284a. Sat 6/1/18: The Bricklayers Arms, Luton

Beer: Nethergate Red Poll 4.2%

Late night stop after exhausting, enjoyable round trip to Newcastle to see the Town. The journey back featured some rather questionable musical choices in the car, then one of those horror film late night Thameslink trains from Bedford, empty save for me, JtCF and a couple of weirdos in tracksuits. The train was starkly lit and I fully expected weirdos' "special messages".

By contrast, the Brickies was convivial. The removal of Christmas decorations gave it an airy feel and although reasonably busy, me and JtC Fish were able to secure the best table in the front bar (corner closest to the arch with the more substantial, comfier chairs). The Red Poll went down very well.

291. Wed 24/1/18: The Frog & Rhubarb, Slip End, Luton

Beer: Greene King Mighty Moose IPA 5.6%

Curry Club in Slip End. I’ve made plans to possibly meet me Dad in the pub beforehand, although he’s not sure he’ll be able to make it. I don’t expect he will.

The beer is very drinkable, but at least 1% too strong. Why so strong GK? But nevertheless, good job, well done.

The Frog is quiet. Apart from me there’s one bloke sitting at the bar, wearing a bobble hat, engrossed in his phone – and another lady sat in the dining area. Like me, she’s sat alone on a table with far more seats than takers.

This is the last entry in my notebook #4 which I purchased at The Prado in Madrid. It’s a detail from Bosch’s Garden of Heavenly Delights (specifically the scary panel). My new notebook, bought in Kutna Hora in November, is decidedly less highbrow. It features a cartoon penguin.

My Dad does arrive – which means I have maybe a pint too many of this very nice, but very strong, beer.

284. Sat 6/1/18: The Old George, Newcastle upon Tyne

Beer: William Bass and Co Bass Premium 4.4%

Back to The Old George for the last NUT pint of the weekend. It’s been a good trip, apart from the first 45 minutes of the football match.

The pub is post-match packed, but we manage to perch ourselves at a table. Steph bemoans the lack of food, compared to beer, that we’ve consumed today. Naturally, she has a point. We had breakfast this morning, apart from that we’ve only had a sandwich – bought and scoffed around the station.

We’re nacked anyway, and decide to trudge back to the Premier Inn after this pint.



Arndales pop band (me brother, Leighton and Andy W) played Newcastle a while ago and, on hearing we planned to stay three nights, winced – saying how rough the place was*. We didn’t see that, really: the worst behaved folk were from Luton, and they were only being laddish. No, we’ve enjoyed it – and certainly wouldn’t rule out a trip up North East in future.


*Wincing most likely to have been imagined from the drummer, who denies that he, or any member of the band would have used any adjective close to "rough". 'Lively, maybe; and our hotel wasn't the best. But Newcastle rough? No,' says EPS.

282. Sat 6/1/18: The Old George, Newcastle upon Tyne

Beer: Three Brothers Ruby Resolution 4.6%, Thames London Porter 5.0%

Pre-match pints at The Old George. The pub is reasonably empty as we take a table and start fielding texts from those approaching NUT.

Luke, Wilf and Helen are the only ones likely to be here early enough to meet us – and we move to another bar in the (old-fashioned – oldest in Newcastle – sprawling pub). This bar, just opened to cope with the overflow, is very cold; though the room is dominated by a huge bygone fireplace. It’d be lovely if such a bona fide historic feature of this hostelry could be utilised.

The barman listens to our murmurings and explains he’s whacked the heating up to “full”. It’s not likely to get cosy anytime soon.

Pages arrive – and eat - and Wilf predicts Town will win 10-1. Otherwise, because we’re in unfamiliar territory, because we fear the Town might get thrashed and because the crowd will be five times bigger than a big crowd in Luton (reaching our seats, in the ridiculously large stadium, might prove a challenge in itself) – we’re all a bit tense.

The beer is good stuff – particularly the porter.

290. Tue 30/1/18: The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden

Beer: Caledonian Edinburgh Castle 4.1%

Steph’s birthday – so out with her folks (and her). The Carpenters Arms should be absolutely idyllic on a quiet Tuesday night – what with the cold outside and two open fires roaring.

The pub is toasty, and the beer is good. The artificial lights seem too bright and too Christmassy. The blokes on the table behind us are too loud, and swearing too much for as genteel a spot as Harpenden… they’re old enough to know better too.

The nearest fire is too close – I’m sweating cobs. The pub seems too busy for a Tuesday evening – 60% less people here would be lovely.

The blokes behind carry on. They appear to be of a socialist bent which, again, one possibly wouldn’t expect in these parts. Nice one comrades… but keep it down a bit.

Having put the world to rights they leave and, ‘cause there’s a dog at the table near the bay windows, Steph’s folks get talking to another couple. General pleasantries. The dog, apparently, is a sweetie. The couple get back to talking, loudly, to each other. They seem like your more stereotypical Harpenden Tories – all Brexit and what Thatcher would have done…

Still, I do like this pub, it’s clearly popular – but I’m pleased to drink up and get out of the heat.

280 Fri 5/1/18: The Strawberry, Newcastle upon Tyne

Beer: Wylam Angel 4.2%

We’re basically following the Good Beer Guide recommendations, as we would in any new town; but also working out routes to the football ground tomorrow. Not that you can miss the football ground; it’s huge. The Strawberry is right outside. It would be an absolutely run of the mill decent pub with decent ale – but for its proximity to, and allegiance to, Newcastle Utd FC.

The walls are bedecked with black and white prints/photographs of players old and new – pictures of the ground (evolving to become the monster it is now) – a “Nee Mackems” sign behind the bar. This would not be a place to wear red and white. We’re alright, we’ve got our black and white scarves on… though I’m feeling a tiny bit conflicted that this means we’re necessarily being viewed as (soft Southern) Newcastle fans. I have a (b/w) Luton Town badge on my Harrington lapel (under the leather jacket – it’s a two coat winter weekend), but that’s quite small. It’s not going to ruin my evening… I probably just need to grow up.

The early evening before the match is packed, and noisy, enough to entirely eliminate the thought of coming here tomorrow.