Last of the year

 OK - this is a bit of a cheat since I'm really writing it on Saturday morning, not Friday night.

With escalating cases of the COVIDs we were in two minds whether to venture out at all - as I've said before, it's not because we're worried about our health (jabbed and boosted up to here...) but we really don't want to be part of the problem.  We like to think, wherever possible, we try to be part of the solution.

We'd played a new, very pub-friendly card game and got the gist of it (we often find it hard to learn new games in the pub) and then the question "...staying in then?"

We both ummmed and ahhhed for a few moments but decided we'd see what the Barley Mow was like (it was about 5pm).  Coats on and ambled around the corner.

It was pleasantly populated when we arrived so we got a pint and sat in the least busy corner.

We noted more new bar staff and wondered whether there had been a change of some sort, or just some holiday going on.

No matter, both the chaps on duty were friendly and efficient.

So we sat and drank our beers and played our game.  The pub got a little busier by the time I went for a second beer.  It was a fresh-on keg beer by Newtown Park (just around the corner) - it was the sort of strength we were looking for (6% or so) but called itself a "Pine IPA".  I hesitated for a moment or two. Then ordered two pints.

The guy at the bar and I shared a nonsense interaction and I asked when they were open again (expecting them to be closed on 1st) - but he said "I'll be open tomorrow - maybe not until 4pm, though".  Good enough for me.

The beer was different.  Not unpleasant at all, but a bit of a shock to the system.  The pine was very noticeable - to me it tasted rather minty when it was first poured, then mellowed to a slight citrussy taste as the beer warmed a little.  I'm not sure I'd rush back to it - but glad I had more than just a taste because I'd have probable decided against it on the first mouthful.

All in all, it was a good place to spend a couple of hours on the last day of the year.

Over the next few weeks I suspect there will be a lot of bombardment of "Dry January" which, as ever, we will definitely not be adhering to.  Our lovely pubs need us and (selfishly) they will be much less busy than usual so, for us, there's no better time to go to the pub.

Frankly, I'm going to be so busy with work over the next couple of months that going to the pub will be perfect way for me to manage my work-home balance.

Onwards - and upwards

Excursion

 The sun briefly came out yesterday and the boy looked longingly out.  Weather and lack of inclination had reduced our urge to excurt but we thought we should take advantage.

I've been wanting to go back to the Royal Oak in Bath for a while but the last couple of times it didn't come off.  Himself was up for it, although possibly slightly less keen.  I took a look on Google maps to see if there was anything nice to amble around near the pub and found an old railway track that had been turned into a greenway.  It took me by surprise!

I tried to see if I could find a circular route from Bath Spa station but the geography made it look rather difficult (it's not called the Two Tunnels route for nothing).

In the end, we took the easy way which was to get to Oldfield Park station and get on the path as close as possible and do an up and back "exploratory" walk so that we could try something more ambitious in the future.

It was a really pleasant walk -  would be even nice on a spring day but beggars and that...

We walked about 4.5 miles up and back (as far as the southern portal the second tunnel) and landed comfortably in the pub about 4.45pm.

It's a very traditional sort of place - basic but airy and it was good to see the bar hadn't changed position.

The pub now also houses a brewery and they had 4 of their own beers on.  If I'm honest I didn't expect too much but was really taken aback by how tasty the beer was.  It didn't even occur to us to try any of the 4 guest casks or 8 or keg beers (not to mention the 8 real ciders on the board).

We definitely want to go back - it had the right vibe for us as well as the excellent beer.  It's a 5 minute walk from the flat to the station and a 5 minute walk from the station to the pub.  Building in the 13 minute journey and a bit of slack time, it means we could be there around 30mins after leaving home.  Quite a lot closer than other pubs we like to go to...

Hopefully we'll get another visit in before we head back south.

Christmas Cheer

 A combination of grotty weather and no confirmed local pub openings for Christmas Day meant that we decided to hunker down in the flat for the day.

Naturally, there was a fair bit of beer in the fridge but, for the bulk of the day, we did our normal thing and drank tea.  We played a complicated board game (took 5 hours in total) and switched to a modest amount of the usual sort of beer come mid-afternoon.

Christmas Day tends to be quite an understated day for us so this was entirely in-keeping.

On Boxing Day, I did a bit of research and found that the Oxford was open.  So we ambled along the first bit of the Greenway, up and over the railway bridge and up the hill.

The pub looked warm and welcoming - three BBF beers on tap and a table away from the singer.  Perfect.

IT got a little bit busier and with that came extra noise but it was nice to be in a pub again.

After a couple of pints we strolled home to a shared can of Moor Rebirth (the Fullers ESB collab).

Now we're all sitting on tenter hooks again waiting to see what the outcome of the "briefing" is.

I daresay 4pm or so will find us out on a stroll to see what's open around.  After all, we may have to re-rely on fridge beer before too long...

New Kids on the Block (where block = railway arch)

 Last summer we learned that a new microbrewery and taproom was being planned just around the corner in one of the railway arches.  As time went on, no brewery appeared and nothing seemed to be happening so we just assumed it was vapourware and/or had been impacted by the plague.

Last Friday, on the way back from Moor we noticed people outside one of the arches...and people inside.  There seemed to be beer tanks and seating and stuff - and it looked bright and welcoming.  It looked for all the world like a soft-opening.  We'd already done our beer for the day, anyhow, but we marked it down and decided we'd come back as soon as we could.

Then one of our friends, DrP, messaged me with a link to a news story.  It indicated the place would be open imminently. It's called Little Martha.

Yesterday, I was feeling much recovered from my very mild cold which really only lasted 3 days (maybe the old advice of taking it easy and just managing symptoms with drugs rather than fighting through it actually works!) so suggested that we pop out and give it a try.

It is the closest beer place to our flat - closer, even, than the Barley Mow -  right next to the pasty shop, so about a 5 minute gentle amble (probably 3 minute power-walk).

There were about half a dozen people when we went in.

They had two tank beers, two kegs and two guests - pretty impressive.

The chaps behind the bar were friendly and engaging and the atmosphere immediately felt right.

Since two-thirds is now our measure of choice, we got a couple of their own least strong beer and sat at a comfy booth.

There was a slight tang of emulsion in the air which suggested that their last bits of setting up had been very recent indeed - it actually made me smile.

Being building material nerds we found ourselves looking at the fit-out admiringly.  Pretty humble materials have been marshalled, along with a simple decoration scheme to make the whole place feel really well designed and light and airy. Really impressed at the numbers of loos, too - which are so often an afterthought.

Anyhow - the beer is really the most important thing and it's really good. We assumed the brewer had come from another of the local breweries - but in chatting he told us this is his first venture of brewing for anyone else. In the past, we've observed that initially ex-home brewers' beers tend to taste a bit like homebrew.  Not the case here.

In all we tried three of their four own beers (time didn't allow us to try the stout) and we're keen to add it to our regular haunts.  As we observed - there are now the following taprooms within about 20 mins walk of the flat (in no particular order):

Little Martha, Moor, LHG x 2, Tapestry, Newtown/Verdant, Good Chemistry, King Street (8)

increase that radius to 40 mins and you can add

New Bristol, Wiper and True, Fierce and Noble, Lost and Grounded, Bristol Beer Factory (5)

All I can say is I'm sending mental entreaties to Arbor in case they might consider their own taproom.

Welcome Little Martha - you're in really good company and already holding your own.  If only we were here more often you'd probably see us very frequently indeed.

 

Plenty of Room at the Inn

 I was feeling considerably better yesterday and had a parcel to collect from a locker nearby. We identified a couple of other errands to run in town so decided to stroll over and see where it took us.

The walk was largely devoid of people and town, whilst a bit more populated, was much quieter than it should have been.  It was quite stark.

As we completed our final errand we mused about stopping somewhere on the way back.  Naturally, I suggested LHG and we both thought it was good shout since it's easy to look inside to see how busy it is and then bypass without hurting anyone's feelings.

Actually it was a tiny bit busier than the last time we arrived there at just-after-opening-time but there were no more than 30 customers and only about half the tables were populated.

We masked up, went in and ordered.  Then settled in comfortably.

It was another chance to marvel on the demographics of the customers - including women sitting on their own and drinking beer.  I'm pretty hardened to pubs (and a combination of factors mean I'm unlikely to be a pick-up target, on the whole) but I remember when I wasn't and how I was extremely picky about the places I'd be willing to go in on my own.

The Brewpub would definitely be one of them.  

As time went on, it should have got busier - but it didn't.  Come 7pm when we left, there were fewer people than when we had arrived.  This means it didn't have the right level of "after work" drinkers which have been so noticeable in the past.  It was a pretty stark reminder of what the pandemic and its societal adaptations is having on the hospitality industry.

We're pretty sure that LHG with its diversified business model can ride another disappointing Christmas and is more capable than most of rebounding in Spring (they have a huge covered terrace area which is enormously popular) but if this dip is so noticeable across the board then some others are going to go under. Literally, sobering thought.

Today, I've a mind to try a brand new brewery/bar which is probably the closest to us (closer than Moor or Barley Mow - actually slightly closer than the pasty shop) and looks interesting.  That's provided the man of the flat hasn't succumbed to the lurgy.

Turnip (for the books)

 Despite precautions, I find myself my first "cold" for about 3 years.

March2020 saw me with something altogether nastier although we have no way of knowing whether it was COVID or something else.

Yesterday I had a sore throat, today I'm full of snot - two LFTs indicate it's just a cold.

But even this gives me slight worries about going anywhere - the last thing people need is yet another different illness to cope with.  I know we wouldn't have thought twice about it a couple of years ago - I'd never have let some slight snotties impact my work or more social plans.

Yesterday, I really didn't fancy beer so settled on a combination of pear juice and some fizzy water.

Right now, I could kill a pint but I really don't want to pass on whatever I've got - and I also don't fancy being the ill person sitting in the corner of the pub - so we'll give it a miss (again) today.

It's eerily quiet around the offices next to the flat - and I'm pretty sure that'll translate to fewer people in the good beer places.

The measures announced today will help a little bit - but the uncertainty about just when further restrictions will hit will make planning a nightmare.

I strongly suspect that those making the decision just think you can close the doors and take away the half-opened bottles of wine for home consumption and then leave the rest to look after itself, without any further impact.

They probably don't understand (or care) about beer being a live thing since they probably just have bottles and cans in the fridge.

So I'm still coming down on the side of trying to support my much-loved outlets nearby since, once they've gone they don't come back and that would be a tragedy.

Thwarted Plans

 We had decided to visit a taproom on Saturday but we hadn't decided which one.

But Saturday weather was cold and grim, himself got stuck into a new programming project and so was totally absorbed, I was doom-scrolling and becoming increasingly uncomfortable at infection levels etc.

By 5pm it was a toss-up between attacking the beer in the fridge or trying somewhere not too far away and being willing to come home if we didn't fancy it.  Unsurprisingly, that meant heading to the Barley Mow.

There was a table free, the rear door was open to help with ventillation and, to be honest, it wasn't all that full.  Mask wearing whilst walking around was at a rate of about 60% (more in young people than older, unfortunately).  We settled in and we enjoyed the beer - but probably didn't exactly relax fully.

Clearly people are more retiscent at mixing and that has to be a good thing - but really sucks for the pub trade.

Brother and Sister-in-Law are coming over for dinner tomorrow evening - we checked in with each other to see if either wanted to call it off but we've settled on pre-meeting LFTs instead.  We'll all have been jabbed to the hilt but, even so, caution is definitely needed.

I have no feelings either way about Christmas - it's a celebration I've not really enjoyed that much since my teens but I do understand that other people feel very differently. 

 My big fear is that the pubs we love, who are under the cosh again, will simply decide it's just too much effort and will cut their losses, even without financial support. 

Let's do what we can to help, when we can.

Crunch Time Again

 With COVID cases increasing hugely, the government is doing what it did just before the first lockdown:  telling us not to go to places and gather with people, but not supporting the businesses about to be hit by lack of customers again.

So that leaves us with a bit of a dilemma.

It'll be abundantly clear that we really don't like ANY busy places at ANY time of year.  We had learned to tolerate it in the Basketmakers and the Evening Star on match days and in the Barley Mow in December.

Nearly two years into this dratted pandemic, Best Beer Buddy and I are much, much less likely to see lots of people gathering in a place as being a necessary evil to suffer in order to see the benefit of our wish to drink good beer.

Yesterday we travelled back to Bristol and decided to avoid London (and specifically the tube).  One way wold have been to travel via the South Coast - but there's a lesser-encouraged route:  Eastbourne-Gatwick-Reading.  We didn't like the idea of not getting on the Bristol train at its origin point since we'd probably be on the last off-peak train and it is usually pretty busy.  But we decided that it was worth a try.

The last transfer - off the train from Gatwick and then onto the train from London involved a bit of a trek since we'd managed to get ourselves on the last carriage thanks to a direction reversal at Redhill (sigh).  Also the transfer time was only about 6 minutes.

It was a tiny bit stressful to make the crossing but the train pulled in just as we landed at the bottom of the escalator.  We got on the nearest carriage and found a seat really easily so there was a gentle sigh of relief of catching the train and there having been no crowds en route.

There was a minor/annoying fridge incident to be dealt with when we arrived at the flat but within 20 mins we were heading to the Barley Mow braced to give it a miss if there were too many people.

We were in luck.  Plenty of space, LOADS of beer and a fair bit of mask wearing whilst walking about so we settled in.  A really nice early evening ensued and we didn't manage to exhaust the range of beer available to try.

Clearly the working from home mandate has affected the BM but we find ourselves wondering what our most responsible course of action is now.

Do we support the pubs we love so much by doing our usual drink-whilst-avoiding-crowds thing, or do we stay home so as not to be part of the virus vehicle?

We're both jabbed to teeth (3 COVID + 1 Flu) and we wear masks where we can. We don't really socialise, nor do we talk very loudly in the pub - we sit in the corner, drink at a rate of approximately 1 pint per hour each and generally don't clutter up the place too much.  We also test a couple of times a week.

I think it's too much the industry to expect to rely on December drinking to recover everything that's happened but I'd like to think there's a balance we can help with by going to the pub - but carefully.

I really hope I'm right. 

On enjoyment

 Does beer absolutely have to be brilliant beer in order to be enjoyed?

No, I don't think so.

We're spoiled to hell with the absolutely unequivocal, context-independent beer we get to have.  That's to say - if you gave us that beer under any circumstances, we'd say it was great beer.

Nevertheless, that level of beer excellence isn't always available - especially when you're in a place you don't know very well (or, in parts of Eastbourne).

So, is it still possible to enjoy beer you know isn't the absolute best, and enjoy it in an entirely unforced way?

I think so, yes.

Last week, we were both working in our new lab/workshop which is very close to Eastbourne's Belgian Bar.  We were also planning on reacquainting ourselves with our favourite Italian restaurant, which we'd been unable to get in the last couple of times we tried.  We figured a cold November Thursday would be as good a time to try as any.

Obvously, after work and before pizza comes beer.  Both establishments lie close together, and a hop and a skip from our workplace.

The staff in the Belgian Bar are wonderfully friendly and the range of beer - all made on the premises - is impressive (about 8 keg lines) but it has to be said the beer itself is somewhat quirky. 

I've seen local beer folk be very derogatory about it but for me, the whole setup is so un-Eastbourne that I can't help but like it very much indeed.

So - we ambled around the corner and had a couple of pints and then trotted down the road maybe 20 years to fantastic pizza (and a bottle o red) and chatted with the lady the runs front of house and seems to read our minds on what we want.

By the time we got home, I would have to count this as the perfect evening - every part of it.

Context can make excellent beer out of OK beer and that makes me happy, too.

All's Right...

 ...not with the world, obviously, but certainly with the Barley Mow.

We did a weird coming late train journey on Thursday because I had an appointment with a flu jab in the afternoon. We thought that travelling on Thursday evening would mean that if I had a bit of reaction overnight, at least we wouldn't have to travel suffering it.

It was a good plan.

It feels odd arriving at the flat at close to 10pm but we had a 30min chill out, and then hit the bed.

Friday we went to Moor Tap which, as ever, is a delight.  A delicious Mild on cask barely touched the sides and we were further entertained by the group of lads who were clearly enjoying the Hoppers self-guided tour they'd booked.  Evidently novices on the subject of craft beer, they were treated to an informative chat with the bar staff who also persuaded them to try a tiny shot of Cantillion (with fruit, I think).  There was a loud squeal of horror but then a discussion about sour beers and their relative merits.

The guys' enjoyment of the experience was evident and they then headed (so we overheard) to the Barley Mow.

We finished on a couple of dark beers (me Freddy, him Badass Sour Stout) and tried a takeaway which promised it was open - but didn't really seem to be (sigh).

On Saturday we did something we seldom do: we went to the Barley Mow (we often go there...but not on a Saturday).  It was busy because Rugby was on and we toyed with finding somewhere else but then the boy found a table to stand by (no chairs, but you can't have everything) and then shortly after, a table WITH chairs became available.

We settled in and watched our favourite pub.  There were two guest casks on (the first time we've seen that for ages) and a full board of keg beers.

It was noisy and buzzing, but never unpleasant.  People came and went and after the rugby finished it thinned out a little - but remained lively.

For the first time since dratted plague hit, the BM felt normal - all was indeed right with it.

More Firsts

 Whilst Eastbourne can be a little bit m'eh on the beer excitement front our usual haunts don't disappoint.  We also made it to the Victoria last weekend after some working in the new HQ on a Saturday.

Best Beer Buddy was somewhat concerned that with the pub being a Sky Sports kinda place that there would be much watching of football, with the attendant loud crowd that this brings.

As it was no football was showing but there was international rugby. This can bring a different kind of loud crowd but in the event it was very pleasant in there.  Lively enough to smile at, but not so much that it felt unpleasant.  So there much Bonfire Boy drunk - it being the seasonal beer - and we followed it with a trip to the nearby Thai Restaurant - pretty much perfection. There was also smugness as we got a bus (rather than cab) home.

This Friday I had to go to St Leonards for work and I owed our client (well a sort of colleague, really) a lunch.  I insisted we went to Heist on the selfish grounds that I wanted to try the Three Legs bar there.

We were not disappointed, either.  Colleague asked me to choose a beer for her and we had a couple of dishes from the Indonesian stall and chatted and plotted for an hour or more.  We'll definitely be going back there!

As we were over that way, it seemed rude not to call into meet up with a friend (also colleague) in Bexhill and try the micropub there.

Now, this place is much more traditional, being run by some CAMRA chaps of a certain age (well, my age, really) but a good enough selection of beer that wouldn't frighten the CAMRA horses service from a large cold cabinet.  It was busy by the time I arrived at just after 3pm and we went through two changes of table in order to accommodate the three of us properly, nevertheless it's a welcome addition to this sleepy town and, given the opportunity, I'd certainly go back.  

It's Sunday now - and we've plans to pop up to the Hurst just in case they've still got that gorgeous "Prince of Denmark" beer on...

Back in Sussex

 Our spell in Bristol was awash with lovely beer and although we had lots of work to do, it still felt less frantic than the day to day work at TechResort.

But now we're back!

Leases have been signed, furniture has been moved and we're into our new base.

It's been really lovely ending the day in a local pub or taproom.  The beer has felt properly earned and that's a really nice feeling.

Even better, after a day working from home yesterday, we were able to avail ourselves of The Crown's beer festival.

The beer was good, the pub was lively - and even though we prefer it when it's quiet it's lovely to see people supporting their local.

Eastbourne is a diffcult place for beer sometimes but every now and again there's a light...

Taproom 3

 This is only tangentally about beer - but the thoughts occurred throughout the day, but crystallised in the LHG Taproom in the afternoon.

I find Woman's Hour a little bit tedious, at times but something someone said yesterday made me think of all the times in my life I've felt the need to prove a bloody point with men - and how that's shaped how I behave.

Ironically I never had to prove anything at home when I was growing up.  My dad involved me in gardening and woodwork and anything else, if I was interested (which I usually was).  As I got older and my dad needed more help around the house because of his health I ended up fixing the car, wallpapering the stairs (no, really...at the age of 18 or so), dismantling the washing machine so he could make a repair, etc, etc.

When I was very little my everso-tolerant lovely brother who is 8 years my senior had to put up with me demanding to play with his Lego, his soldiers, his Subbuteo and Scalextric and for him to teach me snooker and darts.  Later on he taught me guitar and photography and I never remember him seriously complaining.

I guess my mum may have been a little disappointed in my total lack of interest in clothes (I mean, I didn't want to walk around naked or anything, but I had no interest in new or "pretty" clothes) - but I think she did eventually get over that.

It was when I ventured out into the wider world when I started work when I started to notice how prickly I got when men either patronised or, more often, underestimated me.

It started with the actuary who, when I asked him a question on the application of algebra to make mine and my colleagues' jobs a bit quicker, patted his seat and said "take a seat, my dear".  I responded by getting really cross (although he was very, very senior) and said "there's no need to talk down to me, I've got an A Level in maths - I just want help applying it here!" (my A Level grade was a shocker, but I didn't feel the need to tell him that).

Actually, he and I became pretty firm friends after I told him off, and learned that my aunt who he had previously worked with had done much the same.  

Anyhow - my next really strong memory of putting a bloke in his place was raising my voice at a school friend's boyfriend in the pub one evening when he said that drinking pints wasn't ladylike so he wouldn't buy me a pint but would be prepared to buy me two halves if I insisted.

A few years later, I took indecent glee when this same chap was giving me a lift home one night and the car got a puncture.  We all got out and he (and another male friend of his) attempted to change the wheel - but had no idea how and this culminated in him trying to loosen the wheel nuts with the car fully jacked up.  I rolled my eyes (and made whatever the noise of that is), snatched the wheel brace from him, lowered the car, loosened the nuts, jacked it back up again and put the brace back in his hand.  To be honest, this now makes me feel a bit petty but at the time it felt SO good.

Later in my career I worked a lot with IT men (but always as part of the business, not the IT dept) - by then I'd done a part-time degree in computing, maths and technology subjects and was pretty pleased with my 2.1 BSc.  I'd been playing with computers since I was about 15 but a lot of the IT guys used a special voice with me that pissed me off something rotten.  I was prone, therefore, to quite public take-downs of men who used that voice from time to time. 

Though, actually, it was a private take down that I remember more than anything - when a very senior IT guy asked for some information about stuff I was testing for him and I said "it happens on this server, but not that one" and he said (using the "voice", natch) "No, that's not possible - all the servers are set up the same".  This went on for all the time I was doing the testing - I always noted the difference between servers and passed on the information - but always with the same reply.

The denouement came on the day I stopped passing on the information about what server I was working on. When I reported an issue he said "what server are you on...?" and of course, chippy me took over and said "but I thought all the servers were identical?" and when he asked "I suppose you think that's funny, do you?" I just answered "yes".

I very, very rarely get that incandescent feeling any more - I'm not sure if age has mellowed me, or whether the men I'm around are different, or have learned better.  Rather I tend to notice more positive things.

<here we come to the beer link>

We were in the LHG taproom yesterday in the "after work" shift and I was doing a lot of people-watching.

I saw women sitting on their own with books or tablets and a beer and a pizza.

I saw groups of women ordering flights of beers and delighting in trying them.

I saw a couple of women having a romantic date with beer.

Then I saw a woman who was sitting outside in a mixed group of people, carry three beer glasses and navigate the stiff door with an expert hip-check without spilling a drop and take them to her table.  I have many years' practice carrying three pints (they were 2/3rd glasses, but it's still quite a feat) and it was fantastic to see another woman do that.

(I also saw a party of 5 or so middle-aged blokes totally unable to locate and use a door - which was mildly entertaining).

I think I mostly marvelled at a mainly-beer venue being so equally split between men and women, and for that not to be just in the company of a man.

I know there's a lot of talk about bad behaviour towards women in the beer industry and it's unforgiveable but little pockets of welcoming loveliness can restore my faith a little from time to time.

Another Day, Another Taproom

 Weekends are very busy times in the good beer places in Bristol.

We've always disliked crowds so it's natural for us to avoid them wherever feasible.  The pandemic hasn't really made us any less willing to submit ourselves to crowds but it has made us even better at finding quiet places.

We realised we hadn't been to the New Bristol Brewery taproom for...so, so, long.  As one of our other hobbies, we're playing film cameras (old ones) and then we've learned how to develop film (1 part wanting to know how, one part economy measure, one part...we're makers, so we make stuff) and it was necessary to pop into town to a camera shop which still stocks traditional film stock and chemicals.

A chat with the chap in the shop (who, I remembered after we'd left, used to be a regular in the Hare on the Hill) saw us coming away with a one-shot precessing chemical which promises to be easier and more economical than the usual raft of liquids.

It was busy in the shop demonstrating a seeming resurgence in film and its processing and smiling a little, we headed off to NBB's site which is a little north of the main drag of town.

We know not to expect cask beer (the cask pint in the Moor Tap on Friday was such a pleasant suprise) but it's so lovely to see such a wide range of style available (inc lager and cider if that's your bag). It was buzzing inside and out but not too crowded and it made for a very pleasant couple of hours.  

We headed back via town aiming to get dinner at the peculiar Chinese restaurant in the Bear Pit.  I was convinced it would be relatively quiet.  There wasn't a table to be had.  Disappointed not to get an eat-in fix but really happy they're still running and apparently doing well, we headed via a supermarket to pick up something to make a simple pasta dinner instead.  Glad to be home but telling ourselves we really must get back into the habit of eating out.

Today, I've been plotting with my brother to meet up for beer in Bath. 

The pub I've chosen is right next to a small train station a little outside the main part of the city.  We're going late afternoon on Thursday and I'm reasonably confident it won't be too busy.  Something to look forward to.

New Faces

 We arrived in the West Country base yesterday afternoon following an uneventful train journey.  Naturally, we headed to the Barley Mow as feels right an proper.

When we arrived lots of people were sitting outside but inside it was quiet.

We took up our usual seat in the corner and ordered a couple of beers.  It has to be said the range of cask was a little bit disappointing - still being far below the pub's pre-pandemic heyday.  Nevertheless, what was there was good and interesting and there were a few nice keg beers available.

As time went on the number of people coming in increased but we observed - much like we do in Eastbourne - that we don't recognise many of the people.  OK, we don't spend anything like as much time here as we do in Sussex...but even so, we tended to recognise at least some of the patrons. Today, there was only one chap who has been a mainstay of the pub since we started coming here.

I'm wondering whether a new type of pubgoer has emerged?  Perhaps someone who didn't like the crowded-stand-by-the-bar atmosphere but ventured out as the capacity of pubs has been reduced: first by law and then, seemingly, by choice (we noticed that the BM had a little more capacity than last time we came - but definitely doesn't feel crammed).

By the time we left the pub was very pleasantly busy and buzzy and we were happy that punters are returning.  This is partly selfish in that with more people drinking beer in there (and there were) they will inevitably increase the range of beer on offer.

Today we'll venture elsewhere, I suspect.  Our guess is that Fridays are likely still to be very busy around the place so we'll probably seek out somewhere a little quieter.  It's nice to be back again.

Something for Everyone

 One of the small disappointments in the lovely town I call "mostly home" (we're here about 80% of the time) is the dismal range of pubs, bars and other drinkng establishments.

It's pretty easy for the boy and I to head off to any one of the places we know for a couple of beers because our needs are extremely simple.  Good beer in a place that feels like it cares that we're there.

Since our Damascene moment with the kegged beer (which we chatted about last night, as it happens) we're none too worried about the dispense method of the good beer.

Pretty much:  Cask > Keg/Tank > Can > Bottle but if what they have is well made beer at a decent temperature then we're up for it.

No, the difficulty comes when we're meeting other people who aren't just in it for the beer...

So today, a gathering with sisters is planned and there's some angst about the best place which will suit.  Brown Cask beer (preferably fairly strong) for one brother-in-law, something soft for another.  Sisters tend to graviate to white wine but are known to give the odd beer or cider a go, in the spirit of adventure.

Do we want to eat or not?  Is there going to be football on at the pub? What about other events?  

 We live on opposite sides of the town so maybe a central place would be fairest?

There are six of us and prone to be noisy talkers when in a bunch...so nowhere too small so that we disturb other people...

Were this the situation in Bristol (or Brighton or even Lewes) we could be pretty confident to find a place that would genuinely keep us all happy.  But we're in Eastbourne...

We reckon that there are maybe 9 places which would meet at least some of the criteria.

But three are also Sky Sports pubs so the TVs will be on, and the locals will be in to watch Liverpool  v Chelsea later.

Two have lovely beer and could probably keep the others happy...but they're very small...

We went to one before and it was OK but the assembled company didn't really look as at home as they could have been.  Another would likely fall into that category too.

That leaves 2

We suggested the one of those that best juggles everything, even though the beer is the weakest point for us...

As it happens, one Brother in Law was really liking the idea of a beer Festival.  So we're back off to the Crown, having had an initial foray yesterday.  Nice and easy for us - let's hope the others will be as happy, too.

Rumbled

 Today I popped out to get my hair cut.

The salon is a stone's throw from my local - The Crown - and so a pleasant 15 minute walk from our house.

As I ambled past the pub I thought I'd peer in the window to see whether was an interesting second beer on cask.  I pressed my eager little nose to the window and saw there was just the usual Gun Extra Pale (always lovely but there's really only so much of it I want to drink in a single session).  As I drew my head away from the window I saw someone inside the pub (it wasn't open at the time) but didn't catch who it might be.

I turned and walked towards the hairdressers and then I heard my name being called.  I turned round and I saw the landlord, Andy, had come out to the street.  He said "Prohibition" and grinned.

See you this evening, Andy!

South Coast Beers

 We're back down south, now, after leaving the Bristol flat in the capable hands of relatives as they enjoy a well-earned break (they're both teachers) in a city.

We (he) drove back in decent enough time and conditions but both of us felt quite wearied by the journey.  As we'd parked almost next to the pasty shop it seemed rude not to pick a couple up to eat post-journey.

So there was tea and a lovely pasty at 4pm.  After that we decided to make the most of the sunshine and stroll to the Crown to sit in the garden.

The Gun extra pale was clearly near its end and we were knackered, so we stuck at one and shuffled back home - I guess a tad disappointed, but mostly just tired.

Thursday we didn't go to the pub at all, dodging the rain and relying on the beer in the fridge.  I did, however, sort out some Bristol beers for delivery.

I was working at the "office" (or lab, or college, or whatever we choose to call it) on Friday and decided to make a day of it, checking up on some jobs I'd been meaning to do for quite a while.  When I was ready to leave, I asked the boy where he might like to buy me some beer.  He suggested town.

So it was that I landed in Ninkaci just after 4.15pm - the boy joining me about 10 minutes later.

Most of the spaces had been booked for later so I found a corner with no booking, grabbed a couple of stools and enjoyed my BBNo beer. In the couple of hours that followed we comfortably drank our way through the draught beers as the bookees gradually took up their tables.

We're becomng more accustomed to the higher prices for premium beer and, for the most point, don't object (even mentally) and we're now even less likely to go to pubs with dreary beer.  Eastbourne still has scope for more interesting places to drink for us, though.  

We mused on how long it can take to build a reputation.  We were thinking about TechResort, but I realised it applies to a culture of beer, too.
When the boy started to come to Bristol I knew all the best pubs because of my involvement in the Bristol Camra group.  But I wouldn't have said Bristol was anything like a beer Mecca.  Bath Ales had filled the local brewery gap left by Smiles (no coincidence that the Bath Ales guys had previously worked for Smiles) after an interregnum of many years.

Bristol Beer Factory then followed...then came Arbor and Moor and now, some 10 years later you really can't move for excellent breweries and the pubs who stock their wares.

Hopefully two nice craft bar plus a quirky brew pub will help Eastbourne up its beer game.  After all, Beak has opened in the home of Harveys.  Surely anything is possible?

Day Saved...

 Best Beer Buddy broke his reading glasses pretty much the second we arrived at the flat.

To be fair, despite having reasonably regular eye examinations to make sure he hasn't got any nasties, he only ever needs to buy really cheap non-prescription glasses.  These, we tend to buy in a bulk (5) pack from Amazon.

This strategy also allows us to keep at least one pair everywhere we live and work...just in case.

There were a spare pair of glasses in the flat but they were very much an impulse (desperation) buy from Poundland a few years back and he doesn't exactly rock the leopard-print frame.

Anyhow, I ordered a new pack of glasses even though he insisted that superglue would get the job done.

As is our wont, we get parcels delivered to an Amazon locker which means a trip into town.  I also wanted to get some drugs to shake a niggling ear-catarrh-blocked-dizzy thing.

Finally, we decided we'd avail ourselves of the shoe recycling point on the way.

The sky looked a bit grey so I checked the forecast.  All the available information said it would likely rain around 7pm so we struck out without coats.

Half-way to town some big, fat drops started to fall intermittently.  We dug in and carried on walking. In the big shopping centre (largely under cover) we were blissfully ignorant, but as we emerged into the outside it was chucking it down.  Checking the Accuweather forecast - which is usually uncannily accurate - it said the rain would cease soon.  So we walked on, completed the errands and then paused under cover.  Still it rained.

We sheltered under a canopy, plotted the nearest pub and the best way to avoid the weather getting there.

Still it rained.

By Corn Street my t-shirt was soaked but I had an idea:  pop into the market, go to the place I get sleeping t-shirts from and buy one - find a pub and change in it.  The chap we bought it from seemed ridiculously happy to have a last minute customer.  So that was nice.

The Crown (which claimed to be good) was closed so there was no real option but to head for King Street.

The rain worsened.

We haven't drunk in King Street for well over a year and we didn't really know what to expect.  The last time we'd passed through, it was the April "opening up" date and there were crowds and queues that we absolutely didn't want to get involved in.

After what seemed an age, we arrived at the King Street Brew Pub.  It was about half full and looked OK.  So in we went.  The boy bought beer and I went down to the loos, put my new t-shirt on and brushed my very wet hair.  Instantly I felt a bit more human (even though the only place I usually wear t-shirts with slogans is in bed)

King Street's beer hit the spot really nicely, we sat and watched the thunderstorm that the Met Office steadfastly refused to admit to.  Even Accuweather struggled, repeatedly updating to say the storm would only last another 30 minutes...for about 2 and a half hours.

We mused on how brilliant it is to be able to say "oooh...where do we want to go to get some beer...?" in this, our second home. In Eastbourne our options are pretty limited and it's a shame.

In the last 12 days we've visited:  Barleymow (3), Moor (2), LHG, Verdant/Newtown Park, Good Chemistry, Cornubia, Fierce & Noble, Greenbank, The Oxford, Lost and Grounded and we've barely scratched the surface of the places we could go and enjoy. 

Every one of these places have suited the need/desire in their own way.  Even the Greenbank whose beer offering a little bit hit and miss, was in in the perfect spot for us.  We'd raided the Sweet Mart for ALL the SPICES and a little stop and regroup was in order. 

Most memorable this time, I think will be King Street Brewery and the t-shirt that saved the day.

Old Friends

 Moor Brewery is located half a mile from our flat.

Like most brewery taps in Bristol it's on a trading estate.  It's also the first tap room any recent Bristol brewery set up (I say this because back in the 1990's Smiles had a brilliant tap room in Colston Street, and I'm sorry, but I don't count Zero degrees as a real Bristol Brewery).

Sadly, at the moment it only opens on Fridays and Saturdays.

Anyhow, because yesterday was going to be our last chance to drink in there again this trip, we decided to tootle up there around 4.30pm.  I made some pizza dough which could prove whilst we were out and then we set out.

Again, no one inside but a goodly group outside meant it felt lively but not too noisy or crowded.  The main member of staff was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and encouraging of us to ask about the beer line up.

I also noticed some 440ml cans in the fridge - their usual offering is 330ml.  I asked about it and they chap was clearly pleased I'd noticed and told me a little of the hassle they'd had setting up their canning line for the new size and what it had meant to their can availability at the moment.

As is usual for us (and probably most regular drinkers, I guess) - we have a favourite spot to sit.  

We ordered a couple of pints of a "starter" strength beer (what used to be Nor'hop, I think) and settled in. We nattered about some of the work we're doing, about pubs and beer and all that.  It was comfortable and pleasant (despite my less favoured style of seating:  tall stools).

The boy went to fetch a second round because he had his eye on something a bit different from the core line-up.  He settled on the collaboration beer: a Saison made with Lost and Grounded.  He also got me a pint of Revelation.  

We'd had Revelation last week and were a bit disappointed at its lack of depth and body when compared to the cans we'd had from them.  This pint was cloudy and deep (I don't like the expression 'dank') and waaaaaaaayy more tasty than the last one we'd had.

When the bar-chap came to collect an empty glass, we asked him about it.

He sat down, at arms length, and told us all about why it was probably different, he also asked if we preferred it this way or the way it had ended up last week.   Again, he was clearly pleased we'd asked the question.  I've often found this with Moor staff at the tap - they're interested, knowledgeable and keen to chat about the process and the beers.  It's utterly delightful.

The conversation left us with a big smile.

As did a couple more rounds.  

We had a couple of strong dark beers and then followed them up with two insanely strong beers (eg an IPA of 10%) but which were so well balanced I could easily have drunk them instead of wine with a meal and they didn't seem at all out of place in summer.  That's quite a good trick to pull off.

This brewery is no fucking-hipster-jumper-on-the-brewing-bandwagon outfit - it's a mature and accomplished brewery with well balanced products and staff who know how to make it - and how to sell it to customers - incredibly well.

I love 'em

Delivering on a promise

 It was the Best Beer Buddy's birthday last Saturday but it was far too hot to consider a long excursion on foot to celebrate, just went to a couple of VERY local taprooms.

As most of the taprooms around have very limited opening, any trips to them need to be quite carefully planned.

So I spent little while, during the week checking out how we could get a pleasant walk and sensibly culminate at Lost and Grounded.

Now, I have to confess that with the notable exception of "Dancing with Spectres" (not to be confused with Dancing with Sceptres) I've never found L&G's brews totally to my taste.

This is in exactly the same way that I don't find Cantillon Geuze to my taste - but I totally get why other people do.

Nevertheless, it was a notable omission from our Bristol taprooms visited and that seems almost criminal when it's open on a regular schedule and, at shortest, only a mile and a half from here.

The rain had been capricious with us but we decided we'd risk it anyway.  We struck out and headed for the Greenway, thence through a bit of urban hill walking (and it was hot and humid) down to Nightingale Valley. At the end of the valley, instead of heading to the next section of woods we took a new route through a community park then down the hill.

We found the brewery easily and were settled into a seat by a chap who asked us to check into the venue with "The App" and to keep masks on whilst moving about.  First venue to ask this in person (the rest relying on notes on a menu, or on a poster).

Ordering was via the Butlr app which is easy and efficient to use.

There is a LOT of lager in their line-up.  Unlike other breweries, lager isn't a later addition or half-hearted populist measure...it's their mainstay, really.  Keller Pils is a beer known around the country and, apparently, much-loved.

We first chose beers (in pints) not listed as lagers, both of which we've had in cans.  We liked them in cans but they've never wowed us.  However, straight from the brewery they had a freshness that, from memory, was a little lacking in the can.

We discussed the rest of the menu and decided that even though neither of us would general choose lager if anything else is available, we both happily drink it abroad and we should get with the programme and give it a try.

So, we ordered 3 halves to share.  Keller Pils, Schneider and Running with Sceptres.  The boy said of Keller Pils : "If you're going to drink lager - this is as good a lager as you'll ever find". Not unlike the aforementioned Geuze - I could completely appreciate why people would like it.  Actually, I enjoyed trying it and, no doubt, in the event it was the only beer available - I wouldn't turn it away.

The Schneider was similar but a little sweeter.  Still, to my taste, lacking a solid mouthfeel and feeling a little thin.  This might, indeed, be the very reason I'm not generally keen on beers like it.

Running with Sceptres was a different matter.  Much more substantial.  Something I could definitely drink more of.

Our next taster round was of all the stronger beers an English Lager called Newstalgic, Lasso my Heart which was a West Coast IPA and Saison D'Avon whose names speaks for itself.

The Saison was subtle but definitely Belgian-tasting yeast.  I wouldn't be able to drink much but was happy with several tasting mouthfuls.  The Newstalgic was a great beer, but definitely lagery but Lasso my Heart was a winner for us both.  So much so that we had a final couple of halves before wandering home.

From time to time you need to do this:  test your legs (one of just a couple of  6-mile walks since knee sprain and arrived home with no pain) and test your tastebuds.  Give yourself something to talk about with the beers you're drinking and analyse why do you and don't choose these styles.

This trip comes highly recommended.

Back in the 'hood

 We hadn't travelled back here for about 6 weeks and we have family coming to use the Bristol place in a week or so.  So we bit the bullet, jumped in the car and roaded it up to Bristol on Thursday.

God, I hate travelling by road.  He hates driving, the M25 and M4 are frequently hell-holes of bad driving and it was hideously hot (the air-con which was gassed up in summer last year, had failed again through lack of use).

We heading into a promised 31-deg heat.

Seriously, not my preferred temperature range...but not really much option.

We landed, emptied the cool bag into the fridge, grabbed a seriously late lunch, took a shower (did I mention how hot it was?) and hit the Barley Mow.  It was about 5.30pm when we arrived.  It was really busy outside (front and back) but totally empty, barring staff, inside.

Their cask levels haven't returned to pre-pandemic levels but they're supplemented by good keg.

We noted there was a LOT of lager being drunk but, hey.  Each to his own.

We're still wearing masks inside, but quite a few weren't.  However, the lack of people inside meant that we didn't feel too uneasy.

Friday was as hot as Thursday so we escaped the flat as soon as it was decently possible to do so and headed to Moor Brewery Tap (once I'd sussed out all taproom opening times for the weekend, obvs).  It was pretty quiet there but there really wasn't any shade to be had and a recent brush with mild heat exhaustion (there was a LOT of vomit) had made me cautious.  Once again we got a seat inside, enjoying the relative cool and the lack of people.

Yesterday was the boy's birthday and I wanted to take him somewhere different.  I discovered that Good Chemistry's tap room was open, and although we find their beers lacking a little something for us, it seemed fitting to give it another try.  We had a couple there and they were fine but, really, still not what we look for in a beer. So we took a roundabout route back to Verdant/Newtown Park via a cycle path loop and settled in there.  There was some irritation with their POS system (which has changed since last time, annoyingly).  But it was pleasantly warm, quiet and we finished with a couple really nice beers before strolling back for sausage and mash (well, it was Boy's birthday) and two good films.

Not quite sure where we'll head today, a lot of the taprooms only open on Friday and Saturday and I've an excursion (a bit of an urban green ramble and a so-far-unvisited taproom) planned for next Friday.  Also, a lot of the Sunday opening times finish early (6pm) which doesn't really work with our internal routine.  

It's warm again so we'll be looking for somewhere cool and uncrowded (so that's the hellfest that is King Street off the schedule for a little while at least).  I have no doubt we'll find somewhere suitable.  It's much easier to do here than in Eastbourne.

 

 

Enforced Sobriety

 Just before we went to Bristol, I started to have a problem with my mouth (or jaw, or ear...or something in short:  it was hurty).

The upshot of this was that a booked an appointment with my dentist for when we got back and on Friday I went.  When I came back I was a down a molar and (at my own request) numbed to fuck.

Actually, the experience in the chair wasn't as bad as I had feared (the dentist I had at age 9 has a LOT to answer for) but the post-op instructions rendered alcohol verboten for a couple of days.

I'm glad the appointment was relatively late in the day on Friday but when I got home I couldn't even really drink water, let alone beer or eat anything.

Yesterday I woke up dehydrated and feeling really grotty but as the day went on I managed to eat and drink a little (but still no beer) and the painkillers made things better.

Today, I'm clearly feeling better...

...there's a pause here because we had an abrupt power cut courtesy of a man, some loppers and proximity to an extension lead (sigh).

...anyhow - as I was saying Sunday I started to feel better although regular pain meds still necessary.  We had a walk to our "view point" in the sun so when we got back, I decided it might be OK to have a little bit of beer (Arbor Breaking Bread in a can, since you ask) and it was glorious.

Then, when I got back from work on Monday having met a few students who are embarking on a work experience programme with us and the boy asked whether I wanted a beer in someone else's beer garden.

We walked to the Crown and, joy of joys, aswell as Gun extra pale they had Oakham Citra.  Oh my word it was good.  So much so we had 3 pints and I came home quite drunk.  I still bypassed suggestion of wine with dinner, switching back to water instead but feeling very satisfied that this unpleasant dental episode seems to be mostly behind me now.

Just now I'm thankful for great brewers and great pubs - but also for modern dentists and dentistry techniques - oh, and shit-hot local anaesthetic. Bye bye tooth, it was nice knowing you...

End of the Week

 Big brother wanted to meet up and spend Friday afternoon moseying around and drinking beer.

We'd been unable to get together for about 9 months so we were looking forward to it.

We started at the Moor Brewery, sitting outside in the mild sunshine.  Bro likes his beer traditional with a good malty hit so viewed a hazy "Revival" with a quizzical eye.  However, having tasted it he declared himself very happy with the choice.

We thought something to absorb the beer was in order but the brewery doesn't do food of any sort at lunchtime so we asked the guy who was serving whether he'd mind if we got some pasties from Oxford Street.  He told us it was absolutely fine, so a foraging party was sent whilst we ordered another round.

I love the pasties but I can't remember having enjoyed them as much, ever.  Sitting outside, with lovely, and lovely family. An absolutely perfect moment.

Bro had heard about an old pub tucked away by the old fire station - obviously the Cornubia - so that was our next stop.  A pleasant amble along the harbour, good seating outside and exemplary table service.  As always the beer was traditional in nature, but enjoyed by all (including an Elland Porter for me which was a weird "middle of the day" beer but worked well).

After a couple of beers, there was a need to pop back to the flat so we decided to walk back that way, and for chaps to sort out the errand whilst Sister in Law and I pootled over to the Barley Mow.

We arrived and we greeted enthusiastically (of course) and we sat in our "usual" seat.

Whilst we were waiting for the chaps to appear, I felt bold enough to order beer for them both.  Bro arrived and accused his wife of taking liberties with ordering - I 'fessed up and we shared a smile.  Of COURSE I'd ordered him Fortitude since I knew that was the beer he would enjoy most.

We all took our leave at about 7.30pm.  I'd almost forgotten what it was like to be quite so sociable.

Yesterday was a quieter day for us so I suggested  we might want to try the Cider Box.  It had been heaving the previous week but we tried anyway.  Beer Buddy wasn't really that keen, he later admitted, because of the previous attempt but we settled in semi-shade, in the back road of a trading estate, listening to some old 45's on a turntable ordering via another different app and it was another version of perfection.

Today?  Around 5pm we'll pop out to the Barley Mow for a last couple, meeting our friend and near-neighbour.  Tomrrow, we're heading back down south to the land of Harveys.  A big culture change for sure but isn't variety the spice of life?

Stop being a curmudgeon

 ...I had to tell myself.

My day-semi-job is running a company which promotes digital skills and seeks to reduce the gap in digital access.

We tinker with all sorts of tech - from IoT projects to accept tweets and display it on an LED array, to helping people with mundane online tasks...and pretty much anything in between.

I remember when the Best Beer Buddy and I baulked at the "card only" policy at Small Bar a couple of years back (both of us liking to pay for beer with cash for...well, no good reason) but how, since the pandemic, we both prefer not having to handle cash.

So it occurred to me that my resistance to setting up a ShopPay account at the taproom at the weekend was the very definition of stupidity, since the Brewery is only minimising touch on devices, which is the logical conclusion to paying electronically.

I gave myself a good talking to and did a bit of "security" investigation of the ShopPay app and it seemed as good a virtual money platform as any to try out.  I attached my credit card to it, confident that not only are credit cards a better paying option online, but that my card provider is REALLY switched onto potential fraud evidenced by them having contacted me a couple of times in the past before I'd even realised I might have been compromised.

It didn't take long but I didn't expect to use it any time soon.

Then on Monday we decided to have a little amble around to the Cornubia for a pleasant pint of cask from a brewery we'd never heard of (and can't remember now) and then we thought that maybe we'd see whether the LHG Brew Pub was open and not too full.  

We were greeted, checked in and shown to a seat.  Order via the QR code, we were told.  Sure enough it was a shopfy shop front offering ShopPay as an option (along with others). I leapt into action, ordered a couple of drinks and my email address, then was given a 2FA code and the job was done.  Beer arrived in a moment or two via a cheery server.

I think we enjoyed being in the brewpub more than we have before but we couldn't quite put our finger on why.  Maybe the relative lack of people so noise levels were manageable; certainly not queuing at the bar was a bonus (I don't know why in this place, I hate their queues), even the relative lack of intervention in ordering was made up for staff who seemed very comfortable at their allocated job and made us feel welcome - I don't know, but I'll happily go back on that basis.

So yesterday in the sudden post-bank-holiday-heat, the boy said he wanted to see some leaves.  We walked along the river, through the new bits of Paintworks, then across the road to Arnos Vale cemetary. We walked up quite a stiff hill, but surrounded by trees and wildflowers and everywhere the sound of loud birdsong.  It was a genius move to make this somewhere not just to venerate the dead, but to amble through. 

At the top, we came out to the Wells Rd and then walked down the hill to the Oxford.  I feared they might not have anything interesting on, but I needn't have worried.  Two different BBF beers were there and we had a couple of each in a real pub with table service (but no online ordering).  We mourned the loss of the Thali restaurant that used to be around the corner so bought mushrooms at the Tesco instead and came home.

It's so good to see so many of our favourite watering holes adapting to change and (for the most part) not complaining about those changes. Bravo!

Taprooms and Technology

 We've been here, in our Bristol base for 4 days now.  Obviously, we're catching up with our favourite watering holes and entertaining the idea of new places.

The improving weather makes it feel comfortable (mostly) to sit outside and that also makes us feel a bit more comfortable about mixing with other people.

It being a bank holiday weekend, we've avoided the usual hell-hole places (like King Street) and gone a little further out of the way.  As a result we've only drunk in one pub - but have majored on tap rooms (and a failed attempt to go to the Cider Box in a nearby railway arch).

Naturally, the Moor Tap was comfortable and welcoming although their attempt at online beer list and ordering proved to be an irritation as you had to put home address in order to get beer to the table.  Thankfully, the bar staff were a bit more pragmatic and came to the table (or accepted a distanced request) at the bar and brought a card machine and the beers to us.

At Tapestry (after the failed attempt at a heaving Cider Box) there was a QR code menu but ordering and paying was in person.  We really enjoyed our time here.  The staff really friendly and their beer has become far more to our taste than it used to be.

Yesterday (Sunday) we decided to try the much newer Newtown Park brewery which has put their brewery in LHG's old place and opened a joint taproom with Falmouth-based Verdant.

We walked around and as we entered the industrial park where they're based we noticed that LHG haven't moved out - they've moved over to what appears to be a bigger unit just around the corner from Newtown and their taproom was also buzzing.

We squeezed onto a table at Newtown and were directed to the QR code for ordering and paying.  The shopfront on the webpage worked really well, but the payment was a real irritation as they only accepted shoppay (Shopify's payment processing platform).  I didn't want to set up an account which meant putting address details, card details, etc, etc every time I ordered.  This was a bit of a pain and it would have been useful to know in advance and/or details added to the notices on the table.

Still, once the irritation had died down, we really enjoyed the beer and the sitting (mostly) in the sun.  But there was still time for a quick cask pint at the Barleymow on the way home.

We're finding this switch to drinking in other-than-pubs quite odd but can't deny that it means there's something for everyone in a city with countless brilliant breweries.

I think my only complaint is the lack of current/consistent information on places' website and selection of social media feeds - it made finding out who was open, and when, quite painful.

Still - there are still many places to try and we're here for another week.

Welcome Home

 We decided to make the trip to Bristol by train.

We timed the departure date to be a little later than the "drinking inside with others" open-up date so that we might avoid the initial rush.  We also have physical meetings in the diary for the first time in a while.

This included a trip to St Leonards/Hastings which, naturally, culminated in a visit to the wonderful "Brewing Brothers at the Imperial" in one of Hastings' less fashionable streets.

This visit itself culminated in a total of 7 miles walking which is further than I've walked for months and months and quite the test of my post-sprain knee's resilience.  Oh - and what I'm pretty sure was a full day hangover.

Anyhow...

The Best Beer Buddy suggested that he might be happy to plan to travel by train (with driving as a backup).  So, we walked to the station an boarded 12.06 to Victoria.

Neither of us are fans of the necessary masks but we got used to it.

The Eastbourne train was busier than I expected but the Gatwick stop was astonishing:  only 3 people on the platform.

All in all, the trip was pretty relaxed and the buddy said he found it less stressful than driving so that's big result.  Naturally, after dropping bags, watering the orchids, putting the water heater on we headed to the Barley Mow.

It was a little later than we'd anticipated (points problem outside Swindon) but as we arrived we were greeted cheerfully by Harry who settled us into a little table and took our order.  For all the world, it was like never having been away (it's been about 8 months).  Four cask beers on the bar, a nice range of food, a good sociable hum in the pub and even though we chatted about our work, it was a perfectly blissful and relaxing time.

I was really glad to learn that their clientele had been steadily building since opening again the previous week.  The good weather meant that the seats out front and in the garden at the back were fully stacked out well into the evening and most of the tables inside, too.  For their sake, I hope this continues.  They're folk who work really hard to make an atmosphere that means that we don't have to and that's a big thing for me.

Thank you!

Back in a pub...

 ...to complete the beery week we went to our Eastbourne local, yesterday.

It was busy with only a table in the back room available to us, squished up against the empty casks and kegs, in a darkish corner.

But with Kent Brewery Prohibition in perfect condition, it was perfection.

...and just like that...

 ...it all felt back to normal.  Well, obviously not, but close enough that we could overlook the remaining gaps in normality for now.

On Wednesday we met with a couple of members of the community group we work with and we'd decided to meet in the pub.  We went to the Dolphin which was OK but they're not confident enough yet to ensure there's a variety of beer on the bar.  As a result there was Harveys and Longman best.  It was lovely to meet the friends but the pub experience still lacked that something.

On Thursday, we'd arranged a meeting with a potential client for the same community group project.  I'd already decided to make it an afternoon one for obvious reasons.

The meeting gave us a buzz (and something of a thirst) so we decided to "head somewhere".  Best Beer Buddy suggested the new enterprise of the landlord of our Eastbourne local, Andy.  So we headed to Ninkaci to see how it was doing.

We knew not to expect cask and it's tap and bottle room, not a pub. We were greeted by Andy in a cheery fashion, we ordered a couple of schooners (2/3rds, to the rest of us) and found a couple of stools to perch on.

It amused us to see that a chap we frequently meet when there's good beer to be had, was sitting with a pal.  He also greeted us cheerily.

Jo, the landlady, delivered the beer to our seats and we asked how things were going.  It was great to hear that, after 3 false starts, they were happy with how things were.  

On our second beer we remembered that Andy had asked for recommendations of breweries we liked, so we messaged him a list and he appeared suddenly, and chatted to us about them all - and confirmed that serveral were already on order.  We're really expecting good things.

It's our sort of place even though it's not a pub.  It closes at 8 or 9pm which suits us down to the ground.  Andy even promises cask in future.  I mean, what's not to like?

We left just ahead of 8pm, having been there since about 4.15pm.  We walked home and picked up our first take out meal for about 6months on the way.

Simple things, but utter delight.

Total Joy

 So, the pubs are open inside now.

I saw so many social media posts from pubs excited and the latest restriction relaxation, and then thanking people for coming back it was heartening and although we're not heading inside a pub until later this week (it's all planned - seeing friends with a particular purpose in mind) it has made me really quite excited.

So it was with some trepidation I checked out the status for my absolutely favourite pub - our Bristol local, The Barley Mow.

This is a pub that the best beer buddy and I have spent so many lovely times - with friends, with strangers, just as couple and even on our own that its lack in our lives over the last 6 months or so has been a yawning, gaping whole.

It's the pub we go to first in Bristol.  Typically within an hour of arriving in the city - no matter by what means.  When we can't be arsed to go far but want a pub, it's our natural destination.

Even though, for me, the pub is somewhere to forget the responsibilities of my work - we have done so much really important and good work there (we've written a conservation plan for a Martello Tower, we've written funding bids and project plans) that it's even a part of our working lives despite being in a different part of the country from where that work typically takes place.

Oh, yeah, I was checking the status with trepidation...

...the brewery website says it's opening tomorrow and it was all I could do not to put on a pair of shoes and jump on a train there and then.

If you have those pubs in your life then welcome back!  If you have don't have them yet - do try and find one.  If you think I'm idiot for feeling like this about a place to drink beer then you probably won't ever understand so leave me alone and go back to wherever you feel most relaxed and leave me to my beer!

Soon, Barley Mow, soon.

The Low-key Return

 Spring weather continues to be...well...springy.  That is to say, when it's sunny the air is rather fresh and when it's less windy it's overcast with a lower general temperature.

A knee-sprain early in the year has meant I've been quite careful about how and where I walk to get some exercise but we have got into the habit of having a stroll most days.

It had been a busy and intense week and on Thursday I also had to vote.  So I suggested that we combine a visiting to the polling station and our afternoon "knee physio" amble.

Having exercised my democratic right, we went to a local small park to see how spring was treating it.  Then the boy said "I wonder what the Crown garden is like at the moment"...

...and so we went for our first cask beer since...well, I guess it's last October?

The garden was lovely, if a bit chilly.  We had a chat with Andy, the landlord, to see how his pubco was treating him and he was quite upbeat.  He said he'd fared a lot better than other pub tenants he knew.

We had two pints of Gun Extra Pale and I felt quite buzzy by the time we left.

Once again, an unplanned pub visit gave pleasure in a way much more complicated than the mere consumption of alcohol.  I seriously can't wait for the next visit.

Meeting Up

 It's probably clear that I'm the opposite of a socialite.

I loathe parties, I hate being required to be "on duty" in networking and other social contexts.  It's not really that I hate people, it's more that I find other people tiring and seldom feel like I have anything in common with the people in front of me.

We decided to avoid rushing straight to a pub garden - partly because of people but also because it's chilly out the second the sun goes in.

So, when some friends said they had to come to Eastbourne tidy up a recently-deceased parent's house and could we meet in a garden, we were in a bit of a quandry.  Where?  How?  Would it be cold?  Will there be idiots around?

In the end, the most sensible course of action was to invite them to our garden. We fretted about it being chilly, especially as the back garden loses the sun very early - but it still seemed like the best option.

Fortunately, they are also beer lovers (him being a talented home brewer too) so I went mad with the direct-from-the-brewery shopping and got cans and bottles from many of our favourite breweries.  Himself made a beer menu and, for all the world it looked like we had the makings of a beer-festival.

They were planning to arrive around 4.30 and at 4pm I had the dumbest idea to sit in the sun-drenched front garden instead.  It faces the street and we have a drive so it's a little exposed but we removed the car from the drive, got some coffe tables and our garden chairs out and had a little bask.  It was alright.

Friends arrived right on cue.  It was sunny and convivial.  They admitted to some nerves about venturing back to the pub just yet - it seems they're just about as people-shy as us. Although we hadn't seen them for probably nearly 2 years, it felt as comfortable as ever.  

We made some pretty basic bar food and we ate and drank.  I'd expected them to go around 6.30pm when the sun starts to dip below line of the Downs but they didn't, we had another, and another and they eventually left around 9pm.  Yes it was chilly by then and I couldn't do it every night but my goodness, it was a real tonic.

On the Verge

 ...and the current lockdown relaxations reach as far as pubs in less than 24 hours.

Are we sitting here with our running shoes on, ready to sprint to the nearest beer garden?

Are we, heck.

The problem with prohibition is the management of the end of prohibition.

I'm seeing lots of my favourite drinking place which have suitable outside space gearing up to encourage the punters in again and good luck to them.

For us, there are lots of things that mean we'll be waiting a bit.

We're middle-aged and not due for our second vaccination jabs for a good few weeks yet.  Even though that mostly protects us, it does also provide protection for those we come into contact with so not mixing with vast swathes of people is probably still quite an attractive thing just now.

Loads of pubs are doing most of their business by pre-booked tables.  I totally get why people want that and why pubs feel they need to acquiesce - but I much prefer to be a spontaneous drinker.

It's still a bit chilly to want to sit outside for too long.  It won't be long until the temperature doesn't plunge into the sub-zero the second the sun goes behind a cloud...but early/mid April is not quite that time.

Our local have taken the decision to delay opening until nearer the end of the month - whether it's allowing people to get it out of their system for a while before having to deal with people, or whether they have other reasons - it seems like a good plan to me.

It's been a while since we've had to deal with lots of people and neither of us like that at the best of times - and the first few social drinking opportunities for groips of people definitely doesn't qualify as "best of times" by any means.

 So we'll wait a while.  In the meantime we'll be buying cans and stowing them in the fridge in the hope that the sunny spot at the end of our garden has enough warmth to double as "beer garden".

 But we'll be back there soon...

On and On

 ...so this thing drags on.

I'm extraordinarily lucky that I have most of what I need to continue to work and to still enjoy some beer at the end of the day.

I'm also lucky that I don't suffer from cabin fever as much as others so, for the most part, I'm not feeling the impact on my mental health that others are.  It never really escapes my mind that this this will come to an end and this helps prevent what could become despair.  Thank goodness (or genes, or whatever).

I am bored by it, though.

Nevertheless I have learned some new things - like making shortcrust pastry with bread flour gives you fantastic pasty dough. That has kept me entertained recently.  The boy reckons it's in my West Country roots but, hey, I've been experimenting with how to make interesting fillings with leftovers.  It's fun.

The company I help run has changed immeasurably recently and I'm hopeful this will translate into a much more sustainable model coupled with more opportunities for young people in the community to learn how to be in work.

But a couple of times I have fantasised about being able to go to work in a building that isn't here; to leave around 4.30pm with a thirst on; pop to the nearest decent pub with the boy and then, on the spur of the moment pop to a restaurant on the way home and not have to plan what we're going to have for tea.

Little things, and we will get them back.

It's just a matter of digging in, I know.