412. Fri 110518: The Victoria, Dunstable

Beer: Hook Norton Old Hooky 4.5% 

Steph bought tickets to see Danny Baker at Dunstable’s (excellent) Grove Theatre as a Christmas present – so that’s why we’re in Dunny. Good though, ain’t he, Danny Baker?

We’ve time for a couple beforehand – and go, firstly, like you do, to The Victoria: once Dunstable’s sole real ale bolthole… these days rather in the shade of The Globe. The Vic’ (as regulars may call it) is alright – and it certain retains the feel and the clientele of a decent community local.

Immediately on entry, we have to circumnavigate the large group of old boys, loudly effin’ and jeffin’ (but most effin’), and pretty efficiently blocking both entrance to/from the pub – and access to/from the bar.

Still, once got, the beer is very good.

Steph suggests, judging by the look of the locals – there are quite a few people in here that it’d be useful to know. They’re almost exclusively male, dressed in paint flecked apparel, and all apparently employed at doing “something useful” - swigging back lagers and swearing in accents that Steph suggests are “more Luton than you get in Luton”. I’m sitting there, sipping at real ale, surreptitiously scribbling notes and taking photographs… activities I’m involved enough with at the time to forget about feeling emasculated, until it comes round to typing this report out.

We only stay for one – and get a little bit lost in the back streets, trying to find The Globe.

420. Mon 28/5/18: The White House, Luton

Beer: Jennings Snecklifter 5.1%

Sultry Bank Holiday weekend afternoon. Back from work (working on this) and the gym and looking to muster enthusiasm for a few beers, a curry and an early night. It’s too hot though; I’m too weighed down with gym baggage and camera.

The JDWWH is as it tends to be on days like these – the outside seating is packed and bawdy, it’s considerably quieter inside.

Inside there’s the usual family groups, groups of middle aged men, a few sad loners like me – the real topers down at the bottom bar. The beer is alright, the tables are sticky, I opt out of a second.

409. Sat 5/5/18: BeerHeadZ, Nottingham Station

Beer: North Riding Brewery Banoffee Porter 5.0%

Steph and I have reservations on a later train than the others – but we accompany them to the station, where we’d read on the way up (in the latest CAMRA Beer magazine) of this brand new micropub.

It’s good. I like the concept of micropubs – we’ve been to a few. This is certainly small enough to qualify… it seems rather achingly trendy too, which might put me off.

Anyway, the beer is good – the beer is strong – it’s been a lovely day and a long day, and we’re all quite p*ssed.

416. Sun 13/5/18: The New Members Bar, Lord’s Pavilion, London

Beer: Marston's Pedigree 4.5%

Middlesex v Gloucestershire, day three

With less than ten minutes to go until the luncheon interval, the New Members’ Bar is strangely empty.

Three bar persons wait to serve me. I order a pint of Pedigree and a pack of salt and vinegar crisps.

While I’m in the bar I hear a dull roar (or yawn) of appreciation, and find out that Ollie Rayner has taken the wicket of Graeme van Buuren. We like Ollie, he’s a tryer.

406. Fri 4/5/18: The Crown, Luton

Beer: Greene King Band of Brothers 4.1%

Aged Market Hill boozer, currently under bored (though not negligent) GK stewardship. Aesthetically it's fine, although the early evening clientele seem a little lairy… but that’s probably any town centre pub that one’s reasonably unfamiliar with.

It’s a big pub. I sit at a table near the entrance. It’s sticky.

The beer is a passable GK stab at a pale’n’hoppy IPA. It’s OK… I’m ill-convinced (of the style, and the brewer).

Two mature fellows enter the pub. I catch a solitary line of conversation “it’s a f*ckin’ waste of time innit?” He may have a point. I don’t fancy another pint of BOB. I’m considering The Castle or The Red Lion – but going home seems more appealing.

A sandwich board outside advertises the fact that the pub will shortly be screening the Royal Wedding and the FA Cup Final on the same day (Saturday 19/518). Past that, on the seating under the Rotary Club clock, what looks like a homeless old boy (and/or a p*ssed old b*stard) is getting hassled by a couple of coppers. It’s grim street theatre; folk from the pub congregate around the doorway to get a better look while they have a fag. I take pictures through the window of the scene juxtaposed against the Royal Wedding ad.

Market Hill evenings have something of a quietly sinister edge. It’s like Hogarth’s Gin Lane in Luton sometimes… it’s probably not quite that bad at the moment (though it certainly isn’t Beer Street convivial).

418c. Fri 26/5/18: The Boat Inn, Leek

Beer: Marston’s Saddle Tank 3.8%

Steam train trip from Froghall to Cheddleton. Pub is a walk over the canal from the station. Sudden hive of activity when the train comes in.

Although we didn't end up going there (restricted by return train times) there is a water flint mill nearby which was used to grind flint used in the pottery industry.

Very pleasant spot on a sunny day like this - see pictures. Strange metal construction on one side of the bridge - must have a purpose but buggered if I know.

413. Fri 11/5/18: The Globe, Dunstable

Beer: Banks & Taylor Edwin Taylor Stout 4.5%, Banks & Taylor Dunstable Giant 4.4%

I still reckon there’s too much choice at The Globe. Still, you’ve got to love the place – we’d visit far more often it was nearer home; while its local popularity on Friday nights tends to put us off a busway excursion.

Tonight, though, it’s quite early, and we’re in Dunny to see Danny Baker at The Grove.

I think, and Steph suggests, that the clientele aren’t swearing nearly as much in here as they were in The Victoria. It’s true – and there’s a few reasons, we reckon. We think it’s something to do with the clientele and with the acoustics… we then naturally take to listening in to the blokes at the bar, who are (albeit reasonably quietly) swearing quite a lot.

As per my theory “dogs in pubs being beneficial”, there are at least three in here and their presence provides entertainment and generates a general sense of bon homie. The whippet in the pic looked docile enough but revealed a touch of the bastard about him when faced with canine competition. The collie, sat under the table, over the way, is being kept at safe distance. Lovely dogs, collies, but nuts.

Dunstable Giant for a second/last pint. The beer is named in remembrance of the erstwhile landlord, Mel, who ran this pub when it first opened, and passed away some years ago. I didn’t really know him. Thurls did. I had a pint of Dunstable Giant once at The Square & Compass in Worth Matravers – an idyllically scenic (and quite quirky) pub near Swanage/the English Channel.

            

   

406c. Fri 4/5/18: The Cock Tavern, Hackney, London

Beer: Hackney Kapow! 4.5%

A post M.O.T.H. Club tipple in an impressively sized pub bang in the middle of Hackers. It's strangely not-at-all-busy which is just fine for me and PtmF. Queuing up for a craft beer is a foolish game, after all. In our slightly wrecked state, we don't see the 16 real ale pumps until after we've ordered from shiny craft taps. See picture; and tell us exactly how blind we were.

The Kapow's ok, even if everything in the breezy, empty pub reeks of joss sticks. These supposedly relaxing hippy smells have an alarming effect, particularly on PtmF, who starts seething. As he reaches boiling point, I throw a jacket over him and bundle him back to Hackney Central for the surprisingly easy, predictably painful train ride home to civilisation, via Highbury & Islington and St Pancras.