Movers and Shakers

OK, it's been yet another month since I've posted anything new in a blog I had originally intended to be more-or-less daily.

I have reasons (some of them good, some of them not so good) but here we are, a month on and it's not like I haven't drunk any beer in that time.

One thing I've noticed is that S and I drink in pubs so often that it's really hard to impress us these days.  We can, however, still be surprised.

Such was a trip to the Prince Albert in Brighton.
The first surprise was that the visit was even suggested.
One thing I've learned in the last five years is you don't f*ck with the arrangements on a match day.

The day is:

• Meet at the Basketmakers and eat with a couple (probably three, actually) pints.
• Go to the match
• Have a pint or so on the concourse (the Amex serves real ale in the concourse bars - other football grounds please take note) to allow the crowds on the station to disperse a little.
• Train to Brighton station and thence to the Evening Star.

There are good reasons for this itinerary - the best one being that it works and works well.  We all know what to expect and even if we haven't been in touch, we know where folk will be.  Even the non-match goers (like I am most of the time) can pick up the entourage with confidence at whatever point we like.

Still, the last home match of the season had already been messed about with as the kick-off was 12.15pm for televisation purposes.

That meant there was no pre-match pub venue at all - also that lunch was delayed until after the match.  But we stuck to the Basketmakers to ensure lunch could be stress-free.
However, after eating and a couple of pints, one of our number suggested that we try a new place: The Prince Albert which is found just down the hill from the station.

So we did.

From the outside it looks a little bit challenging and the presence of jubilant Watford fans inside meant it was always going to be a little bit lively. But we're not people to be put off by that so we went inside.  They had a nice few beers on cask - including Burning Sky Plateau and Aurora.

It has to be said that the place is seriously pricey (over £12 for three pints) but there are lots of nice different place to sit and the beer was top notch.

So there we were, sitting with our beer feeling pleasantly surprised.  I'm quite interested to try it on a quieter day/time to see whether I could even be impressed by it.

You never know