After Work on a Friday

 We decided that we needed to crack with some work at our base on Friday.

I waited for shopping to be delivered, BBB strolled off quite early (for us).

We convened at work and started to make headway ready for next week. I think we made pretty good progress even though the pair of us were a little confused by the clock chimes (Town Hall clock needs to be manually adjusted for GMT - it'll take a couple of days for the chap to arrive to do it).

At 4.30pm, as it was Friday, we decided we'd better scarper and naturally headed around the corner to "Wolf on the Corner".  I guess we arrived around 4.45pm and the place was rammed! (it felt we'd entered a wormhole and landed in any of our favourite Bristol pubs).

People pretty happy to share tables so we found a seat easily enough and tucked into "Oh No Not Again!" by Downlands. It was a lovely, fresh, pale session beer and, obviously, the naming appealed.

Our table-mates went on their way and, almost immediately, a couple of our work alumni turned up.  These chaps have been friends since senior school and through Uni and now both back living in Eastbourne.  We quite often see them in our favourite drinking holes because they have very good taste in beer, too.

There was Lost and Grounded "Fest Beer" drunk (we ARE in a Bristol wormhole) and declared great, together with some more Sussex-based keg offerings - all very acceptable. 

 We love that this place is going from strength to strength. We think they may have been quite lucky with the availability of this particular shop unit but I know they had been contemplating it for a good while (maybe a couple of year) so perhaps it was more about waiting for the right space.

In  any case, proximity to work makes it particularly good for us but the staff, the beer offering and the space all comes together brilliantly.  One year in - it feels like a very solid offering.

Chatting in the Pub

 I've said, probably countless times, that we're not generally very willingly social.  But the work we do has changed, to a degree, the way we see other people: sometimes, it isn't all about us.

Last day in Bristol, Barley Mow just seemed the right way to go - super relaxing, guaranteed good beer - that's what we want.

It was busy - really quite busy.

The fire was lit and our corner was occupied so we sat on the opposite side of that room at the corner of the big tables where we could also see the fire.  Nice.

Because it was busy, it was reasonably noisy so we decided a simple game of Regicide would fit the bill.

A lad approached and asked whether he could sit in the space opposite - obviously he was welcomed.

About halfway through our first game he asked what we were playing (this is a common question) - and were inevitably pulled into a conversation about what brought us all to the pub, etc, etc.

Turns out the lad was a student at UoB and because it was half term (Uni's have HALF TERM now?????) all his friends had gone back home but he had labwork he had to do - so he was stuck at his accommodation and decided to have a wander to new pubs - and he found out about the Temple Meads brewery and pub concentration.

It definitely wasn't the evening we expected. Did we really welcome it?  I'm not sure.  We didn't need the conversation but it is good for us to exercise those muscles from time to time.  Also, it's never nice to contemplate what someone might be going through if they're feeling a little bit isolated and needing to have a bit of human connection.

It takes some oomph to make that first approach, especially if it's not your usual MO.

He was a really nice chap and it was nice to encourage him to try the other places (plus a few more he hadn't heard of) in the area.

 That the beer was good, largely goes without saying  but the Mega Mosaic was, again, absolutely fantastic.

We're now back in Sussex and I'm quite keen to have a quiet evening on the sofa. 

 

Heading back to Sussex

 This is our last day in Bristol.  We've decided to head back to Sussex tomorrow to get a day in work tinkering with laptops, or whatever.  Yes, we're sad old buggers.

We've been to Barley Mow and Martha's.  Immediately feeling home in both - both truly relaxing spaces for us in spite of both being really quite busy (on a Monday and a Tuesday respectively with no special events around).

New beer:  

Martha - porter on cask.  Really nice.  Full bodied without being sweet maybe a degree or two cooler would have benefitted it.

Barley Mow- Arbor Mega Mosaic.  On keg, superb last beer of the day.

 It's odd, but now the clocks have gone back to GMT and autumn has brought unsettled and chilly conditions, it now feels late if we arrive in the pub at 4.45pm - it's already dark and it feels like we may have missed something.

We'll reacclimatise.

I wonder if anyone in Eastbourne has any "Star of Eastbourne" left?   

Down South

 As is our want, we usually have a holiday in October.  This year we decided to return to Falmouth.

Work was still very busy so we nipped up to Bristol just a couple of days before we were due to go to Cornwall to decompress a little then we headed down (on the train, obvs).

 Once again, we bemoaned travelling on a Saturday (must try harder to find a holiday rental which starts midweek) - Our train was partially cancelled, meaning an unplanned change in Plymouth, but we were unphased.

Our Falmouth base promised much but didn't deliver everything we'd hoped, nevertheless it was in a decent spot meaning it was relatively easy to get around on foot, even on days when the weather wasn't at its best.

We wanted to seek out a few new places:  The Seaview, The Globe and the Jacobs Ladder and reprise old favourites:  Moth and the Moon, Beerwolf, The Front, Seafood Cafe.

 Front and Beerwolf really bring it for us:  good real ale, sometimes the bonus of an interesting keg.  A place we can play Regicide with impunity.

Seafood cafe was still good but the food less to our taste than the first time we went (and serving chips and salad long after the other dishes had been finished was a bit sub par)  but the beer was great and the service really engaging. 

Moth and the Moon is a more subdued kind of place than the others but it's cosy and atmospheric with beer that's certainly good enough to pass muster for a couple of pints.

So much for the old friends...

What about the new places?  Actually, we failed to get to Jacobs Ladder (we passed it a couple of times but it didn't beckon us in) and as an aside the Famouth Brewery place in a tiny lane near the harbour didn't seem to be open to the two or three times we passed it. Must do better!

The Globe which I wanted to try because they've taken a high street pub which Greene King were dumping and turned it into an independent venue and you have to love that.  Their cask offering was modest (two beers - one pale, one stout) from a brewery we didn't know (...bear something???) but the pint of the pale one we had was cool, well kept and very nice.  Their keg offering appeared to be all/mostly uber Brands so nothing to interest us there. The view out the back is great, the staff friendly.  I hope it does well.

We had a bonus new pub when we accidentally walked to Penryn -  The Seven Stars which has its own microbrewery.  It was around lunchtime and it was very quiet but the welcome was pleasant, the beer good (Hidden Brewery) and the bus back to Falmouth-proper oh so convenient (gotta love a pub very near bus stop).

Best new pub though was The Seaview. A punishingly steep walk from where we were staying but oh so worth it.  Verdant beers plus a guest on cask and loads of their own keg beers as you would expect.  The first time we went for the beer, the second for beer and food.  Had a bit of a Barley Mow feel about it with definite "shifts" of different people.  I'm not sure that "Desi" is really a description you can give the place but we tried the food offering.  I liked it a bit more than the BBB but we did eat well.

...and the one that got away?  A place we'd never even heard of - taproom for the Dynamite brewery but never quite found the time/occasion to visit.  Next time, maybe.

All in all we barely drank the same beer twice:  Treens, Verdant, Tintagel, Firebird (plus the odd guest) and 3 or 4 from each brewery available in the main venues we went.  We were able to major on cask, which we particularly liked and bonus points for Seaview's willingness to offer 2/3rds - even in cask.

Still - because we're old.  We're glad to be home.  Back in Bristol for a few days before we head back to Sussex.
 

  

Up the Kriek

 Sorry, that was an unnecessary pun.

My first try of a fruit beer was in the Brown Jug off license around the corner from my house in Bedminster.

We popped in on a Friday evening to get our usual 4-pint takeout (plastic) flagon of whatever beautiful cask Phil had on.  We were regulars so a catch up and a bit of beer-chat was usually involved.

"Try this", said Phil as he unwrapped a bottle from its blue paper wrapper.  It was a raspberry beer.

I tried it.

Bleargh!  I absolutely hated it - but I can't honestly remember precisely what made me hate it.

I seem to remember muttering something about "I like my beer to taste of beer..."

I didn't try a fruited beer again until 2010 when the BBB suggested we go to Brussels for the weekend.

À la Mort Subite is a bar which is widely known, and I guess something of a tourist trap.  Nevertheless, I totally adored the place.

We arrived and the place looked completely full.  We shuffled into the bar slightly nervously to see where we should sit.  We were brusquely waved over by a member of staff who pointed to a two-person table.  We sat close to the bar - I was facing the serving area.

There's a beer menu and we given a short time to peruse but a serving person arrived at the table very quickly so there's a bit of pressure not to hold up proceedings - this bar seems to thrive on efficiency.

Somehow or other, I ordered a draught Morte Subite Kriek - I could see the pump in the serving area in front of me.  I can't even remember why I chose it - probably the pressure.

I absolutely loved it.  To me it tasted strongly of cherry but with next to no sweetness to make it cloying.  I've never had the same reaction to a fruit beer since.  It's best we gloss over the kiwi flavoured Floris that came later in the trip.

At Cantillon, after your self-guided tour (or, at least it was then) with a paper pamphlet in the language of your choice where you are urged not to touch to the spider webs near the coolship, you get a few glass tasters of the various beers.  I must have had a kriek, but I found the gueze flavour rather overwhelmed the fruit character.

In À la Becasse  you bought your beer in a small jugs to share and a mixture was a legitimate choice - kriek forming a part of the mix - I remember really liking it.  

 So Brussels left me feeling a bit Goldilocks about kriek. 

The framboise I had in the Barley Mow has stuck with me, though.  So every now and again I've been dabbling to see if I can replicate that first Morte Subite Kriek.

Last week in Wolf on the Corner I had a 3.8% Lindemans Kriek which had lovely depth and body, with a fantastic cherry hit but was very, very sweet.

When I saw that our online grocer had Bacchus Kriek at a good price, I thought it was too good a chance to miss.  At something like 5.6% I expected it to have some heft, but it didn't really.  The cherry tasted like an artificial flavouring and I got a lingering unpleasant aftertaste resembling Aspartame (I don't believe anything artificial was actually in the beer, it just tasted that way) and I felt cheated like when San Pellegrino started putting artificial sweeteners in their grapefruit pop.

I do know we still have a can of Burning Sky Framboise et Cerise in the fridge and that was definitely the closest to my memory of the character of Morte Subite.

So my quest continues. 

It's not a full time quest.  To be honest it's more of a half-arsed vague notion...but quest sounds so much more noble... 

 

Saturday in the Crown

Part of the reason we felt our Eastbourne house would be suitable for us is that it's a 12 - 15minute walk from The Crown.

Other places we looked at didn't have pub-proximity and we rejected them, in part, because of that.

We already knew The Lamb (Harveys) which is about the same distance but we decided, the day we viewed the house on a miserable November and thought it would do (that's all we really wanted in a house at the time),  that we should at least check The Crown out to see what alternatives there were if we decided to move there.

It has to be said, it looked a little bit "locals pub" with smokers hanging around outside the door (they still do that a bit) and in the right hand room as you go in, the facilities felt a bit basic (the loos still are basic, though clean).

We can't remember what cask beers were on the bar but we remember we ordered Harveys and it was served on gravity from the "cellar" (cool room next to the bar).  This wowed us both, especially as it was super-fresh and cool, which is not always a given for Harveys in town.

There was quite a long delay until we actually bought the place (for...reasons)  but we revisited it only once we'd completed the purchase some 8 months later.  We went back to The Crown and were ecstatic to find that Dark Star Hophead was now a regular beer and was served on gravity (Harveys had been put on handpump).

We've been drinking there ever since - some 13 years.  Same landlord, we've seen his son and friends grow up from primary school kids to working behind the bar and the beer is still the best/most interesting cask offering anywhere in Eastbourne.

We've been back around 6 days and hadn't yet visited but had learned that they had Thornbridge Ravenna on. Once we'd completed a couple of strenuous garden tasks, we walked down.

Saying hi to a few regulars, catching up with the bar staff, watching sport on the TV - it's just as relaxed an experience as going to the Barley Mow.  Beer of the same high quality, though sadly not the same range.

We were home. 

 

Pub is a collaborative thing

 We were going to go to Unwins so that we could try a game they have (Arboretum).  Sadly, we arrived to find it closed.

 Because rain threatened, we went to the BM instead.  It was about 5pm when we arrived and, what appeared to be a bunch of teachers had taken up residence in the Best Corner.  No matter.

A slight misjudgement by the chap on the bar led to one of our pints very nearly hitting the deck, but for the reflexes of the BBB catching it (left-handed, he wanted to make clear) as it tipped off the bar.

It spilled about a quarter of the beer on the BBB's jumper and the floor. "Oh my god!  I'm so sorry" said the lad and, indeed, he did appear mortified.

I grabbed some roll wipe I could see on the bar to mop the BBB down and the lad returned with a full roll. He apologised another 12 or 13 times, and topped the beer up.  We assured him that no harm was done and that it could happen to anyone, etc, etc.

We genuinely felt it too.

We enjoyed our first pints and nattered about nothing much.

The group on the adjacent table were a bit noisy and the BBBs ears are playing up at the moment but he didn't let the noise bother him.

People came and went and the pub was still pretty busy at 6pm.

A slightly awkward looking couple came in and looked a bit horrified at the busyness of the place. They looked at the other half of the table we were sitting at...and tentatively started to ask if they could sit.  We waved them in.

After a while the teachers left and so the couple jumped ship to the corner.  He returned to reassure us it wasn't us that they were moving from - but rather the noisier other table.  We smiled, as you do.

When he went to get another drink he came over again - "is there an event or something?, it's really busy".  Turns out they'd just moved in locally and were sussing out the area.  I got the distinct feeling that he wasn't that comfortable and was, somehow, disappointed in the Barley Mow - it was the slightly non favourable comparison with the Old Fishmarket, I think.  He said that his wife really liked ESB so the BBB urged him to try the ESB-like beer on the bar.

We felt the need to go into bat to promote all the lovely local places, but when all's said and done, these folk will find places that suit their needs and, like as not, their needs won't be the same as ours.

I mused on the fact that the day we arrived for this trip I was totally a recipient of the BM's care and, for want of a better word, support.

Today, now I'm a little bit less stressed I hope what we did was gave a little bit back. 

 

Weakened

 The rain on Sunday continued to come and go.  We felt a bit sorry for the EBBT and wondered how it was going.

Temple Quay was generally very quiet.

I was writing a funding bid, we watched the text of BHAFC's match with Chelsea and didn't do much else, to be honest.

Around 4pm we mused about finding somewhere non-EBBT to grab a beer.  The forecast still indicated heavy showers so we didn't want to venture far.

In the end we decided we'd do a lap of the "block" - Glass Wharf, Avon Street, Oxford Street and maybe as far as the Barley Mow to see how busy things were.  It would allow us to stretch our legs a little, eavesdrop on proceedings and, at worst, return home.

There were a few people sitting in the middle of Oxford Street but it certainly didn't look rammed.  The under-arch areas for several of the places there were set up with tables and a few people were sitting outside there.  The pasty shop was open and seemed to be doing a bit of trade.  The area outside Marthas was very busy, but the bar looked manageable.  We ventured inside.

Seats appeared to be at a premium but the team at the bar greeted us warmly.  "Sorry, only pints and halves..." Laurie said, waving plastic glasses at us.  We had pints.

We managed to tuck ourselves into a table near the door and look at what was going on around.  There were groups of all types and ages, and a few lone drinkers.  There were conversations; there were young parents with younger kids; there were card games being played (including us).  What there wasn't much of is the dreaded "vertical drinking".  I mean, there were people standing in groups, and they were drinking but it was much the same as the people sitting and drinking.

Groups ebbed flowed: tables emptying and filling, Almost no one's voice raised above others, but the general sound level did increase.  There was exemplary use of tables and liminal spaces (can we just perch our drinks on the corner of your table, please?) and the atmosphere was inclusive and friendly.

The key for this event was that there were plenty of bar staff so there was seldom a queue at the bar.

We managed to grab a quick chat with Bryony when she was empty glass hunting.  It was a bit quieter than they'd hoped but they'd expected the August event to be quieter than May.  That makes sense - May is at the beginning of the "oooh the weather is improving" event season.  August bank holiday is right at the end and next week schools, colleges and Universities will be returning.  It's possible some people just needed a non-event weekend.

I do hope everyone who organised and ran it found it a success.  Judging by the number of people who were having to consult a map to find the next venue, at least some of the customers might have discovered somewhere they'll return to in quieter times:  let's hope so.

The beer?

Oh yeah, actually I had their core beers (felt slightly odd in pint measures) but the BBB did try the Good Chemistry/Martha colab lager brewed with NZ hops.  It went down very well indeed, depsite the hated (but totally understandable) plastic glasses.

We left quite pleased we'd gone but glad to get home to the quiet of our flat (dear lord, we're getting old).

Today is more funding bid writing, hopefully followed by a check-in with the chaps round at the BM.

Onwards! 

 

Yep

As predicted, we headed to the Kings Head yesterday.

It's a pleasant back-street 10 minute stroll.

When we arrived there were lots of people sitting outside.  At the bar, there was one person on a bar stool and the tramcar snug was empty.  

The folk who run it were behind the bar and we were greeted enthusiastically - me:  Oakham pale, BBB: Black Iris West Coast IPA.  

Both cask, both in perfect condition and both of us convinced we'd got the better deal.

We had the pick of the seats so chose the small table just by the tramcar entrance.  The downside is intermittent smell of disinfectant from the loos - the upside is easy exit and entrance for subsequent rounds.

A couple of people came and joined the tramcar and behaved impeccably.

Second beer was a DEYA 5.5% something or other.  As much as I like Steady Rollin' Man - this was leagues ahead: really fresh and sparky.  Himself agreed.

We chatted about nothing much, just enjoying a time not having responsibility for anything at all.

At one point I saw a great backlit "behind the bar" scene and felt moved to take a picture (only iPhone but the best camera is the one you have with you, after all).

After a while I recognised that some of the group that had joined the seats nearby were CAMRA old hands from my days as beer festival set up manager.  Suspect I've been long forgotten because I only ever went to festival meetings and the festival itself, and never attended any other socials.

One chap had a voice which reached above the prevailing conversational hum.  It was a local accent and although it was a bit distracting, it was kinda grounding.

Sierra Nevada beers were quite prevalent in the line up.  The BBB and I raised a bit of an eyebrow. We seemed to remember having it watching football in the pub in London and finding it very m'eh, suspecting the brewery had gone macro-brand.

Still, two of the beers they had were strong:  a 6.5% hazy pale and a 7.2% barley wine type. Ach, what the hell.  We decided to give a couple of halves a try.

Actually, we enjoyed them.  They were a good finisher.  Would I rush back to them?  No, but I wouldn't complain if they were what was available.

 I would definitely return to the Oakham and the Deya, though.  Much like Tom Unwin's tank hazy pale "Blossom" which we deliberately went to Unwins on Friday to have two pints of to follow the two pints we'd had the Friday before.

The great thing about the EBBT weekend is that all the beers in the Barley Mow will have changed (let's hope they have something left) so we're looking forward to Monday's visit... 

 

 

 

 

Rock and a Hard Place

So, after weeks of fine, warm <hot>, weather we have a bank holiday upon us so, obviously, rain is forecast.

For our pals who are organising and participating the East Bristol Brewery Trail, it has to be a fraught time. On the one hand they have to put a lot of effort (and, I guess, cost) into setting up the infrastructure for what amounts to a geographically extended beer festival. On the other they have to take the potential hit when their small indoor spaces (only Wiper and True can accommodate more than a few dozen people at a time) can't cope with the number of people attempting to attend the event.

We know that frisky weather in the May meant that lots of people took refuge in the Barley Mow (not on the official trail but...) so I'm pretty sure they'll see a bit of rush, too. I'd also be surprised if some of the other pubs in the general vicinity didn't get a bit of a weather bump.

Obviously, we'll be going nowhere near any of the EBBT venues on Saturday or Sunday and we've learned there's a multi-venue King Street music event today as well so we'll not be venturing over there either.

Bristol City are at home to Portsmouth this afternoon so that rules out "south of the river".

We won't want to venture far - so the Kings Head seems like a potential prospect.  We're never disappointed with the beer there but its size and layout can make it a bit difficult to relax in, sometimes. 

But, you know, we'll still be hoping that the event is viewed as a success by all the people with skin in the game.  My guess is that events like this help to provide some financial cushion to cover November and February Tuesdays.  Good luck, folks...we'll see you when it's all over.

 

 

On the Third Day...

 We got our first taste of Moor for the first time in a long time.

We popped round to Unwins and, in the absence of one of Tom's cask beers, we chose a guest keg:  Nor'hop.

It was...fine.

That is to say it was without any problematic flavours - maybe a tiny bit "bretty" to my taste - it was inoffensive.  

That's a pretty damning statement, really, and because there's so much really good beer in Bristol - both local and "imported" it means we'll be unlikely to repeat the experience just yet.

Whilst I'm glad Moor is being resurrected, I almost wish that they'd changed the name and not tried to brew the "same" beers.  I see their core range appears to be a solid offering (but the pictures of pump clips on their website is just weird..maybe AI-adjacent?) but is lacking (maybe just at the moment) the likes of Hoppiness and Old Freddy Walker which added character and interest to the lineup.

Interesting that they chosen to open the taproom all week but I'm not sure we'll rush there.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who'll enjoy the new incarnation and that's great - but for me, they've lost something of the "them" that we particularly liked.  I daresay we'll check in on the beers from time to time to see how things emerged but they're not going to join our "regular" list for now.

Meanwhile, our second pint in Unwins was a truly gorgeous hazy pale from the tank - called Blossom, this is something we'll definitely return to. 

 

The Role of Pub in Stress Management

 A bit of a horrible week at work has led to both me and BBB feeling the stress of responsibility.

Added to which we were scheduled to travel to the Shire on Thursday and had both been worried how to keep the garden (ie Tomatoes) alive in our absence.

On this latter matter, we needn't have been as worried.  Wednesday delivered the first rain Eastbourne has seen for about 9 weeks - it rained steadily all morning and started to penetrate the surface of the soil.  Overnight to Thursday it became more feisty and filled the pond, all the water butts and gave all the tomatoes a damned good soaking.  Still, the Lewes derailment played havoc with the rail schedule so we had to prepare for a different travel experience - this added to the uneasy feeling.

We got the bus into town, dodging the deep grey clouds promising further soaking and got the train to Brighton.

We crossed the platform to a Thameslink train to Cambridge via London Bridge.  We thought this would give us the opportunity to get off at Farringdon and a nice easy route to Paddington.

As we got to the outskirts of London, we learned that the train would finish at London Bridge because there'd been an incident north of London.  At East Croydon we decided getting off and picking up a train heading to Victoria would be a better idea.

It was not - further disruptions were happening.

So we were back on another train to London Bridge. It is a horrible tube station - poor signage, miles of walking from the mainline terminal, bustle and grubbiness.

Jubilee line was chaotic and packed but we gritted our teeth and squeezed ourselves onto the train.

When we got out at Baker Street we were pleased to learn that the switch to Bakerloo was simple and all the crowds melted away.

We arrived at Paddington less frazzled than we might have been and then a timely incoming train to Platform 1 was helpfully badged up ahead of the departure board announcement.  We strolled, found a nice seat and started to relax, arriving at Temple Meads at the same time as usual.

Without much ado, we strolled to the Barley Mow, grabbed a couple of pints of the seasonal pale special (4.2%, perfect temperature and fresh as a daisy) and settled into our corner. I could feel the muscles in my neck and shoulders relaxing.

It wasn't the beer - I'd only had one mouthful.  It was the environment.

Pub is a place where you're being looked after by skilled professionals, providing an integrated product/service and its mission is to make you happy.  After a long week of "being in charge" this being looked after was a proper tonic.

Thank you Barley Mow, thank you wonderful bar staff everywhere. 

Wife's knees...

 When I first met the BBB we drank in the Royal Oak in Tabbard Street in London.

Legendary for its selling of Harveys and anyone who knows and likes pubs in London knows the Royal Oak.  A bit like the Vic in Eastbourne, it's a really traditional pub, and can be a little bit tricksy to find if you don't know it - so it feels like a secret location.

I've not been there for years for the simple reason, we live most of our time in Harveys country.

It comes down to the fact that I like there to be local beers, and those I might not get too see in a pub very often.

Drinking Harveys in a Bristol pub when I wanted to see how it travels just didn't feel special to me (it had travelled well, as it happens).

The same feeling comes over me with Timothy Taylor beers now - drinking them in Yorkshire felt proper.  In the Crown it's a beer of last resort no matter how well it's kept.

So when we went to Wolf a couple of weeks ago, it was with some surprise we saw that Little Martha had a showing or two on the board. This week they're back but in company with New Bristol and Good Chemistry. 

On the one hand, I love that these breweries I like, and have seen grow are getting onto bars 200 miles away so other people can enjoy them.  On the other, we're heading to Bristol next week and these are beers that normally travel no miles to the location we drink them in. 

Obviously, I drank a Martha beer for the sheer hell of it - and it was very good (it was one of their lagers) but truth be told, I prefer drinking it in its home because it grounds me there.

On that note - if you go to Lewes at any point the John Harvey Tavern is the right place to get beer.  All the pubs in town sell Harveys, but the John Harvey has something extra that no one else can really replicate.  I seem to remember, from a business event I had to attend in Lewes that the lunchtime sandwiches are cracking too! 

  

 

Out of Practice

 We're very much creatures of habit.

We're lucky enough that having been able to effectively retire but still be useful we tend to still have "work days" of fixing computers, fundraising and helping kids and adults learn useful and fun digital skills.  But we generally get to decide most of the what, when and how of that and still, at the end of the working day, feel like we've earned our pint (well, quite often, two-thirds).

Weekends, then tend to be spend in and around home doing chores, or following home-based project and maybe watching sport.

This Sunday, however, we threw all of that into the air.  We decided to go and watch the Beachy Head Penny Farthing Hill Climb - where 40 Penny Farthing riders start on the seafront and pedal furiously up around 160m of climb on a zigzag road in a time trial (this means cycling on your own against the clock).

There are buses on a Sunday which drop passengers at Beachy Head so, rather than slog up 2 miles of hill ourselves, we thought we'd use that.  Sadly, we were informed as we got on the bus that the buses were detouring because of the race.  Instead, we had to walk a couple of miles from the inland stop to get to the most interesting part of the race:  the top of the main incline.  We feared we'd miss all the riders but we arrived with about a dozen or so to come. 

It was a blast! It would have been a s shame after the fun of the race not to have a bit more of a wander around the downland and we were glad we did:  we were treated to kestrels, swallows, butterflies and crickets.  Sadly the single pub of the area is rubbish for beer (it was too early, anyhow) so we jumped on another bus down to the seafront and had a little stroll, grabbed some lunch and then, around 2pm decided that The Victoria Hotel might make a good place to get some relief from the sun and to recover a little.

Since we used to drink here regularly, the management has changed. It's still a Harveys tied house, though.  So I had a pint of best and himself said he'd try the "Light".  I got the better of the deal - my Best was in perfect condition and reminded me of why it's such a revered pint.  His "light" was a little tired and lacked a spark.

We relaxed in the pub in the same seats as the first time the BBB took me there around 15 years ago:  other than the landlord, nothing has changed.  The BBB has been drinking here for nearly 50 years - most of the interior has remained static, he confirmed.

We shared a pint of Tom Paine which was excellent and then strolled back to the pier to get our bus home.

Next morning it turns out that, walking a lot of miles,  neither of us slept particularly well - it seems that the break in routine may have been to blame. I'm not sure if this means we should break old habits less, or more, to be honest.  Still, it was nice to have a good excuse to go to the Vic again.

Since then we've been to The Crown  and had Three Legs Mosaic and Kent Citra and we've popped into Beerarama for Steady Rolling Man, some Azvex strong stuff and a beer from a Swiss brewer who's beers are hard to come by (I forget the brewery name).

Today, the weather promises to be hideously hot again and we haven't had any rain for a couple of months (this is not tolerable for a girl from the West Country) so we've restocked the fridge beer, we'll cower in the house for worst of the heat and then we'll sit in the back garden later with Pollys and Arbor cans, maybe treat the tomatoes to a couple of cans of water, and see if "hedgehog-cam" picked up any more footage last night after we replenished supplies.   

Small things... 

 

When it works...

 I had to work on Monday doing "grown up" things (ie:  peopling and being in charge) - this is always guaranteed to make it a day of hard work.

Himself was in the old base doing some "getting things sorted for the final move" work but he appeared in the new place around 4.15pm - he was hot and also knackered.

It being Monday, much of Eastbourne is closed, even in the tourist season.

We considered our options...(no Wolf, no Beerarama, no Ninkasi  and three nearby pubs don't really have beer we want) it came down to The Frontier (good keg beer, odd/quiet atmosphere), Bibendum (aka The New Inn - probably decent beer but always feels like a corridor leading to a restaurant so lacks cosy corners), and going home.

There was a slight grudgingness to the decision to go to Frontier in the end, but at least it took us on the route of the last option.

It was about one third full when we arrived with a pleasant thrum of conversation: promising.  We saw a chap at the bar we see frequently in all the decent beer places in town "only place open on a Monday?" the BBB said, the guy smiled and nodded.

We bought two Crafty Devil beers (they lean towards the Welsh here), happy they serve in 2/3rds.  "Lush" (4.4%) and something else which was 4.0% - both very nice.

We found an airy corner to sit in and realised we'd found the occasion that this venue works for us.

Second up was Deya Steady Rolling Man (no introduction needed) and Pollys "Pine" - He's not keen on Pine but I like the astringency of it.

There was a shift in the people in the venue - from a fairly mixed crowd of cafe-like patrons  to several blokes who, it seems, have a casual backgammon club. It was great!

So we stayed for another - he switched to a Charrington Cider (from a bag) and because of the keg of Pine was playing up I switch to a Polly's can - unsurprisingly lovely.

So...has my mind changed about the vibe in this venue?  Well no, not really, I don't imagine it will always fit the bill but as I have to be Grownupping for the next few Mondays and the weather is warm, I think it should do nicely. 

Beer on the Back Step

 Well, because we're older now, more like "just inside the bi-fold doors" but you get the gist.

The BBB decided to go into work to get some bits done - I manned the fort for the various "first day back" deliveries of groceries, beer (x2) and wine.

By the time he was planning to come back, I'd checked to see if The Crown had a lovely new cask of something on - but it was Scaramanga, by Gun - perfectly nice but not something to travel for.

Instead we cracked some of the beers that had arrived earlier the in the day and sat and relaxed on the side of the house that's cooler in the afternoon.

Even though the day wasn't particularly busy or stressful, it's still a proper pause time and that's all to the good.  Even so, the back garden got watered and we marvelled at the fact we'd managed to keep plants alive in our absence.

Blimey Burning Sky's sour cherry and raspberry beer is awesome - and I'm really not a sour/gueze/farmhouse/bret fan... 

 

From the Source

 Home-beer buying has come a long way over the 40 years I've been doing it (oof, that's a long time...).

Quality has always been part of it since my first introduction to the stuff.  So there's never been John Smiths Smooth, or Ruddles County.

But availability was always a bit of thing since the right place to drink beer is a pub, and the right dispense-method is cask.  Now, obviously, that's no longer true - at least for me, but it has to be said cask is usually my chosen first beer, if there's a good one on hand.

We used to get weekend 4-pint fills from the Brown Jug in the Chessels (Bedminster) and a polypin at Christmas.

When they closed it might be a couple of bottles of Sam Smiths Old Brewery Bitter from the independent off license around the corner but there was rarely anything interesting in the local supermarket.

Then we started getting home-delivered groceries (driving to a supermarket has never really been a thing in my life) there were a few half-decent bottles (Waggledance, London Pride, 6X..) but even then beer for home consumption didn't really feature in a major way.

When we moved to the place 5 mins walk from Bath Ales' first pub (Hare on the Hill) - beer was mainly drunk in there with the odd 4-pint takeout and (yes) polypins at Christmas.

When the BBB arrived in my life beer availability had improved so grocery deliveries might contain a few bottles from a good brewery (not usually local, though) but Bristol Beer Factory arrived around the same time (along with Arbor and Moor).

No 4 pint takeouts then, but still the occasional polypin to take on holiday or whatever. Getting the beer from BBF was a bit of labour of Hercules since they were always really keen, and very pleased to see you but no matter what you'd ordered, or how much notice you'd given them - it wouldn't be ready and there was a confused scrabble (did you want it bright or with bottoms...I'll just fill one now for you...)

When we moved to Eastbourne we would get the occasional beer subscription box which were very much a mixed bag, to be honest.  Supermarket deliveries were better, with a wider range but it wasn't really the same. Then came the pandemic.

Looking online to buy beer was time-consuming and often didn't yield satisfactory results.

Thankfully there were enough off-the-shelf e-commerce platforms to ensure that even the least digitally confident brewery could get something going and by the end of the lockdowns we were buying beer directly from the brewery from almost all the Bristol breweries.

It's now standard for me to order a case or two of a mix of cans from any brewery I come across and beer is almost always in the fridge.  We travelled back from Bristol to Eastbourne yesterday (again slightly earlier to dodge the worst of the next heatwave) but before I left I'd ordered a couple of cases from Arbor (permanent fixture on the bar in the fridge) and one from Burning Sky - this latter because I want some more "Bubble" before it all goes.  I also included their delicious cherry/raspberry gueze/farmhouse beer because, again, it may not happen again and it would be a crime to miss it.

The best place to drink beer is still a pint of crisp, fresh cask in a good pub but really good beer from a can, bought from a brewery we know and trust gets a lot closer than it used to.

 

 

 

Right Time, Right Place

 Sometimes things align, don't they?

A really stressful (work) week meant on Thursday we needed to read over some dratted funding stuff in a conducive space and to reward ourselves with a game in the pub.  The BBB is really getting his head around Wingspan and wants to practice.

So we popped to Martha's.

BBB was concerned it would be as busy it was last week (super-hot Thursday) but he needn't have worried.  It was perfectly peopled.

I thought that their quite-strong IPA-type beer had a subtle sourness to it.  I thought it gave it a Belgian air.  The BBB half-agreed but wasn't so sure.  Both of us enjoyed it, I'd be quick to say.

When I took the glass back I remarked to the bar manager (we're still not sure of his name, even though we've known him for years) that I thought the beer was a little bit "bretty?".  

He frowned (thoughtfully) and poured a taste for him.  He agreed it was. We then had a tale of another brewery's accidental Bret beer which the BBB absolutely adores but will almost certainly never be made again.

It was one of those nice exchanges when you realise that, as professional as everyone is in the places we like to drink - there's always a back story, and it's nice to feel a part of the community of it all.

Friday was warm and the dreaded funding bid was finally submitted.  I needed somewhere quiet and reliable (on a Friday this can be quite tricky).  He asked whether Good Chemistry might be open - it was scheduled to be, so we strolled round via the cycle track with its ripe blackberries (seriously, already??).

It was VERY quiet when we went in but we were greeted by the barman with huge enthusiasm.  We chose a couple of beers and sat near the shutter-door.  Every single member of the brewery staff, as they passed by, could have chosen not to make eye contact...but every single one said hello and welcomed us.  It makes a huge difference to a quite venue - they weren't over the top, but just appreciatively friendly.  

We asked about Kokomo Weekend but were told they can't shift it enough via the tap so they tend to stick to lower ABV beers.  Still, the beers we had were lovely.  We had two pints and took the glasses back, the barman thanked us.

I've got something for you here, he said.  He then produced two cans of strong (out of date) beers from the old brewery's incarnation.  Another time when you feel part of this quirky community we sometimes live in.

Phew!

 The heatwave was forecast to come to an end over the weekend.

The BBB was monitoring things carefully up in Bristol, I was forming a puddle in Eastbourne and doing chores once the sun had gone down.

All in all, we decided that Saturday would represent the best day for me to travel to the shire.

It was still VERY warm in Eastbourne but the red alert was now confined to the south east and I was of course, travelling northwest.

The first morning update declared the flat finally habitable.

I checked trains and there were some cancellations but it looked manageable, especially if I wasn't too worried how long it took.

I left home at about 10.15 and ambled for a bus.  It was hot outside but fortunately the bus came quite quickly. Fighting my way through annoying tennis fans arriving at the station I strolled down the platform to the far end (terminus station so the far end is the front) and got on a 12-coach train about 15 mins before it was due to leave.

Aircon was ticking slowly so it was pretty pleasant. 

We left on time(ish) and the train filled rapidly so it was standing room only by Haywards Heath - still it was cool and pleasant and the fellow passengers were largely well-behaved.

When I got to Victoria, it was really crowded and I was once again reminded that midweek travel is a real luxury. Avoiding the crowds going towards the Victoria line, I decided to take the Circle line - this probed to be a sensible move.  The tube platform was stifling - like breathing the air venting from a tumble drier.

When the train eventually came I got on at the front and had to stand for a couple of stops but the design of the trains makes the inside a continuous space so people diffuse down the length of the train much more effectively.  The aircon was keeping it pleasant and I soon got a seat for the rest of the journey.  I was getting regular updates about trains from Paddington from the BBB (what did we do before the internet and the sheer volume of useful intelligence about trains to be found online).  There had been some cancellations and delays but I was told I may be able to get a train around 1.30pm.  I couldn't remember how long the Circle route from VIC to PAD takes so I did become a bit anxious - especially as it looked possible the 2pm to Bristol might be cancelled.

I popped up at Paddington with the 13.30 not yet announced for boarding and with just enough  time to pick up some lunch - unfortunately, nothing that was readily available on the main concourse looked remotely attractive so I didn't bother.  The BBB indicated that the train might go from platform 9 so I edged towards that side of the station and sure enough, the announcement came.

The previous train having been cancelled, the train was busy but not awful and then the journey was cool and relaxed (for me anyhow). By the time I arrived home at the flat there was a cold bottle of water and sandwich waiting for me.

The sun was starting to warm the flat up again so we went to the Barley Mow earlier than we normally would.

The first lovely pint of their 4% (or so) pale, seasonal special, was glorious and it felt, like all the world like no time had passed since our last pint there. The staff were telling us how hot it had been in the pub for the last few days and how they hadn't put on more guest cask because consumption was down. Made complete sense (we also know that their cellar can sometimes be challenged by superhot temperatures).

Obviously, most people were outside since it was much more pleasant than it has been so we were left in blissful peace in our favourite corner with the general bustle of people coming in, buying beer and going back outside again making sure the pub felt peopled but not awful.

The worst of the heatwave has now passed, the weather seems to be more normal for June.  I'm looking out at the sunshine from our 10th floor flat and enjoying, rather than dreading it. 

Outlier

 It's not often a canned or bottle beer totally nails it.

 Burning Sky Bubble does - well for me.

I know that not everyone likes their beer to be astringent, bitter, grapefruity, even. 

I do.  Not for every beer I drink, but a beer with that characteristic thrown into the mix is an absolute delight.

I've had to delay travel, and the BBB had to bring his forward so that we were able to check in on the Bristol flat and its orchid residents.  That means I'm still Eastbourne.

I haven't bothered with beer for the last couple of days but it's starting to cool a little now, so I've broken out the last can of Bubble - it's absolutely hitting the spot.

I'm travelling tomorrow, now - and when I get off the train, having had to deal with people who don't normally travel by train, I'll definitely need a pint...an honest to goodness cask pint, probably by BBF (straight glass, obvs).  

When I am old, I shall wear purple...

 I was working in the new office on Tuesday, temporarily "in charge" as our office manager is on leave.

I had to stay until 4pm when our work experience student was leaving for the day.

The BBB was working from home and we were just getting glimpses of the impending heatwave.

I assumed he wasn't keen to hack down to town, but he offered to come down and meet me.  Our office was pretty cool so working wasn't at all unpleasant.

By sheer luck I happened to see that Wolf was opening from 2pm for the week because The Tennis (Eastbourne Open) is on.  Wolf is on a direct walking route between the Devonshire Park, where the tennis is held and Eastbourne Railway station.  It takes 10 - 15 mins to walk that route.  You can't miss the place, you approach it and can see it from a good 50 yds away and to get to the station you have to walk right up the long side window which clearly shows it's a bar.

Tennis week - like the air show - is a mixed blessing for residents.  It gets really crowded and as a result, a lot of us tend to know timetable and largely avoid. 

So, before 5pm we arrived at Wolf slightly concerned it would be too busy and wholly prepared to do a bit of a sweaty walk to somewhere else or head closer to home.

When we walked in - there was one other person there.  And he's a regular.

The lady behind the bar was a little bit dejected but pleased to see us.  They'd got a special event license to put seating outside and everything...

We ordered drinks and sat down (inside, obvs), doing our best to make the place look well-used.

Crowds of people started to appear (presumably after a match had just finished) - not a single person even gave the place a second glance.

After a gap, another load came up - one older lady came in.  Asked for a pint of Nitro stout (Kernel was on offer), tried the outside, declared it too warm and took an inside seat near the door to make the most of the draught.  She clearly enjoyed her pint.  It warmed my heart to see not just a woman coming in on her own but an older woman (definitely older than me) who was probably brought up to know pubs as places women didn't really go on their own, and certainly not to drink pints of stout.  I was in awe.

This lady was the highpoint of visitors - a few people came from the tennis and stopped for one but I imagine the team who run the place would have been a bit disappointed.

For years, I've wondered about how much revenue our event visitors really bring to the party.  Yes they buy the tickets and they spend money on the seafront stalls - but those stalls are only bringing revenue to the "market" organisation who organise it and who pay a fee to the council. 
Clearly there are overnight visitors who use hotel rooms and eat out - some restaurants are noticeably busy for a couple of days.

But the day visitors just don't seem to translate to a proportionate usage of Town Centre/Seafront pubs, cafes, etc.  They mostly troop in and troop back out again.  It seems like we need to do something else to get our great little non-chain places recognised and better used.  

The Crown Nails it Again

 We were meeting family on Saturday and they suggested The Crown.  He likes cask ale - preferably nothing that scares the horses but he has come round to lighter, hoppier beer.

She likes moderately dry white wine and, despite being a very "locals" pub - the Crown has a decent wine offering. 

We happily agreed 

We'd been entertained by New Bristol Juno and Kent Brewery Prohibition on Tuesday and although Juno was still just about on, we preferred the new offering:  Track Sonoma.

We've had Sonoma countless times including:

- on cask at the Kings Head in Bristol where we were thoroughly impressed by its bunch despite the ABV (3.8%)

- On keg at Marthas (I think) and at Beerarama, where it made a good enough starter beer but was in no way memorable.

- In cans direct from the brewery where, again, it was fine and a nice opener but lacked real interest.

 So, whilst it was still the natural choice yesterday (Most pubs in Eastbourne can't offer a wide cask range) I didn't know whether it would be remarkable or not.

It was.

It was refreshing and cooling yet still a good punch of flavour. So this jury's in - it's a great fresh cask beer...but much less engaging with other dispense methods.

Also - thanks to Andy and the team in The Crown, they're knocking it out of the park for good cask beer in a way no where else in Eastbourne is managing.  Not a bad feat for a Heineken pub... 

 

Oh My Goodness!

 I was in work yesterday afternoon and we had work experience students in for their last day (yr 10/4th year in old money).  They were lovely, but exhausting.

I didn't really make inroads into the work I was trying to do.  

Meanwhile the BBB was at home boiler-engineer-wrangling and it took him well into the afternoon, meaning that it would have been pointless to hack down and try to get anything done.

I got a text message (we are that old-fashioned) - "Have you seen what Andy's got on?"

So I looked on the terrible app (Real Ale Finder) which the Crown and Beerarama use to publicise what beer's on.  It was "Aurora Australis" by Burning Sky.  There was also Downlands pale which on any other occasion would have been great but was (fittingly) totally eclipsed by the other guest (which was also much stronger).

No contest then, the Crown it was.

I pretty much gave up working around 3.45pm - packed up and then caught up with one member of staff I haven't seen for a while and bade a fond farewell to the WEX students.

I checked bus times and saw there'd be a but around 4.20pm and advised the BBB.

When I arrived at the pub he was just paying for the first round.  I flopped into a chair with a sigh of relief.

That beer was clearly in utterly perfect condition, with all the right things going on with the malt and the hops. Despite the strength, the first pint went down in less than 30 minutes (we usually take much longer), despite trying to slow down a bit.

The second pint would usually not hold the same thrill as the first - only in this case, it really did.

The post work wind down was a real tonic - and we wanted to prolong it all a little longer so we had a final shared pint (if he'd have suggested a full one, I'd have weakened...but he was playing 'sensible one' yesterday).

Much like an astronomical aurora - that cask will be transient.  I very much doubt it'll last into Sunday so it now lives in the memory of an outstanding pint when its impact was also very much welcomed.  Thank you Burning Sky - you've done it again! 

 

 

Never Satisfied?

 We're now about two weeks from our next trip to Bristol.

We went to the Crown on the walk home from work yesterday afternoon/evening rather than stay in town for craft beer.

We had two pints (each) of Three Acre Mosaic beer which was great, not spectacular, but a really nice, fresh pint in lovely condition.  

It was 6.30pm when we left - would we have stayed for another if there'd been something else on the bar? Yeah, probably. But midweek Eastbourne doesn't really work like that.

It's cool - just now we're kind of resigned to the way it is and we frequent places to help keep a bit of momentum, but even then only if the beer's worth having.

Tomorrow, because of work I daresay we'll pop to Wolf with a colleague who is coming over for work stuff.

Friday could easily be Beerarama if they've got a cask on.

Work's very full on - in person - at the moment so I'm already fantasizing a little bit about travelling to Bristol, then having a choice - an actual serious, difficult to make choice - of cask beer at the Barley Mow.

And my work will be remote admin, but I may be able to spend some time organising some files...luxury! 

Watching Playoffs in the Pub

 I'm not really a serious football fan - but there are certain events I find quite entertaining.

About 12 or so years ago, I sat with the BBB in a pub which would charitably be called a "locals" pub and watched all the playoffs for various football divisions.  All accompanied by McMullen's beer (probably IPA).  It was the closest pub to the BBBs house in Hitchin and the only one we knew would be showing all the football.

The Saturday of this Bank Holiday, I was volunteering at the Wish Tower but, following a couple of weeks of a lot of peopling, I excused myself a little early and, instead of the BBB meeting me in Town (it was ridiculously hot) we convened at The Crown.  

 We were quite excited that a Beak/Harveys collab beer could be on offer.  Sadly, it was gone before we even arrived.

However there was Oakham "Citra" and Pentrich "Wish Fulfillment" on offer so we definitely couldn't complain.

We were able to sit next to a window offering the combination of a bit of shade (admittedly from the portaloos which were outside and ready for a Sunday event that we knew we'd avoid, but they were freshly delivered and not in use) and an open window with a bit of a breeze.

Only one playoff match on offer:  Hull v Middlesborough following some shenanigans over spying or something and follow-up pouting about Hull having prepared to play Southampton or somesuch.

There was never a chance that all the people could have been pleased, even some of the time.

After 90 minutes of dull as ditch-water play it very much looked like there would be extra time and penalties.  Thankfully, an added-time goal put us all out of our misery.

It was very jolly and convivial in the pub, the beer was excellent and, because we had no real skin in the playoff result, even the entertainment was low-stress.

Being a only a 10 - 15 minute walk home, it made for the perfect venue - even though the day had been so stupidly hot.  

Yesterday, we could sit in our garden with fridge beer (not something we can ever do in Bristol) and listen to the event at the Crown at a distance (a little bit 80's-tastic to be honest).  We kept an eye on the closing day of the premier league season only in text format and I was glad (given the 3-0 defeat to Man Utd) that we were sat amongst greenery with birds, bees and butterflies rather than watching the match in the pub.

Seasonal Change

 So summer landed with a sizzle this week.  So from huddling in my fleece-lined hoodie to try and keep out the sharp wind to suddenly realising that it was boiling hot outside work (though still blissfully cool inside thanks to a Victorian building with immense thermal mass).

So it seemed fitting when we knocked off work to stroll back to the Gun Brewery Tap at the sports club across the road.

The first beer we tried was a 5% cask beer (can't remember its name but it wasn't one of their regular brews) - brownish, a bit hazy and rather indistinct.  Like the third attempt at making the recipe having gone through tweaks to make it better.  We weren't quite sure what it was supposed to be like - and it felt like the brewer wasn't sure yet either. 

It wasn't awful, by any means, it just wasn't...great.  It unusual for Gun, their brews normal call the style and you can recognise it.

The bar was quiet when we arrived and we opted to sit on the new terrace overlooking the main cricket pitch - sadly no match on, but we were entertained by one of their girls' teams having a training session.

We became aware of more people joining the terrace and how much smarter they were dressed than us (we set a low bar, admittedly, but the contrast was stark).  It was kinda "Ladies who lunch" meets "Off duty estate agent convention" meets "pink flowery shirt with a panama hat" brigade.

We were happy to be outside because the increase in noise would have been difficult were we inside.

Turns out there was a fund raising gala type affair for the local hospice and the great and the good (and the...) had turned out to support it in all their finery.

There was a LOT of lager and local sparkling white being drunk - very little cask beer by the looks.

 It wasn't bothering us one iota, we were happy that the tap room was getting so much custom - and it was nice to see lots of people milling around the sports club.  Sad there wasn't a cricket match to see but you can't have everything. 

Himself fetched the second pint and a half (no 2/3rd here) - having started a little too hard, there was only one place to go: Zanzama at 6.5%

It was so much better than the other one - we enjoyed it and the thronging around us.

We decided a final shared pint would be nice before we strolled home.  So I set off into the bar.

Pandaemonium!  People were about 8 deep at the bar and, clearly, not at all capable of "doing pub" properly.  

Shouted in orders to the bloke being served by people joining at the back.  Blokes gesticulating wildly and nearly punching me in the face (accidentally, obviously because being of Hobbit proportions I was below their eye-line).  "Are you in the queue" shouted at me from behind a couple of times...other guys (it was ONLY blokes buying drinks) aiming to push past (I was having NONE of  it) - and patted on the shoulder more than once (really, WTF!) 

 I've not been in such a quagmire of annoying testosterone at a bar for so long and I nearly ducked out...but then one bloke was especially patronising  and I became determined to dig in.  So I did.  I finally came to get served and asserted my place and the bloke next to me said something facile about what I had just ordered. I shared a sigh with the lass behind the bar, gave him my coldest look whilst I paid for the beer and got out with my beer intact.

When I got back outside the BBB said "you could have given up" and I had to confess it was my stubbornness at fault (again).  

...and yet, I still really enjoyed our time there.  Not really quite sure why, maybe it was being able to sit outside, looking at greenery on the first warm summery evening.  Ach, you get your kicks where you can.

 

 

Back into the Swing of it

 We've been back 6 days now and most of our days have been...busy and a bit weird.

The day we arrived back we were straight into an evening meeting that then took us to "Frontier" for a quick beer and then a meal at the nearby Thai restaurant.

 Wednesday I was in work all day and got caught in the rain afterwards so it was home and sofa and fridge-beer.

Thursday I was in Hastings and St Leonards where I was, as I indicated, delight to go to the Prince of Wales.

Friday we were split between Town Hall and our current HQ and the rain came again when it was home time so we dashed around the corner for a couple of pints of Belgian Cafe beer.

Saturday and Sunday didn't really lend themselves to going out so we called on the Fridgebeer again (note to self:  needs topping up).  This means we haven't really done our usual after work "where shall we go?" calculation since we've been back.

Still.  This afternoon we'll pop around to the Crown.  The beers on aren't the most exciting (appears to be Quiet American by Kent, and APA from Longman, according to the Real Ale Finder app) but we'll go anyway.  Fresh cask in Eastbourne (with the exception of Harveys) is a little bit like Unicorn Droppings.

 

Beer for Good

 One of the (many) things I like about Bristol Beer Factory is their commitment to supporting other local organisations - either via charitable routes or collaboration ones.

I'm not naive enough to think it's 100% altruistic, but the vibe I get from every touch-point I have with them is a good one.  It makes me want to support them more:  from the brilliant barstaff in the Barley Mow who make you feel valued (and who remember that you like a straight glass, even if it's been 6 weeks since you've been there), to the fact that their no-alcohol beer specifically supports a mental health initiative and their commitment to donate a specific % of profits into the community via various forms of support.  

Even better, this Social Value doesn't seem to come at the expence of the quality of their offering, unlike some things I've tried to support in the past (ethical coffee or whatever).  

It feels like a proper win-win-win.

So, naturally, when I found out, a good while ago, that the Hastings Project Brewery was a CIC I was keen to learn more.  The first beer of theirs I tried in Beerarama was OK, but not memorable - this was pretty early on and as I've remarked so many times before, even good brewers who have set up a new venture can take a while to get into their stride.

Hastings is half an hour away from Eastbourne by train (3 per hour), I'm a trustee of a charity there, and I do work with other charities in the town so I do find myself going there reasonably frequently.  

I learned that the brewery were taking on a pub in St Leonards (the western edge of Hastings proper) and it's just around the corner from another couple of nice placess there.  This part of St Leonards still feels a bit scruffy but the steady gentrification from the DfLs is definitely noticeable.

I'd been wanting to try the pub (The Prince of Wales) since it opened about 6 or 7 months ago but I haven't had to be in St Leonards and it still feels like a bit of an indulgence to get on a train, just to go to the pub.

Anyhow - this week I had a meeting with a bunch of colleagues related to poverty-support projects that we all collaborate on and the meeting was in CAB in St Leonards.  All the assembled company are female in the age band 40-something to 60-something - we probably cut a bit of a scary air about us when en masse.

We'd all agreed a swift pint would be in order and I suggest that we go to the Price of Wales which only one (another regular beer fan) had even heard of. We arrived at the pub at 5pm-ish and it was empty.  We were greeted cheerily by the lady behind the bar. I immediately ordered a pint of a 4%ish pale cask for me and one colleague gravitated towards lager (Helles).  Bit by bit we coaxed orders out of the the others (we don't pub together often) and sat down.

Blimey!  The beer was great, the lady behind the bar incredibly knowledgeable and encouraging - helping a couple of women to choose what they wanted. There were two cask guests as well as their own and some beers were offered on both cask and keg.

The layout of the pub is quite traditional for a corner-pub and has lots of small tables and stools to keep things flexible:  this was quite helpful since there were six of us plus a small thing in a pushchair.

I learned that they offer all their beers in 2/3rds and also learned that 2/3rds glassware is relatively expensive so might go some way to explaining why not everyone wants to sell that way.

I had to go and get a train (station about 200 yds away) but I could have sat there for much longer and tried more of their lovely beers.  I immediately felt at home and really want to engineer a chance to go back.  All the others agreed it was a great place and everyone enjoyed the beer - vowing to make this the default venue in future.

I really want to take the BBB there - I'm pretty sure he'll like it much better than Heist and Collected Fictions which we visited the last time we had to pass through.  It feels very "us".

Even better?  Being a CIC all their profits are used for community good.

Another great example of Social Value from brewing where the product doesn't appear to be a compromise.   

 

Good Chemistry

 On Friday we'd popped to Unwins.  We'd not seen the lass on bar before but soon got onto the obvious "were you working the EBBT?" question.

She was, and was staggered by how busy it had been -  she'd never seen so many people.  She was, apparently, also slightly horrified to learn there was also an "autumn" event. 

They had very little beer of their own - it all having been drunk the previous weekend (the best possible reason to be out of beer) but their cask 4% bitter (were I a pedant, I might call it a pale ale) was absolutely knockout.

I have to say the collaboration beer with Full Court Press (coffee roasters and cafe who I think are probably setting up in another arch nearby???) which was a Strawberry and coffee sour was really not our bag at all.  

Thankfully they still have the wonderful dark mild with which we finish.

Yesterday was warm and sunny so I suggested we pop round the new incarnation of Good Chemistry brewery which now has regular weekend opening times.

GC has never been a go-to brewery for us - the beers have always been restrained and "fine" but not something we've sought out.  I was curious whether the takeover by an organisation who, on the face of it, seem to have a less understated personality, might change our opinion. 

Again, this brewery is about a 7 or 8 minute walk from us (if you're counting, that means 4 breweries within 10 minutes on foot from our flat).

The main thing that seems to have changed at the brewery is their house graphic style - from precise, scientific-looking diagrammatic livery to bright, whimsical characters. 

After the "obligatory" exchange with engaging chap behind the bar (they were very busy last weekend, unsurprisingly) we settled on two 4% pale beers - me:  Kokomo Weekday, him something else (can't remember the name).  KW was a good, decent keg beer, his had more of a lager characteristic - nice, but not quite what we expected.

There were about a dozen people there when we arrived and the numbers ebbed and flowed - there was a nice hubbub on the whole.

Our second beers were in the 5.5 - 6% range (me a Canadian IPA, whatever that is, him Vienna Lager which was a colab with Little Martha) and both were really good.

Because it's a standard industrial estate unit, it's very much an "open fronted" affair and most seating is in the line of the open frontage. Not a place for inclement weather and, like a lot of taprooms like this - quite homespun in nature.  People stood in the street outside, people sat inside and I would guess we saw 30 or people during our visit.

Lasties was always going to be Kokomo weekend which I loved in the brewery's old incarnation.  It's lost nothing - hefty 7% but very drinkable.

We'll be back, I have no doubt.  The BBB, initially sceptical at the suggestion, was really pleased I'd suggested it and we both really enjoyed the session.

Only downside would be (like Unwins) the lack of 2/3rds measures but it's a small gripe, isn't it.

It's made me want to make the effort to find their other pubs (or maybe to give the Collie a second go).  But that's for next visit.

 

 

 

LHG

 On Wednesday we went for a bus/walk visit in the, aptly named, Magpie Bottom.  It's part of the city (sort of East Bristol towards the old suburbs) I don't really know at all.

It was a bit painful getting there because the roads were thoroughly rammed with traffic on all the main roads.  The bus was also very full at 2.30pm - I guess that shows that a lot of people move around the city at all times of day.

Still, after 25 minutes or so, we arrived at this quiet little green area and the sound of traffic receded almost immediately, to be replaced by birdsong.

We saw, well, magpies (obviously) but also wrens, robins and a greater spotted woodpecker and we heard blackbirds, chiffchaffs, tits and some sort of warbler, maybe.  It was quite the tonic.

The nice thing about the walk was that we could go the length of the greenspace, pop out at the other end and walk for less than 10 minutes through a quiet neighboourhood to Two Mile Hill which is a key bus route. We didn't have to wait very long until a suitable bus arrived to convey us back into town.

We decided to give the Old Castle Green another go.

We were greeted effusively and there were about 5 keg beers to choose from.  Most of them local.

We ordered a couple of pints and settled in.  It's a really good, inclusive, space and whilst not exactly understated, we didn't feel out of place at all.  Good trick to pull off.

We weren't inclined to try any of the other beers as they didn't appear to offer any contrast or progression from our first ones so we decided to head home.  It's a bit like the Old Market Assembly in terms of beer offering for us:  OK but we'd need a pressing reason to go there.

Yesterday I had to pick up an Amazon parcel so, naturally, we decided to pop into LHG's brewpub.  We rarely venture there on a Thursday and, sure enough, but 4.30pm when we approached it sounded pretty busy.

The usual groups of undecideds were lurking in the space between the door and the bar and, although the staff were effcient, quite a lot of customers weren't.  

On the bar was a choice of 4 different casks beers:  4% Bitter, LHG;  5% pale, LHG, 5.5% Porter LHG, Old Ale - Tileys.  I love this development - time was, there weren't casks at all and then it was Shroedingers cask now there are always casks.

Before too long we had two pints of a 5% pale cask beer in straight glasses and a pleasant seat.  Fresh as a daisy, clear as a Penzance beer and delicious. 

There was a small period of excess local noise when a couple of new mums loudly shared infant tips but that didn't last too long.  We were then joined by a couple of folk who were jolly but with better volume control.

Second pints were LHG Porter (Casks) for him and something pale and keggy for me.  I never remember their keg beer names since they're always new/different with only fairly subtle diffences between different brews.  That's not derogatory, exactly, since I will always choose one of the IPAs by strength but there's no point learning the name.  It was, however very nice indeed with a lovely bitterness and little obvious sweetness.  He adored the Porter and said "that's the sort of beer I would have really enjoyed 35 years ago, and still really enjoying it now" - that's high praise indeed.

Lasties were two shared drinks - 2/3rds of something pale and 6% as a collab between LHG and Verdant and something 1/3 and 8% LHG's own.  Both lovely, and shared nicely.

It was interesting watching the ebb and flow of people:  5.05pm huge groups in and then off to find a place to sit or stand.  Staff prioritise efficiency over engagement (fine by me) and the place swallows up more and more people.   Then you look up and realise that equilibrium has been attained.

Obviously there's nothing cosy about what amounts to a gigantic industrial building housing a brewery and a 100 or so seater venue but its very capacity is one of its virtues - it swallows up vast swathes of people and its atmosphere doesn't really change.  

For us it delivers a consistent offer, a range of beers and now, with the cask range, a great choice.  It's also nice and close to home - and that goes a long way too.

Nicely done. 

  

  

...and a Third

We wanted to make up for not being able to go to Martha's for boardgames on Sunday.

So we went yesterday instead.

We were greeted cheerily by the folk there and we spent a little while catching up with them to find out how their weekend had gone.

They'd sold 30% more beer this time than last which they said was a surprise since two arches is Unwins' taproom, also selling beer and, halfway through Saturday the heavens opened whereas last year it was sunny all the time.  They declared themselves really happy.

They're part of a campaign to make this row of railway arches more of a destination, I really hope they're successful because it would pay better respect to the quirky, rough around the edges history of this bit of town than the retail units in all the new shiny buildings that have been going up over the last 10 years or so (most of them empty, by the way).  I definitely prefer my urban development to be organic.

After catching up with the guys, we settled into a booth.  A large group (probably off the train colleagues for a conference or meeting or whatever tomorrow) came in and very noisily hung around for about 30 minutes - it was hard to resent them too hard because it was nice to see the place with a few people in on a Tuesday after a bank holiday.

We played our new birdy game, now starting to get the measure of it so it didn't feel like such hard work - he won.

The beer?  Oh, yeah - we had their house beers:  Halo Orbit, Mysterious intergalatic object and Neighbour we left behind - plus the newer pale one.  Nothing novel (they probably sold it all over the weekend) but beers we know and like.  It worked well

 

Two in a row

 Bank Holiday Monday - but still a Monday, right?

In this house (flat) that means Barley Mow.

We wondered whether it would be open because of a hectic weekend.  We needn't have worried.

We popped round around 4.15pm

The chap behind the bar looked...broken...

 "busy weekend?..."

He nodded wearily, but with a warm smile.

"We broke all our records"

We chatted a bit about it and he chuckled when I said we'd been avoiding the whole thing and had been worried about the rain for the success of the event.  It seems a lot of people took refuge in the BM.  

Still the pictures I've seen from a few of the venues look like it was probably chalked up as a success across the board.  I'm genuinely delighted.  

We settled down with our beers - I had Notorious, he had a 3.8% pale by Ashley Down - both were great.

The pub was perfectly peopled - folk were at "our" table but that didn't dent our spirits one bit.

Second beer was a 5% Red Willow pale, slightly hazy cask.  Cracking! He had a second one of those whilst I jumped ship to a 5% keg beer (brewery not remembered) - however, he liked mine more than I did so we swapped after a couple of mouthfuls (greater love hath no man, an' that).

We'd necked our beers quite fast, despite playing Regicide to slow us down,  so there was scope for a 4th - so we had halves of a Weekend Project 6% keg beer (again, name forgotten but) it, too, was great!

Great selection of beer and the busy weekend clearly meant a thorough turnaround of beers from the day we arrived so it was really nice to have a completely different selection to choose from.

Another reason we both like BBF venues is their glass selection.  They have standard 1pt conic glasses, but their 2/3rds, halves and thirds are the same style and there's something incredibly satisfying about that when one of you is drinking a pint and the other 2/3rds (or other variations).  Their enthusiasm to serve cask in all the different volumes make me order the amount I actually want according to strength and appetite - I think that may be an underrated thing (or, we may just be odd...).

So, that's two consecutive days in a pub with everything (even the things they can't control) perfect.  That's a hard act to follow... 

 

 

 

 

Goldilocks

 No place, no beer, no activity is ever ALWAYS perfect.

Most places, beers and activties can have instances of perfection.

So it was at the Kings Head yesterday.

Frequently too crowded, or too noisy because after-workers don't know how to use their indoor voices, the Kings Head hits highs and lows for us.  Never had a bad pint in there since it was reopened, mind.

In the pursuit of avoiding the EBBT (which does look as though it was pretty well attended, thank goodnees) we walked in the other direction and wondered how busy the Kings Head would be.

When we arrived there were no folk sitting at the bar or in the little bench inside the door.  So we grabbed a couple of (absolutely delicious) pints and headed into the Tramcar Snug.  There were about 10 people in there but a nice little space was available for us.  

Initially the larger group were a little noisy but they finished their drinks quickly and the noise level dropped to a perfect gently hubbub.

We looked up where our beers had come from (Abbeydale, Sheffield and the other was from Mallinsons, Huddersfield) and chatted about...actually I'm not sure, but it was that kind of relaxed chat that flows and then goes away.

Second beers were hazy and keggy:  me Burning Sky - Quench, him Deya.  Both hit the spot nicely.

Other punters came and went, no one imposed themselves too much on the space:  a couple of couples, a few blokes with a dog...all very convivial.

Last beer was always going to be the Black IPA they had on offer (still a style I absolutely love and what a treat to have it on cask).  It was Pangoltergeist (the troubled spirit of a mischevious pangolin, maybe?) by Tartarus (Leeds).  This is not a brewery I've seen in Bristol before but there's frequently a keg of theirs on at Beerarama. Blimey it was lovely - roasty, chocolatey, deep and bitter...but not too much.  It being cask (Kings Head don't do 2/3rds for cask beers) we shared a pint and a half.

Then it was time to leave.  I picked up the glasses and started to walk up the passageway towards the door to find one of the dog-owning blokes heading towards me with a couple of pints so (obviously) I stepped aside to let him pass easily.  "Thanks, my luvver", he said.

Like I said, sometimes it all comes together and it's perfect. 

It's not that I'm anti-social, but...

 Being in Bristol when the East Bristol Brewery Trail is scheduled you'd think we'd be keen to get involved.

As several bar staff hereabouts we've spoken to in the last few days would be able to tell you - "..god, no...".

I hasten to say that I think it's a great event, and it's really nice this year that Moor have rejoined, along with the new incarnation of Good Chemistry together with Unwins so the trail is 7-breweries strong.

Since the furthest from here is a tiny bit over a mile, you have to be impressed that in one corner of a city which isn't huge there are that many small breweries (Little Martha, Unwins, Moor, Good Chemistry, Left-Handed Giant, Arbor, Wiper & True).

You also wouln't have to stray too far off the trail to also take in Fierce and Noble, New Bristol Brewery and Basement Beer.  Actually, I've just measured it.  A circle of 1km radius, centred roughly on Wiper & True's new brewery & taproom would encompass 10 breweries with open taprooms.  All of the eminently walkable from Temple Meads station.

So why aren't we flocking along with everyone else?

Mostly because they'll be horribly busy which both of us find quite stressful.  But also because all of these taprooms have regular (usually weekend) operating hours.  

We have attended in the past mostly so we could go to Arbor, which at the time wasn't open very often.  The place was rammed - everyone was jolly and we made the best of it, but the walk back along the cycle track was a blessed, peaceful relief.

One time we made the mistake of thinking the Barley Mow would, as a result, be quite quiet - it was most definitely not. 

So when asked we enthuse about the event and tell the questioner we'll be going to the places when it's quieter.

Sadly, after what was a warmish, brightish start to the day it's turned really quite wet which will probably dampen the mood a little.  I know the two breweries nearest here had contingency plans in putting tables under cover so let's hope that it's not a complete bust for the breweries with limited inside space.

As it turns out, we've hunkered down in the flat as we don't fancy going to the nearest "will certainly be quiet" place.  

Tomorrow is another day... 

 

Games in the Pub

 I strongly suggest that there may be quite a big overlap in the Venn diagram circles of "likes interesting beer" and "likes playing boardgames".

I've always loved board games but my siblings, being much older than me, didn't really indulge me when I was growing up.  Consequently it was mainly Scrabble for me - Sunday afternoons.

In my twenties - me and the boy from Lancashire were given a couple of modern games:  Settlers of Catan and Fluxx.

The BfL could take games or leave them and these two games weren't great for only two players.

Fast forward 30 years.  When I met the BBB, I was delighted to learn that, not only was he a beer enthiast, but also a boardgame one.  Like me, his older siblings had no interest, really, so he also had limited opportunities to play.

He likes a co-operative game, particularly. I'm happy with co-operative or competitive though I find co-operative ones a tiny bit stressful since my gaming strategy is not always up to snuff so I sometimes feel I'm not really pulling my weight.

On the other hand, I really don't mind losing - even though I do try to win.

So...best games in the pub?

Currently:

- Regicide - just a pack of cards but an app helps with the scoring (co-op)

- Jaipur - me more than him but involves a marketplace and camels.  Takes very little room (comp)

- Crew - trick-winning.  Takes a bit more room but playable on a smallish table (co-op)

- Sky Team - wayyyy better than it sounds.  Unique game play and there's a genuine sense of achievement when you win it (co-op)

- Sail - cute, lovely box and graphics small enough to have room in most bags and the game board is narrow (co-op)

and now, we've added Wingspan to the mix.  It's unwieldy in its heaviness, it takes quite a lot of juggling and concentration and it takes up a lot of table space.  But it's truly a lovely game. (comp).  

 We took this to Martha's yesterday and it just fit on a booth table with two of us and a couple of pints of beer.  But that's all we played for the duration of our visit, it's absorbing and tricksy and there's a lot of mileage in it.

Oh - Martha's cask Ruby Mild was really nice along with it too! 

Out and About

 The last couple of weeks have been very intense at work.  We've had meetings with other organisations and chats with proto-organisations, and discussions with network engineers and premises staff.  Our work to set up our new space continues and culminated in me spending a couple of days removing RAM from old (and very grubby) donated laptops, updating our laptop records and heaving piles of the darned things around to get things tidy.

Wednesday allowed us the opportunity to make a long overdue return to the Belgian Cafe - I realised I'd really missed it. 

On Thursday we went to Wolf and accidentally participated in a creative gathering and ended up chatting with folk all evening. I can't even remember the beer precisely, but Brewing Brothers from Hastings figured heavily and to great effect.

Then Friday I did some internet safety training in the community in some retirement housing - I got home at lunchtime, picked up some electronic work tasks and when we got to beer o'clock I just wanted to remain on the sofa, and drink fridge beer (Arbor and Drop Project offerings).

We'd been attempting to get to Bristol but my work, the arrival (or lack) of postal votes for local elections and then a Tube strike curveball meant travelling on Saturday was the most practical option.

Reduced trains from Eastbourne and Paddington meant that booking seats on the 2.30pm from Paddington made sense -  and then, when we looked at trains on Saturday morning even more trains from Eastbourne had been cancelled.

So we left home a little earlier than planned, fully expecting to have to wait a while at Paddington for our 2.30 train.

The people travelling on Saturdays are sooooo different from those travelling during the week. the whole journey was noisier, more crowded and with people being much more thoughtless travellers.   

Still, we got to Paddington with around 45 mins to wait for our train.  I was just about to suggest a cheeky half in the Mad Bear and Bishop (assuming it's still there) when we noticed a train that went via Bristol Parkway much sooner - so we legged it across to the platform.  The journey was less noisy than the first leg (maybe it's just that people from the South East are noisier).

The flat was very hot when we arrived so it wasn't long until we'd opened windows and abandoned ship to leave it to cool down a bit.  "Where will be peaceful?" he said - well, nowhere on a Saturday was a sure bet so, obviously, we went to the Barley Mow.  It was delightful inside, most people having carved out a spot outside.  There was a great array of cask and keg on offer and, because we were there a little earlier than usual, we drank a little more whilst watching for football results and properly chilling.

Castle Rock "go with the flow",a Scotch Brown Ale,  a BBF 5% beer, plus Notorious were all in great condition on Cask and we checked out a couple of keg offerings -  Azacca Triangle from Mysterious Brewing (who I've not heard of) and a 6% BBF one I can't remember the name of.  

We wondered whether our Eastbourne Local, the Crown, without the constraints of an uber pub co brand would  be able to match the BM for us?  Maybe.

A lot of "unspecified" lager was ordered yesterday - and I particularly love that what they get is either BBF or other locally brewed lager rather than something from an uberbrand.  Everyone also seems to be happy with what they get - given that they go back for seconds.  Another reason to adore this pub - a full range of choice, but a real sense of being an independent trader in all senses - a Free House (even though it's owned by the brewery) but even more so.

 The BM and its staff never fail to deliver for us. 

 

 

 

Permeability

 Had to be down at our new base yesterday.  It's a large civic building and is right next to a sports ground.

County cricket games were played here - though not often now - but it has a thriving cricket club which attracts all sorts of players.  There is (or maybe was) a croquet club, of course there's a bowls club and there's now a large Padel "tent", one of the Town's non-league football teams plays there along with a lively hockey scene.

It's fairly recently become home to a Gun Brewery taproom which we visited once last summer - and enjoyed watching some young women's cricket. 

Yesterday we didn't really want to go back to Wolf (the other closest bar of choice) so I suggested the taproom.

The sports ground is literally right across the road from our building and there have historically been numerous entrances.  How hard do you think it would be for us to find a quick route to the taproom?

Sigh.

We went to the nearest gate to find it padlocked and a note to suggest walking round to the next entrance -which is/was the football turnstile entrance - also locked. So we had walk about a quarter of a mile round to the next entrance, then walk round a quarter of the cricket ground perimeter then cross to the centre of the whole complex to gain entry to the bar.

Once in we were a bit confused by what was available on the bar - the keg labels were small and behind the bar (and so unreadable) and the beer list did list all the beers but it was a really confused jumble of information.  Only after we'd settled on a 4% Vermont Pale (very nice) did we realise that the two cask pumps we'd seen (Best Bitter and lovely, but stupid strong Zanzama) were only 50% of the cask offering.

The beer list didn't indicate the dispense method of the beers so we'd missed them entirely until we got our beer and sat down.  Only then did we see the ENORMOUS lit beer list on a wall you couldn't see from the bar (but it was almost as confusing as the written list - and still didn't indicate dispense method) and realise there were the other two cask pumps we'd missed at the far other end of the bar.

Still the beers we had were great, if a little on the pricey side, and we ended up with 2 good cask beers as well as the initial keg one.

Being inside the taproom (ie sports bar) was OK - you wouldn't expect it to be cosy but some slightly better furniture would be nice (they have the obligatory taproom folding tables and benches and then high tables and stools plus just a few more comfy seats which were taken).  They had the golf on (which made the BBB happy, but apologetic) and there were a few people there who'd clearly played padel or hockey or whatever.  It felt like an upmarket leisure centre bar and it made me remember very fondly the bar at a Filton leisure centre (in Bristol) back in the 90's where I used to play squash with an old school friend and then have a really good pint of, probably, Bass.  The bar being run by a beer fanatic and used by anyone who wanted decent beer.

Anyhow, when we left we headed out the other side of the sports ground which is across uneven paths and circuitous route out to the road.  It was about 7pm when we left and the bar had maybe 8 or 10 people in it even though it was Friday evening.

Maybe it was because it was the last weekday of the school holidays, maybe the season for the bar hasn't really taken of yet...or maybe it was something else.  I can't help feeling that a bit more permeability of the access gates would make it easier for people to find when they're passing.  Also, a bit clearer signage/menus for the drinks would make choosing your drinks a bit more straightforward.

Definitely a work in progress, I would say.

I am looking forward to going there on a warm evening when there's a cricket match on, or similar - definitely better than watching golf on the TV!