Bit late to the party here, but you are just so right! In 86/87 when i was at apprentice school in swindon, mid week when the rest of them were trying to get served in the pub, once or twice a week i would scoot down to reading straight after work soley for this purpose. As you say, the stoppers were just the best. Count me in when you hire the stock to to it again :).
Happy days!