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.
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