So yesterday we walked up to the Oxford pub in Totterdown. We've been there a few times and the beer availability can be a little erratic but generally good.
Clearly they'd been closed for a couple of days - there wasn't that much beer on and the pint of Cornish Coaster was pleasantly cool - but very flat.
The Boy had a good (bag in box) cider but we resolved to move on if they didn't put something better on the pumps.
We watched a succession of staff tinker around; look like they might be putting a Tapstone beer on; faff a little more and finally put two new beers on.
The first was Moor Confidence and the other was BBF special called something like "Big Sky Country".
The Tapstone remained stubbornly not on the pumps.
I orderd one each of the other two. Both were very lively and the barman seemed to have no idea how to deal with them.
The BBF looked remarkedly like a Tapstone beer: pale and very murky.
It says a lot that we're so used to drinking beer that isn't bright that I didn't really think much about it. We tried both and I took the BBF. We both remarked that it probably wasn't supposed to be that cloudy as BBF beer usually drop bright or, at least, near bright.
Still - it tasted good so we carried on regardless.
After about 20 minutes it became really noticeable that the beer was dropping sediment in the glass. There was a clear gradient top to bottom...we could clearly see the finings working.
By this time I was about a third of the way down the glass - the beer still tasted good but the increasing sediment at the bottom of the glass was starting to put me off.
How to deal with it? Clearly the guy behind the bar would have no idea what the beer was supposed to look like...
In the end, I didn't do anything until we left and there was another (clearly more experienced) chap behind the bar. I popped the glasses back to the bar and just said "Just to let you know - that BBF beer isn't quite ready yet..." and I showed him the glass. To his immense credit he looked at it, pulled a horrified face and said "Can I change it...or are you leaving?" I told him I was leaving and not to worry. So he said "next time you're in, we'll get you another".
Whilst I'm sure we won't go back in the next couple of days - I left feeling like I'd happily go back.
It's a saluatory lesson that pubs really need to make sure they've got someone on the bar who knows what the beer on their beer should look, smell and taste like.
Thursday, 27 December 2018
Wednesday, 26 December 2018
Beer and humbugs
I'm not a big Christmas celebrator.
Mostly it's the relentless pushing of a commercial agenda on people and the pressure of some stupid "perfection" model that I just don't relate to at all.
So, me and the boy tend to make like a couple of squirrels and semi-hibernate somewhere enjoying the odd (quite often, urban) amble in the outside to forrage for nuts (well, beer, obvs) then returning to play games, watch films and eat our own body-weight in sausage rolls.
So it was this year. We decided to hole up in our flat in Bristol - we've done some domestic jobs we'd been meaning to for a little while, we're finally getting on top of the laundry, we've done some silly coding so that we can see our shelf of orchids come into flower in a couple of weeks, and we've played some games.
On the morning of the 25th we mooched around a bit then put a duck in the oven to roast in its own juices for a few hours (chuck a standard 3-person duck in the roasting tin; sprinkle copiously with salt; stuff a bit of thyme up it; prick the skin; chuck it in the oven - first hot for about 15mins then at about 150-deg C then leave it on its own for several hours).
We struck out to South Bristol as we thought, being a residential area, there was the greatest chance of encountering an open pub with decent beer.
We've stumbled on some really fun pubs in the past, in just this way.
The first place we came across looked OK but was only serving Wickwar beer - by no means awful but not really what we were looking for. So we continued to North Street.
First we landed at the Hen and Chicken which, when I lived in the area a long time ago was a great place to get beaten up, it's definitely a good place these days - not amazing, but good. It was rammed inside but they had Two Bridges beer, Wild Beer - Bibble and a BBF special beer on as well as the more standard Gem. Service is always a little bit slow but we got served without too much hassle, found a couple of bar stools and enjoyed a couple of decent pints in the company of about 60 other people. We remarked that it's not the ideal place for us since it doesn't have any quiet corners - nevertheless the beer was good so we weren't complaining...at least not until a couple of kids got screamy.
Look, I know places are supposed to be family friendly and I also know this area of town is no longer a working class part of town - all the houses are owned by middle class professionals attracted by the gentrification of the area following the establishment of the brilliant "Tobacco Factory". It wasn't even as if I was that surprised to see so many young kids with their 30-something parents.
I see lots of social media comments about "Christmas Pub Goers" whose manifold sins seem to revolve around not knowing how pubs are supposed to work (allowing their mates to add to their order when they've just come in and there's a huge queue at the bar; asking for Guiness Shandy; asking for loads of lattes in a busy beer bar...you know the people...).
I'd like to add...
- The open area between the bar and the route to the loo (which is the only open space) is NOT a playground for your kids to tear around screaming. It's not my job to not trip over your children who aren't looking where they're going.
- in an already noisy, open bar high-pitched screaming (in hysterical jolity or amidst a melt-down) is not conducive to other patrons' enjoyment of their beer.
- You are responsible for your kids' behaviour and trust me none of the rest of us find their screaming adorable.
So, as you can imagine, we was a bit grumpy once we'd finished our beer and decided we couldn't bear it any more.
That aside, well done Hen and Chicken for having a decent community friendly facility in what was a complete shithole before.
So, we kinda resolved ourselves that nowhere else might be open and we reamined grateful that H&C was open and had decent beer but we struck out in the general direction of home.
We passed The Old Bookshop which we'd visited in the past and sort of liked but had been fairly unimpressed by the beer. It was open and, not only that, the sign on the door said it was open all day. Well, it would have been rude not to...
What a difference!
There were plenty of people inside and there were clearly some families but the noise level was so much lower (and beard and trendy tattoo quotient much higher). There were 2 cask and 8 keg pumps on so we grabbed a couple of pints, climbed onto stools in the window and enjoyed the chilled ambience.
It was such a contrast to the previous place that it probably felt disproportionately lovely...nevertheless it took all our willpower to not stay for another.
We headed back for our beautifully cooked duck and congratulated ourselves on the 5 mile walk, good beer and perfect choice of celebratory fowl.
Here we are at Boxing Day and there will be the angst, later, of working out where might be open for a pint...
Mostly it's the relentless pushing of a commercial agenda on people and the pressure of some stupid "perfection" model that I just don't relate to at all.
So, me and the boy tend to make like a couple of squirrels and semi-hibernate somewhere enjoying the odd (quite often, urban) amble in the outside to forrage for nuts (well, beer, obvs) then returning to play games, watch films and eat our own body-weight in sausage rolls.
So it was this year. We decided to hole up in our flat in Bristol - we've done some domestic jobs we'd been meaning to for a little while, we're finally getting on top of the laundry, we've done some silly coding so that we can see our shelf of orchids come into flower in a couple of weeks, and we've played some games.
On the morning of the 25th we mooched around a bit then put a duck in the oven to roast in its own juices for a few hours (chuck a standard 3-person duck in the roasting tin; sprinkle copiously with salt; stuff a bit of thyme up it; prick the skin; chuck it in the oven - first hot for about 15mins then at about 150-deg C then leave it on its own for several hours).
We struck out to South Bristol as we thought, being a residential area, there was the greatest chance of encountering an open pub with decent beer.
We've stumbled on some really fun pubs in the past, in just this way.
The first place we came across looked OK but was only serving Wickwar beer - by no means awful but not really what we were looking for. So we continued to North Street.
First we landed at the Hen and Chicken which, when I lived in the area a long time ago was a great place to get beaten up, it's definitely a good place these days - not amazing, but good. It was rammed inside but they had Two Bridges beer, Wild Beer - Bibble and a BBF special beer on as well as the more standard Gem. Service is always a little bit slow but we got served without too much hassle, found a couple of bar stools and enjoyed a couple of decent pints in the company of about 60 other people. We remarked that it's not the ideal place for us since it doesn't have any quiet corners - nevertheless the beer was good so we weren't complaining...at least not until a couple of kids got screamy.
Look, I know places are supposed to be family friendly and I also know this area of town is no longer a working class part of town - all the houses are owned by middle class professionals attracted by the gentrification of the area following the establishment of the brilliant "Tobacco Factory". It wasn't even as if I was that surprised to see so many young kids with their 30-something parents.
I see lots of social media comments about "Christmas Pub Goers" whose manifold sins seem to revolve around not knowing how pubs are supposed to work (allowing their mates to add to their order when they've just come in and there's a huge queue at the bar; asking for Guiness Shandy; asking for loads of lattes in a busy beer bar...you know the people...).
I'd like to add...
- The open area between the bar and the route to the loo (which is the only open space) is NOT a playground for your kids to tear around screaming. It's not my job to not trip over your children who aren't looking where they're going.
- in an already noisy, open bar high-pitched screaming (in hysterical jolity or amidst a melt-down) is not conducive to other patrons' enjoyment of their beer.
- You are responsible for your kids' behaviour and trust me none of the rest of us find their screaming adorable.
So, as you can imagine, we was a bit grumpy once we'd finished our beer and decided we couldn't bear it any more.
That aside, well done Hen and Chicken for having a decent community friendly facility in what was a complete shithole before.
So, we kinda resolved ourselves that nowhere else might be open and we reamined grateful that H&C was open and had decent beer but we struck out in the general direction of home.
We passed The Old Bookshop which we'd visited in the past and sort of liked but had been fairly unimpressed by the beer. It was open and, not only that, the sign on the door said it was open all day. Well, it would have been rude not to...
What a difference!
There were plenty of people inside and there were clearly some families but the noise level was so much lower (and beard and trendy tattoo quotient much higher). There were 2 cask and 8 keg pumps on so we grabbed a couple of pints, climbed onto stools in the window and enjoyed the chilled ambience.
It was such a contrast to the previous place that it probably felt disproportionately lovely...nevertheless it took all our willpower to not stay for another.
We headed back for our beautifully cooked duck and congratulated ourselves on the 5 mile walk, good beer and perfect choice of celebratory fowl.
Here we are at Boxing Day and there will be the angst, later, of working out where might be open for a pint...
Friday, 21 December 2018
Then it Finally Happened
A goodly while ago on what, I think, was our second visit to the Moor Brewery Tap we had a conversation which mulled on the idea that some beers suit different dispense methods.
It sounded plausible and as it was a member of the brewery staff with whom we had the conversation, and he was doubtless more learned than us on the subject, we decided that it was probably true...it was just we hadn't come across the beer that didn't shine best as a cask ale.
Then the other day, it happened.
We'd had a good journey from the Sussex Homelands to the Western Reaches (Eastbourne to Bristol, obvs) on the train and we'd picked up a parcel (of which, more later) and decided to head out to the Barley Mow.
I was ecstatic to see Tiny Rebel "Juicy" on the bar and without further ado, ordered a pint.
I like most Tiny Rebel beers and we've had a number of their brews delivered in bottle/can for the fridge. I'd had Juicy from a can and really enjoyed it in the summer.
It has a distinct mango flavour which worked so well when I'd had it before. But from a cask pint which was a degree or two warmer, and without additional carbonation it was pleasant and drinkable but a bit over-sweet and claggy to my taste (and that of the Best Beer Buddy).
Actually, it's nice to find an example for myself and I'll also think a little more before making an unequivocal decision about whether or not I like a beer.
In other news, the parcel we collected was for one of those newfangled pod espresso machines for our flat. We've been making coffee here with a cafetiere since we bought the place and of late have found the texture of the coffee less clean than the espresso we make in the house down south.
We really couldn't justify the additional expense of another espresso machine AND a good enough grinder to grind to the correct texture - not when we don't live here most of the time, and we only have a single mug of coffee each, each day.
It took a while to find compostable pods and that decided our format of machine. The parcel we collected on arrival was this new, dinky little machine.
We've only had two drinks with it so far and we reckon it'll take us a while to find the right pods and use them the most appropriate way but it's definitely got promise and the clean taste of espresso is worth a bit of experimentation.
As a woman who previously roasted her own coffee this is a bit of an admission. In fact, alongside the notion that not all beer is best as cask.
See - we all learn, and we're allowed to change our minds about stuff as more data comes in.
It sounded plausible and as it was a member of the brewery staff with whom we had the conversation, and he was doubtless more learned than us on the subject, we decided that it was probably true...it was just we hadn't come across the beer that didn't shine best as a cask ale.
Then the other day, it happened.
We'd had a good journey from the Sussex Homelands to the Western Reaches (Eastbourne to Bristol, obvs) on the train and we'd picked up a parcel (of which, more later) and decided to head out to the Barley Mow.
I was ecstatic to see Tiny Rebel "Juicy" on the bar and without further ado, ordered a pint.
I like most Tiny Rebel beers and we've had a number of their brews delivered in bottle/can for the fridge. I'd had Juicy from a can and really enjoyed it in the summer.
It has a distinct mango flavour which worked so well when I'd had it before. But from a cask pint which was a degree or two warmer, and without additional carbonation it was pleasant and drinkable but a bit over-sweet and claggy to my taste (and that of the Best Beer Buddy).
Actually, it's nice to find an example for myself and I'll also think a little more before making an unequivocal decision about whether or not I like a beer.
In other news, the parcel we collected was for one of those newfangled pod espresso machines for our flat. We've been making coffee here with a cafetiere since we bought the place and of late have found the texture of the coffee less clean than the espresso we make in the house down south.
We really couldn't justify the additional expense of another espresso machine AND a good enough grinder to grind to the correct texture - not when we don't live here most of the time, and we only have a single mug of coffee each, each day.
It took a while to find compostable pods and that decided our format of machine. The parcel we collected on arrival was this new, dinky little machine.
We've only had two drinks with it so far and we reckon it'll take us a while to find the right pods and use them the most appropriate way but it's definitely got promise and the clean taste of espresso is worth a bit of experimentation.
As a woman who previously roasted her own coffee this is a bit of an admission. In fact, alongside the notion that not all beer is best as cask.
See - we all learn, and we're allowed to change our minds about stuff as more data comes in.
Saturday, 1 December 2018
Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright...
We made the most of the rare confluence of a break in the weather and a day when neither of us had anything we really needed to do that day.
We decided to try a new downland walk and chance to get to the Tiger Inn, in the nearby village of East Dean.
We caught a bus to the far side of the village (Friston Pond for the locals reading this) and then ambled towards the sea and over some of the Seven Sisters.
It was cold and blustery but jolly and bright and as perfect a day to walk in November as you can imagine. It wasn't a long walk (a little over 3 miles) but the hills made for interest and the livestock were friendly enough.
Thence to the Tiger Inn.
In the past I've been thoroughly disappointed by the pub which was the one-time brewery tap for Beachy Head Brewery (alas, no more) but, on occasion, served rather lacklustre pints of that and Harveys. As such it didn't make it an enthusiastic destination for us.
But the last couple of times we've been, we've been lucky enough to get something more interesting and, usually, well kept.
So we tipped up just after 3pm, once the lunchtime food service had finished and were delighted to find beers from Franklins, Bedlam and Long Man to choose from. Those, in addition to the more mundane Harvey's Best and Tribute. We tried all three and they were all absolutely grand. Best of the bunch was Frankie's Knuckles by Franklins - quite punchy but well balanced and very tasty.
I think that's three or four visits to the Tiger where the beer has been interesting and on form...so I've no doubt it won't be all that long until we venture back.
We decided to try a new downland walk and chance to get to the Tiger Inn, in the nearby village of East Dean.
We caught a bus to the far side of the village (Friston Pond for the locals reading this) and then ambled towards the sea and over some of the Seven Sisters.
It was cold and blustery but jolly and bright and as perfect a day to walk in November as you can imagine. It wasn't a long walk (a little over 3 miles) but the hills made for interest and the livestock were friendly enough.
Thence to the Tiger Inn.
In the past I've been thoroughly disappointed by the pub which was the one-time brewery tap for Beachy Head Brewery (alas, no more) but, on occasion, served rather lacklustre pints of that and Harveys. As such it didn't make it an enthusiastic destination for us.
But the last couple of times we've been, we've been lucky enough to get something more interesting and, usually, well kept.
So we tipped up just after 3pm, once the lunchtime food service had finished and were delighted to find beers from Franklins, Bedlam and Long Man to choose from. Those, in addition to the more mundane Harvey's Best and Tribute. We tried all three and they were all absolutely grand. Best of the bunch was Frankie's Knuckles by Franklins - quite punchy but well balanced and very tasty.
I think that's three or four visits to the Tiger where the beer has been interesting and on form...so I've no doubt it won't be all that long until we venture back.
Thursday, 11 October 2018
New things
It was my birthday, last week - we don't need to discuss just how many years I've been drinkng beer just now - so as a treat I chose a visit to a new brewery tap over in that Brighton.
We've been seeing Holler's beers around for a while now and I have to say I think they've improved a lot over my first encounter with them and now they're one of our "go to" brewers down here.
If you read this blog at all, you know we're not all-night drinkers...or all that much lunchtime drinkers...we're more of your late afternoon/early evening drinkers.
So we climbed aboard the bus at the end of our road around 2pm for the hour-long, but entertaining, bus ride across to the "Big City".
We found the brewery easily enough, just behind the weird and wonderful (and very tall) St Bartholomew's church and just off the London Road.
It's a slightly run down (or maybe, not yet gentrified) part of the city but we like those.
The brewery is in a converted industrial building given a lovely spruce up with the tap room being integrated with the brewery itself. This makes for stuff to look at as well as stuff to drink. It had only been open for a week on the day of our visit.
We were greeted with "really sorry but we have a power cut so we're not taking cards at the moment" but, as old-fashioned people, we generally pay for beer with cash anyway. So all was good.
They had four each of cask and keg beers and a nice mix of styles available.
The price was a little high for a brewery tap (£4.50/pint) but at least there was no cask/keg differential.
Unexpectedly our friend, M, joined us as he was in the city for football and it was lovely to meet him somewhere different than usual. He also approved of the beer.
The vibe was jolly with the brewery staff keen to chat about the set up, etc.
Food was pizza from a local restaurant - you ordered at the bar and paid, you were given a pager which buzzed when it arrived. You collect your pizza from the bar - simple and effective (and very, very tasty).
Now, here's a thing. So developed are my f*cking hipster beer drinker senses that I craved a 2/3rd measure. There were 8 beers so I would have been able to drink more different beers if I could have bought it in a slightly smaller quantity. Halves really don't cut it (and the boy agrees on this) for some reason. Halves disappear too quickly whereas 2/3rd really don't - no, I'm sure it isn't logical, but there it is. Even if you don't serve many of them, having a 2/3rd marking on the glass and prices by 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 and pint would, IMHO, encourage more experimentation by punters. But there you go, you can't please all the people, etc
All in all, it was as good a birthday treat as a girl could hope for.If the place were in Eastbourne I've no doubt we'd be regular visitors. I'm also sure that, whilst it won't be very frequent, any beer trips to Brighton will probably include a return visit.
In summary:
Good stuff:
- beer was lovely.
- good range on offer in all dispense methods (yep, there were cans too)
- friendly, engaging staff
- taproom clearly designed as an integral part of the business
- Pizza!
- Toilets: non-denominational cubicles with sinks inside and clean and lovely
- Nice indoor and outdoor space
- no price differential between cask/keg
- generous opening times!
Could be better:
- beer a bit pricey for a taproom
- one beer tasted a tiny bit young
- needing to ask for a beer to be topped up
- lack of a 2/3rds measure
- Tall tables inside had no rail for short-arsed me to rest my feet on.
Overall, really nice work, Holler - definitely a brewery tap highlight for me...
We've been seeing Holler's beers around for a while now and I have to say I think they've improved a lot over my first encounter with them and now they're one of our "go to" brewers down here.
If you read this blog at all, you know we're not all-night drinkers...or all that much lunchtime drinkers...we're more of your late afternoon/early evening drinkers.
So we climbed aboard the bus at the end of our road around 2pm for the hour-long, but entertaining, bus ride across to the "Big City".
We found the brewery easily enough, just behind the weird and wonderful (and very tall) St Bartholomew's church and just off the London Road.
It's a slightly run down (or maybe, not yet gentrified) part of the city but we like those.
The brewery is in a converted industrial building given a lovely spruce up with the tap room being integrated with the brewery itself. This makes for stuff to look at as well as stuff to drink. It had only been open for a week on the day of our visit.
We were greeted with "really sorry but we have a power cut so we're not taking cards at the moment" but, as old-fashioned people, we generally pay for beer with cash anyway. So all was good.
They had four each of cask and keg beers and a nice mix of styles available.
The price was a little high for a brewery tap (£4.50/pint) but at least there was no cask/keg differential.
Unexpectedly our friend, M, joined us as he was in the city for football and it was lovely to meet him somewhere different than usual. He also approved of the beer.
The vibe was jolly with the brewery staff keen to chat about the set up, etc.
Food was pizza from a local restaurant - you ordered at the bar and paid, you were given a pager which buzzed when it arrived. You collect your pizza from the bar - simple and effective (and very, very tasty).
Now, here's a thing. So developed are my f*cking hipster beer drinker senses that I craved a 2/3rd measure. There were 8 beers so I would have been able to drink more different beers if I could have bought it in a slightly smaller quantity. Halves really don't cut it (and the boy agrees on this) for some reason. Halves disappear too quickly whereas 2/3rd really don't - no, I'm sure it isn't logical, but there it is. Even if you don't serve many of them, having a 2/3rd marking on the glass and prices by 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 and pint would, IMHO, encourage more experimentation by punters. But there you go, you can't please all the people, etc
All in all, it was as good a birthday treat as a girl could hope for.If the place were in Eastbourne I've no doubt we'd be regular visitors. I'm also sure that, whilst it won't be very frequent, any beer trips to Brighton will probably include a return visit.
In summary:
Good stuff:
- beer was lovely.
- good range on offer in all dispense methods (yep, there were cans too)
- friendly, engaging staff
- taproom clearly designed as an integral part of the business
- Pizza!
- Toilets: non-denominational cubicles with sinks inside and clean and lovely
- Nice indoor and outdoor space
- no price differential between cask/keg
- generous opening times!
Could be better:
- beer a bit pricey for a taproom
- one beer tasted a tiny bit young
- needing to ask for a beer to be topped up
- lack of a 2/3rds measure
- Tall tables inside had no rail for short-arsed me to rest my feet on.
Overall, really nice work, Holler - definitely a brewery tap highlight for me...
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Regionalisation
We've just come back from Cornwall.
Land of Betty Stoggs, of Doom Bar and Tribute.
I used to love all three of these beers, I probably wouldn't choose any of them now if there was almost anything else to try.
Thankfully, we managed to avoid all of these during our week in the far South West and yet, the beer experience was decent, rather than good.
I really wanted to love the Crown Brewery beers and I did like them a lot, ...but love didn't come. We revisted one of the Penzance Brewery beers - Potion No9 and it was still impossible to not enjoy it, and yet I wouldn't have wanted to drink more than a couple of pints of it.
There were highlights, though...
The Bath Inn on the Newlyn/Penzance borders was a delightful find, along with Exeter Brewery Avocet beer.
I loved Mousehole and it's brilliant harbour - the Old Coastguard Hotel did some nice Padstow Beers and becoming reacquainted with St Austell HSD and Proper Job in the Ship Inn was grand.
So with all this goodness...why wasn't it quite right?
None of the pubs felt like the place we wanted to just huddle in a corner, watch the world and and have the choice of a few beers we wanted to try next. But all the places that had good beer, really only had one or maybe two we wanted to try and most of them didn't really bear a third pint.
All of the local beers we drank (and it was lovely having a choice of local brews) had common features - in much the way many Sussex beers have. That's both and good bad, since if you want something a little different...there's nothng to choose from.
Still, we had a good, relaxing time and we walked a good few miles every day. That's a good thing, right?
And we went back via Bristol and made the most of the Barleymow...naturally...
Land of Betty Stoggs, of Doom Bar and Tribute.
I used to love all three of these beers, I probably wouldn't choose any of them now if there was almost anything else to try.
Thankfully, we managed to avoid all of these during our week in the far South West and yet, the beer experience was decent, rather than good.
I really wanted to love the Crown Brewery beers and I did like them a lot, ...but love didn't come. We revisted one of the Penzance Brewery beers - Potion No9 and it was still impossible to not enjoy it, and yet I wouldn't have wanted to drink more than a couple of pints of it.
There were highlights, though...
The Bath Inn on the Newlyn/Penzance borders was a delightful find, along with Exeter Brewery Avocet beer.
I loved Mousehole and it's brilliant harbour - the Old Coastguard Hotel did some nice Padstow Beers and becoming reacquainted with St Austell HSD and Proper Job in the Ship Inn was grand.
So with all this goodness...why wasn't it quite right?
None of the pubs felt like the place we wanted to just huddle in a corner, watch the world and and have the choice of a few beers we wanted to try next. But all the places that had good beer, really only had one or maybe two we wanted to try and most of them didn't really bear a third pint.
All of the local beers we drank (and it was lovely having a choice of local brews) had common features - in much the way many Sussex beers have. That's both and good bad, since if you want something a little different...there's nothng to choose from.
Still, we had a good, relaxing time and we walked a good few miles every day. That's a good thing, right?
And we went back via Bristol and made the most of the Barleymow...naturally...
Friday, 14 September 2018
On the Booking of Tables in Pubs
ach! Bain of my life (well, OK, that's a little over-dramatic and it's very much a first-world problem)...is good pubs allowing all their tables to be booked of an evening.
We arrived in Bristol after a flawless train journey and, coincidentally, find out that a local bunch of internet-introduced friends were planning a pub meet. We suggested the Barleymow (obviously) and everyone was excited to fall in line.
We arrived there about 4.45 to find that all but one small table in the pub had been booked. One booking of about 20 people and another for 15. On a Thursday night.
I have to say we were really grumpy at the barman on duty (I'm sorry about that, I really am...it's really not your fault that your pub allows booking out of the place). He did what he could to suggest an alternative (ie sitting outside) but we decided to pass after an inital pint (which was lovely).
So we somewhere else instead (the Old Market Assembly) which has more space but they only really had one beer on cask and had only 3 pizza bases available to people who hadn't booked.
The pizza was OK (but not as good as previous visits) and the lack of beer variety was very sad but we had a fun evening with pals we haven't seen for ages.
Now - I can't tell pub how to maximise their business model but I think I'd like to suggest that you're careful about how you run your space but if you're a pub, perhaps consider limiting the number of tables you allow to be booked so that "ordinary" drop-by punters can fill the rest of your evening eating and drinking.
The best example I saw of this was a pub/cafe/bistro in Kingsand. There were about 5 tables just inside the door that they never allowed to be booked and as a result you could swing by and have a pint and a meal and slot into their less busy times without feeling the impending deadline of a table hand-over.
Rant over. this afternoon we'll be off to the Moor Brewery tap. It'll probably get quite busy but there won't be any pre-booked tables...
We arrived in Bristol after a flawless train journey and, coincidentally, find out that a local bunch of internet-introduced friends were planning a pub meet. We suggested the Barleymow (obviously) and everyone was excited to fall in line.
We arrived there about 4.45 to find that all but one small table in the pub had been booked. One booking of about 20 people and another for 15. On a Thursday night.
I have to say we were really grumpy at the barman on duty (I'm sorry about that, I really am...it's really not your fault that your pub allows booking out of the place). He did what he could to suggest an alternative (ie sitting outside) but we decided to pass after an inital pint (which was lovely).
So we somewhere else instead (the Old Market Assembly) which has more space but they only really had one beer on cask and had only 3 pizza bases available to people who hadn't booked.
The pizza was OK (but not as good as previous visits) and the lack of beer variety was very sad but we had a fun evening with pals we haven't seen for ages.
Now - I can't tell pub how to maximise their business model but I think I'd like to suggest that you're careful about how you run your space but if you're a pub, perhaps consider limiting the number of tables you allow to be booked so that "ordinary" drop-by punters can fill the rest of your evening eating and drinking.
The best example I saw of this was a pub/cafe/bistro in Kingsand. There were about 5 tables just inside the door that they never allowed to be booked and as a result you could swing by and have a pint and a meal and slot into their less busy times without feeling the impending deadline of a table hand-over.
Rant over. this afternoon we'll be off to the Moor Brewery tap. It'll probably get quite busy but there won't be any pre-booked tables...
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