arthur Figgis" <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in message 
> news:4eKdncE09K_rAvPXnZ2dnUVZ8j6dnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>> It might be worth mentioning that a Eurostar is ticket is valid for free 
>> travel onwards from Midi to Central station (or any other Belgian 
>> station).
> 
> 
> Thanks for the "tips" arthur but, I'll be away from Midi at 19:59, hopefully 
> in daylight.
> I will be using my "self printed" Eurostar ticket from Charleroi to Midi. 
> Hope it works :-).

I've had no problems using Eurostar tickets on SNCB. However I once had 
problems buying a normal SNCB ticket from Liege to Charleroi, because 
the ticket clerk refused to believe anyone from abroad would want to go 
there and so tried to persuade me to go to Brussels instead. :)

 From what I saw of Charleroi while I ticked off the tram lines, she did 
have a point...

-- 
Arthur Figgis               Surrey, UK

"Arthur Figgis" <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in message 
news:F9idnTG-I_-KyvLXnZ2dnUVZ8o2dnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
> Ken Ward wrote:
>> "Arthur Figgis" <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in message 
>> news:4eKdncE09K_rAvPXnZ2dnUVZ8j6dnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>>> It might be worth mentioning that a Eurostar is ticket is valid for free 
>>> travel onwards from Midi to Central station (or any other Belgian 
>>> station).
>>
>>
>> Thanks for the "tips" arthur but, I'll be away from Midi at 19:59, 
>> hopefully in daylight.
>> I will be using my "self printed" Eurostar ticket from Charleroi to Midi. 
>> Hope it works :-).
>
> I've had no problems using Eurostar tickets on SNCB. However I once had 
> problems buying a normal SNCB ticket from Liege to Charleroi, because the 
> ticket clerk refused to believe anyone from abroad would want to go there 
> and so tried to persuade me to go to Brussels instead. :)
>
> From what I saw of Charleroi while I ticked off the tram lines, she did 
> have a point...

But, they always know what's best............

Ken Ward

On 27-Jul-09 20:02:41, eastender said
>In article <AP0bm.86165$l73.82666@newsfe11.ams2>,
> "David Thornhill"  wrote:

>> you hit the tunnel when exiting Eurostar, exit the station and directly
>> opposite are several fairly modern cafes. Most will offer one or two
>> Trappist beers, perhaps one other beer of interest, but they really don't
>> have much to recommend them if interested in quality beer.

>I had a couple of beers at one of these cafes waiting to board Eurostar
>home two weeks ago - it was a hot day and the beers I had went down
>rather too well. Even basic Belgium lager like Jupiler isn't that bad
>compared with English lager (well, isn't anything...).


I like some of those dark brown beers they do.

"Leffe" is it?

                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

On Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:13:02 +0100, Angus Manwaring  
 wrote:

> On 27-Jul-09 20:02:41, eastender said
>> In article <AP0bm.86165$l73.82666@newsfe11.ams2>,
>> "David Thornhill"  wrote:
>
>>> you hit the tunnel when exiting Eurostar, exit the station and directly
>>> opposite are several fairly modern cafes. Most will offer one or two
>>> Trappist beers, perhaps one other beer of interest, but they really  
>>> don't
>>> have much to recommend them if interested in quality beer.
>
>> I had a couple of beers at one of these cafes waiting to board Eurostar
>> home two weeks ago - it was a hot day and the beers I had went down
>> rather too well. Even basic Belgium lager like Jupiler isn't that bad
>> compared with English lager (well, isn't anything...).
>
>
> I like some of those dark brown beers they do.
>
> "Leffe" is it?

Not necessarily.
Leffe Blonde is £2.50 a bottle in Lidl in the UK.
Leffe Brune (and Blonde) can be had from Tesco at 2 for a Fiver.
(750ml bottles). Might be the genuine import, with the euro being so  
strong to the pound, or maybe it's brewed in Magor.

Trappist beers are far superior to biere d'abbaye. (It'll be the holy  
water that they use)


(no sig separator)
>
>                   All the best,
>                         Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove  
> ANTISPEM)
>
> I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
> Game reviews by Amiga players  
> http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html
>


-- 
Siggy played guitar

On 30 July, 07:08, "Esra Sdrawkcab"  wrote:

> Trappist beers are far superior to biere d'abbaye. (It'll be the holy
> water that they use)

To Leffe and Grimbergen anyway. The smaller Abbey breweries
can be pretty good.

Esra Sdrawkcab wrote:

>On Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:13:02 +0100, Angus Manwaring  
> wrote:
>
>> On 27-Jul-09 20:02:41, eastender said
>>> In article <AP0bm.86165$l73.82666@newsfe11.ams2>,
>>> "David Thornhill"  wrote:
>>
>>>> you hit the tunnel when exiting Eurostar, exit the station and directly
>>>> opposite are several fairly modern cafes. Most will offer one or two
>>>> Trappist beers, perhaps one other beer of interest, but they really  
>>>> don't
>>>> have much to recommend them if interested in quality beer.
>>
>>> I had a couple of beers at one of these cafes waiting to board Eurostar
>>> home two weeks ago - it was a hot day and the beers I had went down
>>> rather too well. Even basic Belgium lager like Jupiler isn't that bad
>>> compared with English lager (well, isn't anything...).
>>
>>
>> I like some of those dark brown beers they do.
>>
>> "Leffe" is it?
>
>Not necessarily.
>Leffe Blonde is £2.50 a bottle in Lidl in the UK.
>Leffe Brune (and Blonde) can be had from Tesco at 2 for a Fiver.
>(750ml bottles). Might be the genuine import, with the euro being so  
>strong to the pound, or maybe it's brewed in Magor.
>
>Trappist beers are far superior to biere d'abbaye. (It'll be the holy  
>water that they use)

Leffe is Interbrew stuff isn't it? It's certainly mass produced these
days. The trappit brews are more artisanal in charchter. For a "brown"
trappist beer try the common (as in readily available) Chimay rouge at
6% (also comes in bleu at 9%.) or Westmalle Dubel at 7%.

The best brown ale that I have come across in Belgium is Liefmans.
That comes as Oud Bruin 5% or a more matured version  as Goudenband at
8%, also "to die for" is their Kreik matured over real cherries.
<drool>

The best beers in Belgium come not from a tap on the bar but in
bottles because they have a strong living tradition of bottle
conditioning. Some beers spend months conditioning at the brewery
before they are let out.
-- 
Phil Cook  http://www.therewaslight.co.uk

Phil Cook wrote:

> The best beers in Belgium come not from a tap on the bar but in
> bottles because they have a strong living tradition of bottle
> conditioning. Some beers spend months conditioning at the brewery
> before they are let out.

Is it just me who has a real job persuading the staff of Belgian bars 
that, even though I'm clearly British, I really do want a bottle of 
something interesting rather than Stella?

If I seem to be asking for St Fred's Trappist-brew XXX at ye olde 
specialist beer place, it /isn't/ because my phrase book has mangled the 
phrase for "Wifebeater s.v.p."

OTOH, when barmaids in German-speaking lands spot I'm British, they tend 
to tell me about interesting beers they have on, just in case I'd not 
spotted them.

-- 
Arthur Figgis               Surrey, UK