Real Ale, Real Music

April 2020 has been one of the strangest months any of us can remember, and in navigating through it, different things have become the norm to which we are having to get accustomed.... The face of Britain's streets, Spring 2020 Little over a month ago, a photo like the one above, taken in Brighouse town centre on a midweek late afternoon in early April, would have been unthinkable. No people, no traffic, pubs shut, businesses mainly closed. Likewise, the picture below, taken on my kitchen work surface last weekend, would have also not been possible a few weeks ago. As a regular pub-goer, I simply would have not have been able to muster a line-up like this from the limited stock of oddball drinks - with the exception of a decent port - that I had lying around in the house because, with very few exceptions, if I wanted a drink, I went out. If I stayed in, I didn't bother. April 2020 drinks at home squad Of course, as we all know, things have changed. And for so many of

Some worrying news from Hawkshead Brewery, and concerns that despite the great efforts by some breweries and pubs to support their customers and the wider community, there are signs out there in the brewing industry that raise some concerns.... Last Friday, news broke that Hawkshead Brewery, one of the industry's most influential brewers, were making several of their key employees redundant. These included Head Brewer Matt Clarke, Lead Brewer Mark Jackson, plus four of the brewing team, their marketing manager, 2 from the sales team, and 2 draymen. Not furloughed, but redundant. Which is obviously really sad news for the individuals concerned, and also a worry for the thousands of lovers of their beers across the country and beyond. It is only a few weeks since I was sat in their beer hall at Staveley in Cumbria enjoying the beer in the picture above, and I would readily include a couple of their beers, Windermere Pale, and the recently renamed Hawkshead Five Hop, amongst

"I met my old lover on the street tonight. She seemed pleased to see me - but then crossed over as I  approached...." * In reality, the chances of meeting anybody on the street these days is an increasingly unlikely prospect. Town centres have become eerie places, nowhere open save for the odd taxi firm, the very occasional takeaway, and nothing much else. Even a zombie apocalypse a la Shaun of the Dead  would have had more life about it than when I strolled through the deserted streets of Brighouse the other night as part of my government-sanctioned daily exercise. Gone were the cars, the people, the buzz. Silence instead of blaring karaoke from The Old Ship. No friendly faces looking out of the windows of the Market Tavern. No sizzles and smiles from Blakeley's Fish Restaurant and Takeaway. No scowls from sullen teens lolling on the empty market stalls. I walked up the canal towpath. Here the odd walker, jogger, or cyclist was to be found, maintaining a safe dis