432a. Fri 22/6/18: The Smithfield, Luton Airport

Beer: Fullers London Pride (bottled) 4.7%

Waiting for a plane to Edinburgh. Long weekend with old friends coming up. As is de rigeur for airport waits, pint is partaken AM. Attendant at front of house helpfully informed us that if we just wanted a drink we could either take a table or stand at the bar. Very grateful for that advice as I'd be lost otherwise. Only handpump on was some Greene King ale so plumped for bottle of LP. I'm flying with James, a long standing friend from VI form days. Some excitement at the bar as a can of beer spontaneously ejected beer onto everyone from a high shelf.

308a. Sun 25/2/18: The Parcel Yard, London

Beer: Butcombe Rare Breed 3.8%; Fullers London Pride 4.1%

A Sunday evening and we find ourselves in Kings Cross, attracted by a tribute to the late Mark E. Smith and The Fall, up the road, U skinny rats. A decision is taken on the train down to try out Fullers' The Parcel Yard and we’re glad we did.

Housed in a curious roof space above the station itself (where throngs of Japanese and Italian fans of H. Potter are queuing to get themselves pictured in front of a sign saying “Platform 9 ¾”…. weird), the pub is made up of a number of large rooms separated by nicely preserved original wooden panels.  High vaulted ceilings and plenty of glass make it a bright, and despite the size, quite a cosy place. Food looked good (didn’t try it, mind) and a very varied range of beers.

Talk was largely centred around the genius of M.E.S. writing and music which made us eager to finish up quick and get to the venue. Will definitely return when we have more time and are next leaving the capitol.

152. Sat 19/8/17: Lansdowne Club, Luton

Beer: Fullers London Pride 4.0%

The search for Brickies pre-match alternatives (again, I quite like The Horse) continues, and this time its football Saturday membership at The Lansdowne. There’s quite a queue at the bar, and the range is very limited. That said, London Pride is perfectly acceptable and - slightly annoyingly - this place is fine too. There’s apparently no enthusiasm to match drinks with branded glassware, which is commendable. The LC is very civilised and genteel. I like it quite a lot which, again, slightly irks.

Not entirely sure why. Possibly it’s the paucity of decent boozers – very much highlighted by our forlorn schlep the previous night – which has led us into this fine establishment, which maybe isn’t ready (yet) to be patronised by the likes of us. Not that we’re in any way rowdy – but it does seem that we’ve been corralled into gate crashing someone else’s party.