tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43776109459744323472024-03-27T23:53:33.308+00:00Real Ale, Real MusicChris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.comBlogger387125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-54531289227684910542024-03-27T13:35:00.014+00:002024-03-27T21:22:56.936+00:00Ringing The Changes And Staying The Same....<p><i>A return to an old favourite and a visit to a new cycling-themed bar, both situated in Halifax, followed by a trip out to a micro pub situated in a market hall a few miles away up the Calder Valley....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU7QjXpFNsTnSjh5vt9SS7DdugtljVNNw3Fp9YqWsAV-HVV3YR4MGkWQ0IiDr4rK420gw_wldn0gtxwYqZz6mf8pOMwjKILGvXpQY8uCz8X0BCcQbfzL56mMj_lsq2G23KcZ0dm5fxcHG9x6sTu_03oS-V834loAXygbD3ZhTPOuoH0wIqdPL_pFnSk8/s1595/Victorian%20Craft%20Beer%20Cafe%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU7QjXpFNsTnSjh5vt9SS7DdugtljVNNw3Fp9YqWsAV-HVV3YR4MGkWQ0IiDr4rK420gw_wldn0gtxwYqZz6mf8pOMwjKILGvXpQY8uCz8X0BCcQbfzL56mMj_lsq2G23KcZ0dm5fxcHG9x6sTu_03oS-V834loAXygbD3ZhTPOuoH0wIqdPL_pFnSk8/w640-h360/Victorian%20Craft%20Beer%20Cafe%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="text-align: justify;">Situated on Powell Street in Halifax town centre opposite the Victoria Theatre, the <b>Victorian Craft Beer Cafe </b><i>(opening image)</i> or simply the <i>Vic</i> or <i>VCBC</i> for short was the first of the modern craft bars in the town when it welcomed its first drinkers back in 2014. Opened by Simon and his wife, Pang, it seems incredible but the Halifax beer drinking scene it joined was so different then to what it is now. The town centre pubs at that time were by and large traditional drinking houses, lager-driven sports bars, or cheap late night venues, and whilst there was some real ale to be found, most discerning drinkers would head a little further out of town to the likes of the Three Pigeons, the Cross Keys in Siddal, or the Big Six in King Cross.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURXC8eH9eYeQrkaqPWHnhxrnEqgd3B7uve5ksUkpPVdEsswKn8PBRTYgbTVGpi0lT5-coKjATvGA7_xBi8SiNCG1Hr7E5ruI4Fy7RSMB1i-7_KfIOWEc4BZWJ8PU7k4B5HLb0jEcrDXiYjOrZcNN1gQb8NDDE8qaqVX6qqnZLExzfqWrESFhoJo7N4Tc/s1595/Victorian%20Craft%20Beer%20Cafe.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURXC8eH9eYeQrkaqPWHnhxrnEqgd3B7uve5ksUkpPVdEsswKn8PBRTYgbTVGpi0lT5-coKjATvGA7_xBi8SiNCG1Hr7E5ruI4Fy7RSMB1i-7_KfIOWEc4BZWJ8PU7k4B5HLb0jEcrDXiYjOrZcNN1gQb8NDDE8qaqVX6qqnZLExzfqWrESFhoJo7N4Tc/w640-h360/Victorian%20Craft%20Beer%20Cafe.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Victorian Craft Beer Cafe, Halifax</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The Vic brought something different to the town centre. There was a range of cask ales sourced from a variety of different breweries, including many that had never been seen in the town before, and for the first time for the town, a range of the keg beers much beloved by city hipster types. Not only that but the decor was cosy, with dark wood, dark walls, leather seating, dark wood tables, white tiling, with subdued lighting and candles, and loads of little nooks and crannies in each which you could hide away for a chat, or a quiet pint and a read the paper. Old books lined shelves and old photos from bygone days gave a distinct retro feel to the bar. It looked like it had been here for years. If you wanted a decent cup of coffee, you could get one, or you could snack on a pork pie if you were feeling peckish. Back then, it was not what you expected to find in Halifax.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And back to the beer. Two of my all-time best pints ever have been enjoyed at the Vic: a cool, refreshing Pale Armadillo from Tempest Brewing one sunny Saturday lunchtime before football, and the delicious citrussy delights of a first-ever pint of Zero Zero from Arbor, the beer's glorious orange murk provoking much discussion in those less enlightened times when I shared a photo of my pint on social media. And whilst I certainly didn't have my first keg beer here, it is fair to say that the Vic has contributed to my appreciation of it. Dark beers have always been a big part of the offer, with the bar's annual Back to Black beer festival welcomed by lovers of the dark arts. And over the years many interesting (and often very strong) beers from overseas have made an appearance, whilst all the time the Vic has maintained an unwavering commitment to featuring cask beers from a wide range of breweries up and down the country, served from 9 hand pumps, plus keg beers from a total of 18 lines.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXm-UdijaebMrr8hfpX6OHmP9Nj3los1ZYhp84WKyLCiIWhHeKgPFoDSc5kx9kN4iSIgCvowcAopECQeogktfPd6UkDPcEeJeerzoEYNmi1MX8-ldC3xRxs14GYmDQgFOu5TqIQ8m_e83w_0nyN3b25loFJwLiVKF_NYZTiyJmW2BdzevPjP1KMveiGY/s4032/DSC_7240.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXm-UdijaebMrr8hfpX6OHmP9Nj3los1ZYhp84WKyLCiIWhHeKgPFoDSc5kx9kN4iSIgCvowcAopECQeogktfPd6UkDPcEeJeerzoEYNmi1MX8-ldC3xRxs14GYmDQgFOu5TqIQ8m_e83w_0nyN3b25loFJwLiVKF_NYZTiyJmW2BdzevPjP1KMveiGY/w640-h480/DSC_7240.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Beer board at the Vic</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the years, plenty of changes have been made to the building. Unused areas have been opened up allowing space for more customers. When the Vic first opened the rather cramped toilets were on the ground floor; these were eventually moved into the cellar downstairs, offering palatial comfort by comparison, and extending the room in which the bar is situated. A small area at the end of the building was extended by knocking through into a former storeroom, whilst a comfortable additional seating area was opened up above where the toilets had been moved, with exposed brickwork adding a new dimension to the house style. And last year, the space occupied by the former Middle Bar next door was acquired and now provides another two distinct areas of seating. Essentially though, the Vic retains much of the same look and ambience it has always had, all these new areas being seamlessly assimilated into the bar's overall style.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevKFs-kv1U0C8Fc66W9XT8wRtZTuktohXZbf1KUKz4qlWwCejwIOpptnlZ5ZB1HKbm9-u5mpF9gaVeHdBg1eGt9XnnOXmP9nferJ6BmHhYwFNNe6gDos3g8iArVBRZzu_tR8Xyqp159w58A8VCfh3iEnRz8xg5_HBlr33G86PIW0MBMIN1Py9H-O2Ocw/s4032/DSC_7242~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevKFs-kv1U0C8Fc66W9XT8wRtZTuktohXZbf1KUKz4qlWwCejwIOpptnlZ5ZB1HKbm9-u5mpF9gaVeHdBg1eGt9XnnOXmP9nferJ6BmHhYwFNNe6gDos3g8iArVBRZzu_tR8Xyqp159w58A8VCfh3iEnRz8xg5_HBlr33G86PIW0MBMIN1Py9H-O2Ocw/w640-h360/DSC_7242~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Simon and Pang continue to divide their time between Yorkshire and her native Thailand, leaving the bar in the capable hands of Tom, who, like many of the team has worked here for several years, adding to the air of continuity and stability. Since the Vic opened in 2014, the town centre scene has changed immeasurably with several other bars opening up, each with their own distinct personality, but it can always claim to be the first, whilst never standing still. It may look similar when you walk in the bar, but there is more of it now, and as the place approaches its 10th anniversary later this year it continues to play a big part in the town's social scene.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile. a few streets away from the Vic a new bar has opened recently in Halifax town centre, based in the premises of a former toy shop and more recently the former Good Mood bar. It is called <b>MAMIL</b> which, for those who don't know, is an acronym for <b>M</b>iddle <b>A</b>ged <b>M</b>en <b>In</b> <b>L</b>ycra, often used as a somewhat dismissive and disparaging name for the older gentleman who dons the often unflattering stretch wear as they return to the bike saddle for the first time since they rode a Raleigh Chopper or BMX in the misty years of their youth. To be fair to those guys, despite the hilly terrain, there is a strong cycling community within Calderdale with several long-standing local groups in existence. The Tour de France created a massive buzz when it came to Calderdale in 2014, whilst subsequently the Tour de Yorkshire visited the area a couple of times, and prior to that Sky Sports had featured street racing around Brighouse town centre.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrniBfbR9hywPM7d-E7FvMc-QlX-sHMUrh6yhhkmqH9jS8txj_eXsKzpB_no6gcIwgl7Ts_EzXr96jEGFHlhk9pB7JxG6eTAioBy6MBRBguiZTg5FKPKOjeg-5kwE6x1FiksWxuunhyPSnmDXj3Ckx_HBzpsBSsjeqjOTVEIqJpgCAmIChgFJRKxhtSYs" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrniBfbR9hywPM7d-E7FvMc-QlX-sHMUrh6yhhkmqH9jS8txj_eXsKzpB_no6gcIwgl7Ts_EzXr96jEGFHlhk9pB7JxG6eTAioBy6MBRBguiZTg5FKPKOjeg-5kwE6x1FiksWxuunhyPSnmDXj3Ckx_HBzpsBSsjeqjOTVEIqJpgCAmIChgFJRKxhtSYs=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tour De Yorkshire starting from Halifax Piece Hall</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>And based on my 20-odd years living in Brighouse, there is a strong link between the cycling community and real ale; the local club used to meet at the Red Rooster just outside the town centre and call at various other pubs in the area in the middle of or at the end of their trips around the tops of the Calder Valley and beyond, a thirst worked up that could only be quenched by several pints of the best real ale. I still regularly see some of the guys in and around the pubs in the town.</p><p>And it was in Brighouse that MAMIL first appeared, just after lockdown. They took over the premises previously occupied by Ventures, and set it up with a workshop for cycle repairs along with a cafe bar during the day that sold beer later on. And it has been a success, with cyclists taking advantage of its canalside location to call in for a drink, whilst the non-cycling community has enjoyed its relaxed and chilled vibe which flits effortlessly between daytime cafe and cool evening vibes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV75cU8BxtTdZngTNtaSZjX_q3rdWGJgT1EJxe5RwZ0UkkFyiZ4yiwPRs17UndoGacyybIlt4zSvV-c2ZIq5WeCsm6vEK_EdA5uDMy_8R9OuDjW56p-9mvRvouVZMSX6JYgTpkHlygnV1_arTgaGvQ8orBtOLraMNDqkGytFWqnfjW9pt1JBH4psE61I/s4032/DSC_7235~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV75cU8BxtTdZngTNtaSZjX_q3rdWGJgT1EJxe5RwZ0UkkFyiZ4yiwPRs17UndoGacyybIlt4zSvV-c2ZIq5WeCsm6vEK_EdA5uDMy_8R9OuDjW56p-9mvRvouVZMSX6JYgTpkHlygnV1_arTgaGvQ8orBtOLraMNDqkGytFWqnfjW9pt1JBH4psE61I/w640-h360/DSC_7235~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>MAMIL in Halifax opened a few weeks ago but this last weekend was the first time I'd had chance to visit. It has retained much of the bare brick walls of its previous incarnation and the bar is still in the same place, but the walls feature many references to cycling, and there are even a few bikes displayed on the walls. I called in first last Saturday, early evening. It was quiet, but a few of the Halifax town centre drinking circuit guys were in attendance. I ordered a half of Bread & Butter off one of the two hand pumps, and it was in excellent condition (NBSS 3.5). Like the bulk of the beer offer, with several more available on the taps, it is brewed by Vocation Brewery at their hillside location high above the Calder Valley, their beers also featuring at the MAMIL bar in Brighouse. And I was back again a couple of days later. With some time to kill while my car was having its MOT, I popped in on a wet Monday afternoon where I found more people than the Saturday evening, a group of ladies, a few solitary guys clicking on the keys of their laptop, or reading a book, and the odd bag-laden shopper in need of refreshment. Their was a decent soundtrack playing unobtrusively in the background whilst the friendly young staff responded politely and quickly when an order came in. The tea I had as I scrolled through my phone was spot on (NTSS 3.5), which in my experience is not often the case. Based on these two visits at different times of the day and week, MAMIL is a welcome and different addition to the Halifax town centre scene.</p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7Z0VUORvVjbDxVdQXbTV6G2up318CJDbDVMDPQDBPvMlIgkUpQp-ZOpdSMTyNM0DcFddOFg-BH81walA342zBd8pge_GwrfOqHErr7U1QWNjvJvv7Hm3kRKOUFGxkqUMuJJjt0p-D_6T-VkcafRqI5nCp7D1QzsP8_897ES57p9UeKKu2V8Bg8I4iLI/s4032/DSC_7237.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7Z0VUORvVjbDxVdQXbTV6G2up318CJDbDVMDPQDBPvMlIgkUpQp-ZOpdSMTyNM0DcFddOFg-BH81walA342zBd8pge_GwrfOqHErr7U1QWNjvJvv7Hm3kRKOUFGxkqUMuJJjt0p-D_6T-VkcafRqI5nCp7D1QzsP8_897ES57p9UeKKu2V8Bg8I4iLI/w640-h480/DSC_7237.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, a few miles to the west of Halifax up the Calder Valley, there has been a micro pub in Todmorden indoor market for a few years now. In fact, the appropriately-monikered Market Tavern first opened a few months before lockdown in 2019, but I have to admit that I only became aware of its existence fairly recently. And with the bar's opening hours naturally limited by the hours that the market is operating, it has never been available to visit when I have made one of my recent visits to the town that lies close to the border between West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and Lancashire. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So when I read recently that it had been chosen as Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA's Pub of the Season, I took the opportunity of a couple of spare hours last Saturday lunchtime to get the train up the valley to Tod to check the place out. My original train was cancelled, so my time window was reduced, but fortunately the market is close to the station, to the rear of the town hall and opposite the Polished Knob.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNL1abxlmrVUXmsQ8j4HZgY1bDkHt3iX4Rvm-DA6eex0AN8d48xZzg0W_rtE6LN05cAx2TJEh36nrSVM6DZiFmtKNP5czvUBMKAHDGfH9EEi_tMcM0rH4oaGFnDcIq2nLtw1hHnTKkLRKmAKqwVm1-7BVeXwKpX3JHKpIuFIScQPx-vqDnDr1AmAfjgS4/s3642/DSC_7228~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2064" data-original-width="3642" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNL1abxlmrVUXmsQ8j4HZgY1bDkHt3iX4Rvm-DA6eex0AN8d48xZzg0W_rtE6LN05cAx2TJEh36nrSVM6DZiFmtKNP5czvUBMKAHDGfH9EEi_tMcM0rH4oaGFnDcIq2nLtw1hHnTKkLRKmAKqwVm1-7BVeXwKpX3JHKpIuFIScQPx-vqDnDr1AmAfjgS4/w640-h362/DSC_7228~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Todmorden Market Hall (spot the hi-viz jacket)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The indoor market hall lies behind a few rows of outdoor stalls, decked out in contrasting coloured stripes selling goods ranging from large loaves of sourdough to bright orange hi-viz jackets. I walked past these and through the entrance into the market, several degrees warmer than the blustery conditions outside. Here was a mixture of stalls and cafes, and unlike most markets you visit these days, most slots seemed to be occupied. I soon spotted a hanging sign above a gangway advertising the Pub of the Season, beside which was the Market Tavern, with a simpler, more basic sign saying 'Pub' on the side, situated across from a Mediterranean foods emporium. A few chairs were positioned outside in the gangway, with a shelf for glasses running down below an open window. Hanging baskets and an England scarf added to the outside accoutrements, with a few barrels outside what was presumably the cellar. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygcFLTgtcORBs5VdqAJuz5_gQFQi8Dn2Q3pgZZKt-5XYzc3y8f-Ae18qYj7q_O-ElGe81dVXrSnwWekz-Qv_1hMpET-U8NmbjnT8VnWEeJWPoMF53QbRrLLfH9fPO5X23QEzNc12I0Mp9s8sGdtm9_S8YAc0SkAM1gWYSYWoMOcPAJiaegu71b5eckvk/s4032/DSCPDC_0001_BURST20240323132055735.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygcFLTgtcORBs5VdqAJuz5_gQFQi8Dn2Q3pgZZKt-5XYzc3y8f-Ae18qYj7q_O-ElGe81dVXrSnwWekz-Qv_1hMpET-U8NmbjnT8VnWEeJWPoMF53QbRrLLfH9fPO5X23QEzNc12I0Mp9s8sGdtm9_S8YAc0SkAM1gWYSYWoMOcPAJiaegu71b5eckvk/w640-h360/DSCPDC_0001_BURST20240323132055735.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I walked into the small open-sided room. Tables and seating lined both sides, with the bar at one end. Three hand pumps were on the bar, featuring two beers from Burnley's Reedley Hallows Brewery and one from Red Rose Brewery, based in Ramsbottom, both breweries that don't seem to get any further from their Lancashire homes into Yorkshire than Tod. The Red Rose was a dark beer, whilst there was Nook of Pendle, a 5% amber ale from Reedley Hallows along with a 4% pale called Pendleside, which is the one I went for. There were a couple of older guys at the bar, chatting to a cheerful bloke behind the bar who introduced himself as the landlord's brother, plus a few guys and a couple of ladies all of middle age, with a couple, including one in a mobility scooter sat at the side of the bar in the gangway. The beer was good too, refreshing and well-balanced (NBSS 3.5). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXSqwdAYAhaXA_ikvpuFMMtZDLrxvNUQYB4UDbZcc28KD92bfGtmkF_b4AJkFSDP-P79JCk4YDv_VpfPEh_jc6Jk0jPPwZ_R6VX6BRRRyo-mfYkmSIxYycEM5XfMhkZFGq0BV2cX12Jz2zt0T-zJCte3sLZUdCuAQa_aKEwBWxDJ69e7aS0-tYU4NlGs/s4032/DSC_7231.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXSqwdAYAhaXA_ikvpuFMMtZDLrxvNUQYB4UDbZcc28KD92bfGtmkF_b4AJkFSDP-P79JCk4YDv_VpfPEh_jc6Jk0jPPwZ_R6VX6BRRRyo-mfYkmSIxYycEM5XfMhkZFGq0BV2cX12Jz2zt0T-zJCte3sLZUdCuAQa_aKEwBWxDJ69e7aS0-tYU4NlGs/w640-h480/DSC_7231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There was a nice welcoming atmosphere to the Market Tavern and I can certainly recommend calling in if you are in the area. Just remember though that like other market-based micropubs like Cob and Coal in Oldham, the Bob Inn in Chorley, and One For The Road in Bolton, all of which I have visited fairly recently, opening hours are restricted to when the market in which they are situated is open.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So three different places, but all worth popping in to have a look yourself if you get chance....</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X</i>: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><i><b>@realalemusic</b></i></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-4204180251399065862024-03-20T11:35:00.015+00:002024-03-20T13:18:52.203+00:00The New Custodians....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>News has just broken that Kirkstall Brewery will soon be taking on the lease of The Tetley, the former head office building of the famous Leeds brewery in their latest act of support for the city's brewing heritage....</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsagUNv5lbQXMIkfl3WEhoJtiLIqHlKTmBfBC8uMntEx8M55dyL0-l1QYcYDUJFuv1wtCS1Ed9jfJ7pKAep3k6I0E89ERNvLTN5s7Ox64q8zVEWbL2Ej0mH5-2pK1KbeHoagK6GtT86TExfv1mPvKO5kr_B8teWu5P5su17MWQDqFUC4c5g4qWB12BUtc/s2922/DSC_6131.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2922" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsagUNv5lbQXMIkfl3WEhoJtiLIqHlKTmBfBC8uMntEx8M55dyL0-l1QYcYDUJFuv1wtCS1Ed9jfJ7pKAep3k6I0E89ERNvLTN5s7Ox64q8zVEWbL2Ej0mH5-2pK1KbeHoagK6GtT86TExfv1mPvKO5kr_B8teWu5P5su17MWQDqFUC4c5g4qWB12BUtc/w640-h350/DSC_6131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is something quite fitting about Kirkstall Brewery getting involved with The Tetley. The contemporary arts venue and restaurant had been fashioned from the former head offices of the brewery that for years provided the beer that slaked the thirsts of many of the city's residents as well as those from further afield. Fast forward to now and we see the increasingly confident, relative upstarts coming to the rescue of a building that once symbolised the former brewery's domination and standing the city in their latest rescue act as would-be custodians of the local brewing heritage.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tetley's brewery was a proper landmark for years in Leeds, part of the local furniture, dominating its site on Hunslet Road beside the River Aire and the area around, with the steam rising into the city's air above where thousands of barrels of beer were produced every day a regular sight. I remember when I worked in nearby Holbeck when I would arrive at work, park up, and regularly get out of the car to be greeted by lovely malty aromas emanating from the brewery, provided the wind was in the right direction; the place was hard to miss.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMJ7P7j2q2ubqF5AoL_BqDEP1VynrPDWvf9-q854mXGTyVbhEQSkyVI6rhsik6zfUdGDiPH0pldTM2wiGvfITC6rTeJD-EamZtiIslpnBsl320v04xsLKR1ee89AVNMqddiwkhaSPRjZ4_5GCyupWcfRiyQgvlv2yd-XMhFYyPQnBtXifl_gPp-E49MQ/s1024/Tetleys%20Brewery.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMJ7P7j2q2ubqF5AoL_BqDEP1VynrPDWvf9-q854mXGTyVbhEQSkyVI6rhsik6zfUdGDiPH0pldTM2wiGvfITC6rTeJD-EamZtiIslpnBsl320v04xsLKR1ee89AVNMqddiwkhaSPRjZ4_5GCyupWcfRiyQgvlv2yd-XMhFYyPQnBtXifl_gPp-E49MQ/w640-h480/Tetleys%20Brewery.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The old Tetley's brewery in Leeds</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The original Tetley brewery had been founded in 1822. At first they were brewing mainly porter and mild, styles that were appreciated by the local drinkers of that time, and by 1860 they were the biggest brewer in the North of England, with production continuing to grow over subsequent years. Surprisingly, but in keeping with the way that beer was sold back then it wasn't until 1890 that they acquired their first pubs. By 1914, when they were also selling a lot of pale ale, they had acquired a large tied estate of pubs in and around Leeds and across Yorkshire.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The art deco building that ultimately became The Tetley had been opened in 1931, and was used as the expanding brewery's offices. Over the years its occupiers oversaw the acquisition of breweries such as Gilmours of Sheffield and local rivals Melbournes, thus boosting the tied estate further as Tetley Bitter became the brewery's most popular beer. The company later took over Walkers of Warrington, and then merged with Ansells and Ind Coope breweries to form Allied Breweries in the 1970's, by which time Tetley Bitter was the best-selling cask ale brand in the country. In the 1990's Danish brewery Carlsberg acquired a 50% stake in Allied, and in 1998 they acquired the full 100%, the new company being named Carlsberg-Tetley. Over the subsequent years Tetley's fortunes took a dive, the Danish lager brewers having then as now no respect for cask ale and the traditions of the British pub, and after the Tetley brand had been unceremoniously dumped from the company's name, the Leeds brewery was closed in 2008, and production of the flagship Tetley Bitter contracted out to Banks's Park Brewery in Wolverhampton. That old art deco office building, which had been opened in the 1930's in a wave of confidence, had become redundant like the many workers that had been displaced or lost their jobs in an act that shook the city.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmZgPrw0FC4NinypRPkDzmYWetGAhbovmgB1lJ8ntpM4zevdE04VGBitRyLnJsBwD1rxkQy1N3TpM-6Y3NOxgdOx4-0oJhflGxVSlA7Z4-iYuBqy6EjWrhyphenhyphen4zXNNHu9jSqF-ATHV9sbhiyUT7yPIFzSSyKm1V98WiAjAvd5tamGFekb-2aQb3u70bG80/s1000/The%20Tetley.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmZgPrw0FC4NinypRPkDzmYWetGAhbovmgB1lJ8ntpM4zevdE04VGBitRyLnJsBwD1rxkQy1N3TpM-6Y3NOxgdOx4-0oJhflGxVSlA7Z4-iYuBqy6EjWrhyphenhyphen4zXNNHu9jSqF-ATHV9sbhiyUT7yPIFzSSyKm1V98WiAjAvd5tamGFekb-2aQb3u70bG80/w640-h426/The%20Tetley.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">However, with much of the site by now cleared, the old headquarters took on a new lease of life in 2013, when it was re-opened as The Tetley, new tenants having been granted a free 10 year lease by Carlsberg, and with the help of Arts Council funding, the 1930s building was transformed to include a contemporary art gallery, studios, learning spaces, offices, a bar, restaurant, and function rooms for meetings and events. The restored building still contained many original features from the days when it had working offices, including the ubiquitous wooden panelling, the boardroom, original staircase, and lift, along with a war memorial which commemorates the Tetley employees that served in the First World War. Sadly last year as the lease expired, and the owners announced they couldn't afford to continue, unable to agree on a rental price, and so the Tetley closed. I'd only been once: I enjoyed their take on the traditional English breakfast in the restaurant a few years ago, but it did sadly seem to operate under the radar, certainly in later years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then as the previous incumbents continued to search for a new location in the city, the news broke that Kirkstall Brewery were to take on the iconic building and transform it into a bar showcasing some of the best beers brewed in the city. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Steve Holt and John Kelly set up their brewery in 2011, but in choosing to call it Kirkstall they were harking back to the city's brewing heritage by reviving an old name. The original Kirkstall Brewery had been a contemporary of Tetleys, and was based in the Leeds suburb of that name. Its beers had a strong local following and by 1898 the brewery was producing 72,000 barrels a year. It was acquired by Duttons of Blackburn in 1936 who in turn sold it to Whitbread in 1957. The new owners invested in the brewery, and at one point it was producing 250,000 barrels a year, but brewing ceased here when Whitbread pulled the plug in 1983, and production transferred elsewhere, citing the usual arguments about economies of scale. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When the new brewery was opened, their initial site was close to the where the original brewery had been located near Kirkstall Bridge. When they outgrew their original 8 barrel capacity, they moved to the current site down the Kirkstall Road towards the city centre in 2016. The brewery, which is based in a former dairy, comprises a state of the art 50 hectolitre brewhouse, whose gleaming vessels can be seen as you enter the building on the way to their popular and welcoming taproom, which they opened in 2020. And as you would expect from a company that cares about the city's brewing history, the taproom is chock-full of breweriana. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHEYfv_ZXTiMU0Hw91Rc51A_9ATtaGEktQVpYQMHUqjFXVCNxpdk_RFsOKeT3Qh5my3iR1BkL6JY8WoD6L3shjdZZ_erO-9nmuLxGwAihsCc-7Tpfm1SAKA0wZpw7Y0CrqlAy_oJ1MfiUnY2bA1QWuTmcx_FntkKNQBVSLccAPANDUv9B34pK7MnzTCc/s1481/Kirkstall.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1481" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHEYfv_ZXTiMU0Hw91Rc51A_9ATtaGEktQVpYQMHUqjFXVCNxpdk_RFsOKeT3Qh5my3iR1BkL6JY8WoD6L3shjdZZ_erO-9nmuLxGwAihsCc-7Tpfm1SAKA0wZpw7Y0CrqlAy_oJ1MfiUnY2bA1QWuTmcx_FntkKNQBVSLccAPANDUv9B34pK7MnzTCc/w640-h388/Kirkstall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Here you can enjoy a good selection of their popular beers including on cask their Pale Ale, a 4% hoppy beer, Three Swords, a 4.5% extra pale featuring three varieties of American hops, Dissolution, a 5% intensely hopped IPA, and Black Band Porter, a 5.5% full-flavoured dark beer, which along with other Kirkstall beers find themselves on the bars of many Yorkshire pubs as well as further afield. The brewery also produces a popular range of keg beers including Virtuous, a 4.5% aromatic pale ale, Judicious, a 4.8% juicy pale ale, and Providence, a 5.2% New England IPA. Many of the names of the Kirkstall beers reference the history of the historic abbey which was established in the area by Cistercian Monks in the 12th century.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgvq1vqHz4FgjVMwjUDQ9l9yl-3mWj9dNqn3qGX1vy1GbBAaKc4SRWQpclH5ktWuFt6I-HSvQwf0X-NIvM3nIHt42gm0YTlFwQnn9hBR6y-RrBqrIOrjpUITKSLzleSsO1kLdHsxwvyUAq4_66h7MacwxxnMkNm8UttFXV8lOJRUo8tVPgNeAtkQvzps/s1410/Cardigan%20Arms%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1410" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgvq1vqHz4FgjVMwjUDQ9l9yl-3mWj9dNqn3qGX1vy1GbBAaKc4SRWQpclH5ktWuFt6I-HSvQwf0X-NIvM3nIHt42gm0YTlFwQnn9hBR6y-RrBqrIOrjpUITKSLzleSsO1kLdHsxwvyUAq4_66h7MacwxxnMkNm8UttFXV8lOJRUo8tVPgNeAtkQvzps/w640-h408/Cardigan%20Arms%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Cardigan Arms, revived by Kirkstall Brewery</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The brewery demonstrated their commitment to tradition when they acquired a couple of nearby pubs, the Kirkstall Bridge Inn, just across the river Aire from the original brewery, and the magnificent Cardigan Arms. The latter is a Grade ll-listed pub which was designed by Thomas Winn and opened in 1896. It became a Tetleys pub when they acquired local rivals Melbourne in 1960. It is quite simply a stunner, with a beautiful curving central bar with a brass rail which serves a tap room immediately to the left as you go in and a large drinking lobby if you go straight on through a pair of heavy wooden doors with glazed windows. A further three rooms lead off from here, all of which continue the theme with dark woodwork, etched glass, ornamental ceilings, and decorative tiling, with a number of large brewery mirrors, breweriana, and period furnishings. The pub had become a shadow of its former self following the demise of the Tetley brewery and had been closed for a time following damage in the Boxing Day floods of 2015. It was acquired and re-opened in 2017 by Kirkstall Brewery after a major refurbishment which restored the pub to its splendid former glory.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltkeut-gvFNMNT12CFz_PxQhaT_rFrcEHz2JUXS1cJdgLbzURKMtzXwybaNBFrRgALkQdbN_TY1tA3pQlYk04DkKhJ8Xqrfz3xw-UHNcetMPLlxbdQzclPnRuyhEohP2XJ3wcT_AhbV3CoDzKp8NrLPJV5R1dEaaxeDmB9lX2c7IHkF1V3RdC_pD3tLo/s1196/Cardigan%20Arms%201.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1196" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltkeut-gvFNMNT12CFz_PxQhaT_rFrcEHz2JUXS1cJdgLbzURKMtzXwybaNBFrRgALkQdbN_TY1tA3pQlYk04DkKhJ8Xqrfz3xw-UHNcetMPLlxbdQzclPnRuyhEohP2XJ3wcT_AhbV3CoDzKp8NrLPJV5R1dEaaxeDmB9lX2c7IHkF1V3RdC_pD3tLo/w640-h480/Cardigan%20Arms%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Snug at the Cardigan Arms</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It isn't just pubs that have been rescued by Kirkstall. When Leeds Brewery ceased operating at the end of 2022, their small estate of pubs was sold to Camerons, whilst Kirkstall bought the beer brands which are now brewed in-house and they continue to be supplied to their old pubs and into the free trade. The Leeds brewery had only started in 2007, not long before Tetleys closed, and occupied a site in the Beeston area of the city. And whilst their beers were generally unremarkable save for the 4.8% dark mild, Midnight Bell, which won several awards over the years, they occupy a place in the city's brewing history as for a short time after Tetleys' demise they were the only brewery operating in Leeds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier this year, an arguably more significant event occurred when local craft brewers North announced that they were entering administration due to the impact of rising costs, and the long-term effects of the pandemic and Brexit. The market was shocked; North had been at the forefront of the growth of the craft beer market with their original bar on New Briggate in the city centre opening way back in 1997. It became a must-visit for any serious beer afficionado with its cutting edge offer of cask ales and imported craft beers which influenced the growth of the UK craft beer industry. It wasn't until 2015 that they started to brew their own beers though, and whilst they did brew some cask, it was for keg beers such as Sputnik and Transmission that they became known. They embraced the arrival of canning, which enabled them to sell into supermarkets and other retailers. Outgrowing their original brewery, they moved into an old tannery in the Sheepscar district of the city where they created a state-of-the-art production facility and taproom. They increased the number of the bars they ran, but it came to the point where they needed extra funding. And so Kirkstall stepped in to save the brewery and all its bars in Leeds and Manchester, with brewing continuing at the Springwell site.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cwn-Je63PppE6yOS_ZrhwyGlxdhiE4TLtbkaCmhwFJWqQoOHIB1I2zO7hAaiQ4muADIKSt2J98IeYAF0JjceolL_4IbFHdjpY0KF6fcw4HK8vRTgToeHB8gFuzADVVLVr9b6rpmU3gt71oTVFqokTh401Oxf1bxZ73ppgrRdPwil-zRY6uFoukLjp8c/s897/North%20Bar.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="582" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cwn-Je63PppE6yOS_ZrhwyGlxdhiE4TLtbkaCmhwFJWqQoOHIB1I2zO7hAaiQ4muADIKSt2J98IeYAF0JjceolL_4IbFHdjpY0KF6fcw4HK8vRTgToeHB8gFuzADVVLVr9b6rpmU3gt71oTVFqokTh401Oxf1bxZ73ppgrRdPwil-zRY6uFoukLjp8c/w416-h640/North%20Bar.JPG" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>North Bar, New Briggate, Leeds</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And with a recent and rare foray out of Leeds to take on the Narrow Boat in Skipton, which had been disposed of by the previous owners (<i>an earlier one to take over the much-loved Sparrow in Bradford having not worked out</i>), back in Leeds there is much to look forward to in Kirkstall taking on the Tetley. The basis of a great pub is already there in this historic building, and with their track-record of restoring pubs and now with a large range of varied, locally-brewed beers at their disposal, it will surely become a must-visit destination when these custodians of the city's beer heritage re-open its doors later this spring....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic">@realalemusic</a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-54609411544558881222024-03-13T09:35:00.017+00:002024-03-13T23:11:19.216+00:00Riding High In Scarborough....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>A breezy afternoon and heavy seas in Scarborough meant it was more of a day to seek shelter in some of the North Yorkshire resort's fine pubs rather than take in the sea views. And with good beer on offer everywhere it turned out to be a most enjoyable visit....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxuqaotedOrHmxH4_ysK6pSeqDTX-AGRm4_Vv7621athIqTUkTsp-E-yc7YKCVho2cnLV370HxgC1SyRcGNOTHmlmkKaxzJyUgm5G4HX40lJ3ZgCNOvyDvv1CFFh_IuTR0JqN3Nl8d_9vq7oJ5rTmX_ES4o1dJpnfBTrGe4mW3TmSGp1ihK6BXLzzsdE/s3222/DSC_7193~2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1897" data-original-width="3222" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxuqaotedOrHmxH4_ysK6pSeqDTX-AGRm4_Vv7621athIqTUkTsp-E-yc7YKCVho2cnLV370HxgC1SyRcGNOTHmlmkKaxzJyUgm5G4HX40lJ3ZgCNOvyDvv1CFFh_IuTR0JqN3Nl8d_9vq7oJ5rTmX_ES4o1dJpnfBTrGe4mW3TmSGp1ihK6BXLzzsdE/w640-h376/DSC_7193~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My most recent trips to Scarborough haven't always gone to plan. The last one saw me driving in bright, warm sunshine all the way from home to the outskirts of the North Yorkshire resort only for a thick sea-fret to descend, obscuring the sun and dragging the temperature down so that the entire visit was spent in gloom, the colours and sounds of the seaside muted and downplayed. Another time, I had booked a stay so I could spend a day watching Yorkshire play cricket, only for the rain to start coming down as I drove east, so there was very little play, resulting a long session in the neighbouring North Riding just down the hill along with plenty of other soggy fans including the legendary Bloke from Hull.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And this latest one looked to be heading the same way, although through my own making. I ended up getting caught up watching the final throes of England falling to an inevitable crushing defeat in the 5th Test in Dharamshala, so I was later leaving home, meaning that I had to catch a later train from Halifax which would mean I had to wait an hour for the next train out of York for the final leg to Scarborough. As luck would have it, when we arrived in York there were still a few minutes before the earlier train left, and I managed to get across the station and leap onboard (<i>metaphorically, I hasten to add</i>) before it pulled out. I sat back smugly in my seat and enjoyed the journey through the misty North Yorkshire countryside, the train arriving in Scarborough just before 12.55, just about 2 hours since I'd left Halifax.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We emerged from the station, everyone scuttling off in different directions. I had spotted a micro pub just across from the station, opposite the art deco Stephen Joseph Theatre, so I made a beeline for that, There was a lit up sign in the window announcing it was open. This was <b>Craft</b>, which opened in a former shop unit just before lockdown. Brightly-decorated with all sorts of paraphernalia, the bar is opposite the entrance and features 4 handpumps and around a dozen keg lines. From the cask selection I ordered a pint of Enigma, a 4% single hop pale ale from the Wensleydale Brewery. It was a bit lively, so the guy behind the bar said he'd bring it over to me once it had settled. I grabbed and seat and looked around. There were a few old guys sat across the room. From their accents and the flow of their conversation I worked out they were fans of Tamworth FC, who were in town visiting Scarborough Athletic, no doubt hoping to maintain their position at the top of the National League North. My beer arrived. It was well worth the wait, well-balanced with a touch of dryness om the finish. A strong start to the day (a 3.5 on the National Beer Scoring System scale). And a good place to start my visit, and I left thinking I might call in for a final pint before I got the train home if time permitted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmyRG3YsHK81jKI8V0s3T8S5-73U-tQtmxKs3ShAI_oIrAJ0RTR9PLehEoGUmyNQLXrFwIIY3SRTHUYEy-fS2H5VMVwnoGgxujZNX-A7c81VpTtTKTnJn7kJT1vWsTQCfJxD8ZUMH4EgLyhyphenhyphen0ZbE8wk4AvQyhkxPloa-ajqls4QpM0HU67g7VjhZ-4KQ/s4032/DSC_7186.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmyRG3YsHK81jKI8V0s3T8S5-73U-tQtmxKs3ShAI_oIrAJ0RTR9PLehEoGUmyNQLXrFwIIY3SRTHUYEy-fS2H5VMVwnoGgxujZNX-A7c81VpTtTKTnJn7kJT1vWsTQCfJxD8ZUMH4EgLyhyphenhyphen0ZbE8wk4AvQyhkxPloa-ajqls4QpM0HU67g7VjhZ-4KQ/w640-h360/DSC_7186.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYSHhdgPLXauIEfGgCDd12CjeAvsTgbOExFSbundSdQ5pDqj5hY8FwAATOBhEWVHpz5YqF2ef5g6coePMbnE4hKoCaOs-12Atjj5Bwd19SSq9YlXEvIKK5w3G1yy0YfmM15-qKj3vcQ-NHDFyBaCyJhU98OijoVFTo0IjyPd0Wk5QLpvJle7btLfmtBI/s2221/original_4ad0bd33-89f9-42c2-8fca-2a5af7def16d_DSC_7185.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2221" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYSHhdgPLXauIEfGgCDd12CjeAvsTgbOExFSbundSdQ5pDqj5hY8FwAATOBhEWVHpz5YqF2ef5g6coePMbnE4hKoCaOs-12Atjj5Bwd19SSq9YlXEvIKK5w3G1yy0YfmM15-qKj3vcQ-NHDFyBaCyJhU98OijoVFTo0IjyPd0Wk5QLpvJle7btLfmtBI/w640-h390/original_4ad0bd33-89f9-42c2-8fca-2a5af7def16d_DSC_7185.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Craft, a cracking little bar</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I headed off then towards the North Bay, the more unspoilt of Scarborough's two bays. I walked down past rows of B & Bs, many of which were displaying No Vacancies in their windows despite it only being early March. I turned up a short hill just before I reached Peasholm Park, and across the road at the top of the slope was the bulky shape of the <b>North Riding Hotel</b>, situated next door to a cinema. It is a large brick-built building prominently situated at the bottom of North Marine Drive, set just back from the North Bay and just down the hill as mentioned above from Scarborough Cricket Club. It dates back to the 1850's and houses its own in-house brewery which has continued to brew although brewing of the majority of North Riding beers re-located a few years ago to a unit in the village of Snainton, a few miles inland from Scarborough, which I visited on a trip with Halifax & Calderdale CAMRA just before lockdown when we were met and shown around by the brewery's ebullient owner, Stuart Nielsen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxADshwdGBI_qXrZSpPEJwxW4WSuTW3ISijiTj5bzfYQGn3QLu9PeXUfF2IsgL-K1hXVVEBI7rltAM3lIBt162aCuxoH-FNDcWSzAbj0Av8t6TA0TPX0Mqs_vSJCbhlEsXjr4hoiJDgRi6SOh8tDlzuzpWKBHmOyYO6p1yVBq6v_wkGCaMlNqxwVMXoc/s4032/DSC_7188.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxADshwdGBI_qXrZSpPEJwxW4WSuTW3ISijiTj5bzfYQGn3QLu9PeXUfF2IsgL-K1hXVVEBI7rltAM3lIBt162aCuxoH-FNDcWSzAbj0Av8t6TA0TPX0Mqs_vSJCbhlEsXjr4hoiJDgRi6SOh8tDlzuzpWKBHmOyYO6p1yVBq6v_wkGCaMlNqxwVMXoc/w640-h360/DSC_7188.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I walked in to the North Riding by a side door entrance and turned left into the public bar. Last time I had been in it had been a sea of bodies, most of whom were cricket fans displaced when rain stopped play at the nearby ground. There was a great atmosphere, the beer was flowing, and it was a more than acceptable trade-off for an early finish. Today it was very different. A couple of guys sat at a table near the bar, a couple ordering drinks, a couple sat at a table by a window, and a guy sat on a stool near to a stove, its heat welcome as a relief from the cold wind blowing in off the North Sea. When it was my turn I ordered a pint of the North Riding Pale Ale, which featured Citra and Mosaic hops and was brewed to an ABV of 4.3%. I grabbed a stool across from the bar, plonking my beer down on the shelf beside me, and looked around. A very traditional room with an old wooden bar and a plethora of framed CAMRA awards on the wall. There was a pool table in the middle of the room, the wooden floor beneath it relatively shiny and showing the original colour in contrast to the rest of the room. I took a sip of my beer, which was crystal clear. Wow, it was good: clean, fruity, and refreshing, a definite NBSS 4 and one of the best beers of the year so far!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2x-I-DdweeN1hVzqYthVDmdv39nyh7yJxm9oOO7PCQHQLa9Yw9oVBjQaK9VG08IrwsvpBPK6CsaNzgd5r9KIcFVJ8HF9XegtdExFzkGPTd1523AI2kHIATw6hZqE1S2uOksbkzY_oZ6V_A7ZKzP6B1dzV11xqHIzRHgDAdRvGkjSbMrktYqxJzI3B-Zo/s4032/DSC_7189.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2x-I-DdweeN1hVzqYthVDmdv39nyh7yJxm9oOO7PCQHQLa9Yw9oVBjQaK9VG08IrwsvpBPK6CsaNzgd5r9KIcFVJ8HF9XegtdExFzkGPTd1523AI2kHIATw6hZqE1S2uOksbkzY_oZ6V_A7ZKzP6B1dzV11xqHIzRHgDAdRvGkjSbMrktYqxJzI3B-Zo/w640-h360/DSC_7189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhyphenhyphen7N1tnhkAv4tqkaE4vze2wynkM777Rhe0ANXenyWTUFTeTm6r6HR1z5GJlnLK7WInp81PNN97qTPY4vRpWi17nAqVny0i5l399_t_DvJ41JUH4xmP2M_Noil46C0wj6OG1Ra-oy59j0GgWNrUVq4LFi_lSbseaxvc-0_eu3F2TyDm7aUaTMXRd-a5Q/s4032/DSC_7192.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhyphenhyphen7N1tnhkAv4tqkaE4vze2wynkM777Rhe0ANXenyWTUFTeTm6r6HR1z5GJlnLK7WInp81PNN97qTPY4vRpWi17nAqVny0i5l399_t_DvJ41JUH4xmP2M_Noil46C0wj6OG1Ra-oy59j0GgWNrUVq4LFi_lSbseaxvc-0_eu3F2TyDm7aUaTMXRd-a5Q/w640-h360/DSC_7192.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was tempted to have another pint of the Pale, but I felt it made sense to try one of the beers brewed on the premises, so this time I went for another 4.3% pale, this time featuring Nectaron and Motueka hops. It had a different character, a more intense fruitiness, and was another excellent beer (NBSS 3.5). I could have quite happily have stayed here for the rest of the day, but time was moving on, and there was work to do before I caught the train home. So I grabbed my coat, took my empty glass back to the bar, and left the warmth of this wonderful pub, emerging back into the cold wind outside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I headed off to towards the sea, and when it came into view there was the spectacular sight of waves crashing down as the tide came in on to the seafront road down below. I turned right and walked up the road back towards the town centre. The wind was blowing strongly and I had to keep pulling the hood on my coat back up. Over on the headland that separates Scarborough's two bays stood the ruins of Scarborough's castle. I arrived in front of a hotel where the road split, and here I took the right hand fork away from the sea which led me through a quiet, somewhat rundown area with empty buildings, some in desperate need of a little tlc. I walked through busier streets as I got back into the town centre and then took a path which brought me out above the town's South Bay, where in the distance the boats in the harbour were spared the impact of the powerful waves crashing on to the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjFEd-WbOf8ruQxuewsNE6nxj3Uf1cxgVNfZB85DZR-vMzBuR39TLlQUn149Wrda6WbvL1eMs4rHrg9yIrlGLgZgP-rGA-DwUMp0GrIxDqwPIezxuNVEf7pkRE_kqUcj7K8lVIq1Hz5V7iJ7ceL77j0ky9mpnNttobYnpIPb7qtPdc-A5X9iKqJeveBE/s3460/DSC_7207.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1941" data-original-width="3460" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjFEd-WbOf8ruQxuewsNE6nxj3Uf1cxgVNfZB85DZR-vMzBuR39TLlQUn149Wrda6WbvL1eMs4rHrg9yIrlGLgZgP-rGA-DwUMp0GrIxDqwPIezxuNVEf7pkRE_kqUcj7K8lVIq1Hz5V7iJ7ceL77j0ky9mpnNttobYnpIPb7qtPdc-A5X9iKqJeveBE/w640-h360/DSC_7207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I walked along the path, past the tram which ferries passengers between the town and the promenade below, past the Grand Hotel where I once stayed, feeling positively youthful compared to the generally geriatric crowds delivered by the coachload in regular drops throughout the day, and where I encountered the joint worst breakfast I have ever had in my life (<i>a tie with the Wetherspoons in Sowerby Bridge, if you're interested</i>). I crossed over at a mini roundabout by the Crescent Hotel and on the opposite side of the road to the Brunswick shopping centre on Somerset Terrace was the <b>Scholars Bar</b>. It is a long-standing Good Beer Guide entry that I have visited before. It was busy, with plenty of people watching the sport on one of several TV screens dotted around the pub. There were at least half a dozen hand pumps on the bar, which all seemed to be from Yorkshire-based breweries, and from the selection on offer I ordered a pint of Yorkshire Blonde from Ossett, which was in great form (NBSS 3.5). I enjoyed it sat in a pub to the side of the bar where everyone seemed to be watching Italy hang on to beat Scotland 31-29 in the Six Nations. There was a good friendly, if somewhat blokey atmosphere, and with plenty of West Riding accents we could have been in a pub in Leeds. But well worth a visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkS4v_-e_vgFDwGBBViKVOlmJQSBIVoJu2PNytGJxuoF-6Y9nDMzgtHPNe6Hgj86ECn_I-s4Si_MmwgxoZXwHr6AOuZ2qTmQkHDouYw6PTWgiQOaQNtVXiBeTaPXrui_Z4Ty6KrucAFafY3ChIRKdXotl5cygOdIX8dFopI4AJCaO_HxX8RU4IaVR-TM/s3079/DSC_7213.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3079" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkS4v_-e_vgFDwGBBViKVOlmJQSBIVoJu2PNytGJxuoF-6Y9nDMzgtHPNe6Hgj86ECn_I-s4Si_MmwgxoZXwHr6AOuZ2qTmQkHDouYw6PTWgiQOaQNtVXiBeTaPXrui_Z4Ty6KrucAFafY3ChIRKdXotl5cygOdIX8dFopI4AJCaO_HxX8RU4IaVR-TM/w640-h420/DSC_7213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I finished my pint and headed off, I had two more places to visit before I left, plus I was hopeful of getting some fish and chips as I was by now feeling a little peckish. I headed off back to the station and them turned along Westborough on which both pubs, neither of which I had previously visited, were situated. I walked past a huge chapel, its walls covered in green moss no doubt encouraged by the damp maritime air. I passed one of the pubs, the Stumble Inn, but I was first working a little further along to the neighbourhood of Falsgrave to the other pub on my list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The <b>Tap & Spile</b> is a white-walled pub situated on a corner by some traffic lights, next door to which my stomach noted with delight was a fish and chip shop! But first a beer. I followed a guy into the pub, going in to the room to the right of the door. I walked up to the bar and from a choice of 5 beers on hand pump I went for the White Rat from Ossett. I went and sat at a table where a large TV screen was flashing up the latest football scores in <i>Final Score</i>, the modern and slicker equivalent of the old teleprinter that used to print them out on screen when I was growing up. The beer was another really good pint (NBSS 3.5) to maintain the very high standard I'd enjoyed here. The pub was reasonably busy but not as much as the Scholars Bar had been. It is not far from the town centre and is well worth making the trip out here, but it is far enough out to mean it feels more of a locals' pub.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XsD9ugBEzJAQkZ0Sc1dHx6eRGMtxMLcebRg1uPoGv4utjzJzxlDDiv-qM1cMKTcHpYGMFZhWLp859RuQ4ECo9XlEjEYfSq7TNwDdIyUf4CP_liFt9w-WKtewuptLijNl7GSjN1ASziQHXe8ZnySAFCzyNrjWMBD7Fg42W4SnvKmC88he3An_Bi0A6iA/s4032/DSC_7220.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XsD9ugBEzJAQkZ0Sc1dHx6eRGMtxMLcebRg1uPoGv4utjzJzxlDDiv-qM1cMKTcHpYGMFZhWLp859RuQ4ECo9XlEjEYfSq7TNwDdIyUf4CP_liFt9w-WKtewuptLijNl7GSjN1ASziQHXe8ZnySAFCzyNrjWMBD7Fg42W4SnvKmC88he3An_Bi0A6iA/w640-h360/DSC_7220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Right now for those fish and chips! I took my empty glass back to the bar just after Boreham Wood had equalised against Town on <i>Final Score</i>, and I walked next door to the fish and chip shop. The lights were on, the windows were steamed up, and according to its published hours it was open, but the door was locked. A guy emerged carrying a pizza box from a neighbouring takeaway, saw me trying the door, and told me it had been like that when he had tried to call in earlier, which is why he'd got this, nodding at the pizza box. Cheers, I said, and muttered some words of disapproval towards the proprietors. Well I was hungry! However, relief was not too far away. About 5 minutes along was another fish and chip shop and it was open. I walked in, there was a small queue, and bearing in mind I wanted another beer before I caught the train I ordered a small fish and chips. A friendly Goth girl took my order and a few minutes later was asking me if I wanted scraps ( I did) and then my fish and chips were brought to me by another friendly Goth girl. And they were excellent! I ate them outside sheltering from the drizzle under the awning of a nearby shop, and if that was a small portion, what size was the regular?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Duly fortified, I made my way to the final place on the day's itinerary. This was the afore-mentioned <b>Stumble Inn</b>, situated less than 10 minutes walk away from the station near Sainsburys on a corner at the end of a row populated by dentists, solicitors, and the like. The Stumble Inn with its joyously steamed up windows and happy thrall of customers, of both two and four legs, made for a welcoming atmosphere in what was a former solicitor's office. This was the first micropub in Scarborough and clearly has a loyal local following. That said, when I sat down at the only empty table with my pint of Turning Point Three Way Joust, a 4.8% hazy pale featuring Simcoe, Amarillo, and Azacca hops, I was joined by a couple of Tamworth fans on their way back from seeing their team gain a vital way win in their push to get promoted. Back to the beer, it was another excellent pint (NBSS 3.5) and with the bar dominated by Turning Point I did wonder if there'd been a tap takeover. Another cracking place to call in when in these parts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwCpD7zv_35ehsK8B3VLjerbNMmQX-Oox27SOIdeqEbFPrZ14KZ5QrvDyDkXeI5XVqVMsqhSg_jyE5Lx3yRA4vYyR1VUK4SnvQEzKclxofdNxW2r3ZLOpvWe06N2jtzcQaRZ46Wnav7h14dsulUPMDYTRvZI9FAtQ9g0DnCl8QY7TaPy7cK_EecDXfhE/s4032/DSC_7218.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwCpD7zv_35ehsK8B3VLjerbNMmQX-Oox27SOIdeqEbFPrZ14KZ5QrvDyDkXeI5XVqVMsqhSg_jyE5Lx3yRA4vYyR1VUK4SnvQEzKclxofdNxW2r3ZLOpvWe06N2jtzcQaRZ46Wnav7h14dsulUPMDYTRvZI9FAtQ9g0DnCl8QY7TaPy7cK_EecDXfhE/w640-h360/DSC_7218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Time was moving on, so I finished my pint, bade my farewells, and made my way back to the station where the train was in, the engines running, but they weren't for letting anybody on until it was virtually time to depart. It'd been a great day visiting several places all of which were completely different other than the fact they had all served some top quality beer. And I look forward to coming back to Scarborough some time soon....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-32237890677499363492024-03-06T09:36:00.029+00:002024-03-06T23:24:26.067+00:00A Manchester Institution....<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>A look at one of Greater Manchester's oldest surviving independent breweries which celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, followed by a pint of their beer in a couple of pubs in the Shudehill area of the city centre....</i></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yHO3W25J0OtG7Ic_peahUJZABSiP_PUf0k7dbIwhnRqIihV75ar-QtxNWZfruBrBSHEouNgQyNv-syq7va92hUrU_WGKatAk2O96VRK8cuASYVYOtirxKUS46iZDxfXwCVFYijDJC1neuv7P-fJZkLbFuBf4DAfFEaip1_dXSAWBY3OSyomdWSBQpRg/s4032/DSC_7135.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yHO3W25J0OtG7Ic_peahUJZABSiP_PUf0k7dbIwhnRqIihV75ar-QtxNWZfruBrBSHEouNgQyNv-syq7va92hUrU_WGKatAk2O96VRK8cuASYVYOtirxKUS46iZDxfXwCVFYijDJC1neuv7P-fJZkLbFuBf4DAfFEaip1_dXSAWBY3OSyomdWSBQpRg/w640-h360/DSC_7135.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I first came across the beers of Joseph Holt when I moved to Manchester as a student in the 1970's, particularly when I lived in Salford which was in those days one of the family-owned brewery's strongholds. Having been weaned on the gentler flavours of beers from the likes of Websters and Tetleys, when I moved over the Pennines, I was struck by the bitterness of some of the local beers I discovered like Boddingtons, and more particularly Holts, whose bitter really was eye-wateringly bitter when I first tried it in the Grafton Arms, just round the corner from the university.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The brewery had been founded in 1849 on Empire Street in the Cheetham Hill area of the city in the days when Manchester was expanding rapidly and demand for beer was high. Other breweries in the city were also thriving at that time including Boddingtons and Wilsons, whilst nearby but not based in the city itself were Lees of Middleton Junction and Robinsons of Stockport. Holts gradually built up their own estate of pubs which in those days were mostly in North Manchester suburbs like Cheetham Hill, Crumpsall, and Blackley, All was going well for the growing brewery until the American Civil War broke out in 1861 which cut off the supply of cotton for the local textile industry, which as a significant employer in the area, led to economic hardship and a consequent steep decline in demand for beer. But the company weathered what was the first of several storms which affected it over the years, and returned to steady growth once the supply of cotton resumed and the mills became busy again. Over the years it didn't stray too far from its local roots, gradually acquiring parcels of pubs in neighbouring areas like Salford, Prestwich, and Whitefield, whilst also supplying a number of independent free houses. Its simple offer of just bitter and mild sold in great quantities; deliveries to some of the biggest pubs were often in huge 36 gallon barrels, and sometimes even larger ones called hogsheads holding 54 gallons of beer, which is 6 times greater than that of a standard firkin used for most cask beer deliveries these days!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sh7m-fx1N8Iic2BnE65LLP-6wubfxlO-zYOU6_XK2DY7azDNi48TiScuru-TF7zLz-PXrzTchdb91hTCTzq2PgCBXB54rQNGIwW1KYp1m_nI8o0vbyn_gQaF9y2aVX3QUtF91ftyzY8l8HQaS-cQXQ7Ug9E1d4q9Jc-q8oZx4rvcvdWyew0wklWeZUM/s1595/Eagle%20Salford%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sh7m-fx1N8Iic2BnE65LLP-6wubfxlO-zYOU6_XK2DY7azDNi48TiScuru-TF7zLz-PXrzTchdb91hTCTzq2PgCBXB54rQNGIwW1KYp1m_nI8o0vbyn_gQaF9y2aVX3QUtF91ftyzY8l8HQaS-cQXQ7Ug9E1d4q9Jc-q8oZx4rvcvdWyew0wklWeZUM/w640-h360/Eagle%20Salford%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Eagle Inn, Salford</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The Holts pubs I found in the area in the 1970's were often large redbrick buildings dominating the surrounding area; inside they were of traditional design and would typically spread over various rooms, often with a basic vault, a posher lounge, and a games room which in some cases would have a snooker table (<i>pool was not especially common in those days</i>) but certainly a dartboard, usually a local Manchester board, black in colour, made out of wood, and with no section for scoring trebles. There would be a tiled or wooden floor, with any carpet normally only in the lounge. The bar would have a number of hand pumps dispensing mild and bitter, the only draught beer Holts produced at that time, with other options available in bottles behind the bar. Any food on offer would be limited to pies or a number of curling ham or cheese sandwiches kept in a glass display cabinet on the bar. Despite the growth of lager generally, at this point it was not a big thing within the company's pub estate; if there was any lager on, it would be one of the big brands of the day, although the company did finally relent and brew their own. I have vague memories that they did originally produce a lager called Regal (<i>which is of course an anagram of lager</i>) but I have not been able to find anything about it online, my Google search for Regal Lager bringing up instead a distributor of baby and children's products in the USA and Canada! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Even back in those days, I did come across a different class of Holts pub when I used to go with a girlfriend of the time to the Griffin in Heaton Mersey, Stockport. Here was a more upmarket pub, smarter but still with a multi-room format. We would often go on a Saturday night, when the guys would put on a suit to drink their pints and the ladies would be dressed in their best frocks and finery as they enjoyed a Babycham or Martini and lemonade. If you sat in the lounge, there was a bow-tied waiter in a waistcoat who would come and take your order when you rang the pushbell in the wall behind your seat, collect it from the bar, and then deliver it to your table a few minutes later for a charge of a couple of pence.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K5FZftg58eH2zH5kpW1uWKnQYf6HksVQv8yXAkA_Ybh0RKIpTzBIu6JLGMdu3FugWWg5ja-mrYsdE_DEJlNZEcyjWIPa9IhAI7vztKWo1BmAGhryMEp6GDYiUNh6bCylKE-T89d01EK8_QjrU5EbFlAybs0TezanUAY8G5gbXK5v-yu6lZ1j0H_jGiU/s1595/Holts.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K5FZftg58eH2zH5kpW1uWKnQYf6HksVQv8yXAkA_Ybh0RKIpTzBIu6JLGMdu3FugWWg5ja-mrYsdE_DEJlNZEcyjWIPa9IhAI7vztKWo1BmAGhryMEp6GDYiUNh6bCylKE-T89d01EK8_QjrU5EbFlAybs0TezanUAY8G5gbXK5v-yu6lZ1j0H_jGiU/w640-h360/Holts.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Over the years, Holts who never, publicly at any rate, seemed to be under threat of takeover from a larger rival, have adapted to the changing market for drinkers and pub visitors. The brewery has been modernised. The estate of just over 120 pubs has extended into a wider area to take in Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, and Derbyshire, with a healthy free trade accounting for around a third of the business. Older pubs have been modernised and refurbished and new pubs have been added to the portfolio, whilst as is the way these days, food has become a significant part of the offer. Some pubs even offer overnight accommodation. The cask beer range has been extended, but only slightly; a 3.8% IPA has been added, along with Two Hoots, a 4.2% golden ale. They also sell cask beers under the Bootleg brand, which they acquired when they bought the Horse & Jockey in Chorlton which had its own in-house microbrewery. And they have even started to brew some modern keg beers too!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iVa4BYLD8RGdkykm6LIu7W7MBSgY4p9R9pdW0xinJbFYM3iqAmsEJadYEDeq_J-t4aPO7UApEC81ShxulBjRwGLc7maGeLz1QRrQhclztrEA1r9jFpgynCyRb9sSUYkQfpG27cMUE4vL6I5KET5PwyrxmVpV5R2-9PJP4A-ay1dektkiRq2-pdDUq6M/s4032/DSC_7138.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iVa4BYLD8RGdkykm6LIu7W7MBSgY4p9R9pdW0xinJbFYM3iqAmsEJadYEDeq_J-t4aPO7UApEC81ShxulBjRwGLc7maGeLz1QRrQhclztrEA1r9jFpgynCyRb9sSUYkQfpG27cMUE4vL6I5KET5PwyrxmVpV5R2-9PJP4A-ay1dektkiRq2-pdDUq6M/w640-h360/DSC_7138.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The brewery tap</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">One day last week I decided I would take a 10 minute walk up Cheetham Hill Road from Victoria to take a couple of pictures of the brewery and then have a pint in the brewery tap next door, the Derby Brewery Arms, prominently situated on the corner of Empire Street. I arrived as a number of guys were leaving at the end of their shift, with the bulk of the brewery rising up behind the impressive gates. Photos duly taken, I went to get a pint in the brewery tap which is a large, imposing building typical of the older Holts pubs. However my plans were thwarted as it was closed, the call for a midweek mid-afternoon pint presumably not strong enough to justify opening up. So I trooped off instead back down towards the city centre in the grey afternoon drizzle, passing low-level warehouse units and wholesalers stocking textiles and lighting. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I decided to try a couple of pubs to try some of the Holts beers. There have never been many of their pubs in the actual city centre, and there are only four now: The Lower Turks Head on Shudehill, the Crown & Anchor on Cateaton Street, the Ape & Apple on John Dalton Street, and the Old Monkey on Portland Street. Mindful of my plans for the rest of the afternoon, I decided to visit one of those, plus another popular pub nearby that whilst not run by Holts sells a lot of their beer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4aTMNSMmAxDnAADSMIg43RqYpChv_jCSdeYobkHR-G5Z6D-aA0cAMTP0LDpPFNcrk5tbBn0SVmWqeCpZcrCNCGjoJ_W408FU4JgH92L0hLyOkXMmlz12dCG0mYnwzdH1PdecFtphH9DBlF2IVXj7oe-GxFIUuwLhToM1q6AvZWRe72UUCsWfZ_5fN8s/s4032/DSC_7141.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4aTMNSMmAxDnAADSMIg43RqYpChv_jCSdeYobkHR-G5Z6D-aA0cAMTP0LDpPFNcrk5tbBn0SVmWqeCpZcrCNCGjoJ_W408FU4JgH92L0hLyOkXMmlz12dCG0mYnwzdH1PdecFtphH9DBlF2IVXj7oe-GxFIUuwLhToM1q6AvZWRe72UUCsWfZ_5fN8s/w640-h360/DSC_7141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So I headed to the <b>Lower Turks Head</b> on Shudehill just across from the bus station and tram stop. It was acquired by Holts a few years ago and has a beautiful tiled exterior which was today partly obscured by many a pub photographer's pet hate, scaffolding. It was first a pub in 1745, and has a spacious, roomy interior with plenty of nooks and crannies, whilst facing the bar is a row of seating with narrow tables the width of a pint pot. Comfortably furnished it attracts a wide cross-section of visitors and is a place which I have used regularly as a meeting-up point with some of my old workmates. There is a decent selection of the Holts beers on the bar, from which on this occasion I opted for a pint of the bitter. It is certainly a lot less bitter these days than it used to be, more in line with today's market, but still retains its own distinct character. Amber-brown in colour, it is clean-tasting, well-balanced, and refreshing, and on today's showing I rated it NBSS 3. There was a great atmosphere in the pub this afternoon; a DJ was playing a good selection of classic Northern Soul tunes in the area at the back of the pub to an appreciative group of seniors no doubt basking in a wave of nostalgia. I know I was; there is something deeply comforting about the genre that draws you back towards its cracking tunes as you get older.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgXVABbLz9o57Fcq352qW4i1T1DSxSO_rbU5niZJ6yViOR1RFAw8HGM-dkzAGQuQDKxNw_6JipCpY4UH9kTeO4FFEPp75uvy6p340xvLxtiuWSdlm2IOmW87BGzQ3BOYW0FUQzEPHLoOFKanmrZ2LLGkCM4_faG_L9SmosuOiGmw44SHFBdjzEemZ55g/s1595/Lower%20Turks%20Head.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgXVABbLz9o57Fcq352qW4i1T1DSxSO_rbU5niZJ6yViOR1RFAw8HGM-dkzAGQuQDKxNw_6JipCpY4UH9kTeO4FFEPp75uvy6p340xvLxtiuWSdlm2IOmW87BGzQ3BOYW0FUQzEPHLoOFKanmrZ2LLGkCM4_faG_L9SmosuOiGmw44SHFBdjzEemZ55g/w640-h360/Lower%20Turks%20Head.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lower Turks Head, Shudehill, minus scaffolding</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was only a short walk to the next pub, a couple of minutes further up Shudehill. Here is the <b>Hare & Hounds</b> which, unlike the vast majority of pubs in Manchester city centre, still has the feel of a traditional locals' pub. This is a historic place, Grade ll-listed as a result of its spectacular preserved interior which dates from the 1920's. Because of its location, unfortunately many walk past every day completely oblivious to the attractive dappled tiling on the exterior wall of the ground floor.</div><i><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYUPudEU7V2uC7azrP3cLqKqPGK_LrajACYoBg9uQJ9pli3_xXtz8ugUt-kg2WE28gl3ruvVsFwzUbr_c3C7EZcmN1Nqlq9UTXwoXx2JJt_uawly-fb9P_kdh-afgxBHrU668MQIM09G_QZHBAbtaUUF3PWJq-ZQzug2A-4i0pDf0Z1Q0sffX4zgBXos/s4032/DSC_7143.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYUPudEU7V2uC7azrP3cLqKqPGK_LrajACYoBg9uQJ9pli3_xXtz8ugUt-kg2WE28gl3ruvVsFwzUbr_c3C7EZcmN1Nqlq9UTXwoXx2JJt_uawly-fb9P_kdh-afgxBHrU668MQIM09G_QZHBAbtaUUF3PWJq-ZQzug2A-4i0pDf0Z1Q0sffX4zgBXos/w360-h640/DSC_7143.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A classic: The Hare & Hounds, Shudehill</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I walked in, as I have done many times before, to a warm, cheerful, alcohol-fuelled fug, the tiled lobby a sway of patrons of a certain age singing along to a familiar yet slightly distorted tune performed via karaoke in the room at the back. I wormed my way through to the bar, and was served very quickly by a lady I remembered from a previous time, a pint of Holts bitter was mine for £3.30 (<i>cheaper than down the road</i>). There was nowhere to sit in the lobby, in front of the bar, or the vault; there were spaces in the karaoke room but it would have meant the potential risk of being drawn into the action in there, which I didn't want. So I leant on a wall at the end of the corridor to the toilets and out back, shuffling around whenever someone needed to pass (<i>I think that's what they said</i>). And then <i>Like a Rhinestone Cowboy</i> started up. The beer was in great form (NBSS 3.5), not surprisingly considering the bar was selling so much of it. Another voice. <i>I did it My Way</i>. A lady's voice started to sing. <i>First I was afraid, I was petrified.</i> Having had a thoroughly enjoyable 15 minutes of the craic in this belter of a pub, I just turned around, and walked out the door. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV3J2bCQKMECwS6m3NxGn5ArJuexq3DGlT1LIxyBDn1TpP-moE1vZ-tMV55ifyguzN0xqQYkPRT9cE0iaaLxaLkUxwbqp-DC9reTqnOP_ScGbtZD4lUXVLdda57S0zBSXNx1UdtV08FP1IH6zRqJN2lWevIeAOHfB1xSwcDAJ6D0bnUq7ioR9CYcBRwY/s4032/DSC_7147.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV3J2bCQKMECwS6m3NxGn5ArJuexq3DGlT1LIxyBDn1TpP-moE1vZ-tMV55ifyguzN0xqQYkPRT9cE0iaaLxaLkUxwbqp-DC9reTqnOP_ScGbtZD4lUXVLdda57S0zBSXNx1UdtV08FP1IH6zRqJN2lWevIeAOHfB1xSwcDAJ6D0bnUq7ioR9CYcBRwY/w640-h360/DSC_7147.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Battling through to the bar at the Hare & Hounds</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Holts may not be the most fashionable of breweries, but as the city of Manchester's oldest surviving brewery who this year will reach their 175th anniversary, they should be celebrated. They have generally stuck to their guns, gone about their business in their own way, survived several sticky patches, and managed to grow and prosper, and adapt to modern demands. And whilst many beer drinkers when asked to name Manchester breweries will most likely come up with the likes of Marble, Cloudwater, and Track, as good as they all are, there has to be something to admire in a brewery that has survived as long as Joseph Holt....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-31044055514502502062024-02-28T10:29:00.018+00:002024-02-28T17:28:39.249+00:00A Good Day Out East....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>A trip into the deepest parts of the East End of London which involved visiting a couple of classic pubs, then some football glory, plus a stop-off in Farringdon a few minutes down the Hammersmith & City line from Kings Cross....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcoX_BKqFg6hvggmOczyi4aroeJBe4ZLNCqTBenqdzpQPc3geIQVm09hrubgiVk5wFjmE5L6JiYwIDD1hkWCZzF3IW81z5l29sysGtzWm11qLxV6VB3i4JRGco1IfFV6tSytrN59z_mNgswU6SEOa40D-ht51MNu-N33LwbXILOCQ-4sziYXnGEqRLsQ/s1280/Boleyn_Public_House_Upton_Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcoX_BKqFg6hvggmOczyi4aroeJBe4ZLNCqTBenqdzpQPc3geIQVm09hrubgiVk5wFjmE5L6JiYwIDD1hkWCZzF3IW81z5l29sysGtzWm11qLxV6VB3i4JRGco1IfFV6tSytrN59z_mNgswU6SEOa40D-ht51MNu-N33LwbXILOCQ-4sziYXnGEqRLsQ/w640-h480/Boleyn_Public_House_Upton_Park.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a bright blue sunny morning as the train pulled into Kings Cross, the temperature several degrees higher than when we'd left a cold and frosty West Yorkshire a few hours earlier. Shortly afterwards we were heading east on the Hammersmith and City line, with a plan to pay a visit to Wapping, the riverside area which once was a thriving hive of maritime activity and where several historic and interesting pubs are situated. However, when we arrived at Whitechapel, whose shiny, modern interchange belied the lowly status given to the area on a Monopoly board, we were unable to access the relevant platform of the Overground by which we were going to complete our journey to Wapping (<i>it turned out later that there had been rather limited services operating on that line during the day</i>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So it was back on the eastbound underground service, with Plan B taking us to Plaistow (<i>pronounced Plar-stow to the uninitiated)</i>, where about 5 minutes walk from the underground station we came to our first pub of the day. The <b>Black Lion</b> is a former coaching inn which dates back to around 1747, with wooden beams, exposed brickwork, and a generally attractive interior which lies behind a partly wooden fronted exterior. A few oldish dudes were sat at tables facing the bar whilst in the background a TV screen was showing some sport. The pub is a free house and from a choice of several beers on hand pump we all went for a pint of Captain Bob, a 3.8% bitter from the long-standing Mighty Oak brewery who are based in Maldon in Essex. Served as is the tradition in these parts <i>sans</i> <i>sparkler</i>, it was a nicely-balanced beer with subtle fruit aromas coming through from the addition of New Zealand hops. A solid NBSS 3 rating for the beer which we enjoyed in a very pleasant pub.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgxWk3jxCpkMP1uUP5eUs2GUMoTuYOxyegOVtHi7CKszp3_ztW69jLc5D717qbBchZQOr7YCky0-VOZi5zlvbuYeV1VIF1yM4ZnyfEyJrKZI0LELLrVIlHj2OXVLJeA9c1wqIeIeitY72ig24zuoMmDhMHTc_rsHhWHajQTbkKbM03yLKZQ1IoW8pN9k/s4020/DSC_7101.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2603" data-original-width="4020" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgxWk3jxCpkMP1uUP5eUs2GUMoTuYOxyegOVtHi7CKszp3_ztW69jLc5D717qbBchZQOr7YCky0-VOZi5zlvbuYeV1VIF1yM4ZnyfEyJrKZI0LELLrVIlHj2OXVLJeA9c1wqIeIeitY72ig24zuoMmDhMHTc_rsHhWHajQTbkKbM03yLKZQ1IoW8pN9k/w640-h414/DSC_7101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="3409" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01Hh8JbzGESfbnSkjkmGzmXZTHW2vmgiduxee6sc9whIgDJC68Nxak9uPJrL5pNBY5GivRjPly2DtKndyeEAf7TWqzpFYkM1mOBF4d9CAwEgwdvzClnccNcbPWJWkEoRGvvwwKW6afrRNPe3ggkTdR9tkPYozt90bee3PMBYheL1GjiiE5o-AfcTbTDs/w640-h450/DSC_7099~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The boys enjoying their beers in the Black Lion, Plaistow</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01Hh8JbzGESfbnSkjkmGzmXZTHW2vmgiduxee6sc9whIgDJC68Nxak9uPJrL5pNBY5GivRjPly2DtKndyeEAf7TWqzpFYkM1mOBF4d9CAwEgwdvzClnccNcbPWJWkEoRGvvwwKW6afrRNPe3ggkTdR9tkPYozt90bee3PMBYheL1GjiiE5o-AfcTbTDs/s3409/DSC_7099~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i></i></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was about a mile as the crow flies to the nearest pub in the Good Beer Guide from the Black Lion, but being unfamiliar with the area we opted to take a slightly longer but easier route to avoid getting lost by following the main road until we turned on to the Barking Road on which the pub was situated. It was very much a case of old meets new all the way; a few remnants and grand buildings from previous ages jockeying for space with shiny modern new apartment blocks, whilst the tables groaning with fresh fruit, vegetables, and other merchandise outside the many shops and market stalls reflected the influx of African and other cultures into a once traditional part of London giving the area a vibrant, cosmopolitan feel. That contrast between old and new was no more clearly illustrated then when we arrived at our chosen pub.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The <b>Boleyn Tavern</b> (<i>opening image</i>) is a rambling pile of unashamed pub porn, prominently positioned at a crossroads near to the site of the former ground of West Ham United FC. It features a stunning exterior with turrets and stucco plasterwork, is Grade ll-listed, and on CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. Dating from Victorian times, it sprawls over a total of seven rooms and is a feast of dark wood screens, etched glazing, wooden and tiled flooring, and other traditional features, although some of them were recreated during a £1.5 million refurbishment in 2021 by owners The Remarkable Pub Company which aimed to restore the by then somewhat faded pub to the way it looked when it was first opened in 1900. We walked in via an entrance on the corner which took us directly into the bar on which there were 4 hand pumps, with all five of us ordering a pint of Five Points Best. Most of the tables were taken in this part of the pub, some with diners, and so we moved into an empty adjacent section located behind a screen with its own door and bar access. The beer was very good, well-balanced and amber in colour, and I rated it as 3.5 on the National Beer Scoring System scale. I went to the loo and had a look around the pub on my way back. There was a spectacular room with a food servery and an amazing glazed skylight in what was once apparently a billiard room, whilst in another there were comfortable-looking Chesterfields alongside traditional dark wood tables and chairs. On the walls there were black and white photographs of the area as it used to look, whilst there was a corridor full of photographs of teams and match shots of West Ham United over the years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeJEwEypc0pYlEE_zJzjhxhyphenhyphenfyCZeluHa6veRzSmObDLaH0vmaAtIVrsbpd0WZHT_6jzjYb5fASxgLjstNAIv-uoIE_-kCs14JAqkN4o_seVwcYbPoe-OnCp28YKBv8XvliMunm5l6DtSvoNBz0lyYEEzyERQSifzWEYYjtHJALwCEK2NIf86EjRekW4/s768/Boleyn%20Tavern.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeJEwEypc0pYlEE_zJzjhxhyphenhyphenfyCZeluHa6veRzSmObDLaH0vmaAtIVrsbpd0WZHT_6jzjYb5fASxgLjstNAIv-uoIE_-kCs14JAqkN4o_seVwcYbPoe-OnCp28YKBv8XvliMunm5l6DtSvoNBz0lyYEEzyERQSifzWEYYjtHJALwCEK2NIf86EjRekW4/w400-h300/Boleyn%20Tavern.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image: Campaign for Real Ale </i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The football connection is very strong here. When West Ham United used to play next door to the pub, the ground was known as the Boleyn Ground. Whilst particularly in later years it was generally referred to as 'Upton Park', which is the name of the area, it was still the official name for the ground until the club upped sticks in 2015 and moved to Stratford and took up residence at the more prosaically-named London Stadium, leaving their former ground to be demolished and disappear beneath a sea of concrete and glass. On match days the pub would be full with West Ham fans, and to see those old faded black and white photographs of former players including the famous three of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Martin Peters who helped England win the World Cup in 1966 was to take a journey back into a football of a former era. Incidentally, there is a statue featuring Moore, Hurst, and Peters on a roundabout opposite the pub. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2yQw1oaqyqRtKyHdwT_Gx15I_2B_Lf3NEYkdfhhy6KylLAK8bMVMiyLzDVpBErPlBndYHX3Z98pCgos1ZEdEsNoEemR7vZOwMUwwE6F85aogtz-kb9TyJJ3l7YrSK4Q2UkLQ78PfdmWqJHKWRWwSOTOjKoDDe9qYqLBnEAwAk8NErT7ORr7f1kXDkT0/s4032/DSC_7113.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2yQw1oaqyqRtKyHdwT_Gx15I_2B_Lf3NEYkdfhhy6KylLAK8bMVMiyLzDVpBErPlBndYHX3Z98pCgos1ZEdEsNoEemR7vZOwMUwwE6F85aogtz-kb9TyJJ3l7YrSK4Q2UkLQ78PfdmWqJHKWRWwSOTOjKoDDe9qYqLBnEAwAk8NErT7ORr7f1kXDkT0/w225-h400/DSC_7113.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Boleyn is a fascinating and stunningly attractive pub, and is an essential place to visit whether you are in this part of London or not, as it is definitely worth making the effort to come here. It is conveniently situated only a few minutes' walk away from Upton Park underground station which is served by both the District and Hammersmith and City lines. As a first time visitor I have to say that it is the best traditional pub I have come across for some time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDFOEZZM2-w1whgq3VBW3AzWjLFMWQNZlMdiydrrWcqbxrVECrQxcqM4BwKzFVQt43hnCZ42pa6JK3OXf_wugbOsmBxktfM1HkKwtl0TiYn1lV5vTdBuqd6FouB56JMUzpkb2yeE1E8DWD6taC4KE1nZbYXokQnvMUXbLRE2jb07BPeL99ceW1YtGjmQ/s4032/DSC_7109.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDFOEZZM2-w1whgq3VBW3AzWjLFMWQNZlMdiydrrWcqbxrVECrQxcqM4BwKzFVQt43hnCZ42pa6JK3OXf_wugbOsmBxktfM1HkKwtl0TiYn1lV5vTdBuqd6FouB56JMUzpkb2yeE1E8DWD6taC4KE1nZbYXokQnvMUXbLRE2jb07BPeL99ceW1YtGjmQ/w640-h480/DSC_7109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfm-VZp3DZ6DrcqtYU5wpml-kqLRxL1lAeayyu1e_pR8VsWzcVlX6pCbmQh8FYEn1bzoJffa7s4u7zJ6jGT0KepwQVIa4EPPY8htu-z_Ed809eVX_QgDYERdcS2GvMvkCpGjHd0SERBY6yvxpYJ_KB7h0EP1ytaoMkt5KqYnfHpAYCe4NR_wLvrPeNIM/s4032/DSC_7112.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfm-VZp3DZ6DrcqtYU5wpml-kqLRxL1lAeayyu1e_pR8VsWzcVlX6pCbmQh8FYEn1bzoJffa7s4u7zJ6jGT0KepwQVIa4EPPY8htu-z_Ed809eVX_QgDYERdcS2GvMvkCpGjHd0SERBY6yvxpYJ_KB7h0EP1ytaoMkt5KqYnfHpAYCe4NR_wLvrPeNIM/w360-h640/DSC_7112.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5pkkdKBMJjyqj9-5UsPCGmCVq-fwCH55QWge-JwmStGvlFIsgi3PBTII9cyJ1x_M5no9d7aSfZOKb_1u21fFl6U7Ix8m6T4pbV4D3PnWAsJ-q2tbWZ6rLvIv0AQsV2oxAs806n-tnB-1BeUzWZ7HfqMNW6CyXFnSKhz3YyqqYXaMjX_FM2fvP1tsjoo/s4032/DSC_7117.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5pkkdKBMJjyqj9-5UsPCGmCVq-fwCH55QWge-JwmStGvlFIsgi3PBTII9cyJ1x_M5no9d7aSfZOKb_1u21fFl6U7Ix8m6T4pbV4D3PnWAsJ-q2tbWZ6rLvIv0AQsV2oxAs806n-tnB-1BeUzWZ7HfqMNW6CyXFnSKhz3YyqqYXaMjX_FM2fvP1tsjoo/w640-h360/DSC_7117.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Spectacular: The Boleyn Tavern, Upton Park</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Football was of course the reason we were in the area. We had come down south to watch Halifax Town take on Dagenham & Redbridge FC in the National League. We caught the tube from Upton Park and, after passing through previously unregistered stops called Upney and Becontree in the seemingly interminable sprawl of housing and identikit industrial estates in this part of London, we alighted at Dagenham East tube station. From there it was a brisk 5 minute walk to the Chigwell Construction Stadium, the home of the Daggers. The ground was busy, the club had been holding a Diversity Day which had reached out to local community groups with cheaper tickets for all, as a result of which the crowd of over 3.700 was well above the average here for the season. Unfortunately for the home side, the game didn't go their way, a largely forgettable game being decided by a brilliant goal from Town's maverick forward Andrew Oluwabori which caught the home goalkeeper flatfooted. It extended the current match winning run to 4 for the away team as it finished Dagenham & Redbridge 0, Halifax Town 1.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmCe93-VUN2tALDvYMJB29oBJ4PdubtroIRz6t80fIG-YbYbKIfs2SjoVhm6SUBbMm1-rSb90SMZHLIS0ZmNOnTiLsjehdclM7o0bUrYtPAWmS_GHQeYBsDmbT8rtVlLk3reG8ymw6uaPcUEtZCAQy6sd8Z07q4MuKZnb6MQcGSP9RXYk2uKWLyt8SaU/s4032/DSC_7120.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmCe93-VUN2tALDvYMJB29oBJ4PdubtroIRz6t80fIG-YbYbKIfs2SjoVhm6SUBbMm1-rSb90SMZHLIS0ZmNOnTiLsjehdclM7o0bUrYtPAWmS_GHQeYBsDmbT8rtVlLk3reG8ymw6uaPcUEtZCAQy6sd8Z07q4MuKZnb6MQcGSP9RXYk2uKWLyt8SaU/w640-h360/DSC_7120.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Action from Dagenham & Redbridge 0, FC Halifax Town 1</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">After the game we decided to head back towards Central London and stop off at Farringdon, one stop short of Kings Cross and close to the traditional Jewellery District of Hatton Garden. We changed lines at Aldgate East, and a few minutes later we alighted at Farringdon where our next pub greeted us opposite the exit to the underground station. The <b>Castle</b> is apparently another Grade ll-listed pub although it wears its charms more loosely than the Boleyn Tavern where we'd been before the football. It is attractive, though, with one main room featuring the bar, with a further room up a flight of stairs beyond the bar. It was busy, with many of the punters watching Scotland close in on victory over England in the rugby on a large TV screen. We were more focussed on what was on the bar, and were delighted to find that on one of the three hand pumps they were selling Jarl from Fyne Ales. We tried to find somewhere to sit, but all berths were taken, and we then shuffled and danced around as people tried to get past us when we found a small area in which to stand. The Jarl, as if to compensate for the business of the pub, was in fine form, worth I reckoned a pretty solid NBSS rating of 3.5. It would be interesting to call here another time when it is less busy and check it out properly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_g1SljoYNKyvIS-rfZuhfROHCxiK5QDPE-HV5t_eLw1ppJ5q8jfujgu73Y34CIc80u9jK0HlCe2LRwhc2QRDHFM-GzX-lVnyvaFDUkM1ycbxlkIHou3WzcGlT1B_MF9enWbnO2yHAu3alqRRmH94T9qFhpXf0SWATS-HUn2o2k05s7mLdO086IufESY/s4032/DSC_7129.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_g1SljoYNKyvIS-rfZuhfROHCxiK5QDPE-HV5t_eLw1ppJ5q8jfujgu73Y34CIc80u9jK0HlCe2LRwhc2QRDHFM-GzX-lVnyvaFDUkM1ycbxlkIHou3WzcGlT1B_MF9enWbnO2yHAu3alqRRmH94T9qFhpXf0SWATS-HUn2o2k05s7mLdO086IufESY/w640-h360/DSC_7129.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Castle, Farringdon</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was less than a quarter of a mile to the next pub, turning to the right as we left the Castle, and then right up a quiet street past a small green area, and then left on to Britton Street where about half way along we came to the <b>Holy Tavern</b>. There were tables out in front and despite the air being cooler than it had been earlier in the day, there were a few takers for them. We walked in and it was quite busy, but we managed to get to the bar and get served quickly enough, and even managed to find an empty table to plonk down at. There was a familiar look about this dimly-lit, seemingly historic pub. And then it came to me, I had been here before. I went to ask one of the guys behind the bar, and he confirmed that, yes, it had formerly been known as the Jerusalem Tavern. I had called in many years ago after finishing my working day meeting up with suppliers in nearby Hatton Garden and before catching the train back up North. Back in those days it was run by St Peter's, whose brewery is named after the historic moated hall near Bungay in Suffolk in which it is based. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjinYXzzeARjTRlznJ2vx9fB0svvxLrCrRIbGTmu82V0PV8f0riwX-VnHCiwDWO5flqPx2op4yPwQeFiXEBEzQCtLyP0ySy_GHy8mEXCo9o-uEZdM-N29mzIa_Cm0tXb_-ECoByYS2tSiseYIE4zzvBylaaeyiaaFR0I3lQ9orW38UMWJ9RkGuIxFA2eE/s4032/DSC_7128.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjinYXzzeARjTRlznJ2vx9fB0svvxLrCrRIbGTmu82V0PV8f0riwX-VnHCiwDWO5flqPx2op4yPwQeFiXEBEzQCtLyP0ySy_GHy8mEXCo9o-uEZdM-N29mzIa_Cm0tXb_-ECoByYS2tSiseYIE4zzvBylaaeyiaaFR0I3lQ9orW38UMWJ9RkGuIxFA2eE/w640-h360/DSC_7128.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite its appearance, there has only been a pub here since 1996; prior to that it was a clock-making workshop and before that a merchant's house. It was recreated in the style of an 18th century tavern in keeping with the age of the building and with its dim lighting, candles on the tables, real fire, and old wooden tables it certainly looks the part. There were several beers on this evening from St Peter's, but despite that the pub is now a free house, and I spotted another beer on sale from an East Anglian brewery, Lacons. Unusually, the cask beers are drawn from the cellar using air pressure, and are dispensed via taps on fake barrel ends behind the bar. I had a pint of Gold Dust, a 4.5% light golden ale, which was another enjoyable beer (NBSS 3.5). There was a great, somewhat bohemian, atmosphere in the Holy Tavern, and I can highly recommend a visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqN4p7SK1VxZNhykWtSV5tMDU2TFHx21DIK_2Lwqn4FkAHuY-6opffnppbb6heugHAk4ltiC63MzOj9dy21DCTSIGBrmGOxSlC_KjASDf83mXlMPNXWBz17jzAt2Jqo9On0geWsc88qqs-ctzkrzP5QMV3Xmrfi4z6YyNVdy503wIB4LkvF48DZ5RGoGg/s2531/DSC_7126~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="2531" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqN4p7SK1VxZNhykWtSV5tMDU2TFHx21DIK_2Lwqn4FkAHuY-6opffnppbb6heugHAk4ltiC63MzOj9dy21DCTSIGBrmGOxSlC_KjASDf83mXlMPNXWBz17jzAt2Jqo9On0geWsc88qqs-ctzkrzP5QMV3Xmrfi4z6YyNVdy503wIB4LkvF48DZ5RGoGg/w640-h414/DSC_7126~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The atmospheric Holy Tavern, Farringdon</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And from there we made our way back to Kings Cross, where provisions for the train journey home were bought by some of the group. After battling passed the queues at Platform 9 and 3/4 we had just enough time for a quick pint at the <b>Parcel Yard</b>, which must be one of the busiest pubs in the country. Not that we had any problem getting served, it is just that it is that big with its sprawl of rooms capable of holding a large number of customers. We bought our drinks, me going for the obligatory pint of Fullers London Pride (NBSS 3), and we found a table in one of the former waiting rooms to the side of the bar. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMeH8rhW3HvfyZ_svatgsjN-tZKuNnlomwe6_aU8tzsYSawKzcr5eZXOhInyKEHv0Cv-gK8F7rnWLAMrCNuaSoQ9NTBlzoCX9p1SFEV5x8QLigi6pGaa5nF9fnLoWFcGRY2cTyeVVu0VuFsYsLI-sjVJzbE-PlXNC1hBC-knLpAaun3TvFh6We8upAJo/s3143/DSC_7130.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1736" data-original-width="3143" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMeH8rhW3HvfyZ_svatgsjN-tZKuNnlomwe6_aU8tzsYSawKzcr5eZXOhInyKEHv0Cv-gK8F7rnWLAMrCNuaSoQ9NTBlzoCX9p1SFEV5x8QLigi6pGaa5nF9fnLoWFcGRY2cTyeVVu0VuFsYsLI-sjVJzbE-PlXNC1hBC-knLpAaun3TvFh6We8upAJo/w640-h354/DSC_7130.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Parcel Yard, Kings Cross</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We finished our pints and headed down to the platforms, where our train was in and people were already boarding. As our train rattled northwards, I looked back on the day's events; we'd been to some wonderful pubs, drunk some pretty good beer, and despite missing out on going to Wapping, the transport connections had otherwise all worked in our favour. And to cap it all, we'd seen our team win at the football. All in all, it had been a pretty good day....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: </i><a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b><i>@realalemusic</i></b></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-51523567249083819772024-02-21T12:53:00.016+00:002024-02-21T22:51:43.232+00:00A Monday Pint....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Changing routines and economic pressures have reduced the times that pubs are generally open these days. But looking back, the times when it was possible to get a pint were once much more tightly restricted than they are now....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsX2q6P2aJ8mTF_JpybAR2EzigytMZVeDIziHRMTqHwwMGmkdLViq2SwEEPUYcccUy75pv5WYPG-jDuR3hB6yGVDanIDSjJIv4rKxmyHd4xhQZ49PaPbnGoOEyHq97PFxWlPclA1PGqjJ61VHMos5tVMstVe_uabHGQTK58Kcg9CjMCrUNMxpyz-ASJA/s2169/DSC_7052~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="2169" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsX2q6P2aJ8mTF_JpybAR2EzigytMZVeDIziHRMTqHwwMGmkdLViq2SwEEPUYcccUy75pv5WYPG-jDuR3hB6yGVDanIDSjJIv4rKxmyHd4xhQZ49PaPbnGoOEyHq97PFxWlPclA1PGqjJ61VHMos5tVMstVe_uabHGQTK58Kcg9CjMCrUNMxpyz-ASJA/w640-h376/DSC_7052~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Monday. The start of the working week for so many people. But for many too, a day they don't work due to their shift patterns, or it's their designated day off, or they are retired, or they are on holiday. A day then for many that might fancy a pint to take the edge off a gruelling return to the working week, or a chill out before the return on Tuesday, or simply to enjoy a relaxing drink. But in many places, getting a decent pint of real ale on a Monday (<i>or indeed a Tuesday</i>) is frustratingly often not as straightforward these days as you might expect unless you happen to be in a city centre or a popular tourist area. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">But hang on a minute. Didn't the 2003 Licencing Act, which actually came into effect in 2005, allow pubs to open for 24 hours? Well, technically yes, but in reality very few pubs do so. In practice it means that they can in general open the hours over the course of a 24 hour period that best suits them, subject to approval by the local magistrates court. The reality is as a society we have increasingly become used to expecting things to be available <i style="font-weight: bold;">on demand </i>at whatever time we want 24-7, be it watching TV, online banking, shopping, or booking a holiday. So when you fancy a pint and the place you want to go isn't open it can be frustrating, but if you look back over the years, things are a lot more flexible in general than they used to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">For many years pub opening hours were much more restricted and it is only relatively recently that they have been able to open for longer periods. Going back to when the First World War broke out in 1914, the UK Parliament passed the Defence of the Realm Act. Within it there was a section which related to the hours pubs could sell alcohol, as it was believed that alcohol consumption would interfere with the war effort. And so licensed premises were therefore restricted as to what hours they could open. The Act allowed for opening at lunch time from 11am or 12 noon until 2 or 3pm, and then again in the evening from 5.30 or 6:30 until 10:30pm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4jD1xdslBTiWcQ6DWdpqUmGmfyzBSLSpUIyFENcaS5Z6lAWiOE339cYv-XM-4Lle-_ztTOR7QSFTFTOztJfpL_SmlcMRGbOmQJEYqiFegjY2F0MpUoCKH5u9uX1dlqfkgY17FoT4XwLzGonL22CYSg-kxRL2b8ELSnxaJ1cF0S3h5_buPS1fYm73aGM/s1200/World%20War%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4jD1xdslBTiWcQ6DWdpqUmGmfyzBSLSpUIyFENcaS5Z6lAWiOE339cYv-XM-4Lle-_ztTOR7QSFTFTOztJfpL_SmlcMRGbOmQJEYqiFegjY2F0MpUoCKH5u9uX1dlqfkgY17FoT4XwLzGonL22CYSg-kxRL2b8ELSnxaJ1cF0S3h5_buPS1fYm73aGM/w400-h284/World%20War%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The authorities feared alcohol could undermine the First World War effort</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The restrictions on serving alcohol in the UK continued after the end of the First World War, with similar restrictions being established as a result of the Licensing Act 1921. The law stated that pubs in urban areas could open between 11.30am and 3pm at lunch time, and between 6.30pm and 11pm in the evening. However, pubs in more rural areas could likewise open between 11.30am and 3pm but were restricted to only between 6.30pm until 10pm in the evenings. There were sometimes local exceptions; pubs in market towns could open longer hours if the terms of their charter allowed them to do so on market days, and when I was living in Leeds in the early eighties I can remember catching the bus up to Otley on more than one occasion to take advantage of market day opening hours, and enjoy the rare delight of all day drinking in the likes of the Bay Horse and the Junction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDSbMCAsUly_GQobV6L7ze5j3k-r7kmZm8rLIHsJWD8dtmwhS5sWfGnjbkRdXay6lQHkKZLUCE8HOs54A52vWw7kiZPGYLG6oaV2277VsZJsXyEBezXded0ucDic99zqSPNUjnv9s1NQO6APnOxUXA5wzheoLnOoHT_Hk_wsd93-xBcvQp7OV1Iy9/s4032/DSC_5529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDSbMCAsUly_GQobV6L7ze5j3k-r7kmZm8rLIHsJWD8dtmwhS5sWfGnjbkRdXay6lQHkKZLUCE8HOs54A52vWw7kiZPGYLG6oaV2277VsZJsXyEBezXded0ucDic99zqSPNUjnv9s1NQO6APnOxUXA5wzheoLnOoHT_Hk_wsd93-xBcvQp7OV1Iy9/w360-h640/DSC_5529.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Bay Horse, Otley: popular market day watering hole</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Elsewhere, for example in the areas around the likes of the Smithfield, Billingsgate, and Spitalfields markets in the City of London where the buying and selling of fresh meat, fish, and produce required working through the early hours of the morning, early morning opening was permitted daily so that the market workers could enjoy a pint or two at the end of their shift. Pubs such as the Market Porter in Borough Market which grew up to satisfy this demand still thrive today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Sunday opening times back then were more limited, with permitted hours only allowed to be a maximum of five hours divided between 12pm - 3pm and 6pm - 10pm. Hours were even more restricted in Wales and Monmouthshire though, where, with positive support for the Act from the Methodist movement, pubs were banned completely from opening on Sundays. This meant that the only places you could get a drink in these parts were private members clubs who were only permitted to open provided they had obtained permission to serve alcohol from the relevant local licensing authorities. Different restrictions again applied in Scotland and Northern Ireland.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Incredibly, the law did not change in the UK throughout the inter-war period, nor during the Second World War, and well into the post-war period. One of the reasons that restrictions were not lifted, despite a Royal Commission which, as long ago as the period between 1929 and 1931, had looked into the efficacy of the British licencing laws was the pervasive and lingering attitude amongst the powers-that-be that public houses, in general, were "<i>disreputable drinking dens</i>" and as such should not be encouraged by permitting them to open any longer than they already did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlb_G_kIE3NBSbxtvlVhk9i4R4c2rE6JDQvomnEkaXQqGh43hICjpwMPejqFYBFDRgA80hKgW-e40lbuk3t-27eJKJcXKorLngozCB-UzOGuty4CQYy6a5AHZtsgWtuJEBWpX0lHvMYKjxwOIV-09-lgxkUHRKHHQLlcS-NUqAjdVY3ohkPLMmuXKeOw/s858/old%20pub.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="858" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlb_G_kIE3NBSbxtvlVhk9i4R4c2rE6JDQvomnEkaXQqGh43hICjpwMPejqFYBFDRgA80hKgW-e40lbuk3t-27eJKJcXKorLngozCB-UzOGuty4CQYy6a5AHZtsgWtuJEBWpX0lHvMYKjxwOIV-09-lgxkUHRKHHQLlcS-NUqAjdVY3ohkPLMmuXKeOw/w640-h400/old%20pub.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pubs were often deemed as disreputable places by the authorities</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Scotland eventually became the first part of the UK to introduce any changes to these restrictive opening hours. When the new licensing laws set out in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 came into effect in 1977, local authorities in Scotland were given the powers to determine opening hours for their own area. This was a big thing as it was the first time the law had been changed in well over 50 years. However, it still took more than a further 10 years before the restrictive licensing laws were repealed in England and Wales with the passing of the Licensing Act 1988. And so finally, on 21st August 1988, for the first time in almost 75 years, pubs were permitted to remain open throughout the day meaning that the uninterrupted consumption of alcohol was allowed on licensed premises from between 11:00 and 23:00. And then as referred to earlier, November 2005 saw revised rules being introduced which scrapped any hourly limits and allowed pubs to apply for licences which could if they wished include opening for 24 hours each day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The reality is of course that pubs generally do not open for 24 hours a day, and as mentioned earlier some do not open every day of the week. There are always places you can go though. Wetherspoons, of course, plus chain pubs run by the likes of Greene King, Marstons, and Mitchells & Butlers, as well as many independent brewers who have built up their own pub estate such as Ossett, or family brewers such as Holts, Robinsons, and Samuel Smiths generally open most if not all days of the week. However, drink-led free houses and micropubs where you can often get a beer from the more independent, smaller, and often more interesting brewers do not always do the same.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJJYr_Jwp4hhty1bDxBXWErdWJ5UqhjSHf6ISiesEynsQ57JbtFJERMAgVaPMWXcR3db8MzAoSghR222OTc8Aer-0X9-uipbenJbIW1mFyD4WsN6nIfTRdgoh5r1Tg-RmevhGXch0v9laViW_AiqvHlj56fR_9N7EmKSQF6vbGBrRb9iQBgEHob8Da2A/s1625/Three%20Pigeons.....JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1625" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJJYr_Jwp4hhty1bDxBXWErdWJ5UqhjSHf6ISiesEynsQ57JbtFJERMAgVaPMWXcR3db8MzAoSghR222OTc8Aer-0X9-uipbenJbIW1mFyD4WsN6nIfTRdgoh5r1Tg-RmevhGXch0v9laViW_AiqvHlj56fR_9N7EmKSQF6vbGBrRb9iQBgEHob8Da2A/w640-h360/Three%20Pigeons.....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Three Pigeons, Halifax: An Ossett pub which opens every day</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are a number of reasons for this, generally but not exclusively economic. For those pubs where there is a licensee or manager who lives on the premises, it makes sense to open as any income from customers can be offset against heating, lighting, and other costs that are being incurred anyway. However, where nobody lives on the premises as is the case with many micropubs then the cost of opening up needs to be considered in the light of likely footfall. Many areas of even large towns are quiet once the evening rush has passed on several nights of the week and it is understandable why places may decide it is not worth opening, particularly as customers are also feeling the pressures of increased costs and therefore generally go out less than they used to. And if it means tapping a barrel of cask ale and then nobody comes in, there is the risk of having to throw beer away as it only has a limited shelf life. For a smaller outfit like a micro pub, where it may be a one man operation or maybe it is run by a couple, it may be their only time in the week when they can get some time off, and even then there are likely to be jobs that need to be done behind the scenes. And for those places where additional staff can be called on, there is the cost of wages to be taken into consideration, a factor that is likely to figure more in the thoughts of many of our licenced premises both large and small with the recent increase in the minimum wage adding to the list of spiralling costs they are facing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It may be down to company policy to open every day or it may be the individual owner who decides they will open anyway, particularly if neighbouring places aren't, reckoning they can bolster their numbers with additional displaced drinkers. At the end of the day, pubs have to decide what hours work best for them and we should respect that. It is usually possible to check in advance when a place is open. Whilst the CAMRA Good Beer Guide hasn't listed opening times since pre-Covid editions, but they generally do in the App, or you can usually check on the pub's website. The pub in the opening image is the Minster in York which according to the App opens at 12 on a lunch time. That said, I recently spent a wet and unpleasant Monday morning wandering around the city and was looking forward to calling in for a pint only to arrive to find it shut. Now this is not to criticise the pub in any way as they had at least put a handwritten note in the window to say that they would be open at 4, just to say that however thoroughly you may check there will inevitably be times when you will be frustrated in your efforts!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With the current economic situation that has seen us lose a number of breweries already this year, and with pubs likewise continuing to close for good at an alarming rate, we should therefore enjoy the moments when they are open, and whilst appreciating that there are many areas particularly in rural areas where the local pubs have closed and there are large beer deserts, in terms of being able to get a pint when we want many of us are in a much better place than were the drinkers for much of the last century....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b><i>@realalemusic</i></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-40811231027449288322024-02-14T07:15:00.011+00:002024-02-14T22:35:49.262+00:001872 And All That....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>News has broken over the past few days that Elland Brewery, famous for their 1872 Porter which was voted the Champion Beer Of Britain in 2023 have ceased trading. And with other breweries also struggling, the upheavals I wrote about last month are showing no signs of letting up....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCViM1r1LC_M1uKkPoLDz4pJZD3uFxBN1hupgPeC0zpaZo6GoX2tCINJMnNIhNNYwIiwV1ArHI192OPURNnoywfB2Tg2Yp4Cu4plVzuWk3jWLjU3UfoPAXtaZCLoNNeLDlMu_oK3Yr77hbNAOyNDt2qlpF1jonQASJ9oVUupfkeWWIs3KBCPcSFVE4txg/s1200/1872%20Porter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCViM1r1LC_M1uKkPoLDz4pJZD3uFxBN1hupgPeC0zpaZo6GoX2tCINJMnNIhNNYwIiwV1ArHI192OPURNnoywfB2Tg2Yp4Cu4plVzuWk3jWLjU3UfoPAXtaZCLoNNeLDlMu_oK3Yr77hbNAOyNDt2qlpF1jonQASJ9oVUupfkeWWIs3KBCPcSFVE4txg/w480-h640/1872%20Porter.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was out with some friends last Saturday afternoon, celebrating one of our number's birthday. With the drinks and conversation flowing as we enjoyed a most enjoyable catch up, we were joined by another friend who mentioned that he'd been out a little earlier and had heard a story from a good source in one of the local pubs that Elland Brewery who, a mere 6 months ago had won Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival for their flagship 1872 Porter, had gone bust.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">During a break in the conversation, I scoured Google for news about Elland Brewery. Nothing, apart from that win at the GBBF last year. I mentioned it to a couple of people when I was working at the Meandering Bear in Halifax when I was doing one of my Sunday shifts but nobody had heard anything.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But by Monday morning things had changed. Links appeared online to a notice that had been filed on Friday in <i>The Gazette</i>, aka the <i>London Gazette. </i>This is one of the official journals of record and government gazettes in this country, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published, and as such is used for announcing information on the likes of UK companies, insolvency, wills and probate, awards and military honours. It stated that a virtual meeting for the brewery's creditors was to take place on Friday, February 16th at 11.15 am where one of the resolutions will be to consider appointing a liquidator. A shareholder's meeting to take place beforehand will consider passing a resolution for the voluntary winding-up of the business.</p><div style="text-align: justify;">The roots of Elland Brewery lead us to the former Barge and Barrel pub, the prominent old building of which is situated by the side of the canal that runs alongside the river Calder down the hill from Elland town centre. In the 1990's a brewery had been set up there by the avuncular John Eastwood in the former children's playroom, where he developed beers such as Nettle Thrasher, a popular bitter, and Myrtle's Temper, a strong dark ale allegedly named in honour of his wife. The beers were sold under the name of the Barge and Barrel Brewing Company in the pub and other local free houses and built up a popular following. In 2002, the Barge and Barrel Brewing Company merged with the West Yorkshire Brewery run by well-known brewer Dave Sanders, to form the Eastwood and Sanders' Fine Ales, which then became the Elland Brewery in 2006 as the two founders, finding it harder to work with each other, decided to go their separate ways. John eventually returned to brew at the Barge and Barrel, whilst Dave went on to work at several other local breweries over the following years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4vLUJQln-K_mTYKvLtzYGjE5wSzanJaSHerEP_FQC4-UVyFEQmHXkNLJDu77E7ynUBscdD3PGZ_RdA1hpLm1T4ZaYaqGFYQJqMcGQpQHhwPQDdqTk8Jb9uxw4yrv5_VuBQ_tWbjNzUfI49tarFhCQszPF52H7t5Kr8hFQQmwXTDxq6pR6f8Re-dR/s1024/barge%20and%20barrel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4vLUJQln-K_mTYKvLtzYGjE5wSzanJaSHerEP_FQC4-UVyFEQmHXkNLJDu77E7ynUBscdD3PGZ_RdA1hpLm1T4ZaYaqGFYQJqMcGQpQHhwPQDdqTk8Jb9uxw4yrv5_VuBQ_tWbjNzUfI49tarFhCQszPF52H7t5Kr8hFQQmwXTDxq6pR6f8Re-dR/w640-h640/barge%20and%20barrel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Where it all began: the former Barge & Barrel in Elland</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the beers that had originated in those early days at the Barge and Barrel was 1872 Porter, a 6.5% creamy, rich, and complex beer with chocolate and liquorice notes that was based on an original recipe dating back to 1872. This was the beer that really put Elland Brewery on the map, the beer winning multiple awards at CAMRA beer festivals up and down the country, culminating in being voted Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival in 2013, and then again in 2023.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the original partners had gone their separate ways, the Elland Brewery moved to new premises in the town. It continued to flourish through the noughties under different ownership but around 2014 it was bought by Steve Francis and Mike Hiscock. The brewery went through a rebrand, and over the subsequent years built up a reputation as a reliable brewery with an expanding range of cask ales. The brewery had set up their own bar in the town, the Elland Craft and Tap, in 2018, but it became completely independent shortly afterwards with Mike severing all ties with the brewery to concentrate on building up what has become one of the local area's best-loved bars.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GXPnQQrjdCmxEivPTO4tk3jH4gxiXPHAD_rN1L3A0RIlfpXZ_ZRBKtLZZoeOT0lOwBftl4nEXBjLQsw__AYBHPd_3V5s2Q-gxZk-5H-9YiaAL-7C3-RQw0pxHWuaH3gExftjGBTIfCke_g9uck1EIFjM6jkDJQnYmn3ah5tijZA7qBCaMUYYtIVzjds/s4032/Elland%20at%20work.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GXPnQQrjdCmxEivPTO4tk3jH4gxiXPHAD_rN1L3A0RIlfpXZ_ZRBKtLZZoeOT0lOwBftl4nEXBjLQsw__AYBHPd_3V5s2Q-gxZk-5H-9YiaAL-7C3-RQw0pxHWuaH3gExftjGBTIfCke_g9uck1EIFjM6jkDJQnYmn3ah5tijZA7qBCaMUYYtIVzjds/w640-h360/Elland%20at%20work.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So to this recent development. When I'd been to meet the team at Elland on a hot and sunny day around 18 months ago, I'd found them to be positive, energised, and full of ideas for the future. Steve's son, Joe, had come into to run the business on a day to day basis and a new team had been brought in to re-invigorate things, after a previous period of uncertainty. So what went wrong? Clearly the current economic climate hasn't helped, with as we hear constantly plenty of other breweries struggling at the moment. Apart from 1872 Porter though, I had seen very few Elland beers around in recent months. And I think the success of 1872, which I have to say is a mighty fine beer, may well have been part of the problem, with the brewery giving it too much focus instead of building up a couple of more mainstream, contemporary beers which would have given them more potential slots on the bar and hence more volume and helped dissipate any perceptions that Elland had become a one trick pony. Unusually for a dark beer, it was the brewery's best-selling beer, but porter as a style generally is hardly a mainstream beer, whilst its high ABV of 6.5% means it is certainly not a session ale. And selling into Wetherspoons where margins are tight may have helped generate cash but not a sustainable bottom line. And of course independent free houses are hardly going to want to risk stocking a premium beer that they have to sell at more than twice the price it can be bought in the neighbouring Spoons.</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaZeXeAAHYfW7Vb-MolZJTYF_ZDzla9Ls7rb82Q-v6gmcIt9kjkfn8C0xxSJAJEQLwHDoohASd3O-sPkz4e7e8klFWFAL_cxbhRBqgSWbG6ufrAD90O84d-f-MKMODeMhRMTcFIm5u77pZDM_i2u0SsUarqjpWoxbAFL_ZoqGj20XsUIuT1JlPATsVho/s1024/Elland%20Champions.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaZeXeAAHYfW7Vb-MolZJTYF_ZDzla9Ls7rb82Q-v6gmcIt9kjkfn8C0xxSJAJEQLwHDoohASd3O-sPkz4e7e8klFWFAL_cxbhRBqgSWbG6ufrAD90O84d-f-MKMODeMhRMTcFIm5u77pZDM_i2u0SsUarqjpWoxbAFL_ZoqGj20XsUIuT1JlPATsVho/w640-h480/Elland%20Champions.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Flashback to happier times: the Elland team with their trophy at the 2023 GBBF</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">So with the company seemingly having taken the decision to shut the brewery down, it seems that sadly it is the end of the road for Elland Brewery. Whether it is the end of the road for the 1872 brand, it remains to be seen. It is to be hoped that all those who have been affected by this decision - the staff, suppliers, customers, business partners - come out of this situation as well as possible.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, over 200 miles to the south-east of Elland, another well-known brewery has just announced it has called in a team of advisors to explore a range of options to fund its future growth plans. Adnams, based at the Sole Bay Brewery in the picturesque Suffolk seaside village of Southwold, say these could include an injection of private capital or selling off some of their pubs in order to reduce bank debt and fund further growth initiatives. The brewery in its current form dates back to (<i>ironically</i>) 1872, although it built on a tradition of brewing in the village that goes back for several centuries. The traditional family-owned brewery's main focus until the early 2000's was unashamedly on cask beer, devoting 85% of production capacity to it, with the main market being the tied houses they operated predominantly in the neighbouring towns and villages of rural Suffolk. However, the company were forward thinking and took the decision to expand into the free trade, spearheaded by their 4% pale ale Ghost Ship which consequently became their best-selling brand. More modern beer styles were developed in both cask and keg to liven up the Adnams brand as the wave of new craft breweries began to become more popular. New equipment was bought so they could do their own canning and bottling in-house, they built a distillery to allow the company to produce their own spirits, and opened a new eco-friendly warehouse, all of which cost a lot of money. And so with cask sales down at 35% of their overall production with their more diverse portfolio and the company increasingly reliant on the fickleness of the free trade, they have taken the decision to seek some outside assistance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismqxBa5FVMowvcHhkVUAjZEviiDlMpPhyBK8U2zb9U_aeq9lDgHUfzsdtgT3dwxsBn68_W9iIAfy1XcKHOB1pCAMU6H4Yv4gvWsKB547IGcSJ-GiQmoxWMy1geDJ0PVgoqCgs9_uWDObCrB8d__-WFlHauFmDAuSVD9xyICqavEa_yJ5f_pXdICFW250/s1024/exterior-of-adnams-brewery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismqxBa5FVMowvcHhkVUAjZEviiDlMpPhyBK8U2zb9U_aeq9lDgHUfzsdtgT3dwxsBn68_W9iIAfy1XcKHOB1pCAMU6H4Yv4gvWsKB547IGcSJ-GiQmoxWMy1geDJ0PVgoqCgs9_uWDObCrB8d__-WFlHauFmDAuSVD9xyICqavEa_yJ5f_pXdICFW250/w640-h426/exterior-of-adnams-brewery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And finally, moving back up North, the other day I spotted an advert in the <i>Newcastle Chronicle</i> which highlighted the features of the Big Lamp brewery and the associated Keelman pub which estate agents Christie and Co have been instructed to put on the market with an asking price of £995,000. It seems the owners want to retire and hope to sell it on to someone who will keep the business going. It is to be hoped this is what happens as Big Lamp is the oldest microbrewery in the North East, starting up in 1982, and then relocating in 1997 to a former water pumping station by the side of the River Tyne in Newburn, around 6 miles from the centre of Newcastle. The brewery produces around 40 barrels a week and sells to pubs across the UK as well as locally. The Keelman has its own restaurant and private function room whilst also included in the price are a number of nearby cottages offering accommodation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh74VabUd7LSA4FHARE0zq_lqt5hiz8aDKmQsImT6j9nLVOqw1JZctykS9cPwNxYnUrCWn3MtRxAW_ourOuOwbjk-K-7n0Pz_yxwR3PgwWlUBTQTOJ2PSdSFl0jComAtzy6UligkGBTLb5WNClluLkrxzyzMj0bxvDlUQV995wp1qNwctp61Lqz0j9Pf0k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh74VabUd7LSA4FHARE0zq_lqt5hiz8aDKmQsImT6j9nLVOqw1JZctykS9cPwNxYnUrCWn3MtRxAW_ourOuOwbjk-K-7n0Pz_yxwR3PgwWlUBTQTOJ2PSdSFl0jComAtzy6UligkGBTLb5WNClluLkrxzyzMj0bxvDlUQV995wp1qNwctp61Lqz0j9Pf0k=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br />Now I have never been to the Keelman, but last year I did visit the brewery's other pub, the delightfully old-fashioned Wheatsheaf in Felling, near Gateshead. The pub is situated at the end of a terrace with an attractive exterior and dates from 1907. As I wrote at the time "<i>I walked into a scene that was like stepping back into another time. There was a long attractive bar on the right as you walk in. At the far end of the room, a lit fire offered a warm welcome as the evening air outside chilled following the relative warmth of the day's sunshine. There was the reassuring tick of a clock. It was immaculately clean and it felt very homely, and there were a few people sat nursing their drinks near the fire or at the bar</i>". In these difficult times it is to be hoped that a suitable buyer can be found which will enable the Big Lamp brewery to continue to brew its fine beers and maintain their two pubs including the wonderful Wheatsheaf....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p><i><br /></i></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-86121635298928994872024-02-06T22:21:00.032+00:002024-02-06T23:51:25.027+00:00A Few York Classics....<p><i>In which I venture on a whistle-stop tour around some of the finest pubs that are to be found in this beautiful and historic North Yorkshire city....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAyXWAFQAiNWFo3WgBsIPNixbzZVTmGqj0D5g5WFneuY8ChVz4pmh7kgQGVhzRBLKO2Pnm2VCsjZt0UGBMkTvzsHOrrhUEj28z0JI5rrytlb_UjuCvAFG-a-LDCCFGAIeknnOSZhPZtbbiw8sHNwxpkS8kQBwJEa7h5zTAzCetsYLL-I89wOc_xX3Iq0/s4032/original_207272f7-e11d-4926-9b3a-1c75c0484641_DSC_7062.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2361" data-original-width="4032" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAyXWAFQAiNWFo3WgBsIPNixbzZVTmGqj0D5g5WFneuY8ChVz4pmh7kgQGVhzRBLKO2Pnm2VCsjZt0UGBMkTvzsHOrrhUEj28z0JI5rrytlb_UjuCvAFG-a-LDCCFGAIeknnOSZhPZtbbiw8sHNwxpkS8kQBwJEa7h5zTAzCetsYLL-I89wOc_xX3Iq0/w640-h374/original_207272f7-e11d-4926-9b3a-1c75c0484641_DSC_7062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I have visited York twice in the past month. First time was on a day out from Halifax with the team from the Grayston Unity/Meandering Bear on a beautiful winter's day with bright sunshine, blue skies, and bitterly cold temperatures; the second was an overnight stop to see one of the country's top up and coming indie bands, with grey skies on the first day and heavy rain on the second. Whilst due to the number in our party we were only able to visit two or three pubs on that visit, the second did give me the opportunity to do a trawl of several of the city's finest pubs, although it has to be said that because of the number of pubs there are in the city it can only be a snapshot view of some of them. And as I was reminded, whilst there are several great pubs in the city centre, it is important to bear in mind that it is in the suburbs where some of the city's best pubs are located.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The opening picture shows the interior of the <b>Maltings</b> in an unusually quiet moment, its attractive decor with bare brick walls, dark wood, warm coloured painted walls, and retro signage usually at least part obscured by the many visitors who call in this popular free house with its distinctive black painted exterior on Tanners Moat, just beside the Lendal Bridge. Not surprisingly, they come here for its wide range of cask ales, real cider, and good quality food. In fact before the York Tap opened this was often the first or final stop for a decent pint on a day out to York with the station only a few minutes' walk away. From a choice on this visit of 7 cask ales, most of which were from Yorkshire, I went for one that wasn't, opting instead for a pint of Cheer from the Handsome Brewery, from near Kendal in Cumbria. On a wet and miserable day, this 3.8% dark amber winter warmer with a hint of zesty orange really hit the spot (NBSS 3.5). Going back over the years, the pub was originally called the Railway Tavern, then the Lendal Bridge Inn, with this former Bass house becoming the Maltings when it was bought by the current landlord's mother in 1992. There is currently, however, some uncertainty over the pub's future as the current owner decided last year it was time to let someone have a go as the family have spent over 30 years at the pub. Initially listed with an asking price of £1.5 million, it has recently been reduced to £1.35 million and it is to be hoped that the Maltings' future is resolved positively and it remains one of the city's fine real ale outlets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY3mvpld8NiYyZcgYYEuR73cZ4Uvu66Bcm8ubrVvrkv-Km0oWwKUOps3PjjqUcRZQTm8n87-KQx7S3jdDN5RxJYUyTNb7tr36JBk3GDoHzFYxPq3FBbi7N2tpjOzI8LhO4JM9R9zOb3ZuZGKMMfEUPYqHFhmPtzpU5HX-ShIsDo62QLCaPnjgqZeTXwQ/s4032/DSC_7064.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY3mvpld8NiYyZcgYYEuR73cZ4Uvu66Bcm8ubrVvrkv-Km0oWwKUOps3PjjqUcRZQTm8n87-KQx7S3jdDN5RxJYUyTNb7tr36JBk3GDoHzFYxPq3FBbi7N2tpjOzI8LhO4JM9R9zOb3ZuZGKMMfEUPYqHFhmPtzpU5HX-ShIsDo62QLCaPnjgqZeTXwQ/w640-h360/DSC_7064.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was staying at the Travelodge in Micklegate, which meant I was handily placed for many of the city's classic pubs. The Maltings was one of them, but the nearest was actually the <b>Ackhorne</b>, tucked away down a quiet walkway off Micklegate, beside one of the main places of worship that are dotted about the city centre. The last time I had been here was in that weird interregnum between the two lockdowns we had in 2020, when it was social distancing and sitting down at separate tables. This time the pub was very busy, a complete contrast to last time, with all the tables in sight occupied, with a few stragglers finishing off plates of a Sunday roast. A pint of Jorvik was ordered from a choice of 6 beers on hand pump and I found a seat in a corridor-like space to the rear of the bar. The Ackhorne (<i>an old English word for acorn, which is depicted on the hanging sign outside</i>) is an attractive traditional pub with an open plan interior and a warm, friendly atmosphere which is well worth seeking out. The beer was in good form (NBSS 3), and as I am sure you will know, Jorvik is a 3.8% blonde session ale from the Rudgate brewery, who are based nearby in the Vale of York.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsN0fYwCFUApvUBNYewj0aQL3jpMUqtNSb5xw0NOhGXYqeYZDu0JZz58ebNC_CgSBGJEPCgTiDtnLpb5sqm1HYMWfYzuHzyNrOEToC4z_jp20A4SJOmahNvh5xh1fB0IzpChlT0MrvTTeh4RNNPEJIoP5F9rxDLQcYlxinbY73zM-4CawGgEGnfdcSpTY/s4032/DSC_6996.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsN0fYwCFUApvUBNYewj0aQL3jpMUqtNSb5xw0NOhGXYqeYZDu0JZz58ebNC_CgSBGJEPCgTiDtnLpb5sqm1HYMWfYzuHzyNrOEToC4z_jp20A4SJOmahNvh5xh1fB0IzpChlT0MrvTTeh4RNNPEJIoP5F9rxDLQcYlxinbY73zM-4CawGgEGnfdcSpTY/w640-h360/DSC_6996.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAzRWvIM8Dwf6PesKxA_dX4CX2XMUvHtjTFww8-oBuNJABRQh5X8ywSE5mg4aANi-UGjNF5cEhnPrBOtLUbwkdvc42tnKPcPaq5UX-0S7ipK1yzmrD6bOgl8UTImJSjxm_nK3sR7RQ8NEfUi0hAtSHhlUVno7clF7nvcD8G_ERg9FuR_CekuYAcAgUOg/s4032/DSC_6998.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAzRWvIM8Dwf6PesKxA_dX4CX2XMUvHtjTFww8-oBuNJABRQh5X8ywSE5mg4aANi-UGjNF5cEhnPrBOtLUbwkdvc42tnKPcPaq5UX-0S7ipK1yzmrD6bOgl8UTImJSjxm_nK3sR7RQ8NEfUi0hAtSHhlUVno7clF7nvcD8G_ERg9FuR_CekuYAcAgUOg/w640-h360/DSC_6998.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Ackhorne; a warm welcome awaits</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I moved on to a pub I had never visited before, although I had walked past it on a previous visit to the city when it was closed. Situated on a quiet suburban street corner, in the midst of terraced houses that were built for the many in the city who were employed by the railways, the <b>Golden Ball</b> is a Grade II listed community local with an attractive exterior and several different rooms inside which retain many traditional features including open fires. A former Jo#n $m!ths house, this Victorian pub is now of free of tie, and offers a range of up to 7 beers on hand pump. The pub was fairly busy with a wide mix of customers of all ages as I walked through in to the bar where I ordered a pint of the 4.6% Winter Warmer from Great Newsome, which I drunk in a quiet room away from the bar with only a few other customers as companions. The beer was a pleasant, well-balanced amber beer (NBSS 3), and I enjoyed drinking it whilst taking in the ambience of this lovely suburban pub. The Golden Ball is well worth seeking out for its warm welcome and its beer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKLZGLQuuRT-DXLwGCVwAAGHaRQMtKFPHfHqHdkt9RnrM89qdzxBj6rGIa-l12RToSncYx21afmvsV1mtoF3lkjRd8pvOGNCtexfHrhZ_JmVNij2wWqtA4SdiAVXw0ogudw5pkH0nWRZbusFOAdo139H95TbjbRTMGZ5jNiBboOSf6zJ6tJ68UikLwH8/s4032/DSC_7004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKLZGLQuuRT-DXLwGCVwAAGHaRQMtKFPHfHqHdkt9RnrM89qdzxBj6rGIa-l12RToSncYx21afmvsV1mtoF3lkjRd8pvOGNCtexfHrhZ_JmVNij2wWqtA4SdiAVXw0ogudw5pkH0nWRZbusFOAdo139H95TbjbRTMGZ5jNiBboOSf6zJ6tJ68UikLwH8/w640-h360/DSC_7004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_OMpbxZdoPiPLLXVH3_HUiN61T204wAKgt0PxLHRIsP2hbyMdt4SJY1pSdP_h7mDeerI7KOQ-R1-x9TLPVGni2dk6sgHBsrsS_BS7QPbTS0i5MTQA0jDKWHlpX4S_VmuvOI9Ghs_6UtmNlof4LpGKQe5UhydSpbgNgHgLeLnuuAZeD74T9QCA5Su7rI/s4032/DSC_7003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_OMpbxZdoPiPLLXVH3_HUiN61T204wAKgt0PxLHRIsP2hbyMdt4SJY1pSdP_h7mDeerI7KOQ-R1-x9TLPVGni2dk6sgHBsrsS_BS7QPbTS0i5MTQA0jDKWHlpX4S_VmuvOI9Ghs_6UtmNlof4LpGKQe5UhydSpbgNgHgLeLnuuAZeD74T9QCA5Su7rI/w360-h640/DSC_7003.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn1khNlN6bkcb3FY0b6ybJL68qzWgG_JJr3IkXU6ITkAFDsxJdhfUoKOQ1dbHbc_RE7vLuDgHCPe5Z7CkG29cEV7jZgJkVS5TxSHogPpcq9e4e-U7kjMd-xMebiho68V-c5M0cThhWHbHaxy8XGFh-k7d-UyUXVv_K6xs60ZUjCEqsml22e6mVYj9Brk/s3198/DSC_7001~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2209" data-original-width="3198" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn1khNlN6bkcb3FY0b6ybJL68qzWgG_JJr3IkXU6ITkAFDsxJdhfUoKOQ1dbHbc_RE7vLuDgHCPe5Z7CkG29cEV7jZgJkVS5TxSHogPpcq9e4e-U7kjMd-xMebiho68V-c5M0cThhWHbHaxy8XGFh-k7d-UyUXVv_K6xs60ZUjCEqsml22e6mVYj9Brk/w640-h442/DSC_7001~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Golden Ball; well worth seeking out</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a few minutes' walk from the Golden Ball to another pub I had never visited before, although it has been one of the city's top-rated real ale pubs for many a year. The <b>Slip</b> on Clementhorpe is another attractive pub situated in a quiet area of the city where ships were once built alongside the River Ouse. I walked in to a small front room where the bar was situated, and noticed a larger room beyond the bar. There were 8 hand pumps on the bar, and once it was my turn to get served, I went for a pint of the Ruby Mild from Rudgate, which at 4.4% is somewhat stronger than your average mild. It was in fine form, well-balanced, rich, and delicious (NBSS 3.5), and as I enjoyed it I watched Newport County come back from 2-0 down to make if 2-2 against the mighty Manchester United in the FA Cup on a TV screen in the larger room. Another top pub, the Slip has the feel of a friendly local but from this visit it seems that it attracts a wide range of different people. A lovely pub with many interesting features and photos from years gone by on display, it is well worth the short detour to get there. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESy3_YA6Mq4u2XbGQzwZlORky9kAIqoCsITWP7KVQ2ESKWkzh44JU7UB2PfKBgRaSngXD0AgJA_OAmFfohZFBm7QlWMVhgHxuJ9jUzJE9dRzpGf0QgC3RpFJxg2XkrcR3Dz94pavZsoU7tYPCKPOPRgF2tm6wlqFcsU_9WIp_ht-152HfEi4y1xZMn78/s4032/DSC_7007.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESy3_YA6Mq4u2XbGQzwZlORky9kAIqoCsITWP7KVQ2ESKWkzh44JU7UB2PfKBgRaSngXD0AgJA_OAmFfohZFBm7QlWMVhgHxuJ9jUzJE9dRzpGf0QgC3RpFJxg2XkrcR3Dz94pavZsoU7tYPCKPOPRgF2tm6wlqFcsU_9WIp_ht-152HfEi4y1xZMn78/w360-h640/DSC_7007.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAG8gp3pGXbBrvDhPYqwJ28YiOtjpvVLdxYzHkPk0vfcg92NYAHGYcAntL2H_EwAOKqkXGsS9JLQaw6-2pWYbgeV8IYG_yVYDYCbl1AuTGrVUS0MK3cVLFdWBDTJQFajJv4byUetZ966LMLbmdi0ySFe7EkdhRoucQisQAm2lRp8QG4Sprf_RJ1JmirI/s4032/DSC_7005.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAG8gp3pGXbBrvDhPYqwJ28YiOtjpvVLdxYzHkPk0vfcg92NYAHGYcAntL2H_EwAOKqkXGsS9JLQaw6-2pWYbgeV8IYG_yVYDYCbl1AuTGrVUS0MK3cVLFdWBDTJQFajJv4byUetZ966LMLbmdi0ySFe7EkdhRoucQisQAm2lRp8QG4Sprf_RJ1JmirI/w640-h360/DSC_7005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Slip Inn</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">At the corner of the same road as the Slip is another classic pub. I had visited the <b>Swan</b> previously, and whilst time was moving on and I had a gig to go to, after a little deliberation with myself, I decided to have a quick stop off here since I was in the area, remembering how good it had been when I had been before. And I am glad that I did. I walked in to a cracking atmosphere, the pub was busy with an eclectic mix of people whilst the bar had 8 beers on hand pump. The pub has another classic interior with several rooms leading off the lobby entrance and like the Golden Ball is Grade II listed. I decided to go for a pint of Summer Lightning from Hop Back which I hadn't seen for ages and I was not disappointed. This is an easy-drinking well-balanced refreshing pale golden ale which hides its 5% ABV well (<i>although I'm sure it was once 5.3%</i>), and it was in fantastic form worthy, I thought, of a 4 rating on the NBSS scale. As the pub was busy I ended up sitting at one of a few tables in the lobby opposite the bar to enjoy my pint and the ambience of yet another great pub. The Swan proved to be a very welcome diversion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz66mNmVX6XQ7lAriON_tguaJOyObcAebKmcZfIMcs5aNWgDMYtGEfic49l7KRegO15Ci9X6FZQrTrOBNGKEh47Z6bEkuUJ4aCOXLtV-1I5lUtrFqSHpYQIKVyoeuQGzEmrllvQFCLwFAL64ptD-XpgyTGrR1HFwE22vCAjuW5KKsFjoTW62GToXCnmM/s4032/DSC_7012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz66mNmVX6XQ7lAriON_tguaJOyObcAebKmcZfIMcs5aNWgDMYtGEfic49l7KRegO15Ci9X6FZQrTrOBNGKEh47Z6bEkuUJ4aCOXLtV-1I5lUtrFqSHpYQIKVyoeuQGzEmrllvQFCLwFAL64ptD-XpgyTGrR1HFwE22vCAjuW5KKsFjoTW62GToXCnmM/w640-h480/DSC_7012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsnidyQwc3pFbb-yL-ffpDLaIgSHa3WpSgPmad_pwcflqvAjynJ-Bg7msTXSMF3YOM7Bdr7XyBfID4CyUEqdgzdeoC-0tZWoRgE8fOlJCpJ_GcBOAIAVyXv9MeY-_wI7paIhr9dxPOjvmW9f-ed0YblPFbYU7O2yFzZZvgHph-NdczCnxpes8Z5YNrfo/s3519/DSC_7009~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="3519" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsnidyQwc3pFbb-yL-ffpDLaIgSHa3WpSgPmad_pwcflqvAjynJ-Bg7msTXSMF3YOM7Bdr7XyBfID4CyUEqdgzdeoC-0tZWoRgE8fOlJCpJ_GcBOAIAVyXv9MeY-_wI7paIhr9dxPOjvmW9f-ed0YblPFbYU7O2yFzZZvgHph-NdczCnxpes8Z5YNrfo/w640-h388/DSC_7009~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Swan; a classic suburban York pub</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I had time for a quick pint at a pub nearer to the Crescent, where the gig was taking place, but with time moving on I decided to get an Uber to take me to the <b>Volunteer Arms</b>. It was probably about a mile and a half away, tucked away down a quiet side street. Another first time visit for me, and another traditional street corner pub that was rescued following the threat of closure. There were 7 hand pumps on the bar (<i>they give you plenty of choice in York!</i>), and I opted for a half of a beer from a brewery I had not come across before, Knee High, a 3.5% pale ale from a new brewery in Derbyshire called Grasshopper. It was pleasant enough (NBSS 3), but to be fair it couldn't really compete with the last two beers I'd had. The Volunteers though was a friendly and welcoming traditional pub and it being a Sunday night, they were all gearing up for the regular quiz they hold here. From there it was around 10 minutes' walk to the gig where highly-rated indie band English Teacher played a brilliant set to a highly-appreciative crowd.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI-4XHRiM3AUYceKjOSOKO1ie-SFgOpD2reSDECBrYKpbnRiks2DOL_WchXpFMc2ua78CPWCd8-MvZZcE_1nEd4tq2c7dHs3anbGqEL5AYtzjr2_1BcO1YRKadLDh7SJru3-fOmwzty3t8kMIe-RWDUH4suI36kNKRS61WMb78Y1RMEGUBU06oK3Rujk/s4032/DSC_7014~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI-4XHRiM3AUYceKjOSOKO1ie-SFgOpD2reSDECBrYKpbnRiks2DOL_WchXpFMc2ua78CPWCd8-MvZZcE_1nEd4tq2c7dHs3anbGqEL5AYtzjr2_1BcO1YRKadLDh7SJru3-fOmwzty3t8kMIe-RWDUH4suI36kNKRS61WMb78Y1RMEGUBU06oK3Rujk/w640-h360/DSC_7014~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Volunteer Arms; another great pub</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Next day, it was rain, rain, and more rain. The day though did start with an excellent breakfast of scrambled eggs with chorizo on sourdough toast at Partisan, a lovely cafe/restaurant and art gallery with a great vibe, and which I can highly recommend. Back to the hotel, and it was a case of working out what options I had. As is the norm on a Monday, many museums and galleries are shut, with one that was supposedly open, the Railway Museum, presumably affected by flooding on the road where it is situated. So it was a case of wandering around, a pot of tea here, stick your head in there. Even the Shambles and the streets around the Minster were quiet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxi0kRzbLCdaeuVcmqxjxtg3CMcPRq33hqyebuPfNTiUAr46pE5AgMCWOhH93LL2ZzswjMvtBWv392sw_wRUri5bcG5GR2mjLCEc0rRZ-yCF7lm-TYelc6v1tFWekzQ0ofN6yBzYc0dLQQYZdegtXMYzeWS9bQURt3JA2V0BSIhiAnRHqGjAQBz7On1w/s4032/DSC_7049.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxi0kRzbLCdaeuVcmqxjxtg3CMcPRq33hqyebuPfNTiUAr46pE5AgMCWOhH93LL2ZzswjMvtBWv392sw_wRUri5bcG5GR2mjLCEc0rRZ-yCF7lm-TYelc6v1tFWekzQ0ofN6yBzYc0dLQQYZdegtXMYzeWS9bQURt3JA2V0BSIhiAnRHqGjAQBz7On1w/w360-h640/DSC_7049.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had earmarked the Minster Inn on Marygate, somewhere I had never visited before and a short walk from Bootham Bar, as the first pub to call in. However, despite the Good Beer Guide app saying it would be open, when I arrived on this soggy Monday lunchtime I was greeted by a handwritten note in the window saying <i>Open 4pm Mondays</i>. Cold rain dripped off the hood of my jacket on to the side of my face....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>House of The Trembling Madness</b> on Lendal was open (<i>on the previous trip when we were on our staff do I had thought it a good option to call in, but it had ironically been closed for a staff party!</i>), and was very welcoming as well. And to show the gods hadn't entirely stopped smiling on this godforsaken wet day, there was the welcome sight of a Two By Two beer on cask. And whilst not quite matching the beer of theirs I'd enjoyed in the <a href="https://chrisdyson55.blogspot.com/2024/01/within-those-town-walls.html"><b><i>Mean Eyed Cat</i></b></a> in Newcastle a few weeks earlier, this 4.5% Sabro Citra was a cracking beer in great condition (NBSS 4) and I debated long and hard with myself as to whether I should get another. In the end, I didn't, but once again I'd enjoyed visiting this great modern bar which as well as selling cask beer has a great range on the taps. There is another HOTTM btw, the original one, located across the city on Stonegate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyZEIp8TFpJuooFZa9gACS2al9txo-jtsVSfK28yAVtXGhlfaCRF6z3km2Kcf7oOoMiu3Am649KiUSC66LsJSGoV_00XDFveT39-MdIohTzv8Urigycqxo2_DgCgBHdethBqZ87fxRLZUY4dG1Zdj804U-uLdeU7z8Q9Ibs_tGY32L51LSJ9V-eaecWQ/s1497/House%20of%20the%20Trembling%20Madness.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1497" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyZEIp8TFpJuooFZa9gACS2al9txo-jtsVSfK28yAVtXGhlfaCRF6z3km2Kcf7oOoMiu3Am649KiUSC66LsJSGoV_00XDFveT39-MdIohTzv8Urigycqxo2_DgCgBHdethBqZ87fxRLZUY4dG1Zdj804U-uLdeU7z8Q9Ibs_tGY32L51LSJ9V-eaecWQ/w640-h384/House%20of%20the%20Trembling%20Madness.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Please note: photo taken on a previous visit</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I headed off then to the <b>Market Cat</b>, which is a collaboration between Thornbridge and York-based drinks distribution company Pivovar, situated beside the Shambles Market. It is a fine pub which has been attractively fitted out and offers a large range of Thornbridge beers plus a few guests. It had gone down well on our staff visit, the large seating area around the area to the front of the bar being able to accommodate our large number and we consequently stayed for a few drinks. Today it was much quieter, a few Monday early afternoon drinkers enjoying the atmosphere of this friendly pub. My pint of Green Mountain, a 4.3% hazy pale from Thornbridge was a pretty enjoyable NBSS 3.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was then a short walk to one of the city's finest and best-known pubs. The <b>Blue Bell</b> on Fossgate is also one of the smallest, with two small rooms to the front and rear of the bar off a long drinking corridor. It feels intimate, there is a charming, timeless clutter about the place which apparently hasn't been decorated since 1903! It is recognised as having an interior of national importance and is another of York's Grade II listed pubs. CAMRA citations cover the walls as befits a serial award winner. There are 7 beers on hand pump which are generally from within Yorkshire with a house ale from Brass Castle. It is a place for quiet and civilised conversation; the tightly-packed tables and lack of piped music encourage you to strike up conversation with your neighbouring table. There is a sign on the door saying groups aren't allowed (<i>needless to say we didn't attempt to come here on our staff visit!</i>) and the Blue Bell remains all the better for it; a quiet oasis away from the bustle of the streets outside. I ordered a pint of Wold Top Bitter, and as has been the case whenever I have visited before, the beer was in excellent condition (NBSS 3.5). I resisted the temptation of the pork pies that were staring out seductively from within their glass container, but I can confirm from previous visits they are excellent. The Blue Bell is an absolute cracker and one you shouldn't miss when you are in the city.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMPTzKjkVKuzSQMx1nK40ppcxAiKhJoEVVECvk1ElWQp0_iwkcdPofV2xkGczXSsk92Rw8gjUAqQeDcMTwYLbW3Jc8qGSr9YhVvHUwnZCFi1bD7tYkstlQiAyDaNmQkF4mhN37gC-IMb2E1AYSZgIc5eVXVFJapwW3XoZiQX1GuhfwyZtLBkYPN0sMEU/s4032/DSC_7058.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMPTzKjkVKuzSQMx1nK40ppcxAiKhJoEVVECvk1ElWQp0_iwkcdPofV2xkGczXSsk92Rw8gjUAqQeDcMTwYLbW3Jc8qGSr9YhVvHUwnZCFi1bD7tYkstlQiAyDaNmQkF4mhN37gC-IMb2E1AYSZgIc5eVXVFJapwW3XoZiQX1GuhfwyZtLBkYPN0sMEU/w640-h360/DSC_7058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW04-e4yZFUQ-cbJchOysmmuMR61k4YpbwPNRJXTQ-r5KFVa6wkvzrBPOnaGNegvhZbC3lcEgsrjfAhEkzpKwaEWBo1PQEU0fAauCdCkHH2SG-sEikUHT8_1PN0tETIaKrDqSSnui6W1rj1-22LwfFrohi0Tke6FkGUy_i9rczC4SLQf9h7jEEmNd13nA/s4032/DSCPDC_0002_BURST20240129135549279.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW04-e4yZFUQ-cbJchOysmmuMR61k4YpbwPNRJXTQ-r5KFVa6wkvzrBPOnaGNegvhZbC3lcEgsrjfAhEkzpKwaEWBo1PQEU0fAauCdCkHH2SG-sEikUHT8_1PN0tETIaKrDqSSnui6W1rj1-22LwfFrohi0Tke6FkGUy_i9rczC4SLQf9h7jEEmNd13nA/w640-h360/DSCPDC_0002_BURST20240129135549279.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Blue Bell: a must-visit when you are in the city</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And before I knew it, it was time to head back through the rain towards the station to catch my train home. The station is though home to the <b>York Tap</b> and no visit to the city is complete without stopping off here. As you would expect being located where it is, it welcomes an ever-changing clientele who either have just arrived in the city or are just about to leave. So it can get quite busy at times, and has long opening hours, lifting the latch at 10am every day except Sunday when it is 11am, and stays open until 11 every night. It is based in a former Victorian tearoom, opened as a bar in 2010, and has many attractive features including stained glass ceiling domes and a terrazzo floor. The large central bar serves a range of 18 cask beers, plus a large selection of keg and bottled beers. Many of the beers are from Yorkshire, such as Taylors and their own Tapped brewery in Sheffield, but other beers come from further away, from such as Arbor and Bristol Beer Factory from Bristol, Anarchy from Newcastle, and Thornbridge (Derbyshire). On this occasion I enjoyed a pint of the 3.9% New Zealand Pale from another Derbyshire brewer, Shiny (NBSS 3).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4VxH_XzD_31lcougPYrA5CD4jYVT2OgrvhyphenhyphenxulgYi0E-E8crwIswK6Oj7unaJQEH1Xo5J2CoRpSWHp_WI8AlCCW5zJ8wKGIVsDyoWH9lqA0m6C7lrZQdkyBXhjeBjSbQ5kYy_0afAdMGoXngCodYZ42hpYyntaHQztBmGw7w-nFbkRtpuSUw2TZHPjc/s4032/DSC_6995.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4VxH_XzD_31lcougPYrA5CD4jYVT2OgrvhyphenhyphenxulgYi0E-E8crwIswK6Oj7unaJQEH1Xo5J2CoRpSWHp_WI8AlCCW5zJ8wKGIVsDyoWH9lqA0m6C7lrZQdkyBXhjeBjSbQ5kYy_0afAdMGoXngCodYZ42hpYyntaHQztBmGw7w-nFbkRtpuSUw2TZHPjc/w640-h360/DSC_6995.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The York Tap; it all starts and ends here</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And then it was back on the train to Halifax. I had visited some excellent pubs in this beautiful and historic city, but there were plenty of others where I hadn't made it, which will no doubt prompt some of you to come up with your own suggestions. Which of course gives me a great excuse to return to York in the not too distant future....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-79162785429118598752024-01-31T10:21:00.014+00:002024-01-31T21:36:12.014+00:00History Repeating Itself....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>We are still only in January, but this first month of 2024 has already seen a number of changes within the brewing industry, affecting some well-known names. But, whether we like it or not, change has always been a feature of the brewing landscape. Here's some thoughts....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFXJt6bfLf1Vr1EJSuQTlRcxqXAqP21_VKV1rs-r1Z5trdYePPXJ5Pbhyphenhyphen7WOU1_BTuw5xR9Ylk6yP-2MSs71hk2GNxWC7t3sNWcQ1vRVYNjiL45nYI-CnXtQfhkDUCuW_2ikE3owck8xq_KAne2TtLzQeA5u2Dxm41Pquaq5mj-sQxEay5VFvraXekII/s838/13839_marstons-brewhouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="838" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFXJt6bfLf1Vr1EJSuQTlRcxqXAqP21_VKV1rs-r1Z5trdYePPXJ5Pbhyphenhyphen7WOU1_BTuw5xR9Ylk6yP-2MSs71hk2GNxWC7t3sNWcQ1vRVYNjiL45nYI-CnXtQfhkDUCuW_2ikE3owck8xq_KAne2TtLzQeA5u2Dxm41Pquaq5mj-sQxEay5VFvraXekII/w640-h398/13839_marstons-brewhouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So there's been plenty going on this past month. One of the country's biggest brewers announces it is no longer to brew one of its best-known beers using traditional equipment and methods of which they were the last-surviving exponents in the country. Two popular craft brewers announce they are calling in administrators. Within days, one of them is saved by a neighbouring brewery. Another craft brewery announces they are to merge with a local leisure group. And these events all follow on from the news from earlier in the month when Midlands brewers Purity announced they were going into administration, only to be acquired a few days later by the Breal Group who stepped in and came to the aid of <a href="https://chrisdyson55.blogspot.com/2023/05/black-days-at-black-sheep.html"><i><b>Black Sheep</b></i></a> when they ran into difficulties last year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, in a bit more detail, here's what's been happening. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Marstons, who of course are now part of the larger Carlsberg Marston Brewing Group, announced the other week they would no longer be brewing their long-standing Pedigree bitter using the unique Burton Union system. This system was developed in and around Burton-on-Trent which was historically one of the main brewing centres in England and was used by many of the long-gone brewers in the town, and when Bass, one of the most famous names in brewing and by now part of Molson Coors, stopped using the system a few years ago, it left Marstons as the only brewer in the country upholding this unique tradition (<i>elsewhere, the Firestone Walker brewery in California uses a similar system</i>). In a nutshell, the system uses a series of large wooden casks each with a capacity of around 7hl (150 gallons) which are positioned on their sides on a gantry. Each of the barrels are linked by a pipe on each side which allows the beer to be dispersed evenly between them by use of a feeder vessel. As yeast is added into the liquid in the barrels it causes it to ferment vigorously, and some beer and yeast is expelled via a swan neck pipe at the top of each barrel. This flows into an angled trough where the yeast is collected for future brews as the beer flows down the trough back into the feeder vessel where it goes back into the linked barrels. The process continues for about 6 days until all the yeast has been expelled and the beer is clear and ready to be packaged. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVOHz1BJUGYIIUkcc745-r7rNoVof4xTxsba0CVrD7LlbSgm4ELl1MsfKUMfFpbPsAsM9vUCDWNz0A8A_EN_upd3Lt-1B1qvYvwdZWO-9qPWXTj7s8sl4gk6_0YugbWU4L09o8nRymj50ZgMEy9ViNr8lnVYC_D3UiCLEjHE1PwuzkgtSypBJVD7Tk4c/s375/Burton%20Union.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="375" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVOHz1BJUGYIIUkcc745-r7rNoVof4xTxsba0CVrD7LlbSgm4ELl1MsfKUMfFpbPsAsM9vUCDWNz0A8A_EN_upd3Lt-1B1qvYvwdZWO-9qPWXTj7s8sl4gk6_0YugbWU4L09o8nRymj50ZgMEy9ViNr8lnVYC_D3UiCLEjHE1PwuzkgtSypBJVD7Tk4c/w400-h266/Burton%20Union.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Burton Union system</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Marstons decided to move away from the Union system because they say it is costly, difficult to clean, and hard to maintain, and as part of a multinational conglomerate even, though the relative cost of running the system is chickenfeed in the grand scheme of CMBC finances, isolating it in a cost centre as is the accountant's way that cost is exposed and therefore vulnerable to the fiscal sword. It would have possibly helped if Pedigree had maintained its pre-eminence as a major seller, but it has slipped down the ladder, arguably not helped by some poor marketing, labelling it as <i>Amber Beer, </i>an ignominious state of affairs for a premium bitter and what was once of the best-selling cask beers in the country. The truth is though that the market has changed and in acquiring the Wainwright brand from Thwaites a few years ago, CMBC have been able to capitalise with the growth in demand for blonde (and some would say, bland) beers over recent years. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We should not have been surprised. If Marstons hadn't decided to get into bed with the lager boys from Copenhagen, and retained their major focus on cask beer, it is possible the slant of their marketing would have been different, and so it is possible the Burton Union scheme could have hung around for longer. And possibly the closures of the Jennings brewery in Cockermouth and the Eagle brewery in Witney would have been delayed. Possibly, but not for ever, and of course that is all theoretical. And whilst for those that love the old brewing traditions which the Burton Union system symbolises it is a sad day, we have to accept that there has been an inevitability about this and the other events, it is part of the same process that has run through the brewing industry since it first became commercialised. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, in other news, a much more recently-formed brewer, North, who are based in Leeds, announced the other week that they were to appoint administrators. The brewery opened in 2015, but a few years beforehand they had launched the first of their eponymous bars on New Briggate in the city. Its focus was on bringing the beers of the new wave of craft brewers such as Thornbridge, Magic Rock, and Beavertown to an eager public. And so when they decided to brew their own, much of the focus was on keg beers, although cask was part of their repertoire. As beers such as Sputnik and Transmission became popular, they invested in a canning line, aided by additional funding. Supermarket listings were gained for their canned beers, more bars were opened, and a new larger brewery was opened in a former tannery at Springwell on Buslingthorpe Lane. But set against a background of rising costs and interest payments, and the impact of the long shadow of Covid which has affected many brewers, they realised the only way to survive was to get some outside help. And whilst they had opted to go down the administration route, a white knight then appeared in the form of Steve Holt, the founder of nearby Kirkstall Brewery who, as someone who seems to be a massive supporter of our brewing heritage, no doubt recognised the significant contribution North have made to the growth of craft beer. They previously rescued the former Leeds Brewery beers, and now brew them at their modern brewery on Kirkstall Road, but in this case North will continue to operate as an independent brewery under the same management team whilst becoming part of the Kirkstall group, with the company's bars in Leeds, Harrogate, and Manchester also staying open. And as things stand given the way Kirkstall generally tends to operate they would seem to be in safe hands, although former customers of the Sparrow in Bradford which the brewery closed without warning may disagree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO-E3ast-IP85vG93VSeL8fWrCfASsOdErqgN7kMAuLEtQQLGmFe5xixyVPM51UJ1RxExcGk2UEdJfQ3hJrD36jK49gH-_NCOi-ZOnjetQvfOEqwCedOVRnMMPCCb-2suSvRu81mnEmOInlqBJiMjbY9tiQAuZU9m1xKq9bFs2vvbnfqvejmoAdUIvQE/s2922/original_3243fa68-e982-47b5-aa1a-ec8d29821752_DSC_6131.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2922" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO-E3ast-IP85vG93VSeL8fWrCfASsOdErqgN7kMAuLEtQQLGmFe5xixyVPM51UJ1RxExcGk2UEdJfQ3hJrD36jK49gH-_NCOi-ZOnjetQvfOEqwCedOVRnMMPCCb-2suSvRu81mnEmOInlqBJiMjbY9tiQAuZU9m1xKq9bFs2vvbnfqvejmoAdUIvQE/w640-h350/original_3243fa68-e982-47b5-aa1a-ec8d29821752_DSC_6131.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kirkstall; new owners of North</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One brewery that has definitely closed is Manchester-based Squawk, whose beers had built up a strong following over recent years across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, although until they took on the former Beatnikz Republic bar on Dale Street and renamed it the Pelican they had had little consistent presence in the city centre. The closure is due to the fact that the owners of the railway arch in which the brewery was situated needed to carry out repairs on the building which meant that the brewery needed to be dismantled and removed so that the work could begin. With the work forecast to take several weeks to be completed, the cost of removing the equipment, and with no capacity to generate any income, the guys at Squawk took the decision that they had no option but to close the business, whilst not completely ruling out a return at some point in the future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mZaEbgjy7ZZ6nMzauhRm2Hf6Lm002ybT2j08-H1HkJ_yYQtUO_fLEnxvNz0sAYPl6Dj8HP30Q78G7roDVXjgZSxyCrq292UavitXm11_23zxbErjhFBtqSnXdSCGW-PojAe1BRdrz00/s1600/DSC_2328.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mZaEbgjy7ZZ6nMzauhRm2Hf6Lm002ybT2j08-H1HkJ_yYQtUO_fLEnxvNz0sAYPl6Dj8HP30Q78G7roDVXjgZSxyCrq292UavitXm11_23zxbErjhFBtqSnXdSCGW-PojAe1BRdrz00/w640-h360/DSC_2328.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Flying high in happier times: Oli and Graham from Squawk<br /></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And finally in this whirlwind month of change, Newcastle-based Wylam Brewery announced that they have entered a merger with the family-owned Vaulkhard Leisure Group who operate a number of pubs and bars in and around Newcastle and the North East, and who have been in business for around 25 years. Amongst the places the group run are several well-known names such as the Town Wall, Redhouse, Blake's, and Barluga. Wylam, who brew several popular beers such as Hickey the Rake and Jakehead, operate out of the Palace of Arts in Exhibition Park, and also run the By the River Brewery on the Gateshead Quays, although in making the announcement neither party would confirm if this was included in the deal. In these difficult times this act of consolidation between two companies who already had a strong trading relationship would appear to make practical business sense to both parties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_EK4K7oqyhkn7P2Lg8QFGN3szY_H7diAiwEmpWqh4VaDP21PXVQ4V4yWqF77mE0i1WjjJpZOtSw1-SJjVBbTPuXVUbnZNl_mVg2dRHmQ2ugOC7mTBIGgZPr185WcPURCmKAxAxV9-XU/s1600/DSC_3355.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_EK4K7oqyhkn7P2Lg8QFGN3szY_H7diAiwEmpWqh4VaDP21PXVQ4V4yWqF77mE0i1WjjJpZOtSw1-SJjVBbTPuXVUbnZNl_mVg2dRHmQ2ugOC7mTBIGgZPr185WcPURCmKAxAxV9-XU/w640-h376/DSC_3355.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Palace of Arts, Newcastle, home to Wylam Brewery</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Just to add a little perspective on to these events, last year I read a fascinating book called <i>Local Brew</i> by Mike Dunn, which gives a portrait of the UK brewing scene as it was when it was written in 1986. It provides a sobering reminder that things don't last forever, with so many of the breweries from that time, less than 40 years ago, that are no longer with us. Many of those names - some fondly remembered, others less so - have disappeared for ever - Greenall Whitley, Burtonwood, Higsons, Hartleys, Wards, Gales, Hardy & Hansons, Eldridge Pope, for example. Who remembers Gibbs Mew? Or Maclay? Or Devenish? I should stress that amongst these changes some have been perfectly amicable and the businesses have sold out because it suited them to do so. Others limp on, their names grotesquely hi-jacked, bearing no resemblance to their former selves such as Boddingtons, whilst in a few cases old names have been revived under new owners such as Shipstones, Davenports, and Vaux. </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Ones that have survived include a group of family brewers from Greater Manchester - Hydes, Lees, Robinsons, and Holts - who have all adapted well to changing market conditions, as have such as Shepherd Neame in Kent, Everards in Leicester, and Adnams in Southwold. Greene King have grown into big players themselves having acquired several breweries and expanded and invested in their pubs, whilst in the South West, St Austell have thrived through investment in their pub estate and brands. Smaller players such as Taylors have tweaked their business but a high degree of focus on their flagship brand of Landlord which, whilst not quite the same brew as in 1986, continues to be within the top 10 ale brands in the country. Samuel Smiths' uncompromising ways have served them well in terms of survival, whilst one or two such as Welsh brewers Felinfoel, and Wadworths, Arkells, and Donningtons in the South West, drift along seemingly able to survive within their own self-contained eco-systems. The key thing is they have all adapted to changing times although it is inevitable that over the next 40 years some of these will almost certainly no longer be with us. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_Is90qQkDZ03rye3RmxLpXyx7o2h4FWlSb-grcxnthQTwynwVC-NSiTS1LF26RR3WLeGGz1E_TxTJjZo5GcDteqZ95pz7cFzAR1Z_4LifaOqpiF4V1FRP1GzAIOZi_XO47aiNZFD9BhCF9KSrLjOG6BinlG_KySV776Owf9lilrOfcKVzN-5jR8EfH8/s1196/Robinsons%20Pub.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1196" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_Is90qQkDZ03rye3RmxLpXyx7o2h4FWlSb-grcxnthQTwynwVC-NSiTS1LF26RR3WLeGGz1E_TxTJjZo5GcDteqZ95pz7cFzAR1Z_4LifaOqpiF4V1FRP1GzAIOZi_XO47aiNZFD9BhCF9KSrLjOG6BinlG_KySV776Owf9lilrOfcKVzN-5jR8EfH8/w640-h480/Robinsons%20Pub.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Survivor: Robinsons have invested heavily in their estate</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I think this flashback to the 1980s just reminds us that, just as with the growth of the Big 6 brewers in the 1960s and 70s, and their subsequent fall under the Beer Orders Act in 1989, which limited the number of pubs they could operate, nothing lasts forever. Whitbread for example, who swallowed up Boddingtons (<i>who themselves had taken over Oldham and Higsons</i>) and various breweries over the years, aren't even in the business nowadays, instead focussing on running the likes of Premier Inn and Costa Coffee.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So a month of big change, but looking back over the history of brewing, it is nothing new. We may be into a new year, and whilst the players and the specific circumstances of the events highlighted may be different, they are all examples of history repeating itself....</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Opening image: carlsbergmarstons.co.uk</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-27883771255815083192024-01-24T12:12:00.025+00:002024-01-26T23:27:53.496+00:00Within The Toon Walls....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>An assortment of different places from the central parts of Newcastle when I was there between Christmas and New Year, with a few where I was paying my first ever visit. Read on to find out about the best beer I'd had all year, a first-time visit to a pub that I had actually been to before, and a possible sighting of a musical legend....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzyCwp4Ju3P37pvKOuLplbuAMXmtMsxzPBzco7tlkPbcVpjfbV_XLJJ1GfYepBK6WU5wzqqX22sNB8osVQj16L8qNwtlCt1dmDBF4p7r_wYpTOTZrlDtbf76zfwYZY9GGq1AmJspHh0EGHyephLqitM0SEsnq6OhM0vVEFgK8wJLa2BGEvCi2e1Zib7g/s4032/DSC_6860~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzyCwp4Ju3P37pvKOuLplbuAMXmtMsxzPBzco7tlkPbcVpjfbV_XLJJ1GfYepBK6WU5wzqqX22sNB8osVQj16L8qNwtlCt1dmDBF4p7r_wYpTOTZrlDtbf76zfwYZY9GGq1AmJspHh0EGHyephLqitM0SEsnq6OhM0vVEFgK8wJLa2BGEvCi2e1Zib7g/w640-h360/DSC_6860~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now I know of some bloggers (<i>no names, no pack drill</i>) who regularly write about pubs they visited weeks or even months ago. Myself, I usually write about places I have often visited just days before. However on this occasion, in the interests of not over-featuring one particular area I decided I would follow the example of my esteemed colleagues and hold back on writing this piece from the North East for a week or two, having written one just before Christmas and then mentioned the area and some of its pubs and beers next time. But nearly a month on, I have returned with a somewhat random assortment of pubs that I visited over the couple of days I was based in Newcastle, although they are generally within the walls of the old city. I had come up to see some of the family, and coincidentally my brother and sister-in-law had also been staying in the city for a few days. I drove up on the Friday before New Year into increasingly wet weather, and with roadworks on the motorway just before I left it at the Angel turnoff, my satnav decided to play up. So I was on my own, but fortunately having visited the hotel several times over the years, I managed to drive through Gateshead, over the bridge into Newcastle, and get there without any issues. Yay!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bag dropped off, and I was out again. The rain was holding off as I walked towards the <b>Broad Chare</b>, the nearest pub to my Travelodge. Set just back from the Quayside on the street of the same name, it is housed in a converted former warehouse. With its stripped wooden floors and exposed brickwork it is an attractive and relaxing place to go for an afternoon pint, although it can get busier in the evenings and at weekends. They have a house beer, The Writer's Block, a pale, refreshing, and hoppy beer brewed by the Great North Eastern Brewery, which is what I went for, plus 3 guest ales likewise on hand pump. I retreated to a high stool across from the bar to enjoy my beer (NBSS 3.5) and take in the friendly atmosphere. Food is a big deal here, but not in an intrusive way for those who just want a drink; bar snacks are availably throughout the day, whilst an upstairs restaurant serves traditional pub food of high quality, with a <i>Bib Gourmand</i> rating from the Michelin Guide and regular inclusion in lists of the country's top gastropubs, the latest of which, only in the past few days, had seen the Broad Chare listed at number 23 in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs. But to its credit it still has the feel and friendly welcome of a great pub.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNA7cyqhhx5uVjOGtqtMqYaOTTJ2K8OhKJPH78rtevEyK6QXmXzUtYg_IDXPdkcFuwaDTrl21o0dHEyW1AXA73X857KRT3t7FEFbgM0t7nvHUOi-_vsQ9sM0WFPiEjuTSMN_jMEouA-5uG4dQzC9nbv0phYhSH5j9h8_pm5oPFlgjmoWToC_0sQjY6CGQ/s1595/Broad%20Chare.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNA7cyqhhx5uVjOGtqtMqYaOTTJ2K8OhKJPH78rtevEyK6QXmXzUtYg_IDXPdkcFuwaDTrl21o0dHEyW1AXA73X857KRT3t7FEFbgM0t7nvHUOi-_vsQ9sM0WFPiEjuTSMN_jMEouA-5uG4dQzC9nbv0phYhSH5j9h8_pm5oPFlgjmoWToC_0sQjY6CGQ/w640-h360/Broad%20Chare.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Broad Chare, Newcastle</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And from there I called in the wonderful <b>Crown Posada</b> but having written about them regularly I will keep it short this time. I enjoyed a pint of Bliss Pale Ale from McColls (NBSS 3) with the pub in a fairly quiet state in a late afternoon lull, but then I decided to head up into the city to check things out there. (<i>I did call in there again later in the evening for a nightcap on the way back to the hotel when it was somewhat busier and had an excellent pint of Jarl which was well worth a rating of NBSS 3.5</i>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I left the pub and turned left up Side and headed up the hill, but instead of following the road round as it went up towards Grey Street, I shot up (<i>not literally, I hasten to add!</i>) the steep little road that brings you out at the side of the castle and not far from the cathedral. I was aiming for Westgate Road, which leads off from Neville Street not for from the station. As I set off up that road the drizzle that had been in the air since I'd left the Crown Posada started to intensify and within a couple of minutes the rain was bouncing down. I found shelter under some scaffolding for a couple of minutes, but then after checking the CAMRA app I discovered there was a pub close by. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pub in question was the <b>Mile Castle</b>, a large Wetherspoons house, and whilst regular readers will know I don't generally beat a path to their door, with the rain coming down heavily I decided it was preferable to be in a warm pub with a beer rather than sheltering under some scaffolding, where some large drips were already starting to filter through. History is never far way in this fascinating city and this huge pub is named after the Roman forts that were built every mile along Hadrian's Wall. I walked through the door, passing a couple of hefty Friday night bouncers, their shiny plastic ID cards in bands around their arms. It was very busy with the dregs of the afternoon drinkers joined by the Friday teatime crowd, but when I found the bar I got served fairly quickly by a friendly lass. I went for a half of Double Maxim, a 4.7% brown ale brewed by the Maxim Brewery of Houghton-le-Spring, who arose out of the ashes of the former Vaux brewery in Sunderland. Double Maxim was one of the old brewery's beers, and it is essentially the Mackem equivalent of the famous one from Newcastle. It was decent enough I thought, well balanced with plenty of flavour, and worth a 3 rating on the NBSS scale.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I decided to venture outside, and with the rain still coming down I sheltered in a doorway as I rang my brother to arrange a meet up later. Plans made, from there it was only a short walk to the next place. <b>Tilleys Bar</b> was situated on a corner near the local theatres, and looked quite busy as I peered in through the window. I walked in, the bar was straight ahead in a large room with several TVs showing sport on TV, and from a choice of 4 hand pumps I went for a pint of Anarchy Blonde Star. I found an empty table back near the door, plugged my phone into the charger, and looked around. It all seemed vaguely familiar, and it dawned on me that I had been here before, back in a time long before my daughter moved up to the area, and I had had a spare hour before I caught the train home one afternoon when I had been in the city with work. The beer was pleasant enough without being outstanding (NBSS 3), and the pub was friendly and welcoming on this damp and miserable night.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1jvEDVx6RqO6JrMTzvCIpT8gNBBkzugE7oY6eMkwuuXu1RW3RRBT-zvDRfeUlYiYawXv6P8wxsv2M_P2heJ-r24K5Rmd9wIotKQDe4-NphaDAQhVuUgkNxfrhesA9pTxXjXrSLG6ICTHJnkdVYE2gZXLMmxqIWxhaCoGRpknsr26tBHAuvuQhp5S2Wc/s4032/DSC_6858.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1jvEDVx6RqO6JrMTzvCIpT8gNBBkzugE7oY6eMkwuuXu1RW3RRBT-zvDRfeUlYiYawXv6P8wxsv2M_P2heJ-r24K5Rmd9wIotKQDe4-NphaDAQhVuUgkNxfrhesA9pTxXjXrSLG6ICTHJnkdVYE2gZXLMmxqIWxhaCoGRpknsr26tBHAuvuQhp5S2Wc/w640-h360/DSC_6858.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I decided to get some food at this point and went into a quiet Italian place back down the road where they brought me the wrong pizza, but I'd already started eating it before I realised. It was ok, though, so I said nothing, and then it turned out to be cheaper than my original choice! Back out on the streets, I turned off down Pink Lane on which was situated the <b>Town Wall</b> (<i>opening image</i>). This was a pub that I had heard about before but never been to. It occupies the Grade ll-listed Bewick House, which was once the home of Thomas Bewick, the Northumbrian naturalist, artist, and engraver. Its name comes from the historical importance of the site being one of the 24 wards that fortified the original boundaries of the city, with the wall being built between the 13th and 14th century to repel the warring Scots. Whilst much of it has disappeared there are still a few stretches that are intact, along with a number of towers, that can be seen in the city today. Back to the Town Wall pub, which is owned by the locally-based Vaulkhard Group, it is a very elegant place close to the railway station, just around the corner from the Victoria Comet which I'd visited on my last trip. It was pretty busy as I walked in, a central bar serving a number of different areas. There were 6 hand pumps featuring mainly local beers along with several keg lines featuring beers from the likes of Wylam. I ordered a half of Space is the Place, a 3.5% malty bitter from Out There Brewery in nearby Ouseburn. The beer was another pleasant NBSS 3 rating, and I drank it away from the bustle of the bar area sat in a quieter side room, with a large portrait of someone who looked very much like David Byrne of Talking Heads staring down from one of the walls....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_DyCuXeJ5cyCItAkXdekM6IkufY3LgXPWLfqhMyO-TAIdojrEZpMvaYhGOq3CDnDfVNbRSNNipPBpnxiDy3fSfyBo-mFOFHIw18SIfTUhEamGDm_XYoV2Z4KOUNZ5yEL2PfjlzCjk-tAXI5lO8MN659E011qT9TLJU7Q0338Tlulml0_oBGD__XqTXk/s4032/DSC_6859~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_DyCuXeJ5cyCItAkXdekM6IkufY3LgXPWLfqhMyO-TAIdojrEZpMvaYhGOq3CDnDfVNbRSNNipPBpnxiDy3fSfyBo-mFOFHIw18SIfTUhEamGDm_XYoV2Z4KOUNZ5yEL2PfjlzCjk-tAXI5lO8MN659E011qT9TLJU7Q0338Tlulml0_oBGD__XqTXk/w400-h225/DSC_6859~2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Town Wall: Byrne in down the House?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I had arranged to meet my brother at the <b>Bridge Hotel</b>, Confusingly for the uninitiated there is another Bridge pub, situated close by just off the Quayside, but this is the one situated in one of the city centre's most spectacular locations, near to the castle keep at the Newcastle end of the High Level Bridge, with fine views over the city walls, the River Tyne and the Gateshead Quays. It is run by the Sir John Fitzgerald group of pubs and offers a friendly welcome and good selection of drinks including up to 8 beers on hand pump, served from an attractive bar with dark wood, a mirrored back, and brass footrail. Whilst it was quite busy as I walked in, it was a different crowd to that in the more central places I'd visited; generally older, with guys having a drink with their mates, the odd group of ladies, or couples on date night. I spotted my brother and sister-in-law who were sat in a seating area off from the bar, and went to join them once I had got myself a pint. I'd gone for a pint of Sesh, a 3.9% unfined pale ale from Almasty, which I though was delish, and went down well as were having a catch up, and which I rated as one of the beers of the day (NBSS 3.5). The Bridge was one of the best pubs of the day, and I look forward to visiting again soon. We finished our drinks and headed off on our separate ways.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzsMXr0Pzvzc8OHWuaenSRu0aTNZrWPsP25V2849f-c0ZBJxosJO39I6cSIf5izOIMg7az42blE4PXuialIghfRjXsMUp0wKX2TAzX8IfR_m12eU8pFjKhTkDEN_ZNfB1XPRsuWpgfMpYv_bSC4aBwe3wXpnsQfaJ0NRc_6XXzQ4EQ_VJp94sEFHqQCM/s4032/DSC_6862~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzsMXr0Pzvzc8OHWuaenSRu0aTNZrWPsP25V2849f-c0ZBJxosJO39I6cSIf5izOIMg7az42blE4PXuialIghfRjXsMUp0wKX2TAzX8IfR_m12eU8pFjKhTkDEN_ZNfB1XPRsuWpgfMpYv_bSC4aBwe3wXpnsQfaJ0NRc_6XXzQ4EQ_VJp94sEFHqQCM/w640-h360/DSC_6862~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had arranged to meet my daughter and family early Saturday afternoon at the Haymarket Metro Station before we went to the Hancock Museum near the university campus, which gave me time to have a couple of pints before they arrived. My brother had visited the Crow's Nest, a large Greene King which was a new entry in the 2024 Good Beer Guide, but hadn't rated it. So with limited time, I decided to leave that and try instead the <b>Three Bulls Head</b>, just down the road from Haymarket, another place that was new in the Guide. I walked into a busy pub, with live sport showing on several TV screens. There were 6 beers available on hand pump and I spotted Hush, a 4.2% hazy pale from Black Storm, so I ordered a half, and managed to find an empty table to sit at. I was intrigued to see Black Storm on sale, as the last I'd heard was that the North Shields-based brewer had called in administrators, so it would seem they are back up and running, which is good news. The beer was refreshing, perhaps a bit sweet for my taste, but it was in good condition (NBSS 3). A couple asked if they could sit at the table as it was getting busier and tables were at a premium, and we had a pleasant chat for a few minutes before it was time to go. Overall, I enjoyed the ambience of the Three Bulls Head.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjMex4cqLXwZV-xY3zrCXci1rQCr_OOnpYj0v1UZcBjUQA89yxIq8h7Bog-ISwHDSlkmGIvlsq71_AM_K3kaGZthLILk1g67Qrf-GW7ykv1tElzCnAgWS7tw2q65UfnzkKpAp9kyVy2vSJAZUmO20ymqyF9_b2xrL53F6Y81cD2ZHxF8NLhhTCTYCEmY/s3177/DSC_6870~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="3177" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjMex4cqLXwZV-xY3zrCXci1rQCr_OOnpYj0v1UZcBjUQA89yxIq8h7Bog-ISwHDSlkmGIvlsq71_AM_K3kaGZthLILk1g67Qrf-GW7ykv1tElzCnAgWS7tw2q65UfnzkKpAp9kyVy2vSJAZUmO20ymqyF9_b2xrL53F6Y81cD2ZHxF8NLhhTCTYCEmY/w640-h346/DSC_6870~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was still drizzling and cold when I went back outside. I had time for another drink before the fam arrived, and fortunately just around the corner on St Thomas Street was the <b>Mean-Eyed Cat</b>, an excellent micropub that I hadn't visited for quite awhile. This former newsagents, with its pale duck-egg green painted exterior, is attractively decorated inside in something of a Mexican style with bright colours on the wall along with the eponymous cat featured. There is a sign describing the Mean-Eyed Cat as "a shed with a bar in it." Technically that is what it is, but it so much more than that. This is one of the friendliest places you could visit, attracting a wide mix of discerning customers, and the beer is spot on. There are 6 available on hand pump, of which Cramped from Almasty and Ossett White Rat are permanent, plus 4 guests, and I remember the guy in charge a few years ago telling me that White Rat was a really big seller for them. There are also a number of interesting beers on keg, plus a number of real ciders. There was a real treat on hand pump from Two by Two. Thinking of the time and strength, I only went for a half of the Citra Simcoe Ekuanot IPA, a 6% hazy pale which the guy pulling it told me it had only just gone on that morning. Wow! It was fresh, juicy, and absolutely delicious, and I had no hesitation in rating at 4.5 on the NBSS scale, which was the first time I'd rated a beer that highly for ages. I got a WhatsApp off my daughter saying they would be setting off shortly, so I reckoned I had time for another half, and then another saying they'd be about another half an hour, so I managed another. It was just as well they weren't any later as I would have happily sat here until the barrel was empty! An excellent beer in an excellent little micropub.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikoDC1rcwWFeMaVeLbu2-7aITWEkYOr-1U3UpT57InLcAKPOjDR-06-V5UcsUAP1y4hMO3WFZMy5K6n7A2EMTmEEkhZUD_iaUPkfEUDzeryHMvGNaLSeJmAdZiQw7AP4WCmiVTex7l667U4jdtrhHkbrTHkiNGklZuGWwhwjDm4_D5XwaqI0X18qJNtw/s4032/DSC_6875~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikoDC1rcwWFeMaVeLbu2-7aITWEkYOr-1U3UpT57InLcAKPOjDR-06-V5UcsUAP1y4hMO3WFZMy5K6n7A2EMTmEEkhZUD_iaUPkfEUDzeryHMvGNaLSeJmAdZiQw7AP4WCmiVTex7l667U4jdtrhHkbrTHkiNGklZuGWwhwjDm4_D5XwaqI0X18qJNtw/w640-h360/DSC_6875~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And then it was round the corner to Haymarket, where my daughter, son-in-law, and 7 year old granddaughter had just emerged from the Metro. The four of us then disappeared into the gathering murk and spent the rest of the afternoon in the company of artefacts and displays reflecting the natural history and ancient civilisations of the North East before having a lovely catch up over food and drinks which included a visit (<i>at my granddaughter's request</i>) to a Wetherspoons, and so it was to the sprawling <b>Five Swans</b> we headed. Amazingly for me, I'd been in two different Spoons in less than 24 hours. But then I again, I couldn't really complain, over the same period I'd also had some excellent beer within these town walls including the best beer I'd had in 2023....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-24058023229928184012024-01-17T07:42:00.017+00:002024-01-17T22:54:43.585+00:00Reasons To Be Cheerful....<p><i>A first trip to Manchester of the year, and one which involved dipping into a couple of the city's suburbs plus a foray into the fringes of neighbouring Stockport. And there was much to applause as I visited a quartet of excellent places....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe7kHj5IbNM_qnZSvg-xRPJ61fTzo8hEBubKV0nHGmqw1wdIxXyRasLgDnhU7vgRtjDB5lTYF70kxH5xlta8Fz81ju0qH6DflRSwpHcMqq-S50A-GwivD7C3Ahx5kSiD-tco6mGwjclnqlVon-GTdMwlQlqMMfVVZgZp3-QUFXxVdTMAnyrqP0_9oN-c/s4032/DSC_6914.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe7kHj5IbNM_qnZSvg-xRPJ61fTzo8hEBubKV0nHGmqw1wdIxXyRasLgDnhU7vgRtjDB5lTYF70kxH5xlta8Fz81ju0qH6DflRSwpHcMqq-S50A-GwivD7C3Ahx5kSiD-tco6mGwjclnqlVon-GTdMwlQlqMMfVVZgZp3-QUFXxVdTMAnyrqP0_9oN-c/w640-h360/DSC_6914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the best books I have read recently, and certainly the best involving beer, is Matthew Curtis' <i>Manchester's Best Beer Pubs and Bars</i>, a cracker of a guide to the city which was published in Autumn 2023. In it the author, who is a beer writer, podcaster, and joint founder of the excellent online magazine based around beer called <i>Pellicle</i>, gives the reader a guided tour of almost 200 pubs, bars, cafes, taprooms, bottle shops, etc. - a personal run through the best places to get a beer in Manchester and the area beyond, backed up with some excellent photographs and plenty of history and useful information for the visitor. And so I decided I would road test one or two of the places that Matthew had enthused about in his highly readable book.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now as a frequent visitor to Manchester there are obviously plenty of places in the book that I have visited and, in some cases, very regularly over the years, so I decided that I would instead head for some that I had never been to previously. And so that is why at just before 12.15 on a Saturday lunchtime I alighted from a Crewe-bound train at Levenshulme station, a mere 6 minutes after leaving Manchester Piccadilly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MvBzcZ9Nil3DwOfpHLcNaDXKwkbf4vFn6k5YTresJc79DKcJeWAWSRMNcgQK86wCBbfQh9IIK-wx3SE06ECasJJP3dxOqbt5ZMXc3JbrCqlXKkEfI8KRTjhRsvgzC0hyphenhyphennEXzGGGWF8eAgez3zzvch4tvQ6w9COkkaK8Rr6uRQnOxhpZ4Y5BrYtumbpk/s4032/DSC_6901.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MvBzcZ9Nil3DwOfpHLcNaDXKwkbf4vFn6k5YTresJc79DKcJeWAWSRMNcgQK86wCBbfQh9IIK-wx3SE06ECasJJP3dxOqbt5ZMXc3JbrCqlXKkEfI8KRTjhRsvgzC0hyphenhyphennEXzGGGWF8eAgez3zzvch4tvQ6w9COkkaK8Rr6uRQnOxhpZ4Y5BrYtumbpk/w640-h360/DSC_6901.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Levenshulme is a suburb in South East Manchester which shares its borders with Longsight, Fallowfield, Gorton, Burnage, and parts of Stockport. It straddles the busy A6, on which sits the high street whose shops and varied restaurants interspersed with pubs, vape shops, East European <i>skleps</i>, and bookies reflect the multi-national character of this once predominantly Irish suburb. Beyond the constant traffic and buzz and seductive aromas of the food on the high street are rows and rows of traditional late Victorian two up, two down, red brick terraced houses. The area is regarded nowadays as being somewhat 'up and coming' to reflect the relative availability of affordable housing, and is apparently starting to show some signs of gentrification.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And it was into the quiet terraced streets that I made my first foray of the day. A ten minute walk on Barlow Road off the main road got me there. Set slightly back from the road, just before a bend, with a small garden to the front and a car park to the right of the building, the <b>Blue Bell Inn</b> is an imposing roadhouse-style pub run by Samuel Smiths who have a number of pubs in the Greater Manchester area. I walked in the first door which took me into the vault but seeing no hand pumps on the small bar I retreated and re-entered via the second door, which took me into a larger room in which was housed the main bar. There I spotted a couple of hand pumps, with a clip on one of them for Old Brewery Bitter, the only cask beer brewed by Sams. A lady who was seated at a table full of paperwork to the side of the bar got up and came to serve me with a pint of OBB, for which I was charged £3.00. The lady retreated back to her paperwork; I retreated to a table facing the bar. I looked around - a very attractive interior with parquet flooring, oak-coloured wooden bar, all immaculately maintained. There was a tiny snug off to the right of the entrance, whilst to the rear of where I was sat there was a smart and carpeted lounge. It was pretty quiet at this admittedly early hour. I would have loved to have brought you some pictures but due the brewery's anti-mobile phone stance (<i>with reminders posted at several points in the pub</i>) I kept mine out of the way. And so I took it all in; the difficulties of planning a wedding abroad as explained by the lady who served me from behind her pile of papers to an older guy sat with a pint of lager at a neighbouring table, whilst well wishers asked after a popular regular had been rushed into Stepping Hill the other evening. It was like it used to be years ago when I'd wander into a strange pub and sit there taking in the sights and sounds around me as there were no other distractions, and you would absorb it all. It made for a relaxing half an hour. And the beer was spot on as well; a very good 3.5 on the NBSS scale. A strong start to the day; the Blue Bell is a little off the beaten track but well worth seeking out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMY6CZb7Kv3Jb_yljoDU-SeQ6neZwUsrK07GrxwLEi7g8b-hiQfyyuf7ixBbw1EdZnareTT-NBieH2lLcZH3Gh4uco7v5pQWxP9c2ht2tu_COrKIt6nFg3XotT201vCZ87qkvAfpZ_jfUaDjOFwSk-4h1CrdxA9_-vrWrYYEa-doVxLsYIMduftQDJmM/s4032/DSC_6903~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMY6CZb7Kv3Jb_yljoDU-SeQ6neZwUsrK07GrxwLEi7g8b-hiQfyyuf7ixBbw1EdZnareTT-NBieH2lLcZH3Gh4uco7v5pQWxP9c2ht2tu_COrKIt6nFg3XotT201vCZ87qkvAfpZ_jfUaDjOFwSk-4h1CrdxA9_-vrWrYYEa-doVxLsYIMduftQDJmM/w640-h360/DSC_6903~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Blue Bell Inn, Levenshulme</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I headed back along Barlow Road, but when I got to the library I carried straight on Cromwell Grove which was a quicker route back to the bustle of the high street where, once I had got my bearings, I found the next place on my list which had literally just opened up for the day. <b>The Station Hop</b> is a narrow-fronted modern bar situated in a former shop unit, which sells a range of beers in both cask and keg format. The bar is in the room you enter from the high street, which has a number of bar stools and a long bench for seating, whilst there are a couple of further rooms with additional seating beyond, with brightly-decorated walls and shelves in one room with board games and beer books. The bar is nominally the taproom for the Ventile Brewery in nearby Reddish, but when I asked about it, the guy behind the bar said the brewer was having a break from brewing at the moment. No problem, there was a decent selection of beers on keg, and there was Sonoma from Track on cask, of which I ordered a pint and went to sit at the bench in front of the bar. Wow, the beer was spot on. This 3.8% session pale with its underlying bitterness, touch of sweetness, and citrus flavours is one of the best beers around and when its on form it takes some beating. Probably because there were several more beers on keg, I wasn't perhaps expecting the cask to be so good, which is a little unfair, but this was definitely worth a 4 on the NBSS scale. No problem using my phone here as I checked the train time for my next port of call, which led me to get another half before I left. The place was fairly quiet while I was there, but I can thoroughly recommend a visit to this unassuming little bar which is only a couple of minutes from the station.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1kC4pcOhMA4NG3piE0FiITfAkZTwpb5_nckeWMLrPtCOa_sp_uGfSq0X68UFHokd8ZfsvuXN6crozGynabN3MFBai8Gjivqet09cYCb17jNHfYm2Ssm50vIsXKA8zz94FEvxO72fhuU53Fdx8n0snxQN84ua_obY1y_s8W4MTXqaYnuPOBuL4tLBk7s/s4032/DSC_6906.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1kC4pcOhMA4NG3piE0FiITfAkZTwpb5_nckeWMLrPtCOa_sp_uGfSq0X68UFHokd8ZfsvuXN6crozGynabN3MFBai8Gjivqet09cYCb17jNHfYm2Ssm50vIsXKA8zz94FEvxO72fhuU53Fdx8n0snxQN84ua_obY1y_s8W4MTXqaYnuPOBuL4tLBk7s/w360-h640/DSC_6906.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpTGcV1eRLV4euQtO7FxmuNGkKNXK9s6UErxdxWXqI4Dm6vjwLz-oy3lINqhnqWOKILCZ7zZHxmmdIJOk622VKQ6EdPppa8Ix_nVn08hLoUQljjs8r-oICrxmvn4gIaOrahHw4MgpTx5VDveeRaP-rFUwZ2YK45l3U9cFqV-GAAtB4wyEbD3eHzXhDzU/s4032/DSC_6907.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpTGcV1eRLV4euQtO7FxmuNGkKNXK9s6UErxdxWXqI4Dm6vjwLz-oy3lINqhnqWOKILCZ7zZHxmmdIJOk622VKQ6EdPppa8Ix_nVn08hLoUQljjs8r-oICrxmvn4gIaOrahHw4MgpTx5VDveeRaP-rFUwZ2YK45l3U9cFqV-GAAtB4wyEbD3eHzXhDzU/w360-h640/DSC_6907.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And then it was back out on to the high street, where I couldn't resist the sight of rows of samosas, pakoras, and kebabs of various persuasions stacked in trays on the counter in one of the food places, so I called in and for the princely sum of £4.00 I got some spicy provisions to keep me going during the day. I headed down to the nearest pelican crossing to get me across the road, and then it was back to the station. Incidentally, the road on which the station is situated was until relatively recently a rare example of one which had no official name, so around 10 years ago the locals campaigned successfully to get the city council to adopt its name officially as <i>The Street With No Name</i>, as it was known colloquially. And so, quiz fans, if you ever get asked the question what connects a Manchester suburb, a song by U2, and a 1948 <i>film noir</i>, here's your answer!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I went up the steps to the platform to wait for my train, and dipped into my bag of Asian snacks, pulling out a chapli kebab. It was delicious, its warming spices most welcome as I waited in the cool air. I had visited two excellent places, with another couple of bars, Nordie and the Talleyrand for next time. Sadly two of the places mentioned in the book, Fred's Ale House and Overdraught appear to be closed, hopefully only temporarily. The train lights appeared in the distance, getting closer as I finished my kebab. And then it was a hop on board for the three minute journey, passing the back of the huge McVities biscuit factory before the train pulled into Heaton Chapel's surprisingly large station.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From there Google Maps said it was about a quarter of a mile to my target, which involved heading back towards our old friend the A6 and negotiating a number of pelican crossings. A few minutes later, after passing a parade of shops and hairdressers, I came to another, in which sat <b>Heaton Hops,</b> resplendent with its large awning, several tables, and stacks of brightly-coloured chairs in front of a large window with attractive graphics. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k8zUzb9ARUioo6Ny5qyn5BkBqL77assJETfvLCL_eJtibSbxAAG76CrRUlYKTy5YiLaAZ3f6qYwt3l5sJ1PQplPQbqKW28rdMLFcEJEmHLXB3X8aD0idZ0Obh_f9KPQNTim6gw7o4uZ8bSV0Xeb_OP9e1jTS9yEMepE6Tc0khV8LTzK3er0fBTouFV0/s4032/DSC_6909.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k8zUzb9ARUioo6Ny5qyn5BkBqL77assJETfvLCL_eJtibSbxAAG76CrRUlYKTy5YiLaAZ3f6qYwt3l5sJ1PQplPQbqKW28rdMLFcEJEmHLXB3X8aD0idZ0Obh_f9KPQNTim6gw7o4uZ8bSV0Xeb_OP9e1jTS9yEMepE6Tc0khV8LTzK3er0fBTouFV0/w640-h360/DSC_6909.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is one of the highlights listed in the book, so I had been eager to check it out, plus it been on my to-do list for ages (<i>it opened back in 2015</i>) but I had never managed to find a way to fit it in to a trip. I walked in. The bar was at the far end of a fairly small room (<i>there is some more room downstairs</i>). A few tables with wooden seats were to the front of the bar, whilst a number of glass-fronted fridges were in an alcove down one wall, with shelving on the opposite side. I walked up to the bar and ordered a half of Draught Bass from the smiling lady behind the bar, one of three beers on hand pump, which I took with me to the one vacant table which had just been vacated. The beer was good, but having been spoilt with my earlier two choices, I was a tad disappointed, although it was still a respectable 3 on the NBSS scale. I was soon joined at the table by a couple who politely asked if they could sit there. I had spotted a beer from the always dependable Beak on the chalkboard to the side of the bar, and so when my Bass was done, I took my empty glass back and ordered a half of Wisp, which was very nice - a 5.6%<i> fluffy, double dry-hopped pale ale brewed with Simcoe and Mosaic for flavours of peach, grapefruit, pine, passion fruit, and berry compote</i>, as the official description goes. To me it was typical Beak and what they are very good at: juicy, refreshing, and well-balanced beers. And as I weighed up my options as to where to go next, I went for a second one. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hkyt_TryPV_qMEFks2rkMd0jduNflNNnDglkkNcriGLMgijuYGZsoWlDAR1HFDglLtGQI2zgw0lqEXk0DPdVejUpGKuO6xRzxtpRHF1Aji9ZB8o2ZwpOeDg5OUZDIpLUwPC7y0UdrtR39jwAJrr0imwNtQnA7jRMFHdWUpR79YjfFxoHtqLMYBxYceA/s4032/original_077f0899-97d1-49ab-bc25-9ed57a0e77d1_DSC_6910.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2533" data-original-width="4032" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hkyt_TryPV_qMEFks2rkMd0jduNflNNnDglkkNcriGLMgijuYGZsoWlDAR1HFDglLtGQI2zgw0lqEXk0DPdVejUpGKuO6xRzxtpRHF1Aji9ZB8o2ZwpOeDg5OUZDIpLUwPC7y0UdrtR39jwAJrr0imwNtQnA7jRMFHdWUpR79YjfFxoHtqLMYBxYceA/w640-h402/original_077f0899-97d1-49ab-bc25-9ed57a0e77d1_DSC_6910.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I liked Heaton Hops; there was some very good beer, a really friendly atmosphere, a lovely lady behind the bar, and lovely customers. It was obvious that this is a place which means a lot to both staff and those who come here for a drink, and as a long-time target it was especially pleasing that it exceeded my expectations. If you get chance to go, make sure you do.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had been umming and arring about where to go next because Heaton Hops was only just over a mile from the Magnet, one of the finest pubs in the country, which I could either walk to or catch the 192 bus. The alternative was a trip to another highly-acclaimed micro pub, Reasons To Be Cheerful. a taxi ride away in Burnage. In the end, I decided to head over to Burnage on the basis that I have been to the Magnet before, and I can include a visit there when I make a long overdue return trip to check out the pubs of Stockport town centre. So I called an Uber, and a few minutes later I was being whisked through the tree-lined streets of the Heatons on my way to a Manchester suburb that I couldn't ever remember visiting even in the 5 years that I lived in the city.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I got dropped off by a row of shops on Fog Lane just beyond Burnage railway station just as the drizzle started to turn up the intensity. There with its grey paintwork and a large R graphic in the window. a solitary yellow table and chairs at the front was <b>Reasons To Be Cheerful</b>, a cracking name for a bar if ever there was one. I walked in to a lovely little bar, attractively decorated and with a young guy serving on, the clientele a mix of older guys on their own, couples, and a few family groups with young kids who had seemingly set up camp in a room beyond the bar on the way to the toilets. There were 3 hand pumps on the bar from which I went for Salopian Oracle, which was in great condition and worthy of a 3.5 I thought, as I leant on a shelf with sight of both the bar and the back room where the odd dog was mingling with the kids. There was a really friendly atmosphere and clearly this is something of an oasis in this area of the city with few pubs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gA9XUTRoqu-_89gqCkmisi1HIkR9cPuNs4sQ7e9emMj6A8yRo306n21N9OiiddOMYbkZIqkC8s91XKuFxPior1Vwc4rDuKGTtkrrasF5nVIr5qo307AQgHJMF8ZRRVE_7u7AFn-DauUMUtm_eLAQUgn4pDx1gu8GSQqyYCQL0Jq01xQnVUeLjSC34KI/s4032/DSC_6915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gA9XUTRoqu-_89gqCkmisi1HIkR9cPuNs4sQ7e9emMj6A8yRo306n21N9OiiddOMYbkZIqkC8s91XKuFxPior1Vwc4rDuKGTtkrrasF5nVIr5qo307AQgHJMF8ZRRVE_7u7AFn-DauUMUtm_eLAQUgn4pDx1gu8GSQqyYCQL0Jq01xQnVUeLjSC34KI/w640-h360/DSC_6915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The beer list was hung up on hooks on the wall at the side of the bar and as excellent as the Salopian had been I decided to have a half from the kegs. I went for a Summer Lemon Pale from Donzoko, a 5% beer which whilst not matching with the weather outside was nonetheless very clean and refreshing. And with 20 minutes to go before I needed to catch the train back to Piccadilly I went for a half of the London Black, a 4.4% nitro porter from Anspach & Hobday, a beer I'd last enjoyed when I had been in Hackney last year. It was a lovely beer on which to conclude my visit to what was another top micro pub, and another that I can heartily recommend.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And as I wandered back through the murky drizzle and up the stairs and walkway to the platform at Burnage station in readiness for the 9 minute journey back to Piccadilly I reflected on what had been a great afternoon in the south Manchester/Stockport borderlands. One that had given me plenty of reasons to be cheerful....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Manchester's Best Beer Pubs and Bars by Matthew Curtis is published by CAMRA Books, price £16.99</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-73270396734668811462024-01-10T13:10:00.011+00:002024-01-10T13:47:37.954+00:00As Evening Fell In Sowerby Bridge....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>I spent an hour or two the other day in the town of Sowerby Bridge, set in the heart of the Calder Valley. Here's what I discovered as I returned to the town where I was brought up and checked out some of the local pubs....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyXnQnAC4bihbHXv9qd2gDmNTS-72keqK6cfsJbRR5_3ebnTkSDsDp4QdlU79r4APSSqdIy_qkvV5GcuT9CfS7S4IcVIpNfVRFTExGz5O0JL73Z56cRDl8lvgFeFnYi1SU388eaypDcaFAVx0HePjCfpRNte2aSURfIoEvSRRqAslUSySJyr9pFQvCLk/s4032/DSC_6888~3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyXnQnAC4bihbHXv9qd2gDmNTS-72keqK6cfsJbRR5_3ebnTkSDsDp4QdlU79r4APSSqdIy_qkvV5GcuT9CfS7S4IcVIpNfVRFTExGz5O0JL73Z56cRDl8lvgFeFnYi1SU388eaypDcaFAVx0HePjCfpRNte2aSURfIoEvSRRqAslUSySJyr9pFQvCLk/w640-h360/DSC_6888~3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It had been about a year, bar the odd pint, since I'd last been out in Sowerby Bridge. The town, which lies in the Calder Valley to the west of Halifax, stretches out along the valley bottom, with houses climbing up the often steep surrounding hillsides. It had originally been a bridging point at the confluence of the River Calder with its tributary the Ryburn, but it was a marshy, boggy no-man's land here with few inhabitants, with the valley's residents tending to live in small settlements dotted about the drier terrain of the higher slopes. However, when first the canal and then the railway came, mills and factories sprung up in the valley bottom, and the local woollen trade, hitherto consisting of individual weavers in cottages using wool from the sheep that wandered the Pennine hills, was transformed as the Industrial Revolution took hold in this particular part of the world, and Sowerby Bridge and other neighbouring towns developed along the valley. The textile trade flourished, along with the engineering trade, but nowadays much of the industry has gone, with several of the former mills now given over to apartments. The town holds a <a href="https://chrisdyson55.blogspot.com/2015/09/rushbearing-in-sowerby-bridge.html"><i><b>Rushbearing Festival</b></i></a> each September which draws many visitors to the town, and the canals which once played a pivotal role in the growth of the town now provide an opportunity for leisure activities, with the junction of the Rochdale Canal and the Calder and Hebble Navigation in the town with the Tuel Lane Lock the deepest in the country. The town has featured in TV programmes over the years, with the popular BBC drama <i>Happy Valley</i>, written by Sally Wainwright who grew up in the town, probably the best known.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The town has in recent years has attracted plenty of visitors to its pubs and restaurants, and I had decided to come over and check out some of the former. I'd called to see my Dad first, and then set off walking down in to the town along streets that I'd first walked many years ago. At one point, instead of dropping down the hill into the town as I had tended to do in recent years, I carried straight on and realised that some flats that were being built when we were kids had been demolished. In those days we would get in and play on the site when no one was working there (<i>Health and Safety was somewhat lax in those days!</i>), and now it had returned to a somewhat scruffy natural state, which afforded me the opportunity to take the opening picture. I walked down a cobbled path beside which was once one of the schools that I attended, now long gone like the nearby terraced streets with their rows of drying washing flapping in the breeze. I crossed over by Lidl, and a few minutes later I was on Hollins Mill Lane, along which two of the pubs I had planned to visit were situated.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Furthermost first, but as I approached I could see no welcoming lights. However, shrouded in darkness other than from two small downstairs windows, it was soon clear that the <b>Puzzle Hall</b> was indeed open, and despite its somewhat understated appearance, it was reasonably busy. It is not a big pub, and I have wondered before if it were to open nowadays for the first time, whether it would be classified as a micro pub. This is a pub I have been going to on and off over the years, first visiting in my late teens. It once had its own brewery (<i>the distinctive tower is still standing</i>), but was owned by Wards of Sheffield when we first used to go, fairly unusual for an area then dominated by Websters and Tetleys. Back then it was run by a benign couple called Jack and Edith, who always made us feel welcome. The layout of the small pub, with a tiny lounge sharing space with the bar, and a separate room to the left as you walked wasn't that much different to now, although it has been opened out over the years. Back then the toilets were outside, at the bottom of a sloping yard, which doubled up as a car park, although it wasn't big enough to hold more than a couple at any one time! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Over the years, the Puzzle attracted an eclectic mix of people from all walks of life, and always had more than its fair share of characters who were drawn by its somewhat Bohemian atmosphere. It became a place for musicians and built up a reputation as one of the best venues for jazz in the country when Geoff Amos was landlord, often attracting big names on a night off when they were between gigs in Manchester or Leeds. A large stage was built in the former toilet block when they were relocated indoors, which enabled outdoor gigs and festivals, further enhancing its name as a venue for a wide variety of music. Beers from Wards had long gone, but the Puzzle, by now a free house, built up an enviable reputation for its beers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG6MYCvfU2-umHkSYvVB9Q2eCxqKN2yU0G2ZYckiVJ-DPejZbjA2243n8cO9QxktWTQW6xU98ch0nAcfD96_kEZ0cH2TrsinwQM_ftnPdyZDgr3-CV6zrgysqPAQKIXVHz727s4yFMjhp-6YJEqNWpK6FpcjY7AUpeVVTTxpnPCzWhz924lgj9tD-t3g/s4032/DSC_6891.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG6MYCvfU2-umHkSYvVB9Q2eCxqKN2yU0G2ZYckiVJ-DPejZbjA2243n8cO9QxktWTQW6xU98ch0nAcfD96_kEZ0cH2TrsinwQM_ftnPdyZDgr3-CV6zrgysqPAQKIXVHz727s4yFMjhp-6YJEqNWpK6FpcjY7AUpeVVTTxpnPCzWhz924lgj9tD-t3g/w640-h360/DSC_6891.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Puzzle Hall, Sowerby Bridge: open for business</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Eventually though, it all came crashing down, and the Puzzle sadly closed in 2015, lay empty, and fell into disrepair, with no offers forthcoming at the price set by the pubco that owned the building. But the place held special memories for so many people, and a community pub group was formed which then <span style="text-align: left;">set up a crowdfunding website with the aim of raising £350,000 to buy the pub, supported by events and gigs in the town. And eventually, after lots of hard work, they achieved their target, and just before Christmas 2019, the Puzzle finally re-opened its doors. A few months later lockdown came along and threw everything into disarray, and like a lot of places, it took a while afterwards before the place seemed to get back into its stride. But here I was this evening, and the pub was quite busy with the hum of conversation in the air, and a choice of six beers on hand pump to choose from. I opted for a pint of the 4.2% Keep The Car Running from Big Trip, a hazy pale ale singled hopped with Amarillo. It was typical Big Trip beer, which I rated as a 3 on the NBSS scale. I was enjoying the vibe here, so I decided to go for another pint, opting this time for a pint of the 5.5% premium bitter from Salopian, Kashmir. Now Salopian have been big sellers in Calderdale for years, and this flagship beer always creates a lot of interest, and I was also interested because the price (£4.60) was cheaper than several places in the area where I had come across it in the past week or so. The beer was spot on (NBSS 3.5), and I would have happily had another but thinking of its ABV and the fact I had other places to visit, common sense prevailed, and I headed off into the night, having enjoyed my sojourn here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhIgh2YlxdkqERx7FxE5d4Qp8lLWpLaT6nd96QWxEc1mQMYFf282huvE_R7iH_vC8trshEun1i2lpODjzuK6puOqK9-gvHLpeHb1N7RI9ZzVGLlbyxAkIzrFzA1mTWUc701WAQ5MpftauZnPcTRB8QWH6oVjtxK36A4oUHtuKT0xALvPz4hr-DPk8hiA/s4032/DSC_6893.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhIgh2YlxdkqERx7FxE5d4Qp8lLWpLaT6nd96QWxEc1mQMYFf282huvE_R7iH_vC8trshEun1i2lpODjzuK6puOqK9-gvHLpeHb1N7RI9ZzVGLlbyxAkIzrFzA1mTWUc701WAQ5MpftauZnPcTRB8QWH6oVjtxK36A4oUHtuKT0xALvPz4hr-DPk8hiA/w640-h360/DSC_6893.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Beer board at the Puzzle Hall</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;">It is about 5 minutes walk back to the next place, the <b>Hollins Mill</b>, which was not a pub when I was growing up, but is always worth a visit. A large building, it is housed in a former joinery, and won a CAMRA award for its conversion when it became a pub around 20 years ago. It has a large room with exposed beams as you go in with the bar facing you, with a smaller, quieter room off to the side, whilst upstairs is a large function room with its own bar. The L-shaped bar has 10 handpumps which always feature a number of beers from Taylors and Phoenix, and regularly feature others from the likes of Vocation, Salopian, and Oakham. On this occasion I went for a pint of White Monk, from Phoenix, a well-balanced 4.5% hoppy pale ale with citrus notes, which was a very worthy 3.5. The pub, which was known at the Works when it first opened, was pretty busy, and I could only find a wooden bench opposite the side of the bar to sit at; it was quite warm, and then I realised that a radiator was immediately behind it. So if you go in on a cold winter's day, and there is no fire in the large fireplace, this is the place to sit to get warm! And while you are here, check out the former 6.5 tonne military tank that is stationed in the car park. The tank belongs to one of the guys who works at the pub, and is something of a local landmark. Tonight as I walked past its enclosure, the vehicle was bathed in a changing rainbow of coloured lights.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NDFGJprdglBzBA6dXcoLmHiiA2zeCxS3P-4s0Z7RpGI2dnpa_6-GOYV9roVHdk30dhaFJXWwdS0ZksuphIPVhDOhztPL5GBLqugsihqbKkcCsJlEemNqc1XBwL2LQIQDL0KGBHPEuQQpQGy00aKkNxmKPe7St0w3uOh8uqic8EbOrSU2pIMvylMmq24/s1595/Hollins%20Mill.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NDFGJprdglBzBA6dXcoLmHiiA2zeCxS3P-4s0Z7RpGI2dnpa_6-GOYV9roVHdk30dhaFJXWwdS0ZksuphIPVhDOhztPL5GBLqugsihqbKkcCsJlEemNqc1XBwL2LQIQDL0KGBHPEuQQpQGy00aKkNxmKPe7St0w3uOh8uqic8EbOrSU2pIMvylMmq24/w640-h360/Hollins%20Mill.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hollins Mill, Sowerby Bridge: wooden beams and fireplace</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I headed back out into the night and walked for about 10 minutes along Wharf Street, the main A58 thoroughfare through the town which can get choked with traffic at busy times. But on this early Saturday evening it wasn't too bad. A few diners were already taking their seats in a number of the restaurants that are situated along this road, whilst the dark waters of the canal looked cold and empty as I crossed over the bridge. Beside the former Roxy Cinema, which now houses a sports bar, I took a short cut through a car park to my next stopping point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Hogs Head Brew House & Bar</b> is a busy pub on a side street just off the main road. It is housed in an 18th century former malthouse with the brewery, the only one in Sowerby Bridge, based in an adjacent building. The pub, which opened in 2015, has exposed stone walls, wooden beams, and other attractive features with some of the old brewing vessels on display, whilst there is another room upstairs The bar is situated to the left as you go in down a small flight of stairs, and offers a range of its own beers in both cask and keg along with guest ales from the likes of Goose Eye, Vocation, and Phoenix. I went for a pint of the cask Hoppy Valley, a 4.3% pale ale with Citra as the main hop, which was well-balanced and very refreshing (NBSS 3), and like all the in-house beers it was competitively priced at £3.50 a pint. It has always been busy when I have been in over the years, and is no doubt helped by its proximity to some of the town's most popular eateries where it provides an ideal spot for a pre- or post-meal drink. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniwd6bFS9AmKNJ6xzZ2TeUVqMvRelt8YwqLGyUAOTQoW0EQ5IsDkLxYRKmo9mIBhi1Vf2njvFipw_sEu15kKJZw5vc6SOlC0vtuQxyXYQtjGZCTgb_Todq9qyhkvcQIIfdrj-QP3viHRqFBUV_ndTGdhWWuvecQqxXPzB9ZDVXt27boJpjUF2saiOsJ0/s1604/Hogs%20Head.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1604" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniwd6bFS9AmKNJ6xzZ2TeUVqMvRelt8YwqLGyUAOTQoW0EQ5IsDkLxYRKmo9mIBhi1Vf2njvFipw_sEu15kKJZw5vc6SOlC0vtuQxyXYQtjGZCTgb_Todq9qyhkvcQIIfdrj-QP3viHRqFBUV_ndTGdhWWuvecQqxXPzB9ZDVXt27boJpjUF2saiOsJ0/w640-h360/Hogs%20Head.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hogs Head, Sowerby Bridge</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was only a couple of minutes away to the final place I had planned to call on this early evening tour of the town. The <b>William IV</b> is a long-established pub which years ago was one of several Tetleys pubs in Sowerby Bridge, but by the late 80's it had become a freehouse. Situated on Wharf Street near the town's canal basin and as the road levels out at the bottom of Bolton Brow, it is bigger inside than it looks. There is a large room as you go in split into several seating areas with a further room beyond the bar, which is situated down one side as you go in. It is attractively furnished with subdued lighting helping to give the place a cosy feel, and as I walked in plenty of the tables were occupied. Over the years has been under different ownership and was known as Williams for a while, but it has recently been taken over by Will Parry, who I'd last seen when he was manager at the Puzzle Hall. I have known Will for several years as he used to work at the Buffet Bar in Stalybridge when I used to go there regularly, and as I walked in this evening he came over to greet me, and as we chatted he told me that they are looking to increase the number of cask ales on offer from the current 4 to 6. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJGTZOcCr9gURGmlKVVpxSMQSNjiyQfo7QlXeZrw4AHIjWwWnTBgOv7qleElhIkJjJUpcaK7PfjPrZi6adFKtr6xEiYbUAA7-aUlrRG0_zfMAO_0DoTc062K2M2eAVVRicXUonaHSz8ZWl0D1p__cn1dIGnhJtSETSFkd6gsp37XpLRlZAgK5TMcqitE/s4032/DSC_6897.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJGTZOcCr9gURGmlKVVpxSMQSNjiyQfo7QlXeZrw4AHIjWwWnTBgOv7qleElhIkJjJUpcaK7PfjPrZi6adFKtr6xEiYbUAA7-aUlrRG0_zfMAO_0DoTc062K2M2eAVVRicXUonaHSz8ZWl0D1p__cn1dIGnhJtSETSFkd6gsp37XpLRlZAgK5TMcqitE/w360-h640/DSC_6897.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I walked over to the bar and got chatting to a friend who sat there having a pint. I ordered one, a pint of Anarchy Blonde Star, which has been generally good when I have come across it of late, and this 4.1% pale ale with its refreshing citrus flavours was well above average (NBSS 3.5). Much as I would have liked to, I couldn't stay for another pint as I needed to be heading home. As I walked towards the door as I left to get the bus, I spotted a couple I knew having a drink, and went for a quick word with them. They said they had started to call here because not only was it not far from where they now live, but also because the beer was good and the place was welcoming. I have to say that based on this admittedly short visit to the William IV I couldn't disagree, and I wish Will and Debbie all the best in their new venture and I look forward to calling in again soon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAbmWKXoTfJh6k191LvXjlInsEmDq5racIlH9zlUHeUMlqc9PXQcScBtHMDh-Jolw1Q6uvFx05X34ATuxB3n6rcTklVUI4YD1ywz1u-x-f7Ym4gs6zwjuk98wSHC4AlUluWACjgyeSyFgYsHx6J2VfOZYHmPM4ThLKzrRVkMH-ZXMsmNLF3Lp_2W2xcY/s3376/DSC_6898~3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2079" data-original-width="3376" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAbmWKXoTfJh6k191LvXjlInsEmDq5racIlH9zlUHeUMlqc9PXQcScBtHMDh-Jolw1Q6uvFx05X34ATuxB3n6rcTklVUI4YD1ywz1u-x-f7Ym4gs6zwjuk98wSHC4AlUluWACjgyeSyFgYsHx6J2VfOZYHmPM4ThLKzrRVkMH-ZXMsmNLF3Lp_2W2xcY/w640-h394/DSC_6898~3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then it was across the road to catch the bus back after a short but pleasant evening in Sowerby Bridge. Hopefully it will be less than 12 months before I get chance to make a return visit for a pint or two....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-51270496504266388342024-01-03T13:27:00.009+00:002024-01-16T23:14:45.757+00:00The Beers and Pubs of 2023: Here's The Wrap!<p><i>A personal round-up of the last 12 months from the world of beer and pubs....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkztX_XjllxG9zu1Y48-ezPWtRct_c8UjJYWWtujqskvTHjHdp9eyySSBE1kab_yfZBJrXhDp-qf4sb4okZcIwdCzg5Myt3DGpv59H5fgsMMPKhhszDIFow0KQGeQmwmHyhCIlwtfO2e3z-p8Fnk6nuG5uQNaULlaN2UrfJkIOcLhA0OWgzNEIlF-z4lg/s1196/Dr%20Duncans.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1196" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkztX_XjllxG9zu1Y48-ezPWtRct_c8UjJYWWtujqskvTHjHdp9eyySSBE1kab_yfZBJrXhDp-qf4sb4okZcIwdCzg5Myt3DGpv59H5fgsMMPKhhszDIFow0KQGeQmwmHyhCIlwtfO2e3z-p8Fnk6nuG5uQNaULlaN2UrfJkIOcLhA0OWgzNEIlF-z4lg/w640-h480/Dr%20Duncans.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another year over, another one just begun, as someone (almost) once said. Or most likely did. After a time for reflection, enjoying time with family, friends, and those random acquaintances you see once a year and those you will probably never see again. A toast or two drunk to those no longer with us but always remembered, never forgotten, the memories and sense of their presence wrapping around us like a warm comfort blanket on a wild and chilly winter's night. 2023's contract has now ended, with so many things that are not good in the wider world as we take those first tentative steps into 2024.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sadly we have lost several breweries over the course of 2023 whilst pubs continue to close on a regular basis. Amongst the breweries we have lost are Bad Seed (<i>Malton</i>), Donkeystone ( <i>Saddleworth</i>), Cains (<i>Liverpool</i>), Revolutions (<i>Castleford</i>), Alphabet (<i>Manchester</i>), Thirst Class (<i>Stockport</i>), and Bone Machine (<i>Hull</i>). Only in the past few days news broke that longstanding Warwickshire brewers, Purity, had gone in to administration, although one brewery that had been reported to have closed, Black Storm of North Shields had some of their beers on sale in a couple of pubs I visited over the last weekend in the North East.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, hey, we are were we are and there are still fortunately some good things to look back on amidst the widespread gloom of the past 12 months, and in some ways it has been a great year for beer and pubs and so here are some of my highlights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>CASK BEER</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was chatting to a friend the other day about our favourite beers, and I jokingly said to him I suppose I could go through my blogs and pick out those beers that I rated most highly during 2023, but I said that I couldn't be bothered to go through them all. But hey, guess what, dear reader, I have done! And so I looked at those beers I had rated 4 on the CAMRA NBSS scale (that's the National Beer Scoring System) which in a nutshell is based on awarding a cask beer a score based on the quality, condition, and freshness of the beer on a scale of 0 to 5 where 0 is undrinkable and 5 is out of this world. Partly because I generally visit places that have a good reputation for their beers. it is rare that I come across a beer that I would rate less than a 3 (ie. good), and most I tend to rate as a 3 or 3.5, although I do feel that in general the overall quality of cask ale is better than it used to be. A beer that is awarded a 4 is therefore one that stands out as excellent in terms of quality, condition, and freshness, and over the year I listed 17 beers that I rated 4. When I was going through checking, I was expecting that most would be session pales because that is what I mainly drink, but there are a few different beers in and amongst, and I surprised myself with some of the breweries involved, which just shows you should keep your tastebuds open. I should also say these are all purely based on the blog, I have also had several great beers in several of my local pubs when I have been 'off duty', but because I am involved with a couple of them I do not feel it would not be fair to include any local places, but suffice to say that compared to some parts of the country, Halifax and Calderdale does extremely well in terms of beer choice and quality served in some excellent traditional pubs and modern bars.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's the list of those beers I felt worthy of a 4 rating, in no particular order, with the brewer, the beer, its style, and the pub where I sampled it:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Two By Two</b> (Byker, Newcastle) - Citra/Azacca/Idaho 7 (New England IPA) - <i>Crown Posada, Newcastle</i>; <b>Taylors</b> (Keighley) - Boltmaker (Bitter) - <i>Excelsior, Liverpool</i>; <b>Salopian</b> (Hadnall, near Shrewsury) Shropshire Gold (Golden Ale) - <i>Vernon Arms, Liverpoo</i>l; <b>Brimstage</b> (Wirral, Merseyside) - Trappers Hat (Bitter) - <i>Baltic Fleet, Liverpoo</i>l; <b>Taylors</b> Knowle Spring (Blonde Ale) - <i>Royal Oak, Ripon</i>; <b>North Riding</b> (Snainton, North Yorkshire) - Citra (Pale Ale) - <i>Commercial, Slaithwaite</i>; <b>Howling Hops</b> (Hackney Wick, London) - Tropical Deluxe (Hazy Session IPA) - <i>Euston Tap, London</i>; <b>Surrey Hills</b> (Dorking) - Ranmore (Golden Ale) - <i>Surrey Hills Brewery Tap</i>; <b>Brew By Numbers </b>(North Greenwich, London) - Session IPA (Session IPA) - <i>Chesham Arms, Homerton, London</i>; <b>Five Points</b> (Hackney, London) - Pale (Pale Ale) - <i>Pembury Tavern, Hackney</i>; <b>Five Points</b> - Railway Porter (Porter) - <i>Pembury Tavern</i>; <b>Hadrian & Border</b> (Newburn, Tyne & Wear) - Tyneside Blonde (Blonde Ale) - <i>Tynemouth Lodge, Tynemouth</i>; <b>Flash House</b> (North Shields) - Session Pale (Session Pale) - <i>Flash House Brewery Tap</i>; <b>Two By Two</b> - Session Pale (Hazy IPA) - <i>Enigma Tap, North Shields</i>; <b>Pentrich</b> (Derbyshire) - Cloud Chain (Hazy IPA) - <i>Beerheadz, Nottingham</i>; <b>Brightside</b> (Radcliffe) - Odin (Pale Ale) - <i>D'Ale House, Rochdale; </i><b>Brunswick</b> (Derby) - Rocket (Strong IPA) - <i>Derby Tup, Chesterfield</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjgNmGPMiKF5zbmwv6dw5e4O398EgsO9h4v8saBgbxuDrQFjH0TpBm8Cxnr4DZvgeproVbOUNvy1Mxh160F9WF2P6SrlHTDnpfRj0ietMfu29ELVnDd111vE2VfESQOUI5KA9M_BzUKqrKDoRathWFFLNNIeTVwKLHkQZ7iW1dok-wGbM9ShV8j4G57MI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjgNmGPMiKF5zbmwv6dw5e4O398EgsO9h4v8saBgbxuDrQFjH0TpBm8Cxnr4DZvgeproVbOUNvy1Mxh160F9WF2P6SrlHTDnpfRj0ietMfu29ELVnDd111vE2VfESQOUI5KA9M_BzUKqrKDoRathWFFLNNIeTVwKLHkQZ7iW1dok-wGbM9ShV8j4G57MI=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Derby Tup, Chesterfield...some great beer within</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>BREAKING NEWS!!!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the past couple of days, and so recent it has not yet featured in a blog, I have drunk a beer which I actually rated as deserving a 4.5! This I only ever reward to a beer that is truly exceptional, and on this occasion I was only having a drink whilst I waited to meet some of the family. I had wandered into the Mean-Eyed Cat in Newcastle, and went for a half of <b>Two By Two</b> Citra Simcoe Ekuanot IPA, a 6% hazy pale which had only just gone on that morning. It was fresh, juicy, and absolutely delicious, and as I waited for the family to get into town, I was more than happy to have this wonderful beer to keep me company.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Picking through the above list, there is a mix of different beers and some breweries that I was surprised by, but I think that it just emphasises how important looking after the beer is once it in the pub, which is where the skill of the publican comes in. Cask beer is a living product; look after your beer, and the beer will look after you and your customers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>CASK BREWERY OF 2023</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can only really go for one brewery and that is <b>Two By Two</b>, whose beer as well as on the occasions mentioned above I have fortunately had the opportunity to drink regularly at the Crafty Fox in Brighouse, where their beers have proved to be a big hit with customers. Consistency and flavour are their hallmark, and whilst some of the beers are better than others, even with hops that are often underwhelming they seem to be able to draw something from them. And whilst their beers in keg format are very good, it is in brewing cask beer that they show their true craft.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNoeB6W1hk3vT1dcfKOzLkKLZusqxqjf9P8jcUtGvYwGLWW559JDNcE58CSHw-zBEW6A9giV2-hToPXBEIkNGux9wP7tajHA_C4NlDv6DefgAVe0qicFCAjkXM5h95kdivKYje0ZRu0-PxKSighggY8TylgSOPgfGvbGwpn6qPWoGm4G8JqamC4-G3UQ/s4032/DSC_6872.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNoeB6W1hk3vT1dcfKOzLkKLZusqxqjf9P8jcUtGvYwGLWW559JDNcE58CSHw-zBEW6A9giV2-hToPXBEIkNGux9wP7tajHA_C4NlDv6DefgAVe0qicFCAjkXM5h95kdivKYje0ZRu0-PxKSighggY8TylgSOPgfGvbGwpn6qPWoGm4G8JqamC4-G3UQ/w360-h640/DSC_6872.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Beer of the Year from the Cask Brewer of the Year</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I also found beers from the likes of Fyne Ales, Track, Squawk, Neepsend, Thornbridge, Almasty, Wensleydale, Marble, Kirkstall, and Salopian to be pretty dependable, whilst it was interesting to see the likes of Verdant, The Kernel, and Deya, previously keg-only brewers, bringing out beers on cask.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>KEG BREWERY OF 2023</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because of the way keg beer is stored and served, there is less input required from the pub, and so you are getting the beer more or less as it left the brewery. I have had some excellent beers over the year from Track, Verdant, Deya, Wylam, Beak, Floc, Thornbridge, Pomona Island, Anspach & Hobday, Sureshot, and Two By Two, amongst others, and some of Vocation's darker beers were very good, but for me there is one brewery that stands out above all of these. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Drum Roll!!!!</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Step forward, <b>Pollys</b>! The Mold-based brewers make some wonderful beers, their NEIPAs in particular can be sensational, and their quality is very consistent, and eminently drinkable. If you haven't tried them yet, make it one of your New Year resolutions for 2024.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>BEST PUBS OF 2023</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I visited some absolutely cracking pubs over the year, up and down the country. and whilst there are several pubs local to me which I very much enjoy visiting, for the reasons as mentioned above I am leaving these out of the equation, and so these are the best pubs that I encountered on my travels during 2023:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Crown and Kettle</b>, Manchester; <b>Marble Arch</b>, Manchester; <b>Lion</b>, Liverpool; <b>Ship & Mitre</b>, Liverpool; <b>Cobbetts</b>, Dorking, Surrey; <b>Crown Posada</b>, Newcastle Upon Tyne; <b>Free Trade Inn</b>, Newcastle Upon Tyne; <b>Cumberland Arms</b>, Newcastle Upon Tyne; <b>Malt 'N' Hops</b>,<b> </b>Chorley, Lancashire; <b>One Eyed Rat</b>, Ripon, North Yorkshire; <b>Little Ale House</b>, Harrogate; <b>Enigma Tap</b>, North Shields, Tyne & Wear; <b>Derby Tup</b>, Chesterfield; <b>Record Cafe</b>, Bradford; <b>Microbus</b>, Gateshead; <b>Doctor Duncans</b>, Liverpool; <b>City Arms</b>, Manchester</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And from that list of cracking places there is only one that can be a winner of Pub of 2023....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And it can only be the <b>Crown Posada</b>, which was good as ever when I visited it again over this last weekend. As I wrote only the other week "<i>This <a href="https://chrisdyson55.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-jewel-thats-crown.html"><b>classic pub</b></a>, a must-visit for any lovers of historic hostelries, is always a pleasure to visit. Its beautifully-restored interior and great beer for a start. It has a special atmosphere that draws you in whether is quiet or super-busy.</i>"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqz6hgtgEjMDSkdg6al8SjcU-LgAPRqpM4bKVBK_XufYUmeE_XU9aosJ7G2YngT1NTU-rsaOyUX9s2zB7Sh2iQ5rBZTDPj6b5yxQ4GxooEKmfCCngyTpd9gTRqehw56dqREq6Y3NGwaiCKyLGtpC0dyFeGLAXQDmzI43zXeAZzn1UvUYL-Kxopji0u=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqz6hgtgEjMDSkdg6al8SjcU-LgAPRqpM4bKVBK_XufYUmeE_XU9aosJ7G2YngT1NTU-rsaOyUX9s2zB7Sh2iQ5rBZTDPj6b5yxQ4GxooEKmfCCngyTpd9gTRqehw56dqREq6Y3NGwaiCKyLGtpC0dyFeGLAXQDmzI43zXeAZzn1UvUYL-Kxopji0u=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crown Posada, Newcastle: 2023 Pub of the Year</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>TAPROOM OF THE YEAR</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whilst sitting on some old chairs with a pint outside the Surrey Hills brewery near Dorking on a chilly afternoon in early March was one of the more memorable brewery visits, there can only be one winner as my favourite taproom of 2023.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <b>Track Brewery Tap</b> in the Cloudwater-dominated Piccadilly Trading Estate in Manchester is a wonderful place to visit. I visited a couple of times during 2023, and when I visited in January I was as impressed as when I first went there the previous year "<i>Now I love this taproom; it is light and airy, with the gleaming steel tanks of the brewery overlooking proceedings. The staff are friendly and there is a chilled vibe, with interesting artwork on the walls, and a cool soundtrack playing over the speakers. Today there was Greek food available in the form of souvlaki, gyros, and filled pittas for when hunger struck. I ordered a pint of the 3.8% Sonoma on cask (well it is one of my favourite beers!) and it hit the spot nicely (NBSS 3.5), but when my glass was empty I decided to venture on to the keg and had a half of No Sleep, No Dream, a 5.2% hazy IPA which was most enjoyable." </i>If you have the opportunity, try and get yourselves there in 2024!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8MUodroElkPDioV1opJAVkEqnqmUfVHnqVVBl9-XMNdw4Oy1iqCB2P65QXJwTrR57zLDEvXwE3RawvMju7IXFJOWeERb-DBpTtCrTOwwBjcsNcV1XgJ7C_jv9dvstHszpv1ESbjJW4haJL9i8t3q1IdNovnYQfPWjcfYZASefEKRDBMVfVG5XCoct4vk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8MUodroElkPDioV1opJAVkEqnqmUfVHnqVVBl9-XMNdw4Oy1iqCB2P65QXJwTrR57zLDEvXwE3RawvMju7IXFJOWeERb-DBpTtCrTOwwBjcsNcV1XgJ7C_jv9dvstHszpv1ESbjJW4haJL9i8t3q1IdNovnYQfPWjcfYZASefEKRDBMVfVG5XCoct4vk=w641-h361" width="641" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Track Brewery Tap</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />And so here we are in 2024. It is tough out there, make no mistake. No doubt there will be more closures affecting breweries and pubs as we go through the next few months, but on a more positive note it has just been announced that Purity, who I mentioned above, have been acquired by Breal Leisure who, you may recall, stepped in to buy Black Sheep out of administration last year. No doubt there will be 'synergies', but if it saves some jobs then that is better than nothing. And on a personal level, as we go through the year I look forward to bringing you more of the wonderful pubs and beers we are lucky to have in this country. All that remains for now is to thank you for reading and all your kind comments and feedback during 2023 and wish you and your loved ones a very Happy and Safe 2024....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Opening Image: Doctor Duncans, Liverpool</i> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-34946720562864310012023-12-20T12:47:00.028+00:002023-12-22T09:31:58.808+00:00Two Is The Magic Number....<p><i>A first trip to the North East for a while, taking in a few of my favourite pubs, a brewery taproom, and a trip over the Tyne to catch some football. Here's how the day panned out....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5d3iwsPRJBl9c-CnC7kdaclfct0jGAT_ja2fQZ2jDOQXZYY86dCWLa8eIYZXRb_WQpAj_ixYGPvD-R_vXBGQXNYmTEKDl2nyWJ6O7bbIoW9lqBNiD2AbjDDOYYduvTSQHpAmWxxYOPNnoHo8qdxTNBvcnt_M-kFKLCuc8FbldhpzStDHNxP2bOyTk4A/s1595/Side.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5d3iwsPRJBl9c-CnC7kdaclfct0jGAT_ja2fQZ2jDOQXZYY86dCWLa8eIYZXRb_WQpAj_ixYGPvD-R_vXBGQXNYmTEKDl2nyWJ6O7bbIoW9lqBNiD2AbjDDOYYduvTSQHpAmWxxYOPNnoHo8qdxTNBvcnt_M-kFKLCuc8FbldhpzStDHNxP2bOyTk4A/w640-h360/Side.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Saturday began early as I was off to catch the 8.17 Transpennine Express from Huddersfield north to Newcastle. I was going to watch FC Halifax Town at Gateshead, and it was a sunny and quite pleasant mid-December morning, quite mild for the time of year. Despite the fact that there were a diminishing number of days left for Christmas shopping and Newcastle United were home in the afternoon, the train was pretty empty when I and a gaggle of Halifax Town fans stepped on board, and whilst it got busier as the journey progressed, it was still relatively quiet when we arrived at Newcastle's Central Station just after 10 am.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And just like Michael Caine's character in the classic 1971 gangster film <i>Get Carter</i>, our first action was to head straight across the road to the <b>Victoria Comet</b>, although in our case someone had spotted a chalkboard outside advertising breakfast. Food duly ordered, delivered, and consumed, a decent lining on our stomachs, we ordered for our first beer of the day, me opting for a pint of Oakham Citra. It was a bit thin and sweet but a pleasant enough pint to start the day (NBSS 3), although due to matchday licensing restrictions it was served in a plastic glass so a revised rating of NBSS 2.5! The Victoria Comet is a Nicholsons pub so you get the usual attractive dark wood interior, a range of cask ales including the St Austell-brewed house Pale Ale, and a strong focus on food. As we chatted over our drinks, the pub was getting busier and louder, with a crowd heavy with shoppers and football supporters. The breakfast had been pretty decent and overall it was a good start to our day in these parts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-zXhfF8R1cjxV7UzrhZpWOzOtBb6euhTAMMidBN-78iuxsAPWR_31y04Psced6DcoHL-Uv7FyIVT4gL69rWVVKt6kJ4h7TOQpY6lD34UZ8DwZhdfuSHCxyHufyxiaq_TibnRz4I_TxeWUU3xRrDtY1RRSuu3EU9zXpvdDt6xapGfansrpjtRWufWdSA/s1600/The%20Victoria%20%20Comet.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-zXhfF8R1cjxV7UzrhZpWOzOtBb6euhTAMMidBN-78iuxsAPWR_31y04Psced6DcoHL-Uv7FyIVT4gL69rWVVKt6kJ4h7TOQpY6lD34UZ8DwZhdfuSHCxyHufyxiaq_TibnRz4I_TxeWUU3xRrDtY1RRSuu3EU9zXpvdDt6xapGfansrpjtRWufWdSA/w400-h300/The%20Victoria%20%20Comet.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We finished our drinks, turned left and a little further down the road, still opposite the long frontage of Central Station, we came to the <b>Newcastle Tap</b>. Now I had been in here before but it had been very busy that day a few years ago and I hadn't really taken to the place, but this particular morning with only the odd customer dotted about the attractively-furnished long room in this modern bar, it was an oasis of calm, particularly after the bustle and clatter of the Victoria Comet. Moreover as we scouted the hand pumps to check was on offer, the lad behind the bar was politely asking what kind of beer we liked to drink, not realising that it was more a question of aging eyes rather than complete befuddlement! In the end, a couple of us went for Twisted Spire from Hobsons, a 3.4% light and refreshing citrussy pale, another pleasant beer (NBSS 3), but as is usual with the Pivovar-run Taps, there was a number of cask beers and a plethora of tap lines to choose from.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIp2JQAhc46OvweI-ETGLFkLdDJ0umwaiofPYEOk5FdrKk37zon6Rg_YGG-9FFqBjDbhi44RgKeHm3o3N38PnAJMYH7GWWssSUYuKtG6cueRHDQ_UyjpZ4NxMFey2gIyK-VxyDsuLhBCTrNxmRvFfTfnSlGhikcitH6I6nXqTgGEbFwDC55x75C3R0atY/s3028/original_92d4d0a9-86ac-421d-aaf1-344c1152bd01_DSC_6807.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1862" data-original-width="3028" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIp2JQAhc46OvweI-ETGLFkLdDJ0umwaiofPYEOk5FdrKk37zon6Rg_YGG-9FFqBjDbhi44RgKeHm3o3N38PnAJMYH7GWWssSUYuKtG6cueRHDQ_UyjpZ4NxMFey2gIyK-VxyDsuLhBCTrNxmRvFfTfnSlGhikcitH6I6nXqTgGEbFwDC55x75C3R0atY/w640-h394/original_92d4d0a9-86ac-421d-aaf1-344c1152bd01_DSC_6807.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A festive look at the Newcastle Tap</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was straight across the road to the Metro station, from where we travelled the two stops to the Gateshead International Stadium, where Town were taking on the home side in the Vanarama National League in a game that was being screened live on TNT (<i>formerly BT</i>) Sports, hence the early kick-off. It was noticeable that the temperature had dropped once we emerged from the Metro, and once we'd walked the 10 minutes or so through housing, past an ASDA, and crossed over the main road and got into the ground, the inevitable cold wind was sweeping through the open stadium, allegedly the coldest football ground in the country. We were in the away enclosure opposite the main stand no longer having a roof since it was damaged by wind a year or two ago. Nevertheless, despite the less than favourable conditions for spectators, the game went Town's way on a heavy pitch, and after a slow start with both teams cancelling each other out, two cracking goals and a commanding defensive performance saw the away team come away with a 2-0 victory.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B7UkeIJ5XV2TIRejo2ttFV80LWZn55FkoPLLeFOekIig1jP7XHBleIWqLLGQs7n7vR1WjZ2HbMQSjTM0YbjfKuu_6mvlvUwyi34K1cSwOY9OO_9sDPRxOie-VbrhVxb5ZoN3vPt3QlI6m9XuO6UtahEiHRFBdmIPdK2ZalO0uq6UVSUrzZCCXBIskBo/s4032/DSC_6809.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B7UkeIJ5XV2TIRejo2ttFV80LWZn55FkoPLLeFOekIig1jP7XHBleIWqLLGQs7n7vR1WjZ2HbMQSjTM0YbjfKuu_6mvlvUwyi34K1cSwOY9OO_9sDPRxOie-VbrhVxb5ZoN3vPt3QlI6m9XuO6UtahEiHRFBdmIPdK2ZalO0uq6UVSUrzZCCXBIskBo/w640-h360/DSC_6809.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Action from Gateshead 0, FC Halifax Town 2</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So we got the Metro back into Newcastle and from the station, we headed down towards the Quayside, passing the empty shell of the former Split Chimp micropub. This was a place I had enjoyed calling in many times over the years, but it has sadly become another victim of the hike in energy and other costs. We walked down the steep street beside the castle and joined Side, where a little further down on the right was the always-welcoming <b>Crown Posada</b>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This <a href="https://chrisdyson55.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-jewel-thats-crown.html"><b>classic pub</b></a>, a must-visit for any lovers of historic hostelries, is always a pleasure to visit. Its beautifully-restored interior and great beer for a start. It has a special atmosphere that draws you in whether is quiet or super-busy. It wasn't too bad on this occasion, and we managed to get served pretty quickly. I had spotted a Two by Two on one of the hand pumps, so that was a no-brainer for me, but despite my warning that it would be on the dense side of hazy, the lads all followed suit. We'd gone for a Citra/Idaho 7/Azacca combo, a 5% hazy New England IPA with oats and wheat to give a soft mouthful to go alongside some tropical fruit flavours. It was delicious, and even the more conservative beer drinkers in our little group were giving approving nods, and I rated it a very strong NBSS 4. I could have stayed here all day, but we had other places to visit before we got the train home.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovZFCSwrumgLxngGVFDfQvUnwzVTcqztkqa8wCLqkagYpuqAo4HDcJPUBarpKf1AAC7lLIiSbDk8InYnibKg79BDizjeNkdoGLYvXdpOcLn3ShrV8KGEz4Fc29fOK4xSnKCWb_3Y3kY_D5btK7W2UaeYwYAmqenHK9LmmFEhSRL3xEd3RejBQw09dsQM/s1476/Crown%20Posada%20Interior.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1476" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovZFCSwrumgLxngGVFDfQvUnwzVTcqztkqa8wCLqkagYpuqAo4HDcJPUBarpKf1AAC7lLIiSbDk8InYnibKg79BDizjeNkdoGLYvXdpOcLn3ShrV8KGEz4Fc29fOK4xSnKCWb_3Y3kY_D5btK7W2UaeYwYAmqenHK9LmmFEhSRL3xEd3RejBQw09dsQM/w640-h388/Crown%20Posada%20Interior.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A classic: The magnificent interior of the Crown Posada</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We walked down to the Quayside and set off walking beside the river to our next scheduled stop, always a pleasant stroll when the weather's ok, and whilst it would soon be going down due to the time of year, there was still plenty of sun about as we crossed over the Ouseburn Beck just before it enters the Tyne. We climbed the steps, turning at the top to survey the iconic riverside scene below with its line up of bridges, the gleaming curves of the re-named Sage (<i>now known as the Glasshouse International Centre for Music, apparently</i>), and, to the right, the restored and reimagined waterfront buildings, with the the city rising up on the slope beyond.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We crossed the road, and entered the <b>Free Trade Inn</b>, which alongside the Crown Posada is in my top 5 favourite pubs. It was quite busy as it usually is with people coming and going all the time, many no doubt on a tour of the area's pubs and taprooms, whilst there was the usual moving of seats and shuffling around as seats by the window overlooking the river became available. We all ordered a pint of Seattle Blue, a 4.2% American-style pale from Almasty, whose Echelon is the house beer here. It was another hazy beer, with a tartness softened by some tropical sweetness (NBSS 3.5). Outside, the sun was starting to set over the river, which prompted a rush outside as people wanted to capture the scene on their phones. The beer was going down well, and after realising that we had more time than we thought (<i>the early kick-off had messed with the body clock</i>), we decided to get another one here, all four of us sticking together once again and getting a pint of Jarl, from Fyne Ales, another mighty fine pint (NBSS 3.5).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXeP953uyFwTeJN1OGujuNZlipljDnYF_qKojmeAD5Oh0eHs4FbZJkR5_pr9HViaLI1V4ouL6JQLsyXxRUHafMGAccH-le7dbvrEkXXtPXX0zzXPwQL8Pq3NsA4WfHd4DSiJCw_nQD9QMU7-_UKiRlzwTnOhz1EUxDkMRb89DZ4_mtS_X81tz65gLNO4/s4032/DSC_6814.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXeP953uyFwTeJN1OGujuNZlipljDnYF_qKojmeAD5Oh0eHs4FbZJkR5_pr9HViaLI1V4ouL6JQLsyXxRUHafMGAccH-le7dbvrEkXXtPXX0zzXPwQL8Pq3NsA4WfHd4DSiJCw_nQD9QMU7-_UKiRlzwTnOhz1EUxDkMRb89DZ4_mtS_X81tz65gLNO4/w640-h360/DSC_6814.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEshU0rsjHKEnEYMWkwZucpf2MAYcKjb47vbXBKIFsrHnHtOZSrsku0sxLSQ5n8clXMjyMZOtJwVtDujRDJK9YP_z4Kiuxu9HYLiTeq-7-qU3tyeLbXAm6KxSGExRDeAhIHG3ERHxVyiT2_EjmlVz5K8u11mKiA0QepZvzyHFS_mM4ydlLIj4Vfovr-zU/s4032/DSC_6815~3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEshU0rsjHKEnEYMWkwZucpf2MAYcKjb47vbXBKIFsrHnHtOZSrsku0sxLSQ5n8clXMjyMZOtJwVtDujRDJK9YP_z4Kiuxu9HYLiTeq-7-qU3tyeLbXAm6KxSGExRDeAhIHG3ERHxVyiT2_EjmlVz5K8u11mKiA0QepZvzyHFS_mM4ydlLIj4Vfovr-zU/w640-h360/DSC_6815~3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Free Trade Inn, and the sun setting over the River Tyne</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Next up was a visit to a brand new place for all of us. Around 5 minutes walk from the Free Trade, up to the main road, and then straight up the road more or less straight across, we came to the <b>Two by Two Brewery Tap</b>. The brewery originally started out in Wallsend, but with increased demand for their beers, they upped sticks and moved to a bigger unit here in Byker, an area that is home to a number of other breweries including Full Circle and Brinkburn Street. We passed a couple of food vans and walked into the brewery, where there had been a craft fair here earlier in the afternoon and tables were being emptied and racks wheeled out. There were two hand pumps on offering Leapfrog, a 4.1% IPA, and a Porter, plus there were several keg lines. We all went for the Leapfrog, but as the lad behind the bar started to pull the second pint, it went off, and he apologised profusely as there was nothing else tapped and ready to go on (<i>presumably the craft fair attendees had given it some hammer!)</i>. So one of us went for the porter, whilst three of us went for a Talus Nelson off the taps, a 4.7% pale ale hopped with Talus and Nelson Sauvin, which was hazy and juicy with stone fruit and gooseberry notes. Very pleasant it was too. The brewery takes up one part of the room, the silver vessels gleaming in the half-light, but I couldn't really work out how big the place was overall. I noticed that some of the striking artwork in the style that features on Two by Two's cans was featured on the wall behind the bar. The taproom was quite busy, and a band was setting set up ready to provide some musical entertainment, but I suspect we probably didn't catch the taproom at its best, and so I will try and give it another visit next time I am in the area.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmDwhyfAchzcZ7s3OLQinhar-XuGm42_SQrsBEyjQ3hXJUucrCUqIhuqVJC93YGVQlgECsVcnOHMjAjw9woaKQV5bG9Qiv1Bw1Mns1mLi0krnV2QCQ4uXylSYHFhBVYviJtkoGQRJyJtn_1fDijozoS1pe5Adgb1TPrzRmV4mUYA9URRE2YpYkDqC0zw/s4032/DSC_6817~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmDwhyfAchzcZ7s3OLQinhar-XuGm42_SQrsBEyjQ3hXJUucrCUqIhuqVJC93YGVQlgECsVcnOHMjAjw9woaKQV5bG9Qiv1Bw1Mns1mLi0krnV2QCQ4uXylSYHFhBVYviJtkoGQRJyJtn_1fDijozoS1pe5Adgb1TPrzRmV4mUYA9URRE2YpYkDqC0zw/w225-h400/DSC_6817~2.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDtIkh-m3ZeA_pJ6Eu-4APOuW1O2LQ9_rEG2n9OGGKXQifcPrKBZPOB2pETg9filJHmM2C9KgZ6O66fd_YFNRxeilZQMHXoOCb7pBSXHxaAf-3fvq7Q6qJwIaxIhgPGUCLAbTWoy07PMuTpCJpdPmVwzuuqnmUpJjCopf2nnozy2qx6wU2_w4I9VZleg/s3334/DSC_6822~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2182" data-original-width="3334" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDtIkh-m3ZeA_pJ6Eu-4APOuW1O2LQ9_rEG2n9OGGKXQifcPrKBZPOB2pETg9filJHmM2C9KgZ6O66fd_YFNRxeilZQMHXoOCb7pBSXHxaAf-3fvq7Q6qJwIaxIhgPGUCLAbTWoy07PMuTpCJpdPmVwzuuqnmUpJjCopf2nnozy2qx6wU2_w4I9VZleg/w640-h418/DSC_6822~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Two by Two Brewery Tap</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After the Brewery Tap, it was back to another traditional pub, and another personal favourite. This was the <b>Cumberland Arms</b>, which was about 10 minutes' walk away. Situated in a prominent position overlooking the Ouseburn Valley at the end of the cobbled James Place, the surrounding trees and grassy bank give the area a semi-rural feel even though the busy streets and main roads around Byker are very close by. The three-storey pub is traditional in layout with a room either side of the central entrance, with a function room upstairs. The rooms are simply furnished with wooden floorboards and seating, a real fire in each room, glazed panels, and leaded windows. The walls and shelves are covered in all sorts of paraphernalia and there is a reassuring lived-in clutter to the place. The main bar is in the room to the left as you go in, with access for staff via servery but no bar counter in the room to the right. This is the music room which holds frequent music nights and in which there is a piano. I was in here one winter's Sunday evening a few years ago when I got caught up in an unexpected and wonderful evening of folk music, musicians rocking up with their guitars and fiddles, and joining in, the assembled musicians and customers joining in to sing along with great gusto. The 'Cumby' - as it is known to its loyal band of followers - has 5 hand pumps featuring 4 guests and Tashy Bob, its house beer, a 3.9% hoppy pale ale (NBSS 3.5), brewed by Northern Alchemy who used to be based in a container round the back of the pub. There are also a number of keg lines. With an excellent beer garden out front, the Cumberland Arms is worth a visit at any time of the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Kcg-CvIBGq64pMgc2RHdV9tpELb5F32yzcKq84Lnrsv_UhyphenhyphenBJAPM5CyNyVkUvdKQi_DY3GzYdXkeqamGew3k4rBrSQDXH83gR590l5ZzS1JLikdir80PIU-CVuJYaZdt2m8jn_k55jRpCMvgJjm8BGaftyGrsMyRC5MoDmwRI4wb6mEf4rfB5AP5-gw/s1260/Cumberland%20Arms%20Bar.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1260" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Kcg-CvIBGq64pMgc2RHdV9tpELb5F32yzcKq84Lnrsv_UhyphenhyphenBJAPM5CyNyVkUvdKQi_DY3GzYdXkeqamGew3k4rBrSQDXH83gR590l5ZzS1JLikdir80PIU-CVuJYaZdt2m8jn_k55jRpCMvgJjm8BGaftyGrsMyRC5MoDmwRI4wb6mEf4rfB5AP5-gw/w640-h456/Cumberland%20Arms%20Bar.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The bar at the Cumberland Arms</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We left the Cumby, and headed down the steps through the wood to the Ouseburn Beck, crossing over the wooden bridge and then up to the bar-cum-events-venue that is the <b>Cluny</b>. It was quite busy with most of the tables taken when we walked in, but once we'd ordered our beers we managed to find one and debated whether we had enough time for food before we left. Beer-wise, the other lads opted for Space is the Race, a 3.5% dark-coloured bitter from another locally-based microbrewery, Out There, whilst I went for an old favourite from the keg lines, Hickey The Rake, from Wylam, one of the founding fathers of the modern beer scene here on Tyneside. In the end, with the clock counting down before our train home, we decided to skip food, and head back towards the station. Getting hold of an Uber proved fruitless, so in the end once we'd finished our pints we set off walking back to the city centre, arriving at Central Station in time to join the busy throng waiting for the train back to Huddersfield. We'd had a great day: some great pubs, some excellent beer, especially from Two by Two, whilst in the football Town had picked up a great 2-0 win. Two was indeed the magic number....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-30192808221775253032023-12-06T13:35:00.016+00:002023-12-06T23:34:26.956+00:00Not Just For Christmas....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>The relentless build up to Christmas is now in full swing, and with that in mind here are a few thoughts about the festive season and a couple of recent events with a distinctively Irish theme as a bar in Enniskillen releases a Christmas advert and an iconic musician sadly passes away....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmFGzmJcLR3P2IOtkB2iUSC7EpkeIl-VH84hr88NB6mmfdnawTr6GgjDu1CZi7vqXsHVC8pF3B10-iXCmTfJFnmI_40HoHk8gz6JNsDQZmoHIyxUejDHOHZ6WeL29Y24-OyfUp2WshVNyfYnd0Mq50ul-tR7kU36lq33J5Tb7TKj-my3CvQyvPgt31JE/s1196/Whitelocks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1196" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmFGzmJcLR3P2IOtkB2iUSC7EpkeIl-VH84hr88NB6mmfdnawTr6GgjDu1CZi7vqXsHVC8pF3B10-iXCmTfJFnmI_40HoHk8gz6JNsDQZmoHIyxUejDHOHZ6WeL29Y24-OyfUp2WshVNyfYnd0Mq50ul-tR7kU36lq33J5Tb7TKj-my3CvQyvPgt31JE/w640-h480/Whitelocks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The rows of bagged and stacked Christmas trees have been in the supermarket entrances for a good few weeks now. The big retailers' festive adverts with their oodles of false sentiment and bonhomie have been on the TV screens for a while too. This has been since the early part of November which, with the adoption of the dreadful US retail concoction of Black Friday, has seemingly and seamlessly been appropriated into the festive period.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Against this background of unbridled commerciality there have been two events in the past few days which have brought the more traditional and human aspect of Christmas back into sharp focus. The first was the release of their own Christmas advert by a pub in the Northern Ireland town of Enniskillen, Charlie's Bar, whilst the many tributes and news reports following the sad death of the Pogues' frontman Shane MacGowan at the age of 65 reminded us that amongst their remarkable body of work they released one of the great Christmas songs, <i>A Fairytale of New York.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'll come back to the Charlie's Bar advert in a minute, but first a few words about Shane, whose music I loved from the first time I heard the Pogues on the John Peel show when he played their first single <i>Dark Streets of London</i> one evening in 1984 or '85. It was a track to make you stop and turn the radio up, a genuine "wtf is this?" moment; it sounded Irish, with tin whistles and fiddles amidst the guitars and drums, but it was played with the thrashing, relentless energy of punk.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Pogues, whose name was shortened from its original <i>Pogue Mahone</i>, an Anglicised version of the Irish Gaelic for "kiss my ass", were formed in London in the mid-1980's. Shane was the charismatic frontman with the instantly recognisable bad teeth who had been born in Kent to Irish parents in the late '50s. A bright lad, he won a scholarship to Westminster School but was expelled in his 2nd year for being in possession of drugs. He had also taken up drinking from an early age and his dependency on alcohol was to have a major influence on his life. But he was a brilliant songwriter, his songs reflecting the influences of living in London in the '80s, the Irish diaspora to which his parents belonged, Irish history, and Irish nationalism. The Pogues with Shane as frontman only lasted for a few years before he was sacked by the band on a tour of Japan due to his alcohol-infused behaviour, but over those short years they released a number of albums of which the first three - <i>Red Roses for Me</i>, <i>Rum, Sodomy, and The Lash, </i>and <i>If I Should Fall from Grace with God</i> - are absolute classics, capturing the band at their brilliant best, featuring a mix of their own and traditional songs such as <i>A Pair of Brown Eyes</i>, <i>Streams of Whiskey</i>, <i>Sally MacLennane</i>, <i>Dirty Old Town</i>, <i>The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn</i>, and <i>The Irish Rover</i> which the band recorded with the Dubliners. And then there was the afore-mentioned <i>Fairytale of New York</i>, recorded with the late Kirsty McColl, which with lines like "you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot" were hardly what you would have expected to find in a typical Christmas song back then which normally came with a mix of nostalgia and positivity to a backing heavily-laden with sleigh bells. But the song's overall sentiments, with its mix of hope and nostalgia laced with realism and the regret of missed chances has over the years struck a chord with so many people, frequently topping polls of festive favourite songs. It would therefore be a fitting tribute to the legacy of Shane MacGowan if the song were to finally become the Christmas Number One this year, something which has eluded it thus far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbLbX8pNW5yXotaqSY0SFhuMdN05DhKXSAIzkPjZvITselsIYysFIukQyLj2XRBY6XxVY1yyOdMaKNw-TvQds_dWfw0QVskmyRpBjRASsIhDY4VOzZjg-XuPXTkfhBtl0n0MYKKwECQiocVIqO01dWhHy0Zcoh2CRCpLzBCa5qapokU6OhQCsnYrIFZ4/s474/Shane%20MacGowan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="474" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbLbX8pNW5yXotaqSY0SFhuMdN05DhKXSAIzkPjZvITselsIYysFIukQyLj2XRBY6XxVY1yyOdMaKNw-TvQds_dWfw0QVskmyRpBjRASsIhDY4VOzZjg-XuPXTkfhBtl0n0MYKKwECQiocVIqO01dWhHy0Zcoh2CRCpLzBCa5qapokU6OhQCsnYrIFZ4/w400-h250/Shane%20MacGowan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The legendary Shane MacGowan</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, the Christmas advert put out by Charlie's Bar with its nod in the direction of John Lewis and others has likewise struck a chord with so many people. It shows an old man laying flowers on a grave and then walking into town, with passers-by seemingly oblivious to him. Lost in his thoughts, he walks into the bar where a young couple's little dog jumps up on to the seat beside him as he drinks his pint of Guinness. The couple, who are sat at the bar, realise their dog has disappeared, and when they spot where he is, they go over to collect him and end up sitting and chatting to the old man. With a soundtrack featuring Birdy's version of the Cherry Ghost classic <i>People help the People</i>, the advert ends with a quote from W B Yeats - "There are no strangers here, only friends you've just not met".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UIARK5RNYkc" width="320" youtube-src-id="UIARK5RNYkc"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>And what of the setting for the advert? Charlie's Bar dates from 1944 and is the oldest family-run pub in Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, being established by Charlie Burns, from whom it takes its name. It began serving locals, farmers, and American servicemen stationed in the area during wartime, and gained a reputation over the years for its warm hospitality during which time Charlie passed the bar on to his son Gerry. Looking through their website and socials I can find no mention of them selling any real ale but they do claim to sell "the best Guinness in Enniskillen". They have regular live music including traditional Irish folk on a Sunday evening and other regular events, and can provide a space for birthdays and celebrations. Sports fans are catered for with the bar having several TV screens throughout showing live matches. And looking at the happy, smiling faces on their gallery it is clear that hospitality, a warm welcome, and the craic is very much at the heart of what they do, and they deserve applause for their Christmas advert which quite simply draws attention to the lonely and reminds us why we need our pubs and bars to keep being there. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1l5GvWy5NarmrgwXUJAgEtwODhwyeY7DtGM2bv7fuLS53O302s-3nBYPODhHMBDaamFsTsOs6u2FicTVyn_pGzEjH1CkTzta4nueK0DyIf-bFiJZbebqpGgzpNVb4xWuUgVl2VQF-rk_XgLtiXMiAl-Qv-cuZhkt2n-S61oBMSxvUvI0ojfJF3Tvk5dk/s2048/Charlie's%20Bar,%20Enniskillen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1394" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1l5GvWy5NarmrgwXUJAgEtwODhwyeY7DtGM2bv7fuLS53O302s-3nBYPODhHMBDaamFsTsOs6u2FicTVyn_pGzEjH1CkTzta4nueK0DyIf-bFiJZbebqpGgzpNVb4xWuUgVl2VQF-rk_XgLtiXMiAl-Qv-cuZhkt2n-S61oBMSxvUvI0ojfJF3Tvk5dk/w436-h640/Charlie's%20Bar,%20Enniskillen.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>The advert, which has gone viral on social media, brilliantly captures not just the spirit of Christmas but also why pubs matter so much, not just at this time of the year but throughout. Yes, there will be many for whom the sense of loss, loneliness, or sadness will be felt more acutely around Christmas, but of course those feelings are present all year round, be it a cold afternoon in March, a sunny morning in July, or a darkening evening in October. The pub provides a space where the lonely can go for a drink and be amongst people, even if they are on their own while they are there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sadly the number of pubs closing in the UK continues, often leaving whole communities without a local place to meet, socialise, watch music, or engage in activities, forcing those who would go there to visit other areas, or quite possibly, just stock up on beer from the supermarket which will no doubt be a lot cheaper and drink it at home. The pub can be the glue that binds a whole community together and once it closes, the sense of social cohesion can start to wane. As Hilaire Belloc once wrote "once you have lost your inns, then drown your empty selves for you will have lost the last of England". Of course there may be other facilities within a community such as the church or a sports club, but these only offer an appeal to certain groups, whereas a pub can draw people in from across the wider community. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvxp1C1u57xwcyxDyaXLQ6nh_AogdpoJb5eYclQ7QpV47-9VdqrkYpBZHV5tuptHkV66b5Zh5THU1ILtFITrUTLzuP76C4FVkmiHwcL8vW-vx0bN-432vN7cgyDQPyh33ZI6WofXMAXVFdMKIYfjvvyixCmTgBihhrGs8GbK1fde8sIyN5YBooLCEk-4/s1196/Rising%20Sun.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1196" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvxp1C1u57xwcyxDyaXLQ6nh_AogdpoJb5eYclQ7QpV47-9VdqrkYpBZHV5tuptHkV66b5Zh5THU1ILtFITrUTLzuP76C4FVkmiHwcL8vW-vx0bN-432vN7cgyDQPyh33ZI6WofXMAXVFdMKIYfjvvyixCmTgBihhrGs8GbK1fde8sIyN5YBooLCEk-4/w640-h480/Rising%20Sun.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One pub no longer serving the community....</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>And whilst the pubs and bars may be busy over the next few weeks, come the new year they will generally much quieter, and so it is important that we continue to support them throughout the year to keep them going and maintain their essential role within the community. So as you catch up with friends and family, keep an eye out for those who may be on their own and as in the Charlie's Bar advert, making that contact will probably be well received. But also, make a resolution to call in the pub a little more over the next year, the staff will appreciate it and you will be doing your bit to help the wider community whilst hopefully enjoying yourself. Remember, a pub is not just for Christmas....</div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>And here are the Pogues and Kirsty McColl....</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qSkN4EXhBR8" width="320" youtube-src-id="qSkN4EXhBR8"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> <i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-4174500891883831482023-11-29T12:59:00.010+00:002023-11-29T13:38:24.029+00:00Chilling Out In Shipley....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>A day when my original plans initially went awry but, hey, it all worked out well in the end! An afternoon a few miles away in Shipley visiting some of the town's bars turned out to be a pretty relaxed and enjoyable experience....</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUydJS_IDrwDb84QNTeKh6kREpb2cnBd9gbZBLv7xsXfeRFx_6lcRk79ZSdwoLBe63SNDDZygQdGACgy-6IsSv1Y-0amOmNMSVrEfB27dGxDW_P8DUV21zvTBYPUT5rWmqQhKWBYEoRoHjKesRTB50wCzjMl7XatcBpkKV2LkTj1EdTHSE5aMrIeCrCaA/s4032/DSCPDC_0000_BURST20231125150038661.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUydJS_IDrwDb84QNTeKh6kREpb2cnBd9gbZBLv7xsXfeRFx_6lcRk79ZSdwoLBe63SNDDZygQdGACgy-6IsSv1Y-0amOmNMSVrEfB27dGxDW_P8DUV21zvTBYPUT5rWmqQhKWBYEoRoHjKesRTB50wCzjMl7XatcBpkKV2LkTj1EdTHSE5aMrIeCrCaA/w640-h360/DSCPDC_0000_BURST20231125150038661.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a bright sunny morning, the first for ages, and nothing like it to get you in the mood for a day's exploring. However, unfortunately our national rail network had other ideas. My first plan was a visit to Lancashire - rail replacement bus. An alternative Lancashire trip - see above. Number 3 - a trip east - signalling problems! And so when I arrived at Halifax railway station having booked tickets for my 4th option and discovering the train was running, but delayed, it was clear the problems still weren't resolved. The display said it all....</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-jjKsEtE913APXA4FcPRJ6h7H0pcb9PT0dBs8ja21CKoklydJb8OunUG0rPp5F5WNLgGsFPdosTjnhXkUckL24N2zD5sypIZ_f1_7FeLQSBJMeWVqpUek4u1-rwucdZo2V5RyPoIaCWO5SKoV3e7YYK4U-AQv6zQlQrawOBXuDpSQUBbWBPv5rRQzAg/s4032/DSC_6748.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-jjKsEtE913APXA4FcPRJ6h7H0pcb9PT0dBs8ja21CKoklydJb8OunUG0rPp5F5WNLgGsFPdosTjnhXkUckL24N2zD5sypIZ_f1_7FeLQSBJMeWVqpUek4u1-rwucdZo2V5RyPoIaCWO5SKoV3e7YYK4U-AQv6zQlQrawOBXuDpSQUBbWBPv5rRQzAg/w360-h640/DSC_6748.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Oh dear....<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I had decided to take the relatively short journey over to Shipley, where there were two Good Beer Guide pubs I had never visited, plus another one where a revisit was way overdue. I made it over to Bradford eventually via a returning Grand Central train from the capital, enjoying the ride that was comfier than usual, and walked across the city centre where, as I had a short wait before my next train was due, I called at the excellent <b>Exchange Craft Beer House</b> to have a quick half rather than standing on a cold platform at Forster Square station. The bar was pretty busy with fans of Bradford City enjoying a pre-match drink before their game with Accrington Stanley. I ordered a half of Radio Silence, the third time I had tried this 4.2% pale ale cask beer from the Cornish craft kings, Verdant, and it was the best I'd had so far (NBSS 3.5). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is only a 7 minutes journey from Braford Forster Square to Shipley where the station has 5 platforms laid out in an unusual triangular shape at the intersection of the lines from Leeds and Bradford which if you don't negotiate carefully can see you end up on the wrong platform, as I remember from one early February evening when for the life of me I couldn't work out where we needed to be. Mind you, it was following on from an afternoon session at the Bradford Beer Festival, a pint or two at Fanny's Ale House in Saltaire and at the Fox near to the station....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shipley, despite its close proximity to Bradford, is an independent historic market town situated alongside the River Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Its growth coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the coming of the textile industry, and is home to the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, a mile or so up the road, where industrialist Titus Salt created a model village to house workers at his vast woollen mill. Today the textile industry is long-departed; the mill is now home to several varied businesses, has an art gallery featuring works by Bradford's David Hockney, a bookshop, restaurants, and cafes. Sadly, little remains of the historic buildings that once occupied Shipley town centre; a combination of slum clearance, road-widening, and new developments put paid to most of them, so that today most of it is fairly utilitarian and somewhat lacking in character, but it has the benefit of the hills and greenery close by. Shipley Glen is an attractive little wooded valley to the north of the town which has its own funicular tramway, staffed by volunteers, to transport visitors to and from the ridge above. And as you would expect given its proximity to both, it is also very much a dormitory town for Bradford and Leeds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQb0v1uxrPlLB80L6syXVvuYh2eni2sGQo5E6QnbO4CkhqNkdcm57EQ3qsY52qTXpmYUuQMeBKGwiyDSHov3KyvRIgtZbwn0MxWdJKGSQMknvVcGyysIx7JLiBUToBYgyUvT8a-ZLctFYudi9FkcDmNHPf6PZLn2e9HmLzdItTsC-rO9P3ftNyLsUZBJk/s1526/Salts%20Mill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1526" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQb0v1uxrPlLB80L6syXVvuYh2eni2sGQo5E6QnbO4CkhqNkdcm57EQ3qsY52qTXpmYUuQMeBKGwiyDSHov3KyvRIgtZbwn0MxWdJKGSQMknvVcGyysIx7JLiBUToBYgyUvT8a-ZLctFYudi9FkcDmNHPf6PZLn2e9HmLzdItTsC-rO9P3ftNyLsUZBJk/w640-h384/Salts%20Mill.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The historic Salt's Mill</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And it was to the afore-mentioned <b>Fox</b> that I made my way for the first stop of the afternoon in the town. Situated a short walk away from the station in a row of takeaways and shops alongside the always busy A657. It is a single roomed, cafe-style bar with its own on-site brewery, and a place I have visited several times, although my last one was before lockdown. Pleasantly decorated with lots of beer-related signage and photos of old Shipley adorning the walls, it was fairly quiet when I arrived, but over the 40 minutes or so I was there it got busier, with a mix of blokes on their own, some with their mates, and a few couples. There were half a dozen beers on handpump, including a couple from the BEEspoke brewery downstairs. I opted for a pint of Dead City, a 4.4% New Zealand IPA from Anarchy, whose beers I have seen around quite regularly recently. It was hazy, and a murky muddy colour which put me in mind of some of the Lupulus series of beers from Buxton Brewery from a couple of years back. It was a pretty enjoyable beer with plenty of citrussy flavours (NBSS 3). The Fox is a real beer drinker's destination, and as on my previous visits, I enjoyed my time here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIhN5_Z_pa6-ibmD7W6j3uvLTUCVdKfQ1u9cYozOUi1q65V0unN5nc2NsHvo2quXvihU-0tB6sav6WFy7F5DlJEIrYwXYbwGs3ag_AC23Nh-5fl-BxjsGh-AryZAyyot6VLFhyphenhyphenCQNjuhf83j-Bb28QZVsDKlH8iNh0wjki1CmeZsBNk29Gz_L1cUk-Ic/s4032/DSC_6755.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIhN5_Z_pa6-ibmD7W6j3uvLTUCVdKfQ1u9cYozOUi1q65V0unN5nc2NsHvo2quXvihU-0tB6sav6WFy7F5DlJEIrYwXYbwGs3ag_AC23Nh-5fl-BxjsGh-AryZAyyot6VLFhyphenhyphenCQNjuhf83j-Bb28QZVsDKlH8iNh0wjki1CmeZsBNk29Gz_L1cUk-Ic/w360-h640/DSC_6755.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8niWZ_qd9lWntGmDa2NorH-2OeGs99G3M1dQ0W-X-QYhekICBGrGNFKiQFPyGFPyjFJVhl6D_ZSNwWSHJVPSyEMDd0lVo_xFInYRuaNApPlUokvVIisNbIYgj0228oaSM-5j0-3PVao2PhpO8IEuGexACiUyuPjTFAlxMVe1ak_vxo7OSzdB-r-mGie8/s4032/DSC_6757.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8niWZ_qd9lWntGmDa2NorH-2OeGs99G3M1dQ0W-X-QYhekICBGrGNFKiQFPyGFPyjFJVhl6D_ZSNwWSHJVPSyEMDd0lVo_xFInYRuaNApPlUokvVIisNbIYgj0228oaSM-5j0-3PVao2PhpO8IEuGexACiUyuPjTFAlxMVe1ak_vxo7OSzdB-r-mGie8/w640-h480/DSC_6757.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fox, Shipley</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was around ten minutes' walk to the next place, which included time waiting for the lights to change so I could cross the busy Otley Road. I walked past an Indian restaurant, then a Greek one, and various businesses including one dedicated the somewhat unusual combination of beer, wine, and cake decorating supplies! I came to road going off to the left which was Westgate, and a short distance up on the left was what at first glance appeared to be a closed bar. However, closer inspection showed that there were lights were on inside, and so I tried the door, it opened, and I went in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Hullabaloo</b> may not live up to its name based on first impressions, but inside I found a surprisingly large bar which whilst not particularly busy had a welcoming atmosphere. The friendly girl who was on serving duty broke off from her conversation with a couple of dudes seated at the bar and greeted me cheerily. From the 4 hand pumps on the bar, I ordered a pint of Two Lapels from Wishbone, which had a suspiciously Christmassy theme on the pump clip, but it did promise a slew of American hops in the shape of Mosaic, Chinook, and Citra. In fact the Christmas theme was running through the bar with a Christmas tree, and lights around the bar. <i>#itsstillonlynovember. </i>I retreated to a raised area to the right of the door, there was a corresponding area to the left, and a couple more levels beyond the bar which give a more intimate feel to what is essentially one large room, with the toilets upstairs. The beer was good, another hazy one, and plenty of fruity flavours and punch from the hops (NBSS 3). The soundtrack was pretty good, too. I was about to go, but then I spotted Verdant's Lightbulb on keg, so I ordered a half. and this time sat at the opposite raised area to the left of the entrance. The beer is one of Verdant's best sellers, a 4.5% strong session ale with a biscuit malt base topped with fruity and dank flavours from the addition of Magnum, Simcoe, and Centennial hops. People kept coming in and out of the bar, and like the Fox, Hullabaloo is another friendly bar with good beer that is well worth a visit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswkHEM3jk-K1ehzM2nSabIq5yBM3qanBuZBLRwggwjJAq70xJUil2MEhionP9n6FGzGo4vvdKycy5QnkpisKxmv1mWJbY1XjXPQLzP-DbE2a2ASv1o-a9z8bueqGoFSJyq1xGon4owgeqLeDVJOK7-SAAcn-qurd9OvYzfs6wO0yYYs-s5lxGLVmsBy0/s4032/DSC_6760.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswkHEM3jk-K1ehzM2nSabIq5yBM3qanBuZBLRwggwjJAq70xJUil2MEhionP9n6FGzGo4vvdKycy5QnkpisKxmv1mWJbY1XjXPQLzP-DbE2a2ASv1o-a9z8bueqGoFSJyq1xGon4owgeqLeDVJOK7-SAAcn-qurd9OvYzfs6wO0yYYs-s5lxGLVmsBy0/w640-h360/DSC_6760.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbicGFyhFvLo_UdtssDkGk4xUhVoVVhOnJQgMLl7_Vzc7zoKMq0-6etaztTKPdG-kmCoSXq8oQHu5KITHziIU3KaiLi8M-z9d6ceW4vceFd58frG8PuJkZ0DPBzuOBGXTPGrxW7viZUWmCdgqlee2CobRVwCzB-G1xaXTItLq1Zcw_CMJS015yjb3qMvI/s4032/DSC_6761.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbicGFyhFvLo_UdtssDkGk4xUhVoVVhOnJQgMLl7_Vzc7zoKMq0-6etaztTKPdG-kmCoSXq8oQHu5KITHziIU3KaiLi8M-z9d6ceW4vceFd58frG8PuJkZ0DPBzuOBGXTPGrxW7viZUWmCdgqlee2CobRVwCzB-G1xaXTItLq1Zcw_CMJS015yjb3qMvI/w640-h360/DSC_6761.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hullabaloo, Shipley</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was only a few minutes' walk to the next place on my list, up the hill and then right, a left, and then across the road and I was there, once I had negotiated crossing yet another busy thoroughfare. Set amidst a row of shops near to the town's market square and bus station on Kirkgate, the <b>Crafty Kernel</b> is another new bar which only opened in early 2022. As the name implies, a number of craft keg beers are on sale along with a range of 4 beers on hand pump. It was quite busy when I walked in, there was a crowd sat at the bar with its attractive back wall whilst the tables facing the bar were also fairly well-occupied. Apparently there is additional seating available in an upstairs room. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxt2yE1whhFQ2V_bLa028_I_nnr9TSlwb2LRrIEJV7TNEWxZiYSFmiKioQt8P60DGo6SUWSkdfqdqM7apAc67X14nSlxNPGbaQ2CYgYc8jXZurxBwNzQiOgu5vw4HCsb4aQvvItDU92u0-vkC9JwqaGatLzYRWB26O4S3qkAygBYnvSNwvL9dpj0VFr4/s3915/original_54a73938-169a-40fa-b790-2bc9fac6bca4_DSC_6767.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2355" data-original-width="3915" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxt2yE1whhFQ2V_bLa028_I_nnr9TSlwb2LRrIEJV7TNEWxZiYSFmiKioQt8P60DGo6SUWSkdfqdqM7apAc67X14nSlxNPGbaQ2CYgYc8jXZurxBwNzQiOgu5vw4HCsb4aQvvItDU92u0-vkC9JwqaGatLzYRWB26O4S3qkAygBYnvSNwvL9dpj0VFr4/w640-h384/original_54a73938-169a-40fa-b790-2bc9fac6bca4_DSC_6767.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I decided I would go for one of the keg beers, so I ordered a half of Haven, a 4.7% dry-hopped hazy pale ale which was a collab between Grimsby's Docks Beers and Thornbridge, which was very enjoyable. I followed that up with a half of Twisting, a 5.4% Kveik IPA brewed from Amity, who are based in an old mill in Farsley near Leeds. <i>Kveik</i> refers to a historic family of yeast cultures which are unique to the west coast of Norway which allow for quicker and more efficient fermentation than standard brewing yeasts as well as bringing their own character to a beer. And this was another interesting beer. I liked the Crafty Kernel, it was another warm and friendly little bar where I was made to feel very welcome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrUe92afLKDYVWlt21oJ8nT-VAZz_cnCbg-Da8-N5c-Ad5w4E_iAdKTb855R61dzrRtdSQ7vJDcGEkD0_1ygY1_1LIUDKl_4v36jV9IKZWNeCa5YVVX4NpCTRJLx7MtWwx4L899bZkuz2XlUtRNp5UVfOXu0q8npKB-nK4X3-XVA-wBGPQoN0HNzyoJk/s4032/DSC_6765.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrUe92afLKDYVWlt21oJ8nT-VAZz_cnCbg-Da8-N5c-Ad5w4E_iAdKTb855R61dzrRtdSQ7vJDcGEkD0_1ygY1_1LIUDKl_4v36jV9IKZWNeCa5YVVX4NpCTRJLx7MtWwx4L899bZkuz2XlUtRNp5UVfOXu0q8npKB-nK4X3-XVA-wBGPQoN0HNzyoJk/w640-h360/DSC_6765.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was getting towards the time for the train back to Bradford, so I finished my drink and set off walking down Kirkgate. In the market square, vans were being loaded as the stalls were being emptied, trading done for another day. I walked past the steamy windows of Shipley's Wetherspoons, the Sir Norman Rae, which seemed to be very busy inside, with the town's already-lit Christmas lights shining down on the darkening streets. I crossed over the Otley Road and walked down the quiet road to the station where, after finding the right platform at the first attempt, the evening temperature falling as the train back to Bradford arrived a few minutes late. I'd had a great afternoon in Shipley; three excellent little bars each with some great beer and a friendly welcome, and with them all being pretty close together it makes for an ideal mini crawl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW3PvjL_r0g7rObL1ryWmFxnmIkpcViXqDu_y4wkb78cqU5n61NJXQD_DnmEhFiIOjQNTAtGcIg7FwWf4FXe3ZLUVHCmSfokX9SDPmLhWukqDuRKE1sGHi8XU9LNRYm_9dsSgtrkLVFn1G0JoVV6qx3xPUE0MLU5U_M4YGeVQ1mSyLoU80NgCQpUeO7Y/s4032/DSC_6771.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW3PvjL_r0g7rObL1ryWmFxnmIkpcViXqDu_y4wkb78cqU5n61NJXQD_DnmEhFiIOjQNTAtGcIg7FwWf4FXe3ZLUVHCmSfokX9SDPmLhWukqDuRKE1sGHi8XU9LNRYm_9dsSgtrkLVFn1G0JoVV6qx3xPUE0MLU5U_M4YGeVQ1mSyLoU80NgCQpUeO7Y/w640-h360/DSC_6771.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Back in Bradford, I decided to call in the <b>Shoulder of Mutton</b> on Kirkgate, a traditional town centre hostelry which is owned by Samuel Smiths. It is a pub I have enjoyed popping in over the past 40-odd years, and it has hardly changed over that time. Spread over a number of rooms and with a large enclosed sun-trap of a beer garden at the back, it has the feel of a local and attracts a mixed clientele with plenty of local characters. The beer, whilst not as cheap as it used to be, is still good value at £3.00 a pint for Old Brewery Bitter, and it was in good nick (NBSS 3). Being a Sam's house, I couldn't look at my phone of course, and when I decided to forget the train and get a taxi to take me home I had to go outside to sort it out. Returning back inside the pub to finish my drink, on this increasingly cold evening the warmth emanating from the open fire in the lounge area down from the bar was most welcome. And then it was back outside to wait in the cold for the Uber to take me home, having had a most enjoyable visit despite the unpromising start....</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div><br /></div>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-87827852595452925872023-11-22T14:08:00.041+00:002023-11-28T08:53:07.512+00:00The Art And Craft Of Selling Beer....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>A whistle stop tour through the marketing and advertising of beer, which has changed considerably in the years since I first lifted a pint glass to my lips. From the big brands of the 1970's to today's craft brewers, here are some thoughts and recollections....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimx2Kxkf6UtkxmEyCryWtvrIJ5gALlkwgn57mQPPvhfCyRIkYEdXlKRAOnnbA5Zpgyh4Cv9bZdG5LrK2IkotGQxFlmVkeeksFkRrGKignGqV0xLI7abV5rSkhoIC5lGvcLy7tiydOWVNhyphenhyphenrQ5plkGTu3y5dopbIrzYMgFaF-mTMduPbA1pz-4Kn7YLGkY/s4032/DSC_6660.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimx2Kxkf6UtkxmEyCryWtvrIJ5gALlkwgn57mQPPvhfCyRIkYEdXlKRAOnnbA5Zpgyh4Cv9bZdG5LrK2IkotGQxFlmVkeeksFkRrGKignGqV0xLI7abV5rSkhoIC5lGvcLy7tiydOWVNhyphenhyphenrQ5plkGTu3y5dopbIrzYMgFaF-mTMduPbA1pz-4Kn7YLGkY/w640-h360/DSC_6660.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I first started to visit pubs back in the 1970's, choice for a beer drinker was a bit different than it is now. It was certainly more limited; you had bitter, or best, or you had mild, and sometimes a stronger, generally dark beer. If you wanted something different, you could, at your peril, opt for one of the kegs, maybe a Youngers Tartan, or a Whitbread Trophy, which would be sold under blanket pressure via a brightly-lit font. Or you could have a Guinness, or lager, or a bottle of brown ale off the shelf. If you didn't fancy any of that, then it would have to be a glass of wine such as Blue Nun or Mateus Rose, or a spirit. Babycham, anyone?</span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amongst real ale brewers, lack of much competition meant that the local breweries didn't have to spend too much time thinking about the design of their pump clips. The breweries had their own pubs which sold their beers only at a time when there were few free houses. And so the pump clips </span>tended to heavily feature the brewery name and what the beer was, but in terms of design, it was all pretty tame and basic. The brewery's heritage would be a common theme. You'd get the wheatsheaf with Websters, whilst for Tetleys it was the monocled huntsman staring out at you from the bar front, exuding an air of unruffled tradition. I<span style="font-family: inherit;">n essence, they didn't have to fight too hard for your attention as in those days when competition was more limited; it was generally a case of take it or leave it....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is not to say that no promotion of beer existed in those days, in fact it was quite the opposite. TV advertising was allowed back then and was used extensively to promote the big national, generally keg brands like Whitbread and Watneys, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">much of whose focus was on marketing lager and those awful watery keg beer monstrosities like Tartan, Trophy, and the dreaded Watneys Red Barrel that dominated the bar with their garish fonts. The messages were simple: "<i>Whitbread Trophy, the pint that thinks it's a quart</i>", "<i>A Double Diamond works wonders</i>", whilst "<i>Heineken refreshes the parts other lagers can't reach</i>". Absolute nonsense of course, but </span>they enticed a gullible audience into believing that these were the beers they had to drink. On taste alone, brands such as those and the likes of Harp and Hofmeister would not have got off the ground without heavy TV promotion which often relied on laddish humour to appeal to their target audience. Meanwhile Watneys-owned Websters brewery used pipe-smoking former Yorkshire and England fast bowler Freddie Trueman to promote Pennine Bitter under the strapline "<i>Drives out the Northern thirst</i>", whilst actor Bernard Miles was the face of bottled beer Mackeson who told us "<i>it looks good, tastes good, and by golly it does you good</i>", which of course was medically unproven and would not be permitted today. Later of course we had former Manchester favourite Boddingtons, by then subsumed as part of the Whitbread empire being promoted as "<i>The Cream of Manchester</i>". Nowadays TV advertising of beer has disappeared from the screens, last seen drowning under a sea of Peter Kay promoted John Smiths Bitter. But here's a reminder of the kind of stuff we had to endure....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LkR0krOm9M4" width="320" youtube-src-id="LkR0krOm9M4"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stepping back a little, branding takes its name from the centuries-old tradition of burning a mark on livestock to indicate ownership, but it has since evolved as a means of protecting the rights of a manufacturer of a specific, distinct product in order to prevent it from being copied and sold on as the <i>bona fide</i> item. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And interestingly, the connection of branding with the brewing industry goes way back to 1876 when Bass Ale registered the first-ever trademark under the UK's Trade Mark Registration Act of 1875 for their famous red triangle logo, and whilst Draught Bass may not be as ubiquitous over the country as it used to be, the distinct logo is still in use to this day.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf-_3a4r121wqLmUXcjVcLFa69Bfy5W4VNoaRHQsJirY2MZmlIJq3exPkpr4M0nHxGDd6dIp6tEpwF8m02fBWoVSXX6YQw6Cx8bdmJ4r155lVLqkBIGEx673OLzSYOSyWTcHPXebN5pDlhTELKroBICsmq5zNkt7ZhFLKWomOLpE8p_J0rt-Vaoz-xMY/s310/Bass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="268" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf-_3a4r121wqLmUXcjVcLFa69Bfy5W4VNoaRHQsJirY2MZmlIJq3exPkpr4M0nHxGDd6dIp6tEpwF8m02fBWoVSXX6YQw6Cx8bdmJ4r155lVLqkBIGEx673OLzSYOSyWTcHPXebN5pDlhTELKroBICsmq5zNkt7ZhFLKWomOLpE8p_J0rt-Vaoz-xMY/s1600/Bass.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the major success stories in the history of the marketing of beer is of course Guinness, the Irish stout which is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Whilst it has no pubs of its own and a limited portfolio, its famous flagship beer has a wide reach with almost total dominance in its own market in Ireland and extremely wide distribution in the UK and other parts of the world where it also has several breweries. It realised the power of advertising and marketing a long time ago, and many of the historic billboard posters it used to advertise are iconic. My first memory of beer advertising when I was a young lad was a poster campaign which with the strapline "<i>1066 Battle of Hastings, 1966 Bottle of Guinness</i>". Many of these posters stated that Guinness "<i>gives you strength</i>" or "<i>is good for you</i>", claims which would not be allowed to be made today without any scientific or medical evidence, but with their striking designs they became classic examples of beer marketing. And with regular TV campaigns over the years, very strong branding, product development, and innovative marketing which has kept up with the more restrictive requirements of today's market, Guinness remains one of the key players in beer advertising to this day.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggr0JIlz0bj2y5qSaEYshBFsV9u89FaClycq2WALm-JgPEvhKSUJL1o8YSfPb2cjW-lrNScaRlXonQ-tTQOQxhDYMxf1rV4xz7OwPiinLzJFesQ6L_NDq26eh2zVYloWR8xXp3OFaytmaPJ6YQEgJWsQD7ytWd3SKKhCQUG3zbZvV1Li1rIE-C_r09xc/s270/Guinness.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="210" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggr0JIlz0bj2y5qSaEYshBFsV9u89FaClycq2WALm-JgPEvhKSUJL1o8YSfPb2cjW-lrNScaRlXonQ-tTQOQxhDYMxf1rV4xz7OwPiinLzJFesQ6L_NDq26eh2zVYloWR8xXp3OFaytmaPJ6YQEgJWsQD7ytWd3SKKhCQUG3zbZvV1Li1rIE-C_r09xc/w311-h400/Guinness.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moving back on to cask beer, gradually over the years more people started to drink it, more breweries emerged, and the Beer Orders Act which led to the demise of the Big Six national brewers like Whitbread, Courage, and Bass Charrington heralded the arrival of pubcos like Enterprise and the growth of free houses. The big money was though still spent on marketing lager. But as more pubs started to sell more different beers, the need to make yours stand out from the crowd resulted in some more interesting pump clip designs. There was still a strong heritage theme and often where they were brewed was featured. There was no real detail about the style of the beer other than simple terms like Pale Blonde, Golden Ale, or Strong Ale, but the character of the beer would often be conveyed in names such as Wobbly Bob, Summer Lightning, or Black Adder.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the general knowledge about what made up a pint became wider, names of hops started to appear in the names of beers. So you would get Goose Eye Chinook and Oakham Citra, both best sellers today for their breweries, and so whilst at one time to call a beer Mosaic or Cascade would have meant nothing, general awareness helped by apps such as Untappd has increased amongst the beer-loving community. Some designs have got cleaner and sharper, such as those from Marble, Thornbridge, and Pomona Island, and with a distinct house style it can offer some reassurance to drinkers even if they have not come across the beer itself before. Unfortunately, sadly some brewers have gone the other way, or just don't get it, which doesn't really help the poor thirsty drinker who can't make out what they're being offered. Presentation does vary dramatically; just check out the opening image which was snapped at the Harrogate Tap recently, and is a pretty typical view of what you might be faced with. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, let's face it, inevitably there will always be that time where unfortunately you are in </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a busy place, you may be struggling to see what beers are on the bar, </span>your view impeded by the dreaded bar-blockers<span style="font-family: inherit;">, and there is no up-to-date or clear chalkboard listing or LED screen, and so unless you already know what you want, all the marketing and advertising in the world isn't going to help you!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSyGQhkGBMi7U9P2ED7xKjcT-UC5q9XBzDzRxWtXq6tnXb3nymhRVOrrAHdd46Y8JHg_l6xWW-2t_p2-FILuDLE-owEVnzy0hSZfm6qTD8opb1dG2Yb4cEYzx0nCGhydLVMvQ1Fuh9Sa_F3__AcR-nGoWKcT9ZXBx13ddV676PAYHncDf7OfbVoeyGgQ/s1196/Cock%20Tavern.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1196" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSyGQhkGBMi7U9P2ED7xKjcT-UC5q9XBzDzRxWtXq6tnXb3nymhRVOrrAHdd46Y8JHg_l6xWW-2t_p2-FILuDLE-owEVnzy0hSZfm6qTD8opb1dG2Yb4cEYzx0nCGhydLVMvQ1Fuh9Sa_F3__AcR-nGoWKcT9ZXBx13ddV676PAYHncDf7OfbVoeyGgQ/w640-h480/Cock%20Tavern.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One of the biggest drivers of beer advertising in the past couple of decades has been the growth of craft beer and the increasing adoption of canned beer by the craft brewers. This has been against a more restrictive environment for the promotion of alcohol and more rigorous legal requirements to support claims made when advertising a product. One of the biggest influences on the scene has been Brewdog, the self-styled punk brewers founded by James Watt and Martin Dickie in Ellon near Aberdeen in 2007. From the start when they launched the legendary Punk IPA, they adopted a rebellious, iconoclastic approach to promoting their beers which got them into trouble for aggressive marketing with the Portman Group, the UK drinks industry watchdog, as early as 2008. Over the years they attracted all kinds of controversies over their often tongue in cheek advertising which has ranged from supplying a beer named after a drug cocktail (<i>Speedball</i>) to bottled beer packed inside small stuffed animals (<i>The End Of History</i>) to allegedly promoting anti-social behaviour by emphasising the strength of the beer (<i>Dead Pony IPA</i>). As the controversies continued to swirl around the them, including how the company has treated its staff, Brewdog continued to grow and is today the biggest craft brewer in Europe with its own bars in many cities and towns around the UK, and in other parts of the world. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Brewdog invested heavily in canning their beer, and this is where the designers can really go to town in their promoting their beers and branding. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Canned beers have of course been around for a long time but the expense of canning beers was prohibitive to all but the biggest brewers until recently. But the development of cheaper kit has made canning a possibility for even the smaller players now, and it has been enthusiastically embraced by today's craft brewers. It works well with the modern trend to brew a greater variety of beers rather than sticking to a simple core range as used to be the case. The fact that so many pubs and bars now have their own fridges increases the distribution opportunities for so many small brewers. Cans are often a more considered purchase, which can cater for those who wish to drink at home, although that is certainly not where all canned beers are drunk. Some can designs are real works of art, with busy, complex designs, whilst others such as Pomona Island, Pollys, and Thornbridge have simple, clear but distinctive styles. The value of good design has of course been recognised for a while; back when iconic Swedish brewers Omnipollo started gypsy brewing in 2010, the team consisted of a brewer, Henok Fentie, and an artist, Karl Grandin, who over the years have produced many beers in eye-catching distinctive packaging. And today, recognising the importance of good presentation to promote their beers, many craft brewers have their own in-house graphic designer or artist even if the overall team is fairly small. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXr9zS-YgZvFR1M0qRIGwNXACacrDn8R3bZq5lD7CHPIaQedLG89_s1rRsyv7wbWdsAJJsZUxX7z6ZzHuWsMc7uiHsAwN54jzzm3DBSgKXuLnO_oNpUtJgfpamhLWRydLqRzNjYaxHMcV0jm06MjRbdkxQar9JpI_x6PHl4P2fxlXUpYRk7HdGCGp2DxE/s4032/DSC_6747~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXr9zS-YgZvFR1M0qRIGwNXACacrDn8R3bZq5lD7CHPIaQedLG89_s1rRsyv7wbWdsAJJsZUxX7z6ZzHuWsMc7uiHsAwN54jzzm3DBSgKXuLnO_oNpUtJgfpamhLWRydLqRzNjYaxHMcV0jm06MjRbdkxQar9JpI_x6PHl4P2fxlXUpYRk7HdGCGp2DxE/w225-h400/DSC_6747~2.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">And whilst you could of course argue that ultimately it comes down to what the beer tastes like, how it is promoted and having a design and image that suits the beer and works within the environment in which it is sold is probably even more important today than it was back in those days in the 1970's, where, relatively speaking, it was a case of anything goes....</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-75552238113049618442023-11-14T18:45:00.018+00:002023-11-17T22:49:18.778+00:00Magpies, Magic, and Some Hoppy Places....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>A brand new blog breaking new ground by visiting a completely new area for me. Football was involved, of course, but what would the pub and beer situation be like? And where would it be? Read on to find out....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2E-epFrYykygFlI9y4CxcvSQoMvh8QULshf6R_-axY4Nf0VZaLKIKKl2lnDuKpZNgJc5k8B6EAaH2po56dQ7aRN3pNkTUqCNqnKQgCq3eo-_V297eKJMJt3R-qrtsBnv6nwXr6lgocaM6wgL4Qr7kHdsk6FOJ79bxY46N8iZ8Y7Dl9pzhBaEFaB9Fk18/s4032/DSC_6692.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2E-epFrYykygFlI9y4CxcvSQoMvh8QULshf6R_-axY4Nf0VZaLKIKKl2lnDuKpZNgJc5k8B6EAaH2po56dQ7aRN3pNkTUqCNqnKQgCq3eo-_V297eKJMJt3R-qrtsBnv6nwXr6lgocaM6wgL4Qr7kHdsk6FOJ79bxY46N8iZ8Y7Dl9pzhBaEFaB9Fk18/w640-h360/DSC_6692.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I haven't been to watch FC Halifax Town as much this time around, but at the start of the season we had discussed one or two potential away trips where we would have a stop over. So having signed up early doors, four of us set off early last Saturday morning to visit Maidenhead, where we hoped to be able to come back with the points and enjoy a few pints in this corner of Berkshire. And of course I was hoping to find enough suitable material to put together a new blog! </div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Maidenhead is situated just off the M4 and close to the M40, and with a railway connection that gets you to London Paddington in 24 minutes as well as having services to more local places like Windsor and Reading, the town, which takes its name from its location where a new wharf or '<i>maiden hythe</i>' was built in Saxon times, is handily located. The town centre, whilst it wouldn't win any awards for its looks, is compact, with the railway station, football ground, three of the town's five CAMRA pubs, and the Travelodge where we stayed the night all very close together. With a few delays on the M1 coming down, our journey took just over 4 and a half hours, but once we had got parked up near the hotel, we were able to amble around to the first pub and begin drinking our first pint before the clock struck 1.30.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3570zW0HeJp4tS9JuwFsNSJXcRhYx0rrKw_kHRYCAwn-IitgZ8LomVt7kjb9FD3k5QOc_0ChuCTZN__FSHhBY8dUnORdrVOXeJqkLxMxCiQqPTrVvNfFau8yvCLo7ecMgesFhFTmL8RYEgBoYsa_aLzTgQttifISCUmYT4JxIYMRBWs1kPixLJFCMS08/s4032/DSC_6682.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3570zW0HeJp4tS9JuwFsNSJXcRhYx0rrKw_kHRYCAwn-IitgZ8LomVt7kjb9FD3k5QOc_0ChuCTZN__FSHhBY8dUnORdrVOXeJqkLxMxCiQqPTrVvNfFau8yvCLo7ecMgesFhFTmL8RYEgBoYsa_aLzTgQttifISCUmYT4JxIYMRBWs1kPixLJFCMS08/w640-h360/DSC_6682.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Our first pub was the predictably-named <b>Maiden's Head</b> (<i>well, somebody was bound to do it!</i>), a pleasant enough town-centre pub with various separate areas within its general open-plan design. There were 4 hand pumps on the bar, as well as a number of craft beers in keg. From the cask range, we all went for pints of Rebellion IPA, a 3.7% copper-coloured beer, quite malty and sweet, with a dry finish (NBSS 3), and was a pleasant-enough beer to start the day. The brewery is based in Marlow, across the border in Buckinghamshire, and has steadily grown since being established in 1993. We were joined by a group of familiar Town fans, who had travelled down by train, and we compared notes on our respective journeys.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next pub was only a couple of minutes walk away, a large and prominent traditional pub called the <b>Bear</b>, which is now a JD Wetherspoon house whose thresholds, as regular readers will know, I rarely cross. But we were relatively short on time, and whilst my pint of the 3.8% Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter golden session ale was thin on flavour but too sweet for my taste (NBSS 2.5), I did at least have the consolation of picking up the tab for the round here, which have barely covered the cost of two pints in most of the other places we went over the day. But don't get me started about the breakfast we had here the following morning....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Much better was our final stop before going to the football. <b>A Hoppy Place </b>was a modern bar and bottle and can shop offering both cask and keg beers based on the ground floor of a residential development. Apparently it opened in 2022 following in the footsteps of a sister bar in Windsor. and features 4 cask ales and 14 keg lines. Today there were beers on offer from breweries such as Siren, Stardust, Tartarus, and Verdant, and from the cask range there was unanimity again as all four of us went for pints of Devotion, from Norfolk-based brewers Duration. This was a 4.4% hazy pale featuring the Motueka hop, which I have found that sometimes on its own can be a little bland, but it was certainly not the case with this. Well-balanced and smooth, it was easily the most enjoyable of our pre-match beers, and indeed one of the best of the day (NBSS 3.5). The atmosphere here was friendly and relaxed, and there were not surprisingly given the proximity to the football ground a number of supporters from both teams as well as family groups and beer afficionados.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfjS7HQ7vdvCkimI1DUKqiMOrmlriQB2h2XbpNqiCQHqO2gtJXXHFs21GGjruYaUbqgaPsZcCp9-Aq8Z93s8AYRoOSm0KQzKOCMAmoXr3T3G57CaazUvo_oCHpe-1wd4wduEyCcsNCMIYd1gq06B50KqjoCn5mb-IzafIhKqRg6iS7SxK1g_Vl3McwcM/s4032/DSC_6689.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfjS7HQ7vdvCkimI1DUKqiMOrmlriQB2h2XbpNqiCQHqO2gtJXXHFs21GGjruYaUbqgaPsZcCp9-Aq8Z93s8AYRoOSm0KQzKOCMAmoXr3T3G57CaazUvo_oCHpe-1wd4wduEyCcsNCMIYd1gq06B50KqjoCn5mb-IzafIhKqRg6iS7SxK1g_Vl3McwcM/w640-h360/DSC_6689.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBdgGoACa_ZBlEfkySapDw0JxjKCNGZkizim40Mp3GFEvGjHX8_lfLGvapNAmyzLUQIzlvmPdlk_22XvWv2YqCsHzNGREQXZ71ObjxSbmq-WTJn_b4GFsOLOvZ03Si3gGLnJxyEPApPHguaxF4wHdMVQkdXJ5wxl9Jn9wyvzz_FZAsVrVQNlB80ACtfg/s4032/DSC_6687.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBdgGoACa_ZBlEfkySapDw0JxjKCNGZkizim40Mp3GFEvGjHX8_lfLGvapNAmyzLUQIzlvmPdlk_22XvWv2YqCsHzNGREQXZ71ObjxSbmq-WTJn_b4GFsOLOvZ03Si3gGLnJxyEPApPHguaxF4wHdMVQkdXJ5wxl9Jn9wyvzz_FZAsVrVQNlB80ACtfg/w640-h480/DSC_6687.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was yards to the football ground from there. York Road is amazingly the oldest football in continuous use by the same team, dating from 1871. Like the town around it, it is a hotch-potch, with low buildings, wooden huts, a couple of covered standing terraces, a more modern stand with seating, and a modern container-esque <i>Alan Devonshire Suite</i>, named after the Magpies' long-standing current manager. But it has a certain charm about it and unusually for the National League these days there is no crowd segregation. Unfortunately though, the football was where it all went wrong for us away fans, as we witnessed a<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">nother disappointing performance by Town</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Yes we should have had a penalty, and we piled on the pressure in the 2nd half, but we faffed about in the first half, kept giving the ball away, underlining once again that we are desperately short of a striker. It finished Maidenhead Utd 1, Town 0.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxcZ-D8gdU_WQEsoMmS3TYCU1E_c0njQTGkO5uW-NqOflPeNxnH_WpQ2Nw_tjy0adPoFXFrcunvTyixeOcc-LkLkh6CY2-qSZCQFUx6Nf0_pLYiUjZPVIybpYstob5fE43njw3DO7IYCTCcCaOZKkXPMnMAflCkFx_tZTLn2BErf24ygJnCMZeraPHzo/s4032/DSC_6730.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxcZ-D8gdU_WQEsoMmS3TYCU1E_c0njQTGkO5uW-NqOflPeNxnH_WpQ2Nw_tjy0adPoFXFrcunvTyixeOcc-LkLkh6CY2-qSZCQFUx6Nf0_pLYiUjZPVIybpYstob5fE43njw3DO7IYCTCcCaOZKkXPMnMAflCkFx_tZTLn2BErf24ygJnCMZeraPHzo/w640-h360/DSC_6730.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBcvKaXZUNQ8j0QNE2d1lC6uAO8x1iqM9X1fD7K84HfPxEp4bCmkIxhOK1-uP8LIZBfWostJpHmcX6Nc2WdF-ceQ751_LepSqnrPwqj8U-vj0o40-GuaWeW5Rqopppc4ykKJiUPVOGqm0SumAMO5qDatDlzoUuuD9mrFJK4gIcfaXkQp1mkmWx2UyM2g/s4032/DSC_6696.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBcvKaXZUNQ8j0QNE2d1lC6uAO8x1iqM9X1fD7K84HfPxEp4bCmkIxhOK1-uP8LIZBfWostJpHmcX6Nc2WdF-ceQ751_LepSqnrPwqj8U-vj0o40-GuaWeW5Rqopppc4ykKJiUPVOGqm0SumAMO5qDatDlzoUuuD9mrFJK4gIcfaXkQp1mkmWx2UyM2g/w640-h360/DSC_6696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Football over, we got checked in at the hotel, and 10 minutes later we reconvened and headed across the road to the railway station from where we caught the train to Windsor & Eton Central, which involved a changeover at Slough. Now having never been to Maidenhead before, I did have vague recollections of visiting Windsor a long, long time ago. We got off the train, went down the steps and spotted two brewery taprooms situated in the arches below the station, Two Flints and Indie Rabble (<i>who I discovered subsequently are owned by the same people that have the Hoppy Places</i>). But the quick route was blocked off, and once we had walked round a considerable block, we decided to go to another brewery tap that was in the Good Beer Guide, on an industrial estate on the other side of the railway arches, that of the Windsor & Eton Brewery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The snappily-named <b>Windsor & Eton Unit Four Brewery Tap</b> sits in a unit deep within the Vansittart Industrial Estate in sight of the railway line. We arrived to find a pleasant bar which was already quite busy and with several of the empty tables having cards with reservations on for later in the evening it seems that this is a place to go on a weekend. The brewery was set up in 2010 by some former employees of Courage, who had a big site in nearby Reading, and was the first new brewery in Windsor for almost 80 years. Today they brew around 5,000 barrels a year so they are of a reasonable size, with their beers sold mainly in London and around the Thames Valley, with local deliveries around Windsor made using a traditional horse and dray. I ordered a pint of Guardsman bitter, a 4.2% traditional copper-coloured beer brewed with Maris Otter malt and Styrian Golding, Pilgrim, and Fuggles hops (NBSS 3). The quality was fine, but I found its bitter hop flavours and underlying sweetness not really to my taste. They seem to brew traditional styles but there were several keg lines on as well, so it seems they are moving with the times. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURNSiNC_WtVL2DM_Ob9w8K5-s5lSvzp7Un9nszYkUxd6BZxXwIxD4Ujg5J31y2WG8AaHQBwt8lIaaYk6Uxx2Qb-gg6qooSTCCZloqOq371-Buj6_E7Cj1CZrO6fkHTku2yKNGE9fCxqCQwn6x3nK2LyjSo0pxNT3KcXfCTuxuAaNRUB52rFRnzE2R8E4/s4032/DSC_6702.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURNSiNC_WtVL2DM_Ob9w8K5-s5lSvzp7Un9nszYkUxd6BZxXwIxD4Ujg5J31y2WG8AaHQBwt8lIaaYk6Uxx2Qb-gg6qooSTCCZloqOq371-Buj6_E7Cj1CZrO6fkHTku2yKNGE9fCxqCQwn6x3nK2LyjSo0pxNT3KcXfCTuxuAaNRUB52rFRnzE2R8E4/w640-h360/DSC_6702.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Windsor and Eton Tap marks the start of a new Windsor beer mile which I read about in the Berkshire South East CAMRA magazine which has the delightful title of Mad Cow (<i>think about it</i>). This also takes in the two new brewery taps by the station and the next two pubs we visited. From the W & E Tap it was a few minutes to the original <b>A Hoppy Place</b>. Set in a former retail unit on a pleasant street, there was a welcoming glow from inside as we approached. The bar and bottle shop is smaller than the Maidenhead branch but I quite enjoyed its relaxed atmosphere, with several customers chatting with the guy behind the bar which is situated at the back of a long room. It falls into two sections, with an area at the front with several tables and a couple of fridges selling cans and bottles. There are no hand pumps, but a couple of cask beers are dispensed from a number of taps on the back wall along with 11 keg beers, all of which are displayed on LED screens in both sections of the bar. We went for one of the two cask beers, a 4.8% American Pale Ale called Wapaloosie, brewed by Leeds-based Tartarus Brewery and named after a mythical creature from North American folklore. It featured a little wheat and oats to soften the mouthfeel, cara and crystal malts, and Ella, Enigma, and Comet hops to give some big fruity flavours, and was the colour of pale mud. An interesting beer which is also gluten-free (NBSS 3).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFX0EOwAhqV97SDUtyr7d9jVWMqOFoxuLc4Hf1tiEl1obDTbvgnhPqPL0PZyPMdAsnpIrchNIUG0eUSVEdTXLs-h4Q8ikA0ZdFBcxr1D2M8Y6lG3fJPzFoNFVV33cTwXyFsAmMWMgemfGKzfVZc8UWmlnIwdoNDn33kQSkxSdKCePHJ4nwQPV1B3P3GOY/s4032/DSC_6708.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFX0EOwAhqV97SDUtyr7d9jVWMqOFoxuLc4Hf1tiEl1obDTbvgnhPqPL0PZyPMdAsnpIrchNIUG0eUSVEdTXLs-h4Q8ikA0ZdFBcxr1D2M8Y6lG3fJPzFoNFVV33cTwXyFsAmMWMgemfGKzfVZc8UWmlnIwdoNDn33kQSkxSdKCePHJ4nwQPV1B3P3GOY/w640-h360/DSC_6708.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The boys enjoying their Wapaloosies....</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSQlU8OQZqbPOMTQLxFLewNEFymrZJsqMbTE2WdcGks5agj76bBK9LCm7vOnrGW3XxOzi9_izL8IE6-krJndlcGRIkCU8yl1PeSZkXvrWpdlaeBbrCWRK30G53ZLMGrcaMH81t2BeXPQMcfEMnWyrpIg7W_h-OVRgb-f___ADQsPKegMiyQ110v3ZCOw/s3155/DSC_6704~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2039" data-original-width="3155" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSQlU8OQZqbPOMTQLxFLewNEFymrZJsqMbTE2WdcGks5agj76bBK9LCm7vOnrGW3XxOzi9_izL8IE6-krJndlcGRIkCU8yl1PeSZkXvrWpdlaeBbrCWRK30G53ZLMGrcaMH81t2BeXPQMcfEMnWyrpIg7W_h-OVRgb-f___ADQsPKegMiyQ110v3ZCOw/w640-h414/DSC_6704~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Moving on it was another few minutes to the next place. The <b>Windsor Trooper</b> is a traditional pub decorated in an attractive style with several old brewery mirrors adorning the walls, whilst adorning the bar were 5 hand pumps with cask beers featuring Adnams Southwold Bitter, Oakham Citra, plus three guest ales. I'd noticed beers on sale in one or two of the places we'd been from Stardust, whose beers I'd not encountered previously. There was one here too, called Easy Pale featuring Mosaic hops, so I gave it a try. This 3.8% pale was clean and refreshing, and it was just what my palate needed at this point of the day after a couple of rather chewy pints. One of the best beers of the day (NBSS 3.5), and in one of the best places we visited. A great atmosphere, friendly staff, and top-class beer - what's not too like? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2jhfVVvDL9v0hmHEo3zUOz0zb4sW0iE_GcJY-sVbJx-7wF_zfOms5uJqvzTE0JQOD2SLOm-N34b2ehXbarwi4C9ILHt91D48poC4j8VXbX6hlBkdto-RKsK42Uq1PCtFtg-OeFQoZWgTyUy27P0OLq4lSEEAvt28LXmNy4UGyI9SazLgqYqB3-UdMsI/s4032/DSC_6710.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2jhfVVvDL9v0hmHEo3zUOz0zb4sW0iE_GcJY-sVbJx-7wF_zfOms5uJqvzTE0JQOD2SLOm-N34b2ehXbarwi4C9ILHt91D48poC4j8VXbX6hlBkdto-RKsK42Uq1PCtFtg-OeFQoZWgTyUy27P0OLq4lSEEAvt28LXmNy4UGyI9SazLgqYqB3-UdMsI/w640-h360/DSC_6710.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately the next place didn't do a lot for me. The Grade ll-listed <b>Corner House</b> had a bouncer on for starters, and whilst the guy was extremely polite and courteous it always puts me off when you have some burly guy on the door and then wonder what lies within. Inside the bar was busy and loud, with a crowd predominately comprising some of Windsor's young and beautiful things. Championship darts featured on two large TV screens, whilst surprisingly there was a total of 10 hand pumps on the bar, including beers from Tiny Rebel, Brew York, and Stardust. I went for a pint of Stardust Easy Pale, but this time it featured the Citra hop. It was ok but not as good as the last pint I'd had (NBSS 3). I just felt that the over-riding sports bar feel jarred with some of the places we'd visited earlier.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We then made our way into the heart of the old part of Windsor close to the castle where lurking amongst some attractive narrow streets and alleys was our final pub of the evening. The <b>Carpenters Arms</b> is a Nicholson's house which means you would expect it be attractively decorated and well-maintained and to sell their house beer, a pale ale brewed by St Austell, probably Doom Bar, and several more interesting guest beers. And, yes, it was like that, with much dark wood, glazed panels, tall brass-topped tables, and wooden barrels, with pictures of old Windsor and marching guardsmen on the wall. There were also some artefacts featuring the pubs former owners, Ashbys. The Nicholson's Pale Ale was pleasant enough (NBSS 3), and the atmosphere was chilled and quieter than the last place, and quite relaxing. A nice spot for the final pint of the evening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPoQUiB954Tln95crgtPQwPY06-K6ddxfKT2dYBqpvPJD6ryFzCjn06FozXSIdD4x5ZCgNlhe42VfLDRgmYKgPH-bAsLH_PGMOTePg6R7aE_7QjS2vtZG7oRd-kqH3d05MfDjekuF7JMKF_E48poBD1klOKtFMhSj6mQ-du2W86x3AXN8qUIjXapdR5Y/s4032/DSC_6724.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPoQUiB954Tln95crgtPQwPY06-K6ddxfKT2dYBqpvPJD6ryFzCjn06FozXSIdD4x5ZCgNlhe42VfLDRgmYKgPH-bAsLH_PGMOTePg6R7aE_7QjS2vtZG7oRd-kqH3d05MfDjekuF7JMKF_E48poBD1klOKtFMhSj6mQ-du2W86x3AXN8qUIjXapdR5Y/w640-h360/DSC_6724.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAuUqldWvBEdDh6U5vy0400XRhHgwDD5xN_lRl4qODfLCpqQu023sBaQWig7UQYuzUjoqC-3o35zBArqMcGSwN1Id6Igx63hOTINhowV-SCQnAHmWOdHlx7GmSgXW3i2Z8aATahz4reFDBLhnMnhvF5Vzvx-evABGWYEhKyCol5JcNNIqSIv_WbkB9y8/s4032/DSC_6725.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAuUqldWvBEdDh6U5vy0400XRhHgwDD5xN_lRl4qODfLCpqQu023sBaQWig7UQYuzUjoqC-3o35zBArqMcGSwN1Id6Igx63hOTINhowV-SCQnAHmWOdHlx7GmSgXW3i2Z8aATahz4reFDBLhnMnhvF5Vzvx-evABGWYEhKyCol5JcNNIqSIv_WbkB9y8/w400-h225/DSC_6725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We walked down a busy street towards the river, the castle walls above us, and crossed the bridge over the Thames, where a few minutes later we arrived at Golden Curry, an Indian restaurant that had been suggested. Situated on a quiet road, it wasn't too busy and service was quick. The food was excellent, my seekh kebabs followed by chicken pathia with pilau rice and garlic nan washed down with a bottle of Cobra really hit the spot. We also received a complementary brandy and were then treated to some mind-boggling magic tricks by Amin, the restaurant's owner. It made for a splendid end to the evening's proceedings, before we got an Uber back over to Maidenhead and the hotel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It had been an interesting day, ok the football and some of the beer hadn't lived up to expectations, but overall I'd enjoyed my day in this part of the world. And there's at least two new brewery taps waiting should I make a return trip to Windsor....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-18224481554384324322023-11-08T12:27:00.013+00:002023-11-08T12:46:13.164+00:00A Stray Day In Harrogate....<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>A first visit to Harrogate for a number of years, and on this showing it won't be long before I come back. I found some great beers and new bars which with a number of long-standing favourites all add up to what is a thriving beer scene in this large North Yorkshire town....</i></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxyNXAOXp7v_WbC3IeSEBlD4ZsdGDmIMlMWslUeuBAjkinXNgP3AZ4-NkoL4utQc-BhR12ofJ2t6J4x9ZWnvMTwFZULKc_nUkcQ2y4Sb0-Fi0GID5EQXGI2ONItMoInEnE-600KwBIdoMCtqu-tGwHPdGyFbqNZRBtdYQY4r3IrO8j74lMFCMbizQaoo/s3043/DSC_6675~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="3043" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxyNXAOXp7v_WbC3IeSEBlD4ZsdGDmIMlMWslUeuBAjkinXNgP3AZ4-NkoL4utQc-BhR12ofJ2t6J4x9ZWnvMTwFZULKc_nUkcQ2y4Sb0-Fi0GID5EQXGI2ONItMoInEnE-600KwBIdoMCtqu-tGwHPdGyFbqNZRBtdYQY4r3IrO8j74lMFCMbizQaoo/w640-h374/DSC_6675~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a grey, miserable day as I set off on my trip to Harrogate, drizzling in and amongst and not really a day to enjoy the rich autumn colours which are continuing to show but in ever decreasing numbers. And by the time I arrived in the busy North Yorkshire town that drizzle had become persistent to say the least. But fortunately, it wasn't far to travel to the first place I had earmarked to call on my visit here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <b>Harrogate Tap</b> is actually situated within the station buildings, and from a former empty and neglected space, a comfortable and stylish bar has been created featuring much dark wood, a tiled floor, and traditional furniture and fittings. It is run by the Pivovar Group, who also run the Taps at Sheffield and York stations, as well as Pivni in York and Tapped in Leeds, plus a joint pub venture with Thornbridge which includes the Market Cat in York and the Banker's Cat in Leeds, and that is in addition to being a large drinks wholesaler. I have to say the Harrogate Tap is my favourite of their station taps, it has always had a laid-back ambience, friendly staff, and a decent selection of well-kept beer whenever I've called in. And today was no exception. From a dozen beers on hand pump which, as well as one of their own Tapped brewery, came from breweries such as Redwillow, Bristol Beer Factory, Three Brothers, and Anarchy, I went for a pint of Platinum from Helmsley Brewery. This was a 3.8% refreshing pale beer with Citra and Eldorado hops brewed to commemorate 70 years of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. And very good it was too, I reckon it was a 3.5 on he National Beer Scoring System scale which made for a strong start to the day's proceedings. There is also a craft beer offering, but on this occasion I didn't take much of a look. The place was quite busy across both of its rooms, but as on previous visits, it was all very civilised, the hum of conversation wafting around as drinks were sipped.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAM8u2mn-kBpm4eCzHyV0dn8W4kGOcK792ZDypLRnyx1TZEEGeIUYXjV8o336MAVERHuNNNADS3aHF3FosxYYRVfVZxM-qdsswI5sYsaDGTZgZXUjF_3dD4szGc-0-tQZzt-sW9aKBdNcHxpYpjZbKuwcChjf_7KJbcklKJLdra8M8ONai3VDjb_QyHU/s4032/DSC_6661.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAM8u2mn-kBpm4eCzHyV0dn8W4kGOcK792ZDypLRnyx1TZEEGeIUYXjV8o336MAVERHuNNNADS3aHF3FosxYYRVfVZxM-qdsswI5sYsaDGTZgZXUjF_3dD4szGc-0-tQZzt-sW9aKBdNcHxpYpjZbKuwcChjf_7KJbcklKJLdra8M8ONai3VDjb_QyHU/w640-h360/DSC_6661.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I got myself together and headed out into the increasingly heavy drizzle in search of the nearest place on my list that I hadn't previously visited. Just opposite the bus station, the Good Beer Guide app had said, so with that being just down the road, so it should be easy to find. Or so I thought. I walked past the bus station. Couldn't find the place. Put Google Maps on. It was back towards the train station. The drizzle was increasing in intensity. I walked back, then the blue dot (me) had moved past it. Where was the bugger? I just couldn't see it. The pub description had said you could also access from Beulah Street, so I found that. The blue dot and the red marker started to get closer on Google Maps. And closer. Closer. Here? <i>Here!!!???</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To say the <b>Disappearing Chin</b> has an understated appearance to the outside world is like putting it mildly. An undistinguished exterior with little to give away who or what it is, only a few chairs hinting at a possible cafe within. I opened the door, it was dimly lit inside. Plenty of plants, a large sofa, tables and chairs laid out as in a cafe. A few bar stools at the bar, which is situated in the middle of the long room effectively creating different areas. There were 3 hand pumps and a number of fonts offering keg beers. A few guys were sat at the bar but it was empty otherwise. I'd decided to balance my visit out with the odd half, so I ordered half of London Thunder, the delicious 4.2% porter brewed by Roosters just outside the town. When I came to pay I was asked for £4.50, and when my drink appeared after topping up I realised the lady behind the bar must have misheard me! Oh well, never mind, I'll have a half in the next place. I went to a table at the Beulah Street end of the room and plugged my phone in for a charge while I drank my beer. It was very good, rich and creamy, another NBSS 3.5. A couple of ladies came in for a post-shopping glass of wine came and sat at the nearby sofa. My phone reached 90% as I finished my pint, and it was time to go. Whilst it may have been because I was slightly irritated at the time it took to find the place, and whilst I certainly couldn't fault the beer and the soundtrack was pretty decent, I wasn't quite sure what to think about the place in the end.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5AGGEdc6c69nYfgKLJBDglpl31yg291kBtexL7b4xW1pdtYJ2y-LqtrUH0qgaO6AWHwwMdzGB7avIPLvlIuuP-4fx_6pAxv3qVFPidoz-5ifoFteOlN2tqSEUYNq8t8uROrfUBMWTtqf8dXWKvY7XaeIJdcZ-kp1trTtsAFDTMBWj6dlAB10s50kmUs/s4032/DSC_6662.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5AGGEdc6c69nYfgKLJBDglpl31yg291kBtexL7b4xW1pdtYJ2y-LqtrUH0qgaO6AWHwwMdzGB7avIPLvlIuuP-4fx_6pAxv3qVFPidoz-5ifoFteOlN2tqSEUYNq8t8uROrfUBMWTtqf8dXWKvY7XaeIJdcZ-kp1trTtsAFDTMBWj6dlAB10s50kmUs/w640-h360/DSC_6662.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Appearing at the Disappearing Chin....</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now whilst the next place also wasn't proclaiming itself in bright lights, the warm glow coming out of the window of a terrace and a couple vaping in the little yard out front on nearby Cheltenham Crescent hinted that something may lie within, and that was confirmed when I spotted a hanging sign above the door announcing that I had indeed arrived at the <b>Little Ale House</b>. I walked in, and liked the place from the off. Yes, it was busy, all of the tables were occupied, and there was a queue for the bar, but there was a lovely warm atmosphere to the place. The queue moved fairly quickly and I was soon at the bar, which is situated at the far end of the room where one of the friendly guys working the bar took my order. I ordered a pint (<i>forgot to get a half</i>) of Cool Citra, a 4.4% pale ale from Ainsty, who brew on a farm at Acaster Malbis, near York. This was another most enjoyable pint (NBSS 3), which I drank stood at the where a few other beer afficionados were gathered. My eye was drawn to the beer board on the wall opposite where they had their own Little Ale House beer on keg brewed by Two by Two, who as regular readers may have picked up on, are one of my favourite brewers. So once the Citra was finished, I ordered a pint of the 4.7% house bar. It was the familiar yellow-orange murk, packed with loads of juicy flavours. Delicious.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QDfUHj0cYjMJ9DDcFPtKToMPERsh1tQRalN5qubkxkAQax8j2x9wrZ7oHxMo7bCJZvsmTx4i85acmKFv4LRK-DwJ3hIFR_-wQSx-GE5tJw7BlhVQfQpihMHfqHukIx1RDKIhYMuvP_UobUzE-Sl-gA_dZMgrNKNgUhJEbgubyMbwm9SFAlz9tLIo6vk/s4032/DSC_6663.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QDfUHj0cYjMJ9DDcFPtKToMPERsh1tQRalN5qubkxkAQax8j2x9wrZ7oHxMo7bCJZvsmTx4i85acmKFv4LRK-DwJ3hIFR_-wQSx-GE5tJw7BlhVQfQpihMHfqHukIx1RDKIhYMuvP_UobUzE-Sl-gA_dZMgrNKNgUhJEbgubyMbwm9SFAlz9tLIo6vk/w640-h360/DSC_6663.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I got chatting to one of the guys behind the bar about Two by Two and beers in general. One of the beer afficionados recommended a bar to visit if I liked cask and keg that was near to the station. I liked the Little Ale House, it was the first micropub in Harrogate apparently, and as well as the main room which falls neatly into two halves, there is a pleasant looking yard out the back which is visible through the large window at the back of the bar which helps give the place a light and airy feel. There is a large temperature-controlled glass cabinet at the side of the bar area in which the beers and some other drinks are stored. All the time I was there was a steady stream of customers, a real mix of people, but the lads kept on top of things in a friendly and courteous manner. A great little bar and it should be an essential part of any visit to Harrogate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5O7OwnBdLaw9UjIzcGe6KHxiN5EYgSnzHrtflZyhjry2XqrdwChicjgXF0ssljZQktQq7CowOxqvIYOWcCiGsFmOMZwqbK_od4-E6VqIAap86KaThDAsZUUyNOIrrZjTRWiCTRS5ULxqqgBpAu_6JRQLe9YSbWj09gg6K03pX_KD6RV5xpfBC_kbDapE/s4032/DSC_6668.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5O7OwnBdLaw9UjIzcGe6KHxiN5EYgSnzHrtflZyhjry2XqrdwChicjgXF0ssljZQktQq7CowOxqvIYOWcCiGsFmOMZwqbK_od4-E6VqIAap86KaThDAsZUUyNOIrrZjTRWiCTRS5ULxqqgBpAu_6JRQLe9YSbWj09gg6K03pX_KD6RV5xpfBC_kbDapE/w640-h360/DSC_6668.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NzJPSnaXynwNET7ABfIbb1N-LsJ6V-VcnsmHwZ4vtZmWnkbgtDfW_yOncNPXiR4vkorhCBgWazld1tFij7q1iUdgNHrxvJgeAbYZIRft3Sx3q4uOhZ_foFj3Ajo7Z5hSeL6GEhrkY5BDaWQkNJ2cSWoLUjMwyVZQonP2_MKVd1Po0B_L-rNdqvMmUTI/s4032/DSCPDC_0002_BURST20231104162020377.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NzJPSnaXynwNET7ABfIbb1N-LsJ6V-VcnsmHwZ4vtZmWnkbgtDfW_yOncNPXiR4vkorhCBgWazld1tFij7q1iUdgNHrxvJgeAbYZIRft3Sx3q4uOhZ_foFj3Ajo7Z5hSeL6GEhrkY5BDaWQkNJ2cSWoLUjMwyVZQonP2_MKVd1Po0B_L-rNdqvMmUTI/w640-h360/DSCPDC_0002_BURST20231104162020377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">As I walked out there was no car parked outside the front, so I decided to get across the road and get a quick photo of the place whilst the coast was clear. As I set off, a car turned up the road, and spotting me just about to cross, the driver kindly waved me across in front of him and waited. How considerate I thought, until I reached the other side of the road, when I turned around, and he was reversing his car...right smack in front of the Little Ale House! Which is why I can only offer you a fairly undistinguished photo dominated by a car....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, 3 bars so far, 4 pints consumed, but from here on in I did get on to the halves. My next stopping point was a bar I had been in before and I hadn't actually planned to do it today, but when I came across <b>Starling</b> I decided to go in and take a look. The last time I had been here was when it was a relatively small and chilled out cafe bar with as much emphasis on the coffee as the beer, but it has now expanded into a neighbouring shop unit and has doubled in size at least, whilst retaining its tasteful good looks. It was busy, with a mix of shoppers, groups on a day out, and early evening-outers. On the bar were 6 hand pumps, along with several keg lines, all of which are displayed on a LED screen behind the bar. I went for a half of Pomona Island Factotum and grabbed a seat at the side of the bar, where I spent a few minutes catching up on the football scores on my phone. I liked the new Starling, perhaps less chilled out than last time I went but it had a nice friendly atmosphere.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTJBMtZzx0IE8ACW0wistcgVPro_TSNtxF6-CYaRM-QeTdp_NPrSlM1QzEvNP9AX5S0Nb_G7anfE2hkRyutZHaDhgK8Fm7E8v0EaDG9GDvfI2JR3xNuJMG5NZbTAMlc7mNex0EWhtlKLn4501Cy6Dm-1B_DluJB2PeHb94F-Fy0o3st_RGeD5IDiHpQA/s4032/DSC_6673.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTJBMtZzx0IE8ACW0wistcgVPro_TSNtxF6-CYaRM-QeTdp_NPrSlM1QzEvNP9AX5S0Nb_G7anfE2hkRyutZHaDhgK8Fm7E8v0EaDG9GDvfI2JR3xNuJMG5NZbTAMlc7mNex0EWhtlKLn4501Cy6Dm-1B_DluJB2PeHb94F-Fy0o3st_RGeD5IDiHpQA/w640-h360/DSC_6673.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a few minutes' walk to the next place, one I had planned to go in, and one I had been in several times before. It was busy in Bettys as I walked past on the way there, with plenty of tables full, their occupants no doubt enjoying their over-priced sandwiches, cakes, and pots of tea. Down the hill from there, facing Montpellier Gardens, adjoining an outlier of the Stray, the huge expanse of open grassland that gives Harrogate much of its ambience, is the famous <b>Blues Cafe Bar</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was busy when I got there, as it often has been when I've been, but this time all the tables were occupied by people of a certain age, whilst a mature DJ played a succession of blues classics from years gone by. Every now and then, a couple of elderly ladies would get up from their seats, sprinkle salt on the wooden floor like real pros, and then proceed to jive, boogie, and who knows what with some slick and sleek moves that belied their rather frail looks. It was great stuff, and the atmosphere was one of people enjoying a thoroughly good time. What about the beer, you ask? Well from the 4 beers on hand pump, I ordered a half of Craven Blonde, which was a pleasant enough beer, just about worth a NBSS 3 rating. But it is more the general vibe that makes a visit here memorable; there is live music on every day of the week, and upstairs from the busy bar there is a Gin Bar and restaurant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpeV2UwbkAPyXfgk9cRU4cwccgi8bawwrw_AWGA84cXAxYY8SZ3wAZ8kD8E1jQVWw-tKWVFQfmywSHTGV_qAlwFRnFUgSyYh9XM5pQnsgfOkJ-TbZgbjao035W2Xqqoo06eBjO1yHPR4lwT0NShLSxEoMDzdBms4olLjDsu3sLWqjOcl7RVqE0YRLmv8/s4032/DSC_6677.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpeV2UwbkAPyXfgk9cRU4cwccgi8bawwrw_AWGA84cXAxYY8SZ3wAZ8kD8E1jQVWw-tKWVFQfmywSHTGV_qAlwFRnFUgSyYh9XM5pQnsgfOkJ-TbZgbjao035W2Xqqoo06eBjO1yHPR4lwT0NShLSxEoMDzdBms4olLjDsu3sLWqjOcl7RVqE0YRLmv8/w640-h360/DSC_6677.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I only had time to visit one more place before catching the train, so I decided to call at a bar that had been recommended by the guys at the Little Ale House as it was near to the station. This was a modern bar and bottle shop called <b>Husk Beer Emporium</b>. Currently framed by scaffolding, I walked into a busy bar where it was standing room only. I worked my way through to the bar and from a choice of two cask ales I ordered a half of Radio Silence, a new beer from Verdant. This is a 4.2% pale featuring the Nectaron hop from New Zealand, there was some tropical fruit and pine on the flavour profile, but I didn't feel it was particularly well-balanced and was ultimately a tad disappointing (NBSS 2.5). I have found before that brewers who focus on producing outstanding craft ales (<i>and Verdant make some absolute crackers</i>) can't always repeat it when they try their hand at cask, which was a view shared by a friend of mine when we were chatting about this the following day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">More interesting though was my second beer here and final half of the afternoon. From a total of 10 keg lines which included a decent selection including beers from Arbor, Burnt Mill, Verdant, and a Northern Monk/Deya collab, I spotted another collab between sour beer specialists Pastore and the team from here at Husk. This was a barrel-aged 6% blend of wild beer and cherries called Sanguineto, and the half I had was sensational, not overly sour as you might have expected but well-balanced, fruity, and refreshing. Pastore, who are based in the village of Waterbeach near Cambridge, best known for being the former home of ace blogger <a href="https://twitter.com/NHS_Martin"><b><i>Retired Martin</i></b></a>, are always worth checking out as they make some very interesting beers. And Husk is a bar that is well-worth calling in as it's only a couple of minutes from the station; it's got great beers, friendly staff, and a chilled, feelgood vibe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54sd33jWia7nS5q8ILiFrS7o4negPN3en1jPgVPgJyaCjbYeBnCasPCOMXJWhyphenhyphenmBJIjapPQlKuwBmiNN5Dgg-Lr1WkrlF2hlgTeSAcCg2yRYfrjqk4y03KYdqTkiFVZKLo_yHCHAW4h9j-PAaTA498Am70PxZ90l1uIF3MXnWo1NH34Z2gi0Hwg8IBxs/s2554/DSC_6681~3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="2554" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54sd33jWia7nS5q8ILiFrS7o4negPN3en1jPgVPgJyaCjbYeBnCasPCOMXJWhyphenhyphenmBJIjapPQlKuwBmiNN5Dgg-Lr1WkrlF2hlgTeSAcCg2yRYfrjqk4y03KYdqTkiFVZKLo_yHCHAW4h9j-PAaTA498Am70PxZ90l1uIF3MXnWo1NH34Z2gi0Hwg8IBxs/w640-h404/DSC_6681~3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And that was my afternoon in Harrogate. A flying visit but it had been great to discover that the bar scene here is thriving. And that is without visiting places like Major Tom's Social, the Old Bell, the Tap on Tower Street and various other establishments in this North Yorkshire town. Which, I suppose, is a good reason to go back again soon....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X</i>: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b><i>@realalemusic</i></b></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table> </div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-41134038160968527292023-11-01T12:14:00.011+00:002023-11-01T21:31:53.582+00:00Gold Amongst The Hills....<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>A first-ever visit to a local pub in a Pennine village, the story of a long-gone local brewery, and a look back at some of the pubs that are no more across the South Pennine hills....</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARnrtXwnFAz3xq2l0Uqqj2HfwJPgMm2FCaKTk91Alt8topHyjDx_Nov1xnoEhSA7BxZgOW2hbgxOMm5vARQCUseeyp8XaPhj2HwnMeqaeoNARKvFgxPASn6G0TAM4B7RVYRdp2Jz_lK0KmV9LikJGTl3TdkiofkcE6zRx7Qim3ed83PuJ6jAu-tH01kA/s3530/DSC_6454~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1951" data-original-width="3530" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARnrtXwnFAz3xq2l0Uqqj2HfwJPgMm2FCaKTk91Alt8topHyjDx_Nov1xnoEhSA7BxZgOW2hbgxOMm5vARQCUseeyp8XaPhj2HwnMeqaeoNARKvFgxPASn6G0TAM4B7RVYRdp2Jz_lK0KmV9LikJGTl3TdkiofkcE6zRx7Qim3ed83PuJ6jAu-tH01kA/w640-h354/DSC_6454~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A few weeks ago, I visited for the first time the nearest pub in Calderdale to where I live that is in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, even though it has been listed for a few years. This was mainly because it is somewhat out on a limb geographically, and in an area that I don't get near to very often, although in years gone by I did call in the same village fairly regularly. The location in question is Bradshaw, a few miles out of Halifax, where the <b>Golden Fleece</b> is situated.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bradshaw is situated on the edge of the hills north of Halifax just off the A629 Keighley Road, although it can also approached by turning off the A644 road by the Raggalds Inn close to the village of Mountain near Queensbury. Its Wikipedia entry is fairly brief; it mentions that the village church is dedicated to St John the Evangelist and was built in 1838 at a cost of £1,200, and the cricket team who play in the Halifax League. Like many of the old Pennine hill settlements, the intermittent old stone weavers' cottages with their thick stone walls and mullioned windows have been absorbed within a host of newer developments that could be situated anywhere, with Bradshaw now a de facto dormitory village for the nearby towns and cities. The location of the Golden Fleece reflects these more recent developments. It would at one time have stood on its own, situated on a lonely lane before it heads off on its way up the hill, the pub's custom coming largely from the local farming community. Today, whilst it backs on to open countryside, across the road it faces a row of somewhat characterless modern housing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pub is a typical stone-built affair as is regularly found over the old West Riding of Yorkshire, a solid-looking building with a narrow extension tagged on one side. A neat frontage with a central sign and a number of hanging baskets were on display, gently swaying in the breeze. Most striking though is a large and attractive mural on the one of the side walls, showing a farmer enjoying a pint whilst his faithful sheepdog looks on (<i>opening image</i>). The wall also makes reference to the fact that the pub was once in the estate of Daniel Fielding & Son, who were based up the hill towards Queensbury at the White Castle Brewery on Green Lane. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFERTz_279gTut6A-NHQPkToweFuRGzGvaf0bU42EOALunirJMlK0_a99s8_YZalfynnKuUM5Ljwf_kRBYLd8SGqJC0Y8b2FpZufif8FgWRxo1SfqxZcj3ADM0f3JQ1e1aNHHX3PL-womzRAZTZQy45ChBvkSp40XVrKEqRIZiRAoKB5JzSM_Mqm0h2U/s4032/DSC_6455.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFERTz_279gTut6A-NHQPkToweFuRGzGvaf0bU42EOALunirJMlK0_a99s8_YZalfynnKuUM5Ljwf_kRBYLd8SGqJC0Y8b2FpZufif8FgWRxo1SfqxZcj3ADM0f3JQ1e1aNHHX3PL-womzRAZTZQy45ChBvkSp40XVrKEqRIZiRAoKB5JzSM_Mqm0h2U/w640-h360/DSC_6455.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I walked into a fairly busy pub, where several customers were sat watching the football that was showing on a number of TV screens. The side of the bar is straight ahead as you walk in, and faces into the room on the right. There are 4 hand pumps, with Saltaire Blonde and Theakstons Bitter regulars, plus a couple of guest ales. I ordered a pint of the Theakstons, which was on good form (NBSS 3), and sat at a table a short distance from the bar. It was quite a bright room and a number of balloons stuck on the wall suggested there had been some celebration or other recently. I went to the loo and noticed a pool table in the other room. People were kept coming in and exchanging greetings, there was a buzz of chatter around the bar, and on this admittedly short visit the Golden Fleece came over as a friendly village local.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My earlier visits to Bradshaw had come about as I have a friend who was brought up in the village, and whilst the family home is still here, he moved away to London many years ago. I used to sometimes join him on a visit to the Bradshaw Tavern, which had been the closest pub to the White Castle Brewery. Situated close to the village cricket ground, it had been a beerhouse since 1871. Whilst the beer when we went was nothing to write home about, they had a popular folk club on a Sunday which attracted a regular supply of top musicians. That said, I can't remember anybody in particular other than the excellent Steve Tilston that I saw there but it did fit in with a long-running Sunday evening routine of folk music and a few pints which was largely based at the Eagle Taven in Leeds. After those visits though, I never went to the Bradshaw Tavern again, and it finally closed as a pub in 2014.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQBCP7G0f1JWC4-37S3llQnTxxdsIwUdXo4_rpEnh1bw9_LA6M8AvWD3nlWOWT4hNp_epF4PEQ41grrTABjXCyeWkQBca1d2j3y0tFQAWZgslgvZsJXm_2ZVKz6kJPlHN2JVIY9OOYYDgfEIo-KoBCX_a375uad_6L_RUG-SJTAXN23DhiNTvTQTsOKs/s640/Bradshaw%20Tavern.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="640" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQBCP7G0f1JWC4-37S3llQnTxxdsIwUdXo4_rpEnh1bw9_LA6M8AvWD3nlWOWT4hNp_epF4PEQ41grrTABjXCyeWkQBca1d2j3y0tFQAWZgslgvZsJXm_2ZVKz6kJPlHN2JVIY9OOYYDgfEIo-KoBCX_a375uad_6L_RUG-SJTAXN23DhiNTvTQTsOKs/w640-h496/Bradshaw%20Tavern.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The former Bradshaw Tavern</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The story of Daniel Fielding and Sons is typical of so many small, independent breweries over the years. The company had originally started out brewing at a site in Sowerby Bridge, then moved to premises in Ovenden before moving into the newly-built Green Lane site in 1884. Daniel Fielding and Son continued to brew and supply their beers from here until 1961, when the brewery and 19 pubs were acquired by the nearby and much bigger Samuel Webster & Sons of the Fountainhead Brewery. Several of the old brewery's buildings are still standing, having since been converted into housing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4w2l6rfULVf-J2PJw46nGF1PzXRPSLroCVPEMlxPwZXsAvdy4LOn_UAIgX154LTXsViegWoyifHaCZN_kMN6c7OwMdTryfrwK2FlRkxA4FlgqM-ZgsCIvg2tS2FKQv9QdN-vNCnfy53X3lIgdrZi7RYYUHal0XBT0j2CTG7kcIKuwLSAfJV-Thua1UU/s629/Daniel_Fielding%20Label.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4w2l6rfULVf-J2PJw46nGF1PzXRPSLroCVPEMlxPwZXsAvdy4LOn_UAIgX154LTXsViegWoyifHaCZN_kMN6c7OwMdTryfrwK2FlRkxA4FlgqM-ZgsCIvg2tS2FKQv9QdN-vNCnfy53X3lIgdrZi7RYYUHal0XBT0j2CTG7kcIKuwLSAfJV-Thua1UU/w306-h400/Daniel_Fielding%20Label.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of the brewery's pubs were situated within a few miles of the brewery, and included several I'd visited in the 1970's in their post-Fielding life such as the Moorcock and Withens Hotel at Wainstalls, the Mountain Eagle at Mountain, and the Bradshaw Tavern, all of which are now closed. The Moorcock was an interesting place in that it was a rare example of a pub that was located in a farmhouse on what was a working farm, whilst close by visitors came in great numbers to enjoy the spectacular long-range views over the sweeping moorland scenery at the Withens Hotel. At one time there was even a little zoo there which was a great attraction to the kids when they were little. Sadly though one day it caught fire and its period as a pub was gone for ever.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Moorcock and the Withens are just a couple of examples of Pennine hill pubs that are no longer with us. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, not far away from Bradshaw at Keelham were the former Railway and Copper Kettle who used to face off at the crossroads. A few years I wrote about the Royal Oak at Delph, just over the border in Greater Manchester, which was a lovely pub set amongst fields and lanes high up in the Tame Valley, whose story resonates with those of so many rural pubs. Off the beaten track save for the odd walker and farmer, and therefore dependant on passing trade, and being a wet-only pub, the target audience was limited to start with. Many of the former farmers who would have frequented the Royal Oak have passed away or sold up, and the 4x4 commuters who bought up their properties were largely not easily tempted away from their home comforts. The Royal Oak was a wonderful, traditional, country pub, a step back in time, and it was a real shame when it finally closed its doors in 2020 and went the way of so many former countryside pubs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Dp_-msD6e7eVNOQLLioVj6osZy5wv2TZBV4p8Veb_y76zh10qtdh65-JpFENlvWBE6K2tRDKKXsMhVH9hlprTXVidDbrJuKTSpiPX427YsyB972_Py7lk31t3yiWpT6R_1CBkhYLphMlchUyP_pU57veyB2ytsnVwDsEaE_fVx_coBaDnhmF8B26O4/s638/Royal%20Oak%20Delph.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="638" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Dp_-msD6e7eVNOQLLioVj6osZy5wv2TZBV4p8Veb_y76zh10qtdh65-JpFENlvWBE6K2tRDKKXsMhVH9hlprTXVidDbrJuKTSpiPX427YsyB972_Py7lk31t3yiWpT6R_1CBkhYLphMlchUyP_pU57veyB2ytsnVwDsEaE_fVx_coBaDnhmF8B26O4/w640-h372/Royal%20Oak%20Delph.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The former Royal Oak, Delph</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The drive back the A62 from Delph over to Marsden emphasises this point. Rising up past the Delph & Dobcross Cricket Club - who true to their Yorkshire roots ply their trade in the Huddersfield League - you reach the former Horse & Jockey opposite the turn off to Uppermill. This former Oldham Breweries pub has been derelict for years, with trees growing out of the ruins. A little further on, as you approach Standedge, you pass the former Floating Light, which has been a house for years. And once you have crossed the border into official Yorkshire, you pass the former Great Western which until only a few years ago served excellent food alongside the real ale. The Carriage House on the right a little further on the road is still open, but has been a restaurant for years. There is another former pub on the left whose name I forget, which on the only occasion I called in was one of the most soulless places I have ever visited, but also close to Marsden was the wonderful Tunnel End Inn, which was situated near to the Standege Visitor Centre, was extremely popular with walkers and families, served decent food and was a rare outlet in these parts for Golden Globe from the now-closed Shaws Brewery in Dukinfield. And then, a few years ago it sadly and suddenly closed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back over in Calderdale, it has had its share of country pub closures, too. The Blue Ball at Soyland was always very popular and a real destination pub with great beer and a wonderful craic, situated on the hillside off the A58 Halifax to Rochdale road with great views over Baitings Reservoir. But then owner and landlord Tony Foster decided to retire and so the pub closed. Down the hill, over a couple of fields, was another popular pub, the New Inn, which also became a private house. There are many more throughout the area: the Blue Ball and New Rock at Norland, the Brown Cow at Scammonden, the Sportsman at Midgely, and further along the same road, the pub with arguably the best vista in Calderdale, and which subsequently became a B'n'B, was the Mount Skip high above Mytholmroyd, with views stretching for miles over the Calder Valley, Cragg Vale, and beyond. This was run by Taylors Brewery, and it was always a mystery to me as to why they sold it off, as it always seemed to be a popular spot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQpcDeFc9cIt2QoHi0dibArpJ0GZBRWHlrFU3LLiU32UaULRcAAl_9DpKJRb9MNNDC95c27kXnap1LZTygBXXGJsdA3yROWL19xuv-0KbCJOqj16kWUaI5477I1KES8fAcqWLIkONLGA/s1600/Blue+Ball+Soyland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQpcDeFc9cIt2QoHi0dibArpJ0GZBRWHlrFU3LLiU32UaULRcAAl_9DpKJRb9MNNDC95c27kXnap1LZTygBXXGJsdA3yROWL19xuv-0KbCJOqj16kWUaI5477I1KES8fAcqWLIkONLGA/w400-h300/Blue+Ball+Soyland.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>The former Blue Ball, Soyland (Photo: Humphrey Bolton).</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are plenty more country pubs that have closed over the years. A few soldier on, some successfully, usually though not always with food as their core offer. Some places have their own advantage, like the White Horse at Blackstone Edge, with regular traffic from both motorists and walkers, the Packhorse at Ridge - which did close for some time but has subsequently reopened, and the New Delight at Colden, with a regular flow of visitors particularly in the summer months as the Pennine Way passes close by all three pubs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And so, whilst the Golden Fleece may not be as isolated as some of the afore-mentioned moorland pubs, it is nonetheless great to see a village pub that appears to be well-supported and thriving....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-69454334555731635982023-10-25T14:19:00.021+01:002023-10-26T05:47:20.953+01:00Welcome Back...To The New Grayston Unity....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Grayston Unity in Halifax has just ended its first week in its brand new, expanded home across the other side of the town. And what a week it's been, a large number of old and new customers and the simply curious coming to check the place out, culminating in the return of the popular Town music festival....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvoQ2fTRzKzEbpJLLF8ImXGTUprfwYcIKnQwdsYOGz6BRLBMsRZZ5N_j6jEm2qg__esp48vLenwN6EqMg87wV3gcFKnOkmPRTrs5Ldb-uywGYbvFEnto-GNHejdCpH2U3I-3r5O4BTMp4BwxlUMmBtk74BlG_wR9OfJCmh89FqEJFvttfheWjGjI0bwA/s4032/DSC_6573.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2606" data-original-width="4032" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvoQ2fTRzKzEbpJLLF8ImXGTUprfwYcIKnQwdsYOGz6BRLBMsRZZ5N_j6jEm2qg__esp48vLenwN6EqMg87wV3gcFKnOkmPRTrs5Ldb-uywGYbvFEnto-GNHejdCpH2U3I-3r5O4BTMp4BwxlUMmBtk74BlG_wR9OfJCmh89FqEJFvttfheWjGjI0bwA/w640-h414/DSC_6573.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And so, 6 weeks or so after the final pints had been pulled at the old place, the first were flowing in the Grayston Unity's new home on Horton Street, in the thriving Westgate Quarter of the town, close to the iconic Piece Hall and 5 minutes' walk from the railway station. Entry to a private party the day before the official opening date of October 13th was the hottest ticket in town and led to lengthy queues snaking back up the street.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was back in May 2016 when the Grayston had first opened at the old site in Wesley Court, a two-roomed micro-sized bar with the retro lounge room away from the bar soon acquiring the title of smallest licensed venue in the country with a capacity of just 18, and whilst that was later increased to 55 when the dividing wall between the two rooms was taken down, it was still small. There was no room for further development and with the Grayston being out on a limb in relation to the town's other bars, the Piece Hall, and other attractions, even though it did have some busy periods, there were times, particularly in midweek, when it attracted little passing trade. The relationship with the property's landlords wasn't particularly good, and the lease was coming up for renewal, so when the opportunity of re-locating to a larger property that was being renovated as part of the town's Westgate development by receptive landlords arose, it was one which gave owners Michael and Jess Ainsworth gave some serious food for thought.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The property in question, a former childrenswear shop called Zest on Horton Street, clearly needed a lot of work doing on it as a few of us saw when we had a sneak preview of the premises back in November 2022 as the opportunity was being considered. The building, whilst structurally sound, was like a rambling bomb site; rubble here, broken off plasterboard there, pieces of wood, an old hanging rail recalling its previous use, all embellished by trailing ribbons of electrical wiring amidst the odd discarded white MDF cupboard and shelf unit. Access upstairs from the ground floor was via a ladder, and any further progress involved clambering through a large hole seemingly blasted through the wall. It needed some vision....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIufWhc13M8jWv1G3BrFxhTm8jpgxn0Re_PdKXBxTcJRriyDvRQtmYwZvUIvGdT7kUf3r71nEZ9-i75-rHVi1FLnxuQfx8D7rfSwcptnVT5F-to5ahck7EgDDs6RlWMp2IvW15pkB2wvqXVFB_U3bUgXp9WMc5kIYc3guiJl4cX2eoh6Y5TZeNdcag84/s1595/Grayston%20pre-work%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIufWhc13M8jWv1G3BrFxhTm8jpgxn0Re_PdKXBxTcJRriyDvRQtmYwZvUIvGdT7kUf3r71nEZ9-i75-rHVi1FLnxuQfx8D7rfSwcptnVT5F-to5ahck7EgDDs6RlWMp2IvW15pkB2wvqXVFB_U3bUgXp9WMc5kIYc3guiJl4cX2eoh6Y5TZeNdcag84/w640-h360/Grayston%20pre-work%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MSToD2uwQOzvWmm8UxYLhXPyFdC5UKxqQbkzSLBjzXz5feLguuoEc-IYiWTCquOpYaocDFSZGTOt7veOvTx5yoHaIv-YngCgK5TsnlqVRaaO_PWwX40HdlprVOJTvawPlkjXe-HRkVMO808Jvt701zDQwwPyfBjZHu1Aj0ot98vMFxVnEcmh0RUtBxw/s1595/Grayston%20pre-work%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1595" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MSToD2uwQOzvWmm8UxYLhXPyFdC5UKxqQbkzSLBjzXz5feLguuoEc-IYiWTCquOpYaocDFSZGTOt7veOvTx5yoHaIv-YngCgK5TsnlqVRaaO_PWwX40HdlprVOJTvawPlkjXe-HRkVMO808Jvt701zDQwwPyfBjZHu1Aj0ot98vMFxVnEcmh0RUtBxw/w640-h360/Grayston%20pre-work%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mmm...bit of work needed here, mate, if you want it turning into a snug</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The decision was made, and over the subsequent months the building was transformed. But even a couple of weeks before it opened, walls plastered, floors screeded, doors in place, and the bar structure in situ, it was hard to envisage how the new Grayston would look once it finally opened. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A membership scheme had been set up some time ago at the old bar which gave discount on drinks, gig tickets, plus other benefits, which had been popular with many customers who over the years had bought into the bar's ethos, and so when Michael asked once the contractors had done their bit if there were volunteers to help with painting, decorating, and the like, there was a ready pool of people who were keen to help the cause. With Jess providing the vision of how it should look, blank walls and bare wood - although some bits were deliberately left alone - were transformed. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pictures and other artefacts - many from the old Grayston - were placed in situ. New additions, such as an old ship's piano, were added. The basement downstairs was turned into a 110-capacity venue with wheelchair access, the industrial chic of the bare brick walls offset by a wallpapered back wall to the stage, complete with slightly kitsch paintings recalling the old Grayston's retro lounge. A small room at the top of the now-installed stairs became a quiet and cosy snug, referred to as Tiny Grayston, complete with old armchairs, mirrors, and an old fashioned floor lamp, and throws down a renewed challenge to being the country's smallest venue with a capacity of just 16 for gigs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6gC_S5Tvpb5uf7LakK6teG1tyfLanq8tK4C6THcWrDL6dIvttkliSEhvikywqyzH8WgNATOGgaY_mHj7MX-UeJUd9592NqKoxA60whYG7cGopTcWkKt_OdVvoxCQ_PT06tPBMyoHB8kHpgLbWVhLXX4IBVPd4RKHMEti4Lv1d-D-NNNokHi5iCRjqOw/s4032/DSC_6579.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6gC_S5Tvpb5uf7LakK6teG1tyfLanq8tK4C6THcWrDL6dIvttkliSEhvikywqyzH8WgNATOGgaY_mHj7MX-UeJUd9592NqKoxA60whYG7cGopTcWkKt_OdVvoxCQ_PT06tPBMyoHB8kHpgLbWVhLXX4IBVPd4RKHMEti4Lv1d-D-NNNokHi5iCRjqOw/w640-h360/DSC_6579.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Where the hole was now; the upstairs snug aka Tiny Grayston</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So when I finally made it into the new Grayston on that opening party night, the place was heaving, with plenty of familiar faces from over the years at the old place, which slowed my progress to join the queue to get served. It was difficult to take in all the details but as I made my way around the room it was evident that much of the character and feel of Wesley Court had been recreated here, with both old and new artefacts and the jumble of assorted furniture working together in harmony. Behind the bar, above the rows of bottles of spirits, is a shelf more or less devoted to assorted tat, like the old Grayston, only more of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqASnTbsx4Gy6julgB9p2km5_mx1PSnsIxuZfz1pp2vWs8knqUQeF3s6aKuq0kWg-vrCznRkiBLnvEby1mnQdCuTrvLfVZSMO0X-AK-xNJf_9RnxBmJElJU84t1pT3Rtc3Q7CinIqntoeUoaVMVyI2kpw5uoy9NPUFv-LB6OMy3Wf-dyS2FYKDePr6Q8/s4032/DSC_6570.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqASnTbsx4Gy6julgB9p2km5_mx1PSnsIxuZfz1pp2vWs8knqUQeF3s6aKuq0kWg-vrCznRkiBLnvEby1mnQdCuTrvLfVZSMO0X-AK-xNJf_9RnxBmJElJU84t1pT3Rtc3Q7CinIqntoeUoaVMVyI2kpw5uoy9NPUFv-LB6OMy3Wf-dyS2FYKDePr6Q8/w640-h360/DSC_6570.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">On the bar itself, the Grayston have gone with 5 hand pumps for cask ales and 8 keg lines. Cask beers include the perennial Grayston favourite, Goose Eye Chinook, with other ales from the likes of Roosters, Thornbridge, Saltaire, and Wensleydale, whilst on keg Cloudwater Fuzzy is a regular along with beers from the likes of Roosters and Thornbridge. Cloudwater are also supplying the house lager, Piccadilly Pale, whilst for drivers or those seeking an alternative there is a highly-rated hazy IPA which falls into the NoLo (<i>no or low alcohol</i>) category, also from Cloudwater, called Fresh which weighs in at a mere 0.5% ABV.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwfMQeA9CmFlmRThm5SKpBOGLFbKE62NTOMMvDiajiDXNxej5kRHWc_ALL5EFFJsikELSvnS4NDrV-zNZizYqHi3ZEUs6OR214U20_Gpfbz1qb6k540n-z3WSOYICK4-YeBu0iLa6MgdrYvj7Vgw-FfqjcF1Cjm58fnlIHJUKM24nJVriLqFwMXqnwek/s4032/DSC_6567.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwfMQeA9CmFlmRThm5SKpBOGLFbKE62NTOMMvDiajiDXNxej5kRHWc_ALL5EFFJsikELSvnS4NDrV-zNZizYqHi3ZEUs6OR214U20_Gpfbz1qb6k540n-z3WSOYICK4-YeBu0iLa6MgdrYvj7Vgw-FfqjcF1Cjm58fnlIHJUKM24nJVriLqFwMXqnwek/w640-h360/DSC_6567.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Interest remained high over the first weekend, but once that had been negotiated, attention turned immediately to the upcoming Town music festival. Because of the timing of the festival, there was hardly any time to catch breath from the opening weekend, but it did give both the team both in the bar and venue, and customers an early chance to get familiar with the new place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20FX2elshwn4Fr2surmXuwnqEa-q8THeYDzWprnEhYDUlZ_HfWSKxQHMzQ9W6DGc8ozR6rXg-BxF44NUox_u1UpUPwBZxa4h56YpymRhXFvKU-ACbMWDC4yxjN-3by_aPlkO1pMJCJjE7f_pBT7YuEm7Xb_g22y5tV7QF73JhCVgvVk5P9loz8QBjeQg/s2828/DSC_6527.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2828" data-original-width="2046" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20FX2elshwn4Fr2surmXuwnqEa-q8THeYDzWprnEhYDUlZ_HfWSKxQHMzQ9W6DGc8ozR6rXg-BxF44NUox_u1UpUPwBZxa4h56YpymRhXFvKU-ACbMWDC4yxjN-3by_aPlkO1pMJCJjE7f_pBT7YuEm7Xb_g22y5tV7QF73JhCVgvVk5P9loz8QBjeQg/w290-h400/DSC_6527.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I called in at the Grayston on the Wednesday evening the day before the gigs started. It was the start of an exhibition by local artist Marcus Jack entitled <i>Live Fast Die Last</i>, featuring some brilliant and vibrant paintings of 17 old punk rockers who are not dead, have made at least a few great records, and are still creating music, as they look now rather than when they first burst on the scene. So there's the likes of Johnny Rotten, Billy Idol, Iggy Pop, and Mick Jones sharing the walls in the music venue with the likes of Debbie Harry, Paul Weller, and Viv Albertine. The paintings have all sorts of references to the artist's career within them, and are on display until the middle of November.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoJXZvcdpGaLXRRZKJOU0_tEVtzMn6GZszzY4vVwhRGz1BlImfv45ViBiZZjwmmtZA5J2n1lwIOcdRmTcViZ2BF0d6SJ2kBims2HrFaqJGg1ZSeHHcN5ozGvzLHmKxcXj9-NABSvBC05c-gxAnAAPI91zAVSv05bgUXJWlH2oh0FBjuG22dHXzlWBXuI/s4032/DSC_6574.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoJXZvcdpGaLXRRZKJOU0_tEVtzMn6GZszzY4vVwhRGz1BlImfv45ViBiZZjwmmtZA5J2n1lwIOcdRmTcViZ2BF0d6SJ2kBims2HrFaqJGg1ZSeHHcN5ozGvzLHmKxcXj9-NABSvBC05c-gxAnAAPI91zAVSv05bgUXJWlH2oh0FBjuG22dHXzlWBXuI/w640-h360/DSC_6574.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Festival was largely based in the downstairs venue, although there were a few events across town at the Temperance Movement cafe, Revo Records, and at Arden Road Social Club a few minutes out of the town centre, where the wonderful Bug Club played a fantastic set on the Saturday night supported by the ever-improving Wax Tree Cast, both bands clearly on an upward trajectory. There had been one gig the previous weekend plus a session to test out the sound and equipment, but the opening gig of the Town Festival on the Thursday night was the first opportunity I had to check out the venue. The gig featured art-rock collective Dilettante, who are fronted by multi-instrumentalist Francesca Pidgeon who is also a member of BC Camplight, supported by Dutch experimentalist keyboard player Mayshe Mayshe. It was a cracking opening gig, the sound was spot on, and importantly for a short guy like myself, the height and location of the stage meant I had no problems watching the gig.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ddXsPQeg7iJvOkpuGg9M63Rcas1quZvw9kXDr_tuECMz3TWJstfW-hXX2lODpnxRP_ZoDVjHS_u9Q0aQqY5kPFggB8m6K-FDqFIzj716kcPuD2Ih5aHycaf77_3a1qHVABVxxf2tJHw1JmlulT_JGaDoIQW7dybkusPLhLP8t-gy0ykOcAAMgugsphI/s4032/DSC_6533.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ddXsPQeg7iJvOkpuGg9M63Rcas1quZvw9kXDr_tuECMz3TWJstfW-hXX2lODpnxRP_ZoDVjHS_u9Q0aQqY5kPFggB8m6K-FDqFIzj716kcPuD2Ih5aHycaf77_3a1qHVABVxxf2tJHw1JmlulT_JGaDoIQW7dybkusPLhLP8t-gy0ykOcAAMgugsphI/w640-h360/DSC_6533.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Excellent gig from Dilettante</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The following evening the Grayston welcomed the Dutch Uncles, who are based in Manchester. It was the first time I'd seen the band whose indie art pop had elements of the likes of Talking Heads, Tears for Fears, Field Music, and a little bit of fellow Mancunians Everything, Everything. It was another most enjoyable evening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The following day, at noon it was the official opening ceremony of the new bar when the town cryer came along to sound the bell and read a proclamation, after which the ribbon was cut by DJ and music industry legend James Endeacott and Sybil Bell, head of Independent Venue Week, watched by a small but enthusiastic crowd. This preceded an afternoon featuring young bands from around the Calderdale area. I caught some excellent jazz from the Harry Stobart Band and a strong set from indie band Grow, before heading over to Revo Records in the nearby Westgate Arcade where I caught a set from Gordon McKinney, whose fine performance belied a delayed and frustrating journey from Scotland, and local comedy music duo Wonky Puss, who were as entertaining as always, whilst on Saturday evening it was up to Arden Road to see the Bug Club as referred to above, with James and Sybil coming back to do a DJ set later in the evening at the Grayston's sister bar, the Meandering Bear.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIgCTj2CMGZIFPNDmXVfWVl9onIOeF8e4NAGJuh_hX6GC2vNqc0Re6bS9Af7jZOxCNB3CED3ChBwOQU3cfd7MpmuJ_h1cCATzHj4wezBHjM_sj6OciBuX4pMw3KAUUODFrkv6zaBzyB9Pr4nBcS74g5HFWkwC2pFTZsicmBJKVODVoWXFeisoCahuFU4/s4032/DSCPDC_0000_BURST20231021120521613.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIgCTj2CMGZIFPNDmXVfWVl9onIOeF8e4NAGJuh_hX6GC2vNqc0Re6bS9Af7jZOxCNB3CED3ChBwOQU3cfd7MpmuJ_h1cCATzHj4wezBHjM_sj6OciBuX4pMw3KAUUODFrkv6zaBzyB9Pr4nBcS74g5HFWkwC2pFTZsicmBJKVODVoWXFeisoCahuFU4/w640-h360/DSCPDC_0000_BURST20231021120521613.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The opening ceremony</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Sunday was the final day of the festival, although I was unable to watch too much of it as I was working, but I did manage to catch a little of folk collective A Rookery, who were excellent, before I started, and some wonderful melodic garage rock from Holiday Ghosts after I finished, the latter bringing the Festival weekend to a close, and I think it is safe to say it had been a highly successful event.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n4od9vBXm7o2qOw9Cq-lPEYUgdLMX-pigydIFa4yrm25g75Yw0MitjZ-RDimNrwuxAf_MFb4NcvWGjgnTZCgQ2BJwkUdlvoemw1f9PtbxCkfCehlNg7Zf2v97yfDrGqxVo5yv0L07Qaeme7WP7W5_0Wy-4FVpmSbyKfuB902G2fB9Qph2rAu72bVW_Y/s4032/DSC_6576.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n4od9vBXm7o2qOw9Cq-lPEYUgdLMX-pigydIFa4yrm25g75Yw0MitjZ-RDimNrwuxAf_MFb4NcvWGjgnTZCgQ2BJwkUdlvoemw1f9PtbxCkfCehlNg7Zf2v97yfDrGqxVo5yv0L07Qaeme7WP7W5_0Wy-4FVpmSbyKfuB902G2fB9Qph2rAu72bVW_Y/w640-h360/DSC_6576.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At one point over the weekend having a quiet moment to myself I sat on one of the high stools opposite the bar and looked around. There were groups of happy, smiling people all around the room, many of whom were friends or acquaintances I've got to know over the years since the original Grayston opened. Whilst this is a much bigger space, there is still much of the same spirit abroad that inhabited the old place. And whilst I may be biased, it is a seriously wonderful bar that I would urge you to visit next time you are in Halifax....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><i>Address: Grayston Unity, 8 Horton Street, Halifax HX1 1PU</i></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-63233807960038831162023-10-18T13:24:00.024+01:002023-10-19T15:24:55.816+01:00A Tour Of Salford And Victoria....<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Another visit to Manchester, or Salford to be more precise, which has three fine traditional pubs in the 2024 Good Beer Guide. Back in Manchester, I then called in to another new bar in the city centre which had only opened its doors for the first time during the week....</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNhR01Vl_1c72pgFvFYEAZ21iLkU2VZim1BSRsYSLvmWTv_uJr0OK8CTOzOv-780sz4VnN6-NSKlI2Fzg4Whk45nT7JwmrXt6t8L7HaQs4johIeVscRrZOcruquHsqqPfKc-gOza2kIvItlkgSsw-5FCRudYcyOx3FaZ8AQFm_i0Lh_q783ZtRd-_4Qk/s4032/DSC_6476~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNhR01Vl_1c72pgFvFYEAZ21iLkU2VZim1BSRsYSLvmWTv_uJr0OK8CTOzOv-780sz4VnN6-NSKlI2Fzg4Whk45nT7JwmrXt6t8L7HaQs4johIeVscRrZOcruquHsqqPfKc-gOza2kIvItlkgSsw-5FCRudYcyOx3FaZ8AQFm_i0Lh_q783ZtRd-_4Qk/w640-h360/DSC_6476~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You left me last time having just departed from the Gas Lamp, on Bridge Street, just off Deansgate. From there I carried on down Bridge Street, crossed the bridge over the River Irwell, passed beneath Salford Central railway station, and rather than turning on to Chapel Street which subsequently becomes Salford Crescent, I crossed over and kept straight on to what was now Bloom Street where a little further along was the first pub I'd earmarked in Manchester's close neighbour.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Kings Arms</b> is a classic redbrick Salford pub, a breed which is much less common than it was 40 odd years ago when I spent a year living in the city. There are plenty of signs that leave you in no doubt as to where you are when you arrive at this imposing building, including a much older and plain one up on high from years gone by. I went inside and in to the main room which follows the curves of one end of the building (<i>opening image</i>). A large, classic bar is situated on one side of the room, whilst opposite bench seating runs along facing in from the outer wall of the room. There is much dark wood, brass, and glass in evidence. There were five beers available on offer when I called, from which I selected Halo, a 3.6% pale session ale from Cross Bay as I hadn't seen their beers for a while, which was in fine form (NBSS 3.5). The Kings Arms also has its own house beer from Salford brewers Strange Times called Queens Legs (<i>geddit?!!!</i>). There were several punters sat at different tables around the room and there was a quiet calm about the place, the hum of conversation just detectable above a cool and eclectic soundtrack which at one point featured <i>Disco Volador</i> by the Orielles, who I still think of proudly as being a local Halifax band although they have actually been based in Manchester for several years! (<i>Maintaining the musical theme, I was subsequently told that Paul Heaton of the Beautiful South and formerly the Housemartins had been the leaseholder here from 2011 until 2015</i>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKyxChHvLkRv-SXz-Jm5J4Do3HDLuUr-bCJ2BalrkkQ8kOz4i8n67G8lKq5WU7oSBYddobNyohTq3S_2z4lUf3tISAFdNOdi5AFPNSm7_K8Mq8O5Bk-RXj-GyCwMUjaJf1izClFqQatjJV8ftk0VaoDNzCGVVTzoToIFavOL1lM9MKy03bflZdzbZBy8/s4032/DSC_6478~2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKyxChHvLkRv-SXz-Jm5J4Do3HDLuUr-bCJ2BalrkkQ8kOz4i8n67G8lKq5WU7oSBYddobNyohTq3S_2z4lUf3tISAFdNOdi5AFPNSm7_K8Mq8O5Bk-RXj-GyCwMUjaJf1izClFqQatjJV8ftk0VaoDNzCGVVTzoToIFavOL1lM9MKy03bflZdzbZBy8/w640-h360/DSC_6478~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Classic Salford pub: The Kings Arms</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I went to the loo and had a look around once I'd been. There is a downstairs snug, and upstairs there are other rooms, plus a beer garden away down a corridor. There were posters for various events on the walls, including films and theatre both of which take place here. There were plenty of attractive features as befits a classic old pub, such as black and white photos of old Salford, along with some quirky touches. There was a slightly bohemian feel to the place, which added to its charm. And despite the inevitable encroaching tide of concrete and glass towers close by, this rambling pub appeared to be in rude health. Well worth a visit, and it is only a short walk across the bridge from the centre of Manchester.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbKc0S0tiUS4KYUn9fOXZL2ECv0_Qy2e42vyy2eINB_zns5dPzBuCxyXRjdqXgHG29KHjYD03npL7TqubSvxo21oUbDQcyDB8fdE6PHHjPgW1XOoZlwc7y9v9ti5NQKdeNNzDMVq8BlH1Nxtsb6HCfcOO8Va6nyT2Z4-MJL_dXi_BMgrSbubvwxC1RlM/s4032/DSC_6480.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbKc0S0tiUS4KYUn9fOXZL2ECv0_Qy2e42vyy2eINB_zns5dPzBuCxyXRjdqXgHG29KHjYD03npL7TqubSvxo21oUbDQcyDB8fdE6PHHjPgW1XOoZlwc7y9v9ti5NQKdeNNzDMVq8BlH1Nxtsb6HCfcOO8Va6nyT2Z4-MJL_dXi_BMgrSbubvwxC1RlM/w400-h225/DSC_6480.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'd decided to re-visit a pub a few minutes' walk away which I had been to before, although not for several years. Last time I'd taken a walk into deepest Salford to check out the Salford Lad's Club, a beacon of hope and aspiration for the local youth amongst the boarded up houses of the surrounding redbrick streets. There was a photo which had featured the band stood on the steps outside on the inner sleeve of the Smiths classic album <i>The Queen Is Dead</i>, making it a place of pilgrimage for fans of the band, and which I subsequently written about in an early <a href="https://chrisdyson55.blogspot.com/2014/11/manchester-so-much-to-answer-for.html"><b><i>blog.</i></b></a> And so, nearly 9 years on, I walked up to the <b>New Oxford</b> which is situated on Bexley Square in a historic area of the city which also includes the town hall and cathedral. The pub is at the far end of the square on the left, with a seating area outside clearly delineated by banners advertising Madri, the increasingly popular lager brand. But that doesn't really indicate the scale of the real ale sold inside this popular two-room pub. There are 20 hand pumps on the bar, with 3 given over to real cider or perry, plus a further 20 fonts selling craft beers and lager. There is also a large selection of bottled Belgian beers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRJ6x0Fa2YGFAnPnGKZsNYBeMXv5tllFghlRRSGJN8mFszBAjt7MDt-nk3MAZCLNWb_4sAq3Ujr5cCrca8Vnpt4nAdvSHrpclmtqpbotEetQdn93zXYR-6MujRhs5Fy2Ql2X7qccqA5iD77XHfZUXzJdcRoZiRFmZ5pfJkS2dBc4Z54pFV9C8P_qqFLg/s4032/DSC_6484~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRJ6x0Fa2YGFAnPnGKZsNYBeMXv5tllFghlRRSGJN8mFszBAjt7MDt-nk3MAZCLNWb_4sAq3Ujr5cCrca8Vnpt4nAdvSHrpclmtqpbotEetQdn93zXYR-6MujRhs5Fy2Ql2X7qccqA5iD77XHfZUXzJdcRoZiRFmZ5pfJkS2dBc4Z54pFV9C8P_qqFLg/w640-h360/DSC_6484~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I walked in and it was quite busy, but it didn't take too long to get served. I noticed that Solar Wave, the new hazy IPA from Sharps of Doom Bar fame was amongst the wickets, so I decided I would give it a go for "research purposes". Whilst most of the tables were taken, I managed to grab an empty one and had a taste of my half. And it wasn't too bad, quite juicy and with tropical fruit and a hint of bitterness on the palate, a decent ABV of 4.6% helping give it a bit of oomph. Whilst it wasn't a world-beater on this showing, it was perfectly acceptable (NBSS 3), and if you see it around, give it a go and see what you think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I heard someone quietly calling my name from the next table, and I turned around it was Jason, an old friend from the Buffet Bar in Stalybridge, who was having a drink with some friends. We got chatting and whilst my original plan had been to have one drink and move, I ended up staying for another half. This time I went for a Simcoe in Your Heart from Cloudwater, a single hop session pale weighing in at 4.4% ABV, with a flavour profile featuring stone fruit, pine, and citrus zest, which I rated as an NBSS 3. After resuming our catch up it was time to move on after a little while, so I finished my half, and bade farewell to Jason and his companions, and I said I would try and get over to see my old friends from the Buffet Bar soon. The New Oxford is another great traditional pub and well worth seeking out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKWpEz6aeZKB7MlG4wXx4YV9WrXI2CZ6Zm5NMZg7-oP95UkB4bpMrOJLS4rkz7bHypz1PBV0NE7Z41kSAZMjyw49fnS0Y58oYgZQiYKQYwSKg5Wp3pzzSKpVnjIxcjdReWEgrO3UtuWQE3NfjIxOugQTpPWO14c7jjbonq4Mqu9a9djNy7xcKnFFnxAQ/s4032/DSC_6485.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKWpEz6aeZKB7MlG4wXx4YV9WrXI2CZ6Zm5NMZg7-oP95UkB4bpMrOJLS4rkz7bHypz1PBV0NE7Z41kSAZMjyw49fnS0Y58oYgZQiYKQYwSKg5Wp3pzzSKpVnjIxcjdReWEgrO3UtuWQE3NfjIxOugQTpPWO14c7jjbonq4Mqu9a9djNy7xcKnFFnxAQ/w640-h360/DSC_6485.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The bar at the New Oxford, Salford</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I left the New Oxford and made my way back to the station to catch the train home, and so it was a week later when I concluded my tour of Salford's real ale pubs, which I paired with a trip to the new bar at Victoria that had opened during the week. By contrast, this final Salford pub was one I had visited a few times, the last one only a year or two ago, so this was more of an update to see how it was all going. Nevertheless it gave me the opportunity to navigate through the new high rise developments that had sprung up over the intervening period as I walked there and tried to avoid becoming disorientated .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcldE_VuvBni73Mvo6gQGulQHWL2z5kQGpcoo0feQH5MUV7pwCwIqPOR5nlGazSDuTwcxWWxiIHIeGV1MpL_VBdj5ZNxONJgDxLxR_r-GwX5O-baCjveyHfzIshZHLL1L6d2vXxoHwGf8O1G1yy8SgUsZCRsvm7nXbgwVxUwlSBA-Mv-MA85nCGEouD0/s4032/DSC_6496.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcldE_VuvBni73Mvo6gQGulQHWL2z5kQGpcoo0feQH5MUV7pwCwIqPOR5nlGazSDuTwcxWWxiIHIeGV1MpL_VBdj5ZNxONJgDxLxR_r-GwX5O-baCjveyHfzIshZHLL1L6d2vXxoHwGf8O1G1yy8SgUsZCRsvm7nXbgwVxUwlSBA-Mv-MA85nCGEouD0/w360-h640/DSC_6496.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>High rise Salford</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>The Eagle Inn</b> is another traditional redbrick Salford boozer, a real hidden gem tucked away amongst and almost engulfed by the new developments on Collier Street, only about 10 minutes away from Victoria (<i>if you don't get lost!). </i>Grade II-listed, it is operated by Joseph Holt, and features a fine exterior with distinctive brickwork. Inside there is a traditional wood-panelled central bar with small vault to the left, an attractive lounge to the right, and a further snug with posters on the walls on the way to the loos. At one point they knocked through into an adjoining cottage and there is an 80-capacity venue which features regular music, theatre, and other events. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYIaSjDNVDaIu9LUV5_ODmDCV4_S-8sweFOV3dh84jUE4NwH-EyEeWmceeBgZt5cLeJD7P5c_a_psveCPF8595n1B6g8z6HypTbbxqJnoQ3reL22qoCjZbGYul_gnDINQEd5wIT0_4wLeJwLZGdyw-GFwAdtWyDz2hiAnQ2_Q_zgglfzN6Hp9W6wYbLo/s4032/DSC_6501.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYIaSjDNVDaIu9LUV5_ODmDCV4_S-8sweFOV3dh84jUE4NwH-EyEeWmceeBgZt5cLeJD7P5c_a_psveCPF8595n1B6g8z6HypTbbxqJnoQ3reL22qoCjZbGYul_gnDINQEd5wIT0_4wLeJwLZGdyw-GFwAdtWyDz2hiAnQ2_Q_zgglfzN6Hp9W6wYbLo/w640-h360/DSC_6501.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hanging on in there: the Eagle, Salford</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There are 4 handpumps on the bar, although not all had beer on when I called in, but it normally features two beers from Holts and one from their other brand, Bootleg Brewing. Holts Bitter was on, and whilst it is a tame animal compared to the ultra-bitter beast it was when I used to drink it back in those days of living in Salford, it was pleasant enough (NBSS 3). Sitting for a wee while on the traditional upholstered banquette seating in the lounge on my own, nursing my pint, with an old tiled fireplace and other features, it could have been 40 years ago, although if my memory is correct it used to be gaslit back in those days. My train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a guy with pink eyeliner who was looking for a lost bag, but it didn't appear to be here. It turned out there'd been an event on and shortly afterwards several colourfully-dressed young people passed by the lounge door, the odd one popping in to collect a coat from a rack by the door, before congregating at the tables outside prior to drifting away. And it showed that whilst at first glance the Eagle may look like an old man boozer, it attracts a wide mix of clientele. The lad popped back to tell me he'd found his bag, so all was well. It had been good to come back here, and I just hope that it will manage to carry on for another 40 years and beyond, despite the seemingly unstoppable development in these parts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4lPIIyP-kZiFPBRcdh_puMtJLvgaFDxIlutK5pjjuZJi6m-ZeXYbjuKXPanFqnsSIaOLTX7xgB7QuscTY4xhyMJX1oii4nqfYLB5-NmGnuTEeMUwFLntFzp0PORRf_N29_OcAm4w3nWgvcUUwdSNQIFPChfGzkJjYt1vgxs-T3eoN-Be__lp5DH3bJI/s4032/DSC_6498.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4lPIIyP-kZiFPBRcdh_puMtJLvgaFDxIlutK5pjjuZJi6m-ZeXYbjuKXPanFqnsSIaOLTX7xgB7QuscTY4xhyMJX1oii4nqfYLB5-NmGnuTEeMUwFLntFzp0PORRf_N29_OcAm4w3nWgvcUUwdSNQIFPChfGzkJjYt1vgxs-T3eoN-Be__lp5DH3bJI/w640-h480/DSC_6498.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The lounge at the Eagle Inn</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And then the new bar at Victoria Station had opened during the week. Like Pomona Island's new venture in Manchester which I visited last time, the opening has been eagerly anticipated by beer drinkers and thirsty commuters alike. The immediate area around the station has been something of a beer desert particularly if you only had time for a quick drink. If you were desperate, you could brave the existing station bar and take your chances on any beer that might be on one of the two hand pumps (<i>invariably it would be dreadful!</i>). Then a few years ago the Pilcrow (<i>now the Sadler's Cat</i>) opened a couple of minutes walk away in Sadler's Yard, but unlike many other railway stations across the country Victoria was still missing its own station bar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9fBcHIvTtbKx3Z8Gv0bshyWmN9UMQE7mDD04PXz7Z4ZswCpHqfW7k38a-OvofpGtomsRhmzA3r-KoJwg6sokeFpP0-dUyAzn0q_p3lRLIrWn6SDBtrcmZOjKh_ACvZr7sfxZSPIoDpGtJ3gvRoeZXLXi8I0mcEvWgO3wntQnFJG8REZFZXI-Kh7G4ek/s2560/Victoria%20Tap.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9fBcHIvTtbKx3Z8Gv0bshyWmN9UMQE7mDD04PXz7Z4ZswCpHqfW7k38a-OvofpGtomsRhmzA3r-KoJwg6sokeFpP0-dUyAzn0q_p3lRLIrWn6SDBtrcmZOjKh_ACvZr7sfxZSPIoDpGtJ3gvRoeZXLXi8I0mcEvWgO3wntQnFJG8REZFZXI-Kh7G4ek/w480-h640/Victoria%20Tap.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image courtesy of The Manc Group</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>The Victoria Tap</b> has now arrived to plug that gap. It is owned by the Bloomsbury Leisure Group who also operate the Piccadilly Tap, the Euston Tap, and a number of other pubs and restaurants, predominantly, but not exclusively, in London. Opening in what was a former bin store by the entrance on the Corporation Street side of the station, this small single room bar would most accurately be described as a micro pub. As you walk in, a narrow bar is situated opposite the entrance and runs for much of the length of the building. It is attractively decorated with painted walls and sympathetic lighting. There is parquet flooring throughout, with seating on high stools and some banquette seating at the far end of the bar. There is also a small beer garden providing additional seating and affording close-up views of the passing trams. There are 4 hand pumps on the bar, plus a large number of keg lines, listed on a large board behind the bar, whilst a digital display screen provides live train times. There is no toilet here at the moment, but the main station toilets are close by.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cyu71oW2ArAYeUS7IJ388v7jwPWY-xgTaB6levCHlC_tjI6KHRE5TOxZ1bM5KXYdLoWZNPU9IN47DMBG0HzpY32wamL60-c2etKMjfixYOsXxiUgwoUArsEQsRHxmlf8GgFZl-rDfD4Wk4A9DlOHzK930OM6emySTeOf3ZeEXyVvRoo8fCh7R8KDZms/s4032/DSC_6493.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cyu71oW2ArAYeUS7IJ388v7jwPWY-xgTaB6levCHlC_tjI6KHRE5TOxZ1bM5KXYdLoWZNPU9IN47DMBG0HzpY32wamL60-c2etKMjfixYOsXxiUgwoUArsEQsRHxmlf8GgFZl-rDfD4Wk4A9DlOHzK930OM6emySTeOf3ZeEXyVvRoo8fCh7R8KDZms/w360-h640/DSC_6493.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was busy and lively when I walked in at around twenty to one. It was the day of the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, and the seating at the far end of the bar had been taken over by a group of laughing and singing fans of Catalan Dragons, whilst several supporters of their opponents, Wigan, were also present in the pub. It made for a great, friendly atmosphere. I ordered a pint of Manchester Bitter which was on hand pump and very good it was too (NBSS 3). I started drinking it at the bar, but when the Catalans decided to move on, wishing everyone a <i>bonjour</i> as they walked past, I grabbed a corner table that had just been vacated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHns2IvlEu5eX_loPgMw5lggrJU7ascm7Qz3_CJu2Rwvg835kq2pO3SYmJwcNxgMW3nwsDyNHL4dqNE4XnIHf9SuMwEwPso8zV0qIItrJVCg3_32k00puEclaenB3sbAZNsshUBJwaMpVIcGTXbX9L91-BsDAtnrX2yGQM9HF17E-InbIGW1qcM2KIlU/s4032/DSC_6488.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHns2IvlEu5eX_loPgMw5lggrJU7ascm7Qz3_CJu2Rwvg835kq2pO3SYmJwcNxgMW3nwsDyNHL4dqNE4XnIHf9SuMwEwPso8zV0qIItrJVCg3_32k00puEclaenB3sbAZNsshUBJwaMpVIcGTXbX9L91-BsDAtnrX2yGQM9HF17E-InbIGW1qcM2KIlU/w640-h480/DSC_6488.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I called in again later in the day before I caught the train home and it was still busy as I ordered a quick half of Steady Rolling Man. As it was the bar's first weekend, there will inevitably have been people just popping in for a nosey, but I am sure that the Victoria Tap will soon become a regular haunt for many now that it is possible after all these years to get a decent pint in a pleasant and relaxed bar at the station....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-19874367780928035522023-10-11T12:49:00.009+01:002023-10-12T17:08:07.736+01:00North Westward Ho! Sets Sail Again....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>A visit to a brand new bar in Manchester, which has just been opened in the city centre by Pomona Island, and the fascinating story behind its unusual name, plus a visit to the brewery's original city centre bar....</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKf7aPLghToGLgvnaKiffWQ9Y4G8fKWTWXRsASJSiXRUhPSSFcmYa130lK87LrT1FskvieVw4dqS1B2rZZUFuGq5CK90mt7adYVsxBLdZJGc75HN2TCXuquSpFzDqoqE1PNPZoOuiBxT1bjLBaRtfA7e62Bbqz22hQMkVmfatpygOMw1uSh2IXqqOIbk/s3586/DSC_6458~3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2149" data-original-width="3586" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKf7aPLghToGLgvnaKiffWQ9Y4G8fKWTWXRsASJSiXRUhPSSFcmYa130lK87LrT1FskvieVw4dqS1B2rZZUFuGq5CK90mt7adYVsxBLdZJGc75HN2TCXuquSpFzDqoqE1PNPZoOuiBxT1bjLBaRtfA7e62Bbqz22hQMkVmfatpygOMw1uSh2IXqqOIbk/w640-h384/DSC_6458~3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pomona Island started brewing in Salford, close to Media City, in 2017. I remember there was quite a buzz about them when they made their debut at the 2018 Manchester Beer and Cider Festival (<i>nudge to the relevant people - could really do with another one of those!</i>), and I remember enthusing about the two beers I tried from them that day, both on cask, a porter and a 5.3% NZ Pale. Over the years they have continued to grow and develop and produced a wide range of modern-style beers and whilst they have tended to major on craft beers, they have always produced cask ale. They got into canning their beers, and during lockdown they were regular visitors to my fridge. Today their web shop is stocked with some delightfully-named beers, all canned in a distinctive house-style with a regular font and a simple line-drawing to support an often witty and or/intriguing name, often drawing from the world of music. On sale at the moment are beers such as Rip It Up, which nor surprisingly is an Orange Sour (<i>referencing the song by Orange Juice</i>), Bushy Bushy Blonde Hairdo, which with its nod to the Beach Boys which <i>just</i> <i>has</i> to be a West Coast Pale, and 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, which references the song by Richard Thompson on his album <i>Rumor and Sigh</i> about the motorcycle of the same name.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pomona Island is part-owned by the people behind the Gas Lamp on Bridge Street off Deansgate, and whilst it has always featured the brewery's beers, the company has been slow to add any more bars. There was a small tap for a while within Escape To Freight Island in the old Mayfield Depot near Piccadilly Station, but that closed some months ago. And that was it, until now. Well, last Thursday to be precise, when, after much anticipation, a brand new bar right in the heart of Manchester was opened, creating quite a buzz amongst the media and city's beer-lovers. <b>North Westward Ho! </b>is situated on Chapel Walks, off Cross Street, next door to the famous Sam's Chop House, although the entrance is round the corner on Pall Mall. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The name of the bar is taken from an old sailing ship that was moored at the former Pomona dock in Salford, in the area from which the brewery takes its name. The ship was originally based in Cornwall, but was brought north and ended up here in the 1970's, with its name adapted from the West Country Victorian holiday resort of Westward Ho! During that time, there was something of a trend to create bars and clubs in unusual locations, and eventually a massive makeover of the ship was undertaken which planned to create, according to sources from the time, "<i>a plush bar and restaurant, offering six bars, Bass ale, a late licence and disco</i>". An alcohol licence was subsequently granted and once opened, the ship captured the imagination of late night revellers and became a popular if somewhat unsteady location for a night out for a number of years, particularly for those in high heels traversing the notoriously steep stairs within the venue. It did though acquire the sobriquet <i>The Love Boat</i>, before finally, metaphorically speaking, running aground and hitting the rocks in the 1980's.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eSCoT-CLK9Vhp3hcLkHCztOqh2i9R9gXpX4ptMttgzJ82UlP68S5lRQosoalSilBqNuATVCv5GfMG9nIE786qLzcFgPkjrUp2sKJyNN5fSU5Z1aImbBSImT5KxDF7AO460KA2fHiJMmjgn6TRLCs93AwYqScBkCrwOkas3s4sbYIlG1tnTGjLCehPvo/s446/North%20WH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="446" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eSCoT-CLK9Vhp3hcLkHCztOqh2i9R9gXpX4ptMttgzJ82UlP68S5lRQosoalSilBqNuATVCv5GfMG9nIE786qLzcFgPkjrUp2sKJyNN5fSU5Z1aImbBSImT5KxDF7AO460KA2fHiJMmjgn6TRLCs93AwYqScBkCrwOkas3s4sbYIlG1tnTGjLCehPvo/w400-h241/North%20WH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The original North Westward Ho!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And so, back to the current day. After walking down from Victoria and eventually tracking it down (<i>despite the best efforts of Google Maps to confuse me!</i>), I got there. It is an elegant looking building (<i>opening image</i>), with pale-grey painted woodwork standing out against the red brick, arched windows with black railings beneath, and a dark-wooden outer doors opened and fixed back at the top of a small flight of stairs where at the back of a small bank-like entrance lobby are two heavy wooden doors with gleaming brass handles and etched windows. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_WXSfMWjNtNAw9qVPTHo0QtbfcSmarcRK017Mdj_K1ce9F-VS_sC8RW-nHciO79yhh0pYH2xs3TYWQoYFvB1VOq5RSkmtt2kJ78R-vlvG5YugdFApPYfx6227LzqaP2H8OuEE0j26K_UllTeL75zRxXfQeWJGAya9yNoLSgvOX-lkzp321XNJAYxewA/s3016/DSC_6460~3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="3016" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_WXSfMWjNtNAw9qVPTHo0QtbfcSmarcRK017Mdj_K1ce9F-VS_sC8RW-nHciO79yhh0pYH2xs3TYWQoYFvB1VOq5RSkmtt2kJ78R-vlvG5YugdFApPYfx6227LzqaP2H8OuEE0j26K_UllTeL75zRxXfQeWJGAya9yNoLSgvOX-lkzp321XNJAYxewA/w640-h378/DSC_6460~3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I walked inside, and was immediately struck by the smell of newness. Facing me was a long dark wooden bar with a brass foot rail directly opposite the entrance, with a line of craft taps to the left, a row of five hand pumps in the centre, and another batch of taps on the right to bring the number to 18. There were two girls serving on the bar, and when I spotted Scorchio, a 3.8% pale on cask, I ordered a pint, having previously encountered it a couple of years ago in Just Beer in Newark a on a hot afternoon when it was <i>magnifico</i>. I went to sit at a table by a window to the left of the bar, and took my surroundings in. It was quiet, with just a handful of people in, but it wasn't yet 12.30. On the wall opposite, smart green tiling rose from the floor to the height of the bar, whilst above a huge mirror reflected the arched windows. There is wooden flooring throughout apart from a tiled area to the front of the bar, whilst the ceiling and walls are painted in a pristine white. Lighting is cleverly and sympathetically positioned. The entrance lobby effectively creates two sections to the large main room, whilst there is smaller, more intimate wood-panelled section beyond. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfEx32FaZXNoOZ384xCDBxq8sMNnaaeY30CE-sVj9zLT-9LNHpJtjfWgWJDuIi1281fs4p_WJZ9Yv9I3t2SjDZO8QH1eHIk6GPMukNa4iOFXv9GaWSnjNFs_xkDUsHrSuyGpIhGu5N8o6eL-6DR1ZwIXFxp3Vd7lT8wPGAtwstXuh1-2RaHZP5fbAI2U/s4032/DSC_6467.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfEx32FaZXNoOZ384xCDBxq8sMNnaaeY30CE-sVj9zLT-9LNHpJtjfWgWJDuIi1281fs4p_WJZ9Yv9I3t2SjDZO8QH1eHIk6GPMukNa4iOFXv9GaWSnjNFs_xkDUsHrSuyGpIhGu5N8o6eL-6DR1ZwIXFxp3Vd7lT8wPGAtwstXuh1-2RaHZP5fbAI2U/w360-h640/DSC_6467.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And so back to the beer. To be honest, my Scorchio was slightly disappointing, a little thin and short on flavour, and failed to live up to our first encounter in Newark (NBSS 3). Much better was my next pint, Olinga, a hazy 4.3% <span> New England IPA</span> which had bags more flavour (NBSS 3.5). And for my final pint here, I opted for a pint an old favourite from the keg lines, Factotum, which is a great 4% unfined session pale which never fails to hit the spot. I left around 2pm, there had been a steady churn of visitors whilst I'd been here, and as I made my way down the steps to the street the place was starting to fill up nicely, with a mix of beer lovers, exhausted shoppers, and the downright curious. Having enjoyed my first visit there I have to say that this new <i>terra firma</i> incarnation of North Westward Ho! is certainly one classy-looking place, and it will no doubt become an important addition to the Manchester social scene over the coming months.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVbIyQ_kGivYFwJSkYXpilfxuvmAqEKuS_SPH9_l96Hc3_5XWPgboWDN_7bWs0d96x1zjL4MouO6AKFtyplFon8_1vzPIB4hhh2Do8s2ygDtWP_ckGeSE4XvaMOd24E5MJj8qrMLNlU1PTAOl5FY84zYJyK3QmUwLK7KmTaqKy9NYygJvtT9DDXecCi4/s4032/DSC_6466.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVbIyQ_kGivYFwJSkYXpilfxuvmAqEKuS_SPH9_l96Hc3_5XWPgboWDN_7bWs0d96x1zjL4MouO6AKFtyplFon8_1vzPIB4hhh2Do8s2ygDtWP_ckGeSE4XvaMOd24E5MJj8qrMLNlU1PTAOl5FY84zYJyK3QmUwLK7KmTaqKy9NYygJvtT9DDXecCi4/w640-h360/DSC_6466.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I had decided that rather than visiting one or two of my regular haunts like Beermoth, the Marble, Smithfield, or the Crown and Kettle, I would instead pay a return visit to the afore-mentioned Gas Lamp, which I had not been to since well before lockdown. In fact, last time I'd been, the excellent Brink, now sadly closed, was operating out of a basement directly opposite on the other side of the street. It took me about ten minutes to walk there from NWH! through the busy Saturday afternoon streets, in unseasonably warm sunshine, via John Dalton Street, crossing Deansgate, from where it becomes Bridge Street. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6f08PfHe2M17HTdhXeyNv7QzV-fmWcx6ZqOBbSJqXz2Z8ujR9qrlajEzicpt7bp8lDpWROwJOKOz5RG3ElWnBy4etCRtQCfnT23ODDK9uFYJlu4CO0rH3vNjztUtRM3ezVpQfQ9hPIBgyKSRlRw8o_v5Y7fWnYMPscy68iLV71suoxzD247clfIEvOg/s4032/DSC_6469.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6f08PfHe2M17HTdhXeyNv7QzV-fmWcx6ZqOBbSJqXz2Z8ujR9qrlajEzicpt7bp8lDpWROwJOKOz5RG3ElWnBy4etCRtQCfnT23ODDK9uFYJlu4CO0rH3vNjztUtRM3ezVpQfQ9hPIBgyKSRlRw8o_v5Y7fWnYMPscy68iLV71suoxzD247clfIEvOg/w360-h640/DSC_6469.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Gas Lamp</b> is situated just before the bridge over the Irwell, across which lies the tantalising prospect of Salford. The entrance is next door to a acupuncture clinic, with the bar, which the sign above the stairs describes as a <i>Subterranean Drinking Den</i><b>, </b>situated beneath. White tiles line the walls as you walk down a relatively steep well-worn flight of stone steps. The entrance to the bar is situated on the right as you hop off the last step. I walked in, a wooden bar at the end of the room with tightly-packed shelves of spirits on the bar back. The white tiled theme is maintained on the walls in here, which always makes me think of a butcher's shop, but whilst this suggests it might be a bit clinical and lack any warmth or atmosphere, it is definitely not the case. The calm intimacy was more relaxed and less formal than its new larger cousin across town, the vibe suggesting a continental speakeasy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkCwad-1W8xSScoL7GB1VZoMqxNDbVEW5s3AQPJIPDCZS8f6_4R_AFLZfcU5EGnicfame9-QROeJlAws-sMi8wHrKrD2CcfCbpugjfVMyn8XihOZQpqqbPXeYWsPHSN2aO6XIA9t0m4XDtUAd6izR3cZD1luUIM201IbBwnZMtS6bhptOZrZsMQ4UNuk/s4032/DSC_6470.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkCwad-1W8xSScoL7GB1VZoMqxNDbVEW5s3AQPJIPDCZS8f6_4R_AFLZfcU5EGnicfame9-QROeJlAws-sMi8wHrKrD2CcfCbpugjfVMyn8XihOZQpqqbPXeYWsPHSN2aO6XIA9t0m4XDtUAd6izR3cZD1luUIM201IbBwnZMtS6bhptOZrZsMQ4UNuk/w640-h360/DSC_6470.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There were a few people dotted about around the room; a couple chatting, a guy busily tapping on his laptop, a guy staring into space, magazine left open on the table beside his drink. I walked up to check out the beers on hand pump, and having enjoyed it up the road, I went for a half of the Olinga, which was on equally good form as before (NBSS 3.5). I had spotted a beer from the multi-award winning Cheshire brewery, Chapter, on the bar, so when I went back for another half I broke ranks with Pomona Island for the first time on the day and ordered a half of the 4.7% Kandata, a hazy well-balanced pale ale featuring the Columbus hop. Refreshing and with delicate fruit on the palate, it was another excellent beer (NBSS 3.5). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvma79lxx_cTWm709buXngXRDQsemYWmX5cfi08_qfYZpV9mGNXL8wrLtBpZZf5fLOBJvOnc8Nd-W6SbZUPxBRImnX34gP16X_z8iJZzTSqBjhpxPDmgoWEyJnNnUjeEw8DlOm0adx-BjLa4scFsa8n2HbOCKkDk7XF-oCeflj8iePnSIQy9Hp_8GGZA0/s4032/DSC_6471.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvma79lxx_cTWm709buXngXRDQsemYWmX5cfi08_qfYZpV9mGNXL8wrLtBpZZf5fLOBJvOnc8Nd-W6SbZUPxBRImnX34gP16X_z8iJZzTSqBjhpxPDmgoWEyJnNnUjeEw8DlOm0adx-BjLa4scFsa8n2HbOCKkDk7XF-oCeflj8iePnSIQy9Hp_8GGZA0/w360-h640/DSC_6471.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I finished my drink and headed back up the stairs from the calm subterranean oasis and back into the busy streets of the city. I'd enjoyed visiting both bars, which had offered completely different experiences, and I look forward to visiting both again soon....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: </i><a href="http://twitter.com/realalemusic"><i><b>@realalemusic</b></i></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><i><br /></i><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-45839378387583450832023-10-04T11:09:00.011+01:002023-10-04T12:06:28.134+01:00Making Time For Bradford....<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>A catch up with a few familiar places in Bradford that I have not had chance to visit as much over the last few years. But first, a visit to an excellent little micropub in one of the city's outer suburbs....</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNcMce7OPvcEMjzvEfCzGx8ScdiZ9enRj932g6AUuvk6wzI_gYF1g6keukFIbuWrOkBxqBdN9Tf225KtzatZ64ueTTJKGqm4gcbW9AEsx5Rj2FDGXIITcvb2zhvd52GNIliKIgGpb4MzICWqMt-Z56AIXSjOcpvhbDEPHJYmWF2bg_5J7x0q4sZuGqVM/s2949/DSC_6452~3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="2949" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNcMce7OPvcEMjzvEfCzGx8ScdiZ9enRj932g6AUuvk6wzI_gYF1g6keukFIbuWrOkBxqBdN9Tf225KtzatZ64ueTTJKGqm4gcbW9AEsx5Rj2FDGXIITcvb2zhvd52GNIliKIgGpb4MzICWqMt-Z56AIXSjOcpvhbDEPHJYmWF2bg_5J7x0q4sZuGqVM/w640-h368/DSC_6452~3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I have visited virtually all of my local CAMRA pubs, but that said there are still a few within a relatively few miles that I have not been to. This is generally due to them being a bit out on a limb with no near neighbours for a back up pint, having no direct public transport connections between home and there, or possibly an uninspiring beer selection that makes a trip out less appealing. Well, this weekend I did visit one of where I had not previously called that was a little out on a limb which involved me driving the short distance to the sprawling village of Thornton, around 5 miles west of the city of Bradford and a few miles away from the so-called Bronte Country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I headed up to the heights of Queensbury, eventually picking up the A6145 Thornton Road at the small settlement of Keelham. Here there used to be two pubs astride the crossroads until relatively recently, the Copper Kettle, and the Railway, which was a very comfortable pub which sold a decent pint of Tetleys Bitter. From there it was down the hill to Thornton, which appears to be quite linear, although it rises a way up the hillside from the main road, and there are a reasonable number of shops and a few pubs here. Several parts are quite attractive, especially the village centre which has the typical character of a Pennine hilltop settlement. And mentioning Bronte Country, Thornton has its own connections with the famous literary family who are more readily associated with Haworth, but in 1815 the Reverend Patrick Bronte became the incumbent of the village chapel and subsequently Charlotte, Emily, Anne and their brother Branwell were born here before the family moved the few miles to Haworth in 1820.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pub I had come to visit is also in an attractive part of the village, South Square at the side of the main road. This is the <b>Watchmaker </b><i>(opening image)</i>, a smart micropub which was quite busy with a relaxed Sunday teatime crowd when I called in. Space was quite tight in here with a pillar in the front of the bar not helping, but there is another room to the side with further seating and a service hatch which saves the bar staff carting empty glasses through the other room on the way to the glasswasher. The pub originally opened in 2017, but was taken over by the present owners in 2019, and it is sympathetically decorated with much wood and a range in the side room, and is very much in keeping with the historic character of South Square, which is a group of restored weavers' cottages which also house a gallery, framers, and community arts centre. There is a courtyard in the centre of the square which has some outdoor seating, and the pub benefits from being able to use the Square's communal toilets, which has plenty of capacity compared to your typical micro pub. Back inside, on the bar there are a number of beers available on both hand pump and keg. I went for a pint of Tweed, from Salt, a 4.0% session pale off the hand pumps with Chinook in the boil and dry-hopped with Mosaic, Centennial, and Cascade. It was a very refreshing, clean tasting beer with a bitter hoppy finish, and in tip-top condition (NBBS 3.5). With the car in tow, I could only stay for one pint but had I been travelling by a different means, I would have definitely stayed for another. And what a friendly place it was! The lass behind the bar, who told me she is the daughter of the owner, chatted away to me as she collected glasses from a neighbouring table, whilst an eclectic mix of customers were very welcoming too. A lovely little community pub, and if you are in the area, it is definitely worth calling in here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji7y7jCvSWp9DsjIkuEhi4C7Ry4RUeCVUjSei6iL2bnGBYwt2OBjmlp25zRHkKOZEq5XRyQGPYzYWHO_IZ4xGp7McKj9fsV9kueqQ-RH292VuQy1KpF5jJoNCEp7qspsxnnwQdjYUAZAAM8rcHdkYcQksUFhfjwZ1w5HacO7dkAtF7Zc5qL51SI65glw/s4032/DSC_6451.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji7y7jCvSWp9DsjIkuEhi4C7Ry4RUeCVUjSei6iL2bnGBYwt2OBjmlp25zRHkKOZEq5XRyQGPYzYWHO_IZ4xGp7McKj9fsV9kueqQ-RH292VuQy1KpF5jJoNCEp7qspsxnnwQdjYUAZAAM8rcHdkYcQksUFhfjwZ1w5HacO7dkAtF7Zc5qL51SI65glw/w360-h640/DSC_6451.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Look at those lacings: A great pint at The Watchmaker</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, I'd made a separate trip over to Bradford city centre in the latter part of August, a city whose reputation has taken a bit of a knock over recent years. But I have always had a soft spot for the city; friendly people, excellent curries, and some great pubs and bars, whose number like most places has diminished over the years. Last year I'd re-visited some of my long-standing <a href="https://chrisdyson55.blogspot.com/2022/01/bradfords-thriving-survivors.html"><b>favourite Bradford pubs</b></a> to see how they were faring and found them generally to be in good form. This time, I'd decided to check out a couple of more recently-opened bars which I'd not had the chance to visit for a while.</div></div><p style="text-align: justify;">And so I headed up to North Parade, calling in at the <b>Record Cafe</b>. Sandwiched between a European supermarket and a solicitors, this popular cafe bar opened its doors in 2014 when its mix of cask and craft beer, vinyl, and charcuterie marked it out as somewhere different. It brought cool to the streets of a less than cool Bradford and quickly built up a loyal following of beer buffs, music lovers, and discerning folk from near and further afield. It became a regular haunt of both Bradford City fans and away supporters attending the game at nearby Valley Parade. Whilst a number of bars have sprung up over the country in recent years offering vinyl alongside the beers, and several offer cold meats, cheeses, and conteras along similar lines to here, there isn't one that manages to combine being an independent record store and bar with a quality food offering quite like the Record Cafe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblZYeThYrg3lDw459baXGZJtq06bOgNF2wzCBWdw7hx7rGf761YsDslwB5CSJPEY1t5Je1b602ymZzTSmjc5woq80_CNz66IbIIj44cnvezRk_smz14KGX7k_yVRhNwBM_a0dC5ifhUbrOgmwuvvq1oPmKJFZBk_pzAjmGXVhE7YMOHauriwCEpyoM7o/s4032/DSC_6273~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblZYeThYrg3lDw459baXGZJtq06bOgNF2wzCBWdw7hx7rGf761YsDslwB5CSJPEY1t5Je1b602ymZzTSmjc5woq80_CNz66IbIIj44cnvezRk_smz14KGX7k_yVRhNwBM_a0dC5ifhUbrOgmwuvvq1oPmKJFZBk_pzAjmGXVhE7YMOHauriwCEpyoM7o/w640-h480/DSC_6273~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I have always found the place to be pretty chilled, and as I walked in mid-Saturday afternoon, this time was no exception. The decor is reminiscent of those sleepy continental cafes with a calm clutter about them. Hams hang from the ceiling. There are fresh flowers peeping out from a beer can on every table. Lighting is subdued, with natural light streaming in from the large front window. A cool soundtrack at just the right level plays in the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Several tables were occupied by a mix of groups and couples of a variety of ages, some tucking in to cold meats, olives, and cheese. The vinyl is situated on a mezzanine floor towards the back of the bar and stocks a mix of new releases and classic albums, although following a thirsty walk up from the Interchange, getting a drink was a priority, so on this occasion I didn't go to browse the wares upstairs. From the four cask beers on the bar I went for a pint of English Pale Ale, a 5% collab between North Riding and Rivington which featured a number of English hops - Jester, Opus, Harlequin, and the mysteriously-named CF302. It was golden-blonde in colour, clean, well-balanced, with an underlying maltiness giving way to a slightly dry finish. It was very delicious too, worth a rating of NBSS 3.5, although I decided to go down a notch on the strength afterwards with a half of the 4.5% Lightbulb from Verdant off the taps. It was great to visit the Record Cafe again and I look forward to calling in again soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eXUy1cntgl6Hk5G1_I_49aaQvVAbGPorEZ9BkdwdsNjgIalvB-N5LECksFwke_Fno87ii32uu1wWPvMZEpudhP_zWREFqLi8ihJlmSCXFVBQBJk85AX_ahZNI43yRX3OgIGa4WqB9YgZUXKmZwXRuqfxWwJL2WlcGODmKZOKvQjRYKaOSAr9bcIH-rE/s3417/DSC_6276~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2083" data-original-width="3417" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eXUy1cntgl6Hk5G1_I_49aaQvVAbGPorEZ9BkdwdsNjgIalvB-N5LECksFwke_Fno87ii32uu1wWPvMZEpudhP_zWREFqLi8ihJlmSCXFVBQBJk85AX_ahZNI43yRX3OgIGa4WqB9YgZUXKmZwXRuqfxWwJL2WlcGODmKZOKvQjRYKaOSAr9bcIH-rE/w640-h390/DSC_6276~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Across the road, the Sparrow was opened in 2011, starting off the independent bar scene that has grown up along North Parade. Like the Record Cafe, it attracted a wide variety of customers and was popular with football fans, but having been taken over by Kirkstall Brewery in 2018, it suddenly closed at the end of June this year, its future unclear with any references to it removed from the Kirkstall website. It is a shame because like a lot of people it had enticed me back for a drink in the city centre for the first time for years, and hopefully it will open again as a quality bar before too long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PE86z1FHWxmx_9oonSZKEXkwimm2d0T35cug-pk-n5fGcfe9L6O0ydwFJ8Nj7DruT-Dajend0SLyBn5faq1LvsgdjLcrRMABuSPs1NWvX7Lixu637Km6pMPbULltdEcB6tCYti2GYlweO5NtnL4xXMQVU7-WqFk09ft7rfBPFS2k6qcf8qqTnXzTXt4/s4032/DSC_6269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PE86z1FHWxmx_9oonSZKEXkwimm2d0T35cug-pk-n5fGcfe9L6O0ydwFJ8Nj7DruT-Dajend0SLyBn5faq1LvsgdjLcrRMABuSPs1NWvX7Lixu637Km6pMPbULltdEcB6tCYti2GYlweO5NtnL4xXMQVU7-WqFk09ft7rfBPFS2k6qcf8qqTnXzTXt4/w640-h360/DSC_6269.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Fortunately, next door, the <b>Boar & Fable</b> was open. This is another welcoming and chilled-out bar, modern and stylish, which takes its name from a ferocious boar that at one time lived in the woods around Bradford. The bar is at the far end of the room as you go in, and aside from this room there is additional space in the basement. The main room has exposed brick walls, wooden bench seating with scatter cushions, along with a number of tables. A number of brewery signs adorn the walls along with a couple of screens displaying the beers on offer, of which three are on cask and a further 7 on keg, a number of those from the continent alongside on this occasion beers from Vocation, Vault City, Pilot, and Drygate. On cask there were beers from Bingley, Brewsocial, and a Northern Monk/Blackjack collab. I perched on a stool beside the bar and went for a pint of the Bad Robots 4.2% session pale from Sheffield-based Brewsocial, which was a more than acceptable NBSS 3. I then went for the collab, which was also on at the Record Cafe. Modern Golden Ale had an ABV of 4.8% and featured Amarillo and Eclipse hops, and was brewed at The Old Flax Mill, Northern Monk's original base in Holbeck. It was pale gold in colour, well-rounded in flavour, with a slightly bitter finish, a delicious NBSS 3.5 to draw things to a close.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__8MdxUVmOKDHNCsbPX7yVnacfYC0q4ndH6G5yAXDoRO0T9RkJAW0PclMm0-bavNKrcoMHHNVlpU_66qeQdkceqbaxGq9AGFFbdvuuziUKdDGbw4nNW7xpsdrCdZQmvYlPl1INRwBUo95je6wDM7gBkBb6sFjL_3DvuX-5TooL2Go44X44YwjzDL0mDE/s3430/DSC_6277~3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="3430" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__8MdxUVmOKDHNCsbPX7yVnacfYC0q4ndH6G5yAXDoRO0T9RkJAW0PclMm0-bavNKrcoMHHNVlpU_66qeQdkceqbaxGq9AGFFbdvuuziUKdDGbw4nNW7xpsdrCdZQmvYlPl1INRwBUo95je6wDM7gBkBb6sFjL_3DvuX-5TooL2Go44X44YwjzDL0mDE/w640-h360/DSC_6277~3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Another fine bar that is well worth calling when in the area. I even managed a final half a little further along North Parade at the <b>Peacock</b>. This split-level bar opened in 2016 offering a combination of real ale and Indian street food, and whilst both were still very much in evidence on this occasion, it seems as much like a sports bar these days with several TV screens showing the Ashes. Despite that there was a mixed crowd, with a group of ladies ordering wine at the bar as I ordered a half of a Bingley pale ale whose name I couldn't make out. I sat down and watched the cricket for a short while, and then decided to head off home, having enjoyed my brief return to North Parade.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, a few excellent little bars, each with their own character that are well worth visiting in two different parts of the Bradford area....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter: </i><a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b><i>@realalemusic</i></b></a></div>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377610945974432347.post-75274930542783740062023-09-27T07:08:00.017+01:002023-09-27T16:49:41.390+01:00Rainy Days And Sun Days....<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>A return to one of my favourite parts of the country, which included visiting a number of my favourite pubs and because of the weather, not much else. So off to a soggy Cumbria, and more specifically, Coniston in the Lake District, we go....</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eQd5jd7tgZUsdoQeJTYAV1ll4gbqVsnojGZ9UBmKOY6_CMRvgx89GWv1KT7APIsyoxScFyOcocUP_Wnk06EFftHlpm0wsvbr9LfRBguD6LSVBiecD1xorW35IwwbwUalc4OfrnE0hgtJo16t-VyJqEODgMGR7ekv0VJv7MdVfEOrS1r8pnIw5C6KBZE/s2801/DSC_6403~2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="2801" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eQd5jd7tgZUsdoQeJTYAV1ll4gbqVsnojGZ9UBmKOY6_CMRvgx89GWv1KT7APIsyoxScFyOcocUP_Wnk06EFftHlpm0wsvbr9LfRBguD6LSVBiecD1xorW35IwwbwUalc4OfrnE0hgtJo16t-VyJqEODgMGR7ekv0VJv7MdVfEOrS1r8pnIw5C6KBZE/w640-h438/DSC_6403~2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I'd decided to book a few days off work with the intention of going away for a couple of days, but I had held off booking anywhere as the arrival of the <i>2024 Good Beer Guide</i> was imminent. If somewhere within reasonable striking distance had been awarded a slew of new entries, I wanted to be there to capture the action as they put up their newly-awarded <i>We're in the 2024 Good Beer Guide</i> stickers and adapted to their new lives as pub-celebs. Although as it was the period before the official publication date we'd have had to keep schtum about it or face retribution from the high lords at CAMRA HQ....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, it wasn't to be as the no-show of the guide continued, and I decided to just go ahead and book somewhere as time was moving on. If it turned up in the meantime, then fine, but if not, no worries. And as I set off on my drive north to the Lake District, leaving in pleasant if weak sunshine but with a not-so promising forecast for the next couple of days, I decided I wasn't going to bother looking up any new places anyway, I was just going to call in a few familiar and favourite places and see how they were getting on. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I drove up through to Keighley via the A644 and A629, and then from Skipton followed the A65 through the Yorkshire Dales. It's a route I have done so many times over the years. And today, even being trapped behind a slow-moving tractor just beyond Gargrave for a few miles couldn't spoil my positive mood. I got past Ingleton and crossed the Cumbria border near Kirby Lonsdale and was looking forward to seeing the familiar outline of the mountains as the Lakes got nearer. I crossed the M6, and then followed the A591 northwards passing Kendal. Sure enough, the bulk of the Kentmere fells came into view, and shortly afterwards, a few miles shy of Windermere, I stopped for comfort break at the small settlement of Ings, which really should market itself as <i>The Gateway to The Lakes.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnDW149ArqmKFqqtC7XhgVenuGNHhaS0Fp_R1mfvWklS8pAe2quowxgocICwBnZQVId-iQJJwrUTX0GKW5VQmCx4MXgEmMyf5YLOCVts6C6M04xCy7wws72IxoXjD7TqzLoIk5HKQF2yCiydKnITYam2O1pYdvxNgz2ClQ_CeGN1vrfYVnE3aU8TA2eU/s4032/DSC_6398.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnDW149ArqmKFqqtC7XhgVenuGNHhaS0Fp_R1mfvWklS8pAe2quowxgocICwBnZQVId-iQJJwrUTX0GKW5VQmCx4MXgEmMyf5YLOCVts6C6M04xCy7wws72IxoXjD7TqzLoIk5HKQF2yCiydKnITYam2O1pYdvxNgz2ClQ_CeGN1vrfYVnE3aU8TA2eU/w640-h360/DSC_6398.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Watermill Inn, Ings</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been calling in the <b>Watermill</b> for years, usually on the way in to the Lakes. It is situated on a lane just off the busy A591, and is an attractive stone-built former watermill with a lodge-like extension. It is home to the 5-barrel Windermere Brewery, whose beers often have dog-related names such as Collie Wobbles, and is a popular place, most visitors I guess are doing the same as me, stopping for a drink and/or food on their way to their holiday destination. And whilst there are rooms where you can stay overnight, the place does have the feel of a place of transition. It's perfectly comfortable, the staff are pleasant, the beer is fine, and the food has always been reasonable when I've had it. A window allows you a view of the small onsite brewery. Today I passed on the food, but went for a pint of a non-dog related Windermere Blonde, a refreshing 4.2% pale ale, which was on good form (NBSS 3).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then I was off, through the outskirts of Windermere, and then onwards to Ambleside, where I vaguely noticed a sign about a road closure. A mile or two after taking the road to Coniston, it was apparent that it was this one when another sign appeared saying there was no through route to Coniston. So I had to turn back, and instead took the road to Hawkshead, and headed over from there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was staying at the 16th century <b>Sun Inn</b>, just a short distance up the Walna Scar road from the centre of the village, where I had stayed a few times before. I got checked in at the bar/reception, headed up to my room, dropped my bag off, and went back down for a pint as the weather outside my window looked to be taking a turn for the worse....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzLnHP9unSEH3Tc0NEOLc4BDXrVHLpJHJarlGd6BvhyoE-00vaM3VtvpyzQWLW8OJpz8zoYUzP6dw8Cl4PJj9-G3cNe6jWWzW3zx8LRD9ABabmZ6FijFx8FcMPujvkBX9fklQ0m7JIwPfHtOKzmswjJ5o6pIMJdNDNKCRUp7jFTIg4ap7gzDviUmQMxQ/s2050/DSC_6400.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2050" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzLnHP9unSEH3Tc0NEOLc4BDXrVHLpJHJarlGd6BvhyoE-00vaM3VtvpyzQWLW8OJpz8zoYUzP6dw8Cl4PJj9-G3cNe6jWWzW3zx8LRD9ABabmZ6FijFx8FcMPujvkBX9fklQ0m7JIwPfHtOKzmswjJ5o6pIMJdNDNKCRUp7jFTIg4ap7gzDviUmQMxQ/w640-h362/DSC_6400.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Looks like rain over them hills....</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The walker's bar at the Sun, with its stone-flagged floor, wooden beams, and welcoming open range fire is iconic and full of character. There are normally up to 8 beers available on hand pump, and on this occasion, on the slate-topped bar, the choice included beers from the Coniston brewery down in the village, Hawkshead, Ennerdale Brewery, and Cumbrian. Having not had any beers from Ennerdale previously, I ordered a pint of the 3.8% Blonde. The brewery is family-owned, started out in 2010, and is based in the west Cumbrian village of Rowrah. I took my beer to a small table in sight of the fire and the bar. The beer was pleasant enough, if a little sweet for my taste (NBSS 3). As I sipped my pint, a couple of walkers came in, their waterproofs wet, clearly glad to be out of the worsening weather. That suggested it would make sense to get another pint before going out, and this time I went for a pint of Cumbrian's 4.3% Loweswater Gold, which is a well-balanced beer with a fruity character and a pleasant beer which I have enjoyed here over the years, and the pint today was excellent (NBSS 3.5). The beer is easily the best seller in the range available from this brewer who are based on the shores of Esthwaite Water, near Hawkshead. Once my glass was empty though, I decided I would risk venturing out and find out what the village had to offer this damp Monday evening....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInMO3rLZnlCpO8xgWFDDVuu8FJH9e-VDkfgDisdn6_RvWl6fRer_WlL3pqHQR1QqukKvXjaAyJ2dwuHf0D4iJiFFbcgpYxON3Dr0yM4gtZUSv2PA1uMlUxBlUGWuRHvN4-nJ0MnJ55pFHFpS9lARPWI3OEEYZIFdPna-5DCPi_6NABMBTxfpEYz_jUzc/s4032/DSC_6401.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInMO3rLZnlCpO8xgWFDDVuu8FJH9e-VDkfgDisdn6_RvWl6fRer_WlL3pqHQR1QqukKvXjaAyJ2dwuHf0D4iJiFFbcgpYxON3Dr0yM4gtZUSv2PA1uMlUxBlUGWuRHvN4-nJ0MnJ55pFHFpS9lARPWI3OEEYZIFdPna-5DCPi_6NABMBTxfpEYz_jUzc/w640-h360/DSC_6401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Iconic: the walker's bar at the Sun Inn</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was raining as I lifted the latch and stepped out, although it seemed to ease as I approached the bridge in the middle of the village, the stream making its presence known as it noisily bubbled and boiled past the back of the Black Bull and under the bridge on its way from the high fells down to the lake. I headed for the <b>Crown Hotel</b>, a couple of hundreds yards away, a prominent Robinsons house that on my last few visits had been fairly subdued and lacking much character, tending to attract mainly disgruntled, miserable locals, and maybe a few bored guests. However, this time I walked in, and it was a proper jaw-dropping moment. There was a warm buzz as I entered. The bar had been moved to the other side of the main room. Most of the tables there were occupied, and there were several smiling, happy people sat around the bar, clearly enjoying their stay away from home in a place that seemed to have got its mojo back. A friendly lady with an Irish accent approached and took my order. A half of Dizzy Blonde, often a fairly unremarkable beer, but here it was in cracking form, its character shining through due to being well looked after (NBSS 3.5). The lady behind the bar told me the pub had been shut for a while from November 2022 whilst the refurbishment took place, but it had been very much a success. And based on this quick visit, I couldn't disagree.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5WQlEpm4XAEbpuL-IlEoE8cXL5JSSDtrxduVKONBntYV73k794AOrsd1QDEtT0-gkHDuSRVJSfS1iQgqfG-8MOptZL-TU677yg9IcjVhXB31dI8uOn8reBkT4GduJidM97fxMuriNH3Q3Jx_1z3gzAHP5FGVCrMmpBjNe1T1FPIBuOQj8hYOwzxJs4o/s4032/DSC_6410.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5WQlEpm4XAEbpuL-IlEoE8cXL5JSSDtrxduVKONBntYV73k794AOrsd1QDEtT0-gkHDuSRVJSfS1iQgqfG-8MOptZL-TU677yg9IcjVhXB31dI8uOn8reBkT4GduJidM97fxMuriNH3Q3Jx_1z3gzAHP5FGVCrMmpBjNe1T1FPIBuOQj8hYOwzxJs4o/w640-h360/DSC_6410.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Crown; great refurbishment(photo taken when shut)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I wandered up in the drizzle to the <b>Yewdale Inn</b>, a pleasant enough hotel which can be relied on for a decent pint, although if you wandered in without knowing where you were there is little to suggest that you are in the Lake District. There were plenty of people in there, many dining in the main room which I always think has one or two many tables to ensure a relaxed visit. That said, I sat in there, enjoyed a couple of pints of Loweswater Gold (NBSS 3), and enjoyed a decent burger and chips once I'd finally decided what I wanted to eat. I got talking to some people on the next table who'd been hailed on as they headed up Coniston Old Man, the huge mass than dominates the background to the village, and then got on about our favourite ways to get to the top. The Yewdale is well-organised, efficient, and comfortable, with decent food and drinks, but just doesn't feel very Lake District....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFBrS7agASk_HChzV28Qwim9UOuQjCQ4JykQ6qNsGyN-XH0CNrhoYHhligHu4SzRKOkXpZiL_el8wwmI_OjOBRzYVTfgJxqy-RJZkm-p1EimCVtbKfKXb-g9Q4Ov-DEsfq8IymollVsC1qhbQ5ZWXoXFYkebBKGOBLTHLXD3qM5ZtDSEJ16GukU-Rly4/s4032/DSC_6407.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFBrS7agASk_HChzV28Qwim9UOuQjCQ4JykQ6qNsGyN-XH0CNrhoYHhligHu4SzRKOkXpZiL_el8wwmI_OjOBRzYVTfgJxqy-RJZkm-p1EimCVtbKfKXb-g9Q4Ov-DEsfq8IymollVsC1qhbQ5ZWXoXFYkebBKGOBLTHLXD3qM5ZtDSEJ16GukU-Rly4/w640-h360/DSC_6407.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Yewdale Inn, Coniston</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And then I went across the road to the <b>Black Bull</b>. This is home to the famous Coniston Brewery, producers of the award-winning Bluebird Bitter, situated in an extension to the back of the pub. It was very quiet when I walked in, I don't think I'd seen it so empty in all the years I've been coming here. I ordered a pint of Bluebird, named after the boat in which Donald Campbell attempted to beat the water speed record on Coniston Water. The attempt, on January 4th 1967, ended in failure, <i>Bluebird</i> crashed and sunk, and Campbell, who'd held previous records on both land and water, was killed. There are plenty of photographs of Campbell and <i>Bluebird</i> displayed around the pub, and another of the Coniston beers, K7, takes its name from the version of the boat used in the ill-fated attempt, whilst Bluebird is also brewed as a premium 4.2% XB version in addition to the standard 3.6% bitter. I ordered a pint of the standard, which is pale in colour, quite hoppy with hints of fruit and a bitter finish (NBSS 3), and sat at one of the small tables facing the bar. A few people were eating, a couple were just having drinks, the staff trying to find things to do. A bored dog yawned from under a table. Sometimes the Black Bull can be too busy, but tonight, no doubt partly due to the weather, there was a real end of season feel about the place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7iz6Na9wOihxFeHNBIM2z4faBKPfDsBve8aa-Qm-6GtsChiUnN64tSjDRSyAeqWrFnBaFM1UhrsUUNnupD5cIeergGSqobrLCW7YiE_1UR-KlG0G-b6yQ90wG9axWUUPkLDW0_83edqjlKl-xkWfQC0voJ7hzNXsX_3hA8cvIJQ1mLV8I74uX2AqtrU/s4032/DSC_6409.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7iz6Na9wOihxFeHNBIM2z4faBKPfDsBve8aa-Qm-6GtsChiUnN64tSjDRSyAeqWrFnBaFM1UhrsUUNnupD5cIeergGSqobrLCW7YiE_1UR-KlG0G-b6yQ90wG9axWUUPkLDW0_83edqjlKl-xkWfQC0voJ7hzNXsX_3hA8cvIJQ1mLV8I74uX2AqtrU/w640-h360/DSC_6409.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Evening at the Black Bull, Coniston</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I walked back up to the Sun with the intention of having a final pint at the bar but, having gone up to my room to drop my coat off, I decided to stay put, watch a bit of TV, and have an early night. The following morning, after a good night's sleep, the rain was still coming down, and a stream on the hillside across the fields had expanded into a torrent overnight. Breakfast in the conservatory consisted of a very good full English as the rain lashed down noisily against the windows, and left me undecided as to how to spend the morning. In the end, I checked out, and moved my car on to the back road beyond the Crown, and had a wander around the village in the rain, stopping for a coffee at the Black Bull. I finished my coffee (<i>the pub was busier at this early hour than it had been the previous night!</i>), and returned to the car. With plenty of surface water to contend with, I didn't want to leave it too late, so I set off on the road to Torver, where I turned off down the road past a misty looking Coniston Water, and eventually picked up the A590 at Greenodd.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmc_k91lAt0FDltGxIWFG-Xn3oYu3m_uRW_2voCQNe0UOsbe0sipRdYD3LCTEn3M6WA3yfCP15P9L2SxH99BMQIVkJk6y6xX7QNPn-nIq0LK_qvae_iYoLLRH52gzZRmdwJwm8Tsu0uvwbkEzbuQDBKgKqyuRzRS2_AxJIdi62MRg3cLdbzllDoYxxLY/s4032/DSC_6418.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmc_k91lAt0FDltGxIWFG-Xn3oYu3m_uRW_2voCQNe0UOsbe0sipRdYD3LCTEn3M6WA3yfCP15P9L2SxH99BMQIVkJk6y6xX7QNPn-nIq0LK_qvae_iYoLLRH52gzZRmdwJwm8Tsu0uvwbkEzbuQDBKgKqyuRzRS2_AxJIdi62MRg3cLdbzllDoYxxLY/w640-h360/DSC_6418.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A gloomy Coniston Water</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I had earmarked a place for a call before heading back home. I left the A590 a mile or two after joining it and headed along a couple of narrow lanes to the small and attractive village of Bouth. I was heading to the <b>White Hart</b>, a lovely pub that I had visited plenty of times when I stayed at a mate's caravan on a nearby site. I have also stayed here at the pub, a pleasant bolt-hole in this part of the South Lakes that plenty drive past along the main road nearby without realising that gems such as the White Hart exist in what is a quietly understated but attractive area. The White Hart has white walls, a large car park, and a pretty much unchanged main room with the bar with a room off to the side. Large fireplace, local pictures, beams, Lakes ephemera. As I walked in, the lass behind the bar jumped off a bar stool and apologised for not having yet finished off sorting the beers out, and disappeared to do that. A few minutes later, I was drinking a half of Bowland Pheasant Plucker (NBSS 3), and she sat down again. We talked about the pub's trade, which was reasonable, getting staff (<i>difficult, but then along with locals from Ulverston and Backbarrow, there was a lad who comes down from Cleator Moor, near Workington, around 45 miles away!</i>), and what's going on in the village. A guy on his own from Manchester at a loose end till his wife joined him this evening came in and ordered some lunch, revealing he was a City fan as we chatted. Another couple of guys, somewhat damp after a morning's walking, called in for a pint of Pheasant Plucker and Neck Oil respectively, and retreated for a sit down. I had a second half and was enjoying the conversation, but it was soon time to get on my way, having thoroughly enjoyed my return visit here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteaZEd3kyXqefYV0xByoM7CrhHS6XoZjvIMVM1LDppJ2E94GafO5h9EoEViP-HlpVH74yxWgFpPmczaQKrDis46yQiNnK2f0u6oGTkV08Hwk9PVWqieYISAvBKXwZ-G-g2Xb3Ar1lqnJ111X0ySLWVs519dRr3nWrAv-agVEaiNh3YINpayF4VnTpckQ/s4032/DSC_6419.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteaZEd3kyXqefYV0xByoM7CrhHS6XoZjvIMVM1LDppJ2E94GafO5h9EoEViP-HlpVH74yxWgFpPmczaQKrDis46yQiNnK2f0u6oGTkV08Hwk9PVWqieYISAvBKXwZ-G-g2Xb3Ar1lqnJ111X0ySLWVs519dRr3nWrAv-agVEaiNh3YINpayF4VnTpckQ/w640-h360/DSC_6419.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The White Hart, Bouth</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And as I pulled out of the car park and headed for the A590, I was already looking forward to my next visit to this part of the world. OK, it had rained persistently, but hey, I've been coming here reularly enough to know that this is what can happen in the Lake District....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Follow me on twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/realalemusic"><b>@realalemusic</b></a></i></div><p></p>Chris Dysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249335833449195883noreply@blogger.com0