A Bit of a Theme

 Once again we decided to make a little bit of an effort to go a bit further and go back to somewhere we'd not been for a while.

This time:  North Street.

My goodness, this place has changed so much in the last 25 years since I lived in "The Chessels".  The change has been incremental and, I would say, moving in chunks but I kinda miss living in the area.

We headed first to the Bristol Beer Factory taproom which is the pubbiest of all the taprooms, we reckon.

There were plenty of south-Bristol accents in evidence but also a lot of people who are more recent dwellers in the area.

Beer, as ever, was excellent and well worth the walk.  After two, we thought we'd amble down and try Lupe in the place that was the Old Bookshop.  We also thought we'd maybe try Eatchu - which is doing the food there.  On the way we passed several new restaurants which definitely bear a visit - next time, perhaps.

The space in Lupe is the same...and yet, somehow, not.  It feels a bit less crowded in and a little more welcoming. There were a couple of strong/ish beers we wanted to try so we bought a couple of the "West Coast" one and settled in.  The menu looked inviting so we decided we'd go for it.

Then a beeper went off.  A chap scuttled off round the corner and reappeared with a tray of food and sat to eat it.  Ah!  A Heist kind of thing - we can do that, I thought.

We duly ordered and fetched our food.

It was tasty and reasonably-priced (£20 for enough food for us both).  Maybe not as easy to eat as I'd hoped but, still, I'm really glad we tried it.

Then the walk home and I was done for the day.

It was nice to make the effort and I know the walk is good for us. Definitely worth a revisit!

Another Revisit

Being nerds (what sort of nerds?, I hear you ask...ALL THE NERDS is the honest answer), we have a range of slightly out there pastimes.

Yesterday was time for the "buying old film cameras and making photographs with them...no matter how obscure they are" one.

Boxes of cameras bought at auction to distract us from the tedium of the pandemic are very much a mixed bags. Some of them are beautiful, some are a delight to use (some are even both of those things) but some use films sizes that were short-lived and either are no longer available, or only available at significant cost.

As a result we had about 4 or 5 cameras using a film format called "127".  Larger than the more modern 35mm film that most people are aware of, smaller than the still-widely-available-and-used 120 film.

A while ago, we found we had cameras which used film that was exactly the same size as the 120 film, but the spools the film comes on were slightly smaller meaning you can't fit standard film into the camera.  I learned to re-roll 120 film onto 620 reels, and the boy designed and 3D printed spare 620 reels (I meantioned we were nerds, no?).  I did this for no other reason than I don't like being defeated by a small problem like a money-grabbing film company (I'm looking at you, Kodak) deliberately trying to make you buy only their film (a story repeated so often by them, it's really not funny).

Anyhow...we did manage to source some 127 film but it's really expensive so we only bought a couple of rolls just to see how it went.  The BBB then reasoned that it ought to be possible use 35mm film on the 127 rolls if he used a bit of ingenuity and was a little creative with either old 127 backing paper and/or cut down 120 backing paper.  The 35mm isn't as big so you have to be conservative with your composition, and it has sprocket holes at the edge so the result is likely to be "arty" but it definitely seems to work.

All of this is by of an explanation, were one needed, of why we did a walk to the harbour in almost nice light to take pictures with ridiculously old and impractical film cameras.  Of course once you've taken pictures of the electric cranes, and the Fairbairn crane...and then a bit of railway line action followed by a "use it up" shot of the SS Great Britain there's really only one place to go by way of recovery.  

Bristol City were at home but the quick-route bridge is closed, so a bit of calculation is needed to get there at the right time (lunchtime would have been hell, probably). It so happened that at the end of our film, and energy came at the pefect time.

We slipped inside and it was fairly busy, but there was a cosy little corner table to be had.  I grabbed the seat and the BBB went to the bar.  There was Arbor C Bomb, ON GRAVITY so that was a no-brainer for me.  He, however, was all about the cider.

The beer was so good, I nearly weakened and had a second but I also know the joy of really good cider so the second round was 3 shared halves - one perry and two ciders.

People came, people left.  There were all sorts of people in there - from the auld fellas in another corner (talking very much like my dad did) drinking Natch, to the very loud large mixed family group being a bit sprawly but not too obnoxious, to the middle-aged couple who had clearly cycled there...and all the others.

It was lively and convivial and we loved it. It had been a while since we'd been and we kicked ourselves we didn't do this more often.  But maybe not on a Saturday.

We had calculated that it would take about 30 mins for any Ashton Gate fans to return - and at 5.29 a group arrived.  They were young and jolly.  No one else seemed to arrive from the match.

We'd decided on a third - Janet's Jungle Juice for me and something else (very dry) for him.

I was knackered after the walk home but very content.

Today?  We've developed the film that we took yesterday but won't be able to scan it until we get back to Sussex.  One of the brilliant things about a modern flat is the sizeable bathroom which is entirely internal and, as a result, makes for a pretty good dark room.

There's a Lancashire hotpot in a low oven and shortly we'll be heading in the direction of Little Martha.  Ah, Sundays.

Order, order

 It's been a trying few days.  The boy picked up another bug last weekend which, whilst not awful, wiped him out for a day or so...and then made the leap to me and did the same.  Coupled with this were a couple of tight work deadlines and some frantic activity trying to price up tech kit for work where every penny counts, but longevity is even more important.

So, Tuesday I did want to get out of the house...but I really didn't have the energy to go far.  Before we came up to Bristol we did quite a lot of "we should really make the effort to go to <insert name of pub we haven't been to for a long time>", so I suggested we tried The Bridge which is so close, it's a crime that we haven't checked it out for years.

It had gone through a phase of having beers we weren't particularly interested in - and that's probably the main reason we hadn't been in.

So at 4.30ish we noodled along the floating harbour, under one bridge, over the other and found ourselves in this tiny place.

Initially it was just us, and we'd interrupted the landlord's meal (stew and mash, maybe?). He seemed unfazed and we had a jolly chat about the available beers (him:  QPA, me 4% pale something by a brewery I hadn't heard of...something metally, perhaps??).  I also clocked the nice array of keg beers which seem to be a new feature since we last came.

A couple of blokes came in behind us and then kind of cluttered up the area of the bar whilst one of them held forth about a brewery which was in the keg line up.  I rolled my eyes and gently pushed my way past him.

We settled into the best corner in the pub (I've been coming to this place on and off for over 20 years and it's definitely the BEST corner) and read the gig posters on the walls (possibly also long-term residents of the pub) and did a bit of sleuthing to find out the year that Corn Exchange welcomed John Lee Hooker.

Meanwhile, the chaps had settled in the other side and had, let's just say, spread out a bit.

More folk started to come in and within a moment or two, the landlord came round from behind the bar and asked the chaps - in a way that it would be impossible to take as a rebuke - to take up less space to allow some other people to sit down.  We saw this repeated a couple of times with other space-hoggers - we admired his style.  Obviously it's in his interest for people to feel they can come in...the pub is pretty much full if there are 20 people in it, no matter how well packed they are.  Nevertheless, it's not often you see this in action - we like it.

It was also nice to see a couple of young women in the pub - it's not necessarily the first sort of pub you may think of when looking for a young woman friendly destination.

After our first pint, we went for a pint of Deya Steady Rolling Man - which was lovely.  Then we strolled back but vowing to return.

It'll be a nice addition to our "not far away and a bit cosy" list of places.

I'm Not Bitter

 The first beer I enjoyed was Theakston's Old Peculier.

After this, the man from Lancashire thought it was probably safe to introduce me to 4% Bitter.  Let's face it, in the 1980's that was cask beer, for the most part.  Can't remember what it was that I liked - probably Tetleys or Timmy Taylor Landlord.  Bit by bit, this was the beer I loved.

On holidays in Shropshire and Staffordshire there was usually Mild and I gained a liking for that too.

So, for the next 20 years-ish, brown beer, usually a Best Bitter was my go-to beer style.  Our Christmas polypins from the Brown Jug offie in Bedminster were always brown - usually in the 4.8 - 5.5% range (Exmoor Stag, Ringwood 49-er, etc).

All the while we went to Bristol Beer Festivals and tried loads of different things - but my memory was that most of the offerings were brown...or brownish.

Then we moved house, found a lovely "Local" run by a new brewery: Bath Ales.

Whilst I started as a resolute Gem drinker, over time - and in response to sharing jugs of beer with folk who preferred a new, lighter, hoppier style of beer - I migrated to a preference for more hops and lighter malts, by constrast my brother still prefers Bitter.

And now?  Where there's a choice, I tend to avoid Best Bitters and their ilk.  This often means there are pubs that we avoid because they seem to offer mainly bitters from different breweries.  This isn't a criticism, by the way, but to explain why we avoid them.

This week, on the single sunny day, we decided that we'd bunk off work(ing from flat) grab a bus to Clifton Village and take some actual film photos. 

We took the opportunity to pop into the Portcullis - once a Dawkins home, but now a small cask offering and a huge range of Belgian beers.  Here, it looks like bitter is popular.  Nothing light on cask.  So, although a bit disappointed,  we chose "Tileys Best Bitter".  

It was fresh as a daisy, beautifully kept and cooled and served in a sparklingly clean glass.  It was truly a beautiful thing.  Much like Penzance beers, Tileys nail the style they say they are.  Having met Johnny Mills (assuming he's still the brewer) this is absolutely no surprise at all everything he does seems to be deliberate and precise.  It was a really lovely pint.

We didn't want a second one, though.

All the other pubs in the village (according to digital GBG) seem to have mainstream bitters on.  So we decided we'd walk down into town (god, the hills are brutal on an old lady's knees) and take it from there.

So many choices, to be fair.  We bypassed the Grainbarge (mostly because crossing the road there just wasn't going to happen) and strolled onto the Bag o' Cats (Nails).  Peering in through the window to see whether there was a seat to be had, two young women sitting outside tried to enthuse us about going in "It's a Cat Cafe!!!".  I'm not sure Luke, the landlord would approve of the description.

We could see a couple of seats so we went for it.   Nothing particularly strong on the bar but a couple of nice options.  Him:  Fierce and Noble Stout, me: Arbor C Bomb (blimey it was lovely).

We hadn't been here for a good while and it was nice to be back. Nevertheless, we didn't particularly want to choose another beer there - so we moved on.

Still too early to eat so we went into the Lime Kiln.  Had an absolutely cracking cask, strong, pale and hoppy beer (to my shame can't remember the brewery) it was a fitting last pint.

From the Lime Kiln it's only a hop, skip and jump to Wong's in Denmark Street which we weren't sure of the first time we went in,  trying to find a replacement for Dynasty. The second time we didn't like it at all (not the food, so much as the ambiance) but when we went a couple of months ago, we adored it.

We ordered pretty much of a reprise of our last visit:  two glasses of wine, one dry fried green beans, one pork main and some fried rice with egg. Whenever we order dry fried beans we always get a nod of approval from staff - it makes us smile.

It's a quirky kinda place but you can't argue with the food and it would be brilliant to go in there with a large group of people and order almost random different dishes to try. 

After that, we strolled home.  I was knackered.  We never, never pub crawl but it was nice to pop into places that we wouldn't really consider to be three-pint pubs (ie:  stay for the evening) and for it to be a decent amble as well (5 miles, since you ask).

Thursday needed to be less strenuous and there were more funding things to be reviewed - so Marthas was the natural place to go.  Happily one of our friends who lives very close messaged us to ask if we fancied a pint.  We told him where we were and he joined us.  Lovely evening!

Yesterday was more of a hike.  Sweetmart beckoned so we walked over there, filled our bags with lovely things (okra, aubergine, spices, roti, rice...you know) and sought a pint in the Greenbank.  It's a place of convenience rather than sought-after destination, and it was a bit chilly and not the cosy feeling we craved but we had a couple of really nice pints and it's a brilliant example of a community pub in action. We followed that with a visit to Journey - a fusion Indian/Himalayan restaurant in St Marks Road.  It was delightful.

Bristol, however, is definitely Open

 On Thursday, we had to be in work again so we made another attempt at the Belgian Bar.  Thankfully it was open and we were greeted enthusiastically by the team there.  The IPA was on good form and we had a couple of pints of it.

The BBB had had a really long day, meeting builders at the Wish Tower by 8am (so had to be out of the house by 7.15am) on a freezing cold day. He'd flitted between the Tower and TechResort to warm up from time to time, and made himself useful there too.  Mind you, a public drop-in at HQ is quite hard work for an introvert too.

I'd arrived about 3pm to catch up with everyone and by the time we left at 5pm, even I was bit worn.  After beer, I suggested pizza and a glass of wine at our favourite italian place around the corner.  He agreed it would be nice - again, greeted with enthusiasm from people who excel at the whole hospitality thing.  It was clear, though, not many people were out in general and several other restaurants were either empty or closed.  It'll be a couple of months before the town gets lively, I reckon.

Friday was our travelling to Bristol day.  I'd cocked up a hair appointment meaning an earlier-than-usual one on Fridayso I was at the station just after 10am and had time for the coffee I'd missed at home.  I chilled (figuratively, and physically) quite happily and the BBB arrived just ahead of the train at around 11am.  Our usual train from Eastbourne is, at best 11.30am and more ususally 12noon.

The trip up to London was without incident and the transfer to Paddington was incredibly quick.  Whereas we usually arrive at Paddington just after (or maybe just as) the Bristol train has left we had just enough time (literally, just) to "run" onto the platform, smile winningly at the guard on the last open door and leap onto the 1pm train.

As we walked toward the front of the train to find a seat the train pulled out.  We were very pleased with ourselves.  

After about 20 minutes the BBB checked on the general trainy state of things and learned that we had just pulled out before an incident around Paddington that now promised to stop all trains leaving the station until about 4.30pm.  Weirdly, that knowledge made feel suddenly anxious about "what would have happened if...".  It was the oddest feeling.

We both agreed that we knew exactly what we would have done:  gone the pub, of course.  But I'm really glad it didn't come to that.  On a Friday (especially in winter), I really want to be in a place I know.

Anyhow - we arrived at our flat before 3pm and had no idea what to do with ourselves.  We were 60 - 90 minutes earlier than usual and it was weird!

As it was, and being a Friday (we don't usually arrive on a Friday) we knew the BM would be busy quite early so we popped round before 4pm. It was bliss.  We had a good seat (disappointed there was no fire but still...) there was a huge range of BBF cask beer (for all the world it looked like a tap takeover) and a good-looking keg list. 

The pub wasn't that busy - certainly not as much as we expected - and we wondered whether in fact there was a January drop-off here.  45 minutes later, though, there was a positive influx!

By 5.15pm the place was packed with loads of brave individuals choosing to sit outside with their beer in order to get a seat.  There was the usual lovely mix of punters - quite a few "older" (ie our age, pensioner ish) people, groups of women, mixed groups, groups of chaps, a couple of families, people in straight off the building site...etc.etc

As I suspected, Bristol doesn't really seem to have quite the seasonal lull - and we're very glad for it.

Eastbourne is Closed

 The contrast of living part time in a large, traditional (slightly old-fashioned) coastal resort and part-time in a university city which is generally considered to be quite trendy and hip is that the city never really "shuts down".  Yeah, it'll be quieter in the depths of non-pre-Christmas winter (ie Jan/Feb) but pubs and restaurants generally return quite quickly to a normal schedule.

Eastbourne, on the other hand, does not.

We took an extended break from work over Christmas and made a return to the office to catch up with the Team on Monday - almost a week into the New Year.

We already knew that Beerarama would be closed - the chaps who run it advertised their closure for a couple of weeks' holiday, well in advance...and, OK it was Monday but when we strolled around the corner to the Belgian Bar we were really disappointed to see it was closed.  As we strolled down that road which is supposed to be the Town's "flagship", "Cafe culture" street which, in theory, has been (or at least will be) the recipient of quite a lot of funding to enable this new culture...what do we see?  Closed.  Everything either closed or gone for good.  It feels like self-fulfilling prophesy - difficulty getting people in when you are open, so don't open, so no one seeks you out - so even fewer people come.

We're heading up to Bristol on Friday and what we do know is that is that whilst some places might be taking a bit of a break, there won't be wholesale closures of hospitality venues and it'll encourage us to try a few new places who are likely to be a bit quieter...but, crucially, open.

We see a lot about pub closures and I suspect that the prevailing culture in a town or city might very much drive how easy it is for them to ride out the lean times.  I'm not talking about the large company places here - like 'spoons, or Sam Smith, or whatever pubco - I'm talking about real community venues, run by people who put their lives into a place - those who see it as more than a job. 

I really, really wanted a bit of chill time in the pub with the BBB on Monday - it's different to chill time at home - but it wasn't to be.  There's more work to go out for tomorrow so no doubt we'll try again but I'm already anticipating we might be disappointed again.

Friday though...I know where we'll be around 4.30pm