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.

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.