143. Sun 6/8/17: Harris Garden, Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London

Beer: Ringwood Forty Niner 4.9%


The deal with the Lord’s Beer Fest’ is that it’s non-cash and one buys vouchers beforehand. In today’s case that necessitates return visits to get rid of our remaining half pint vouchers. It’s getting too hot – and Middlesex are now crashing too (there’s twenty wickets in the day – possibly more, I wasn’t paying too much attention to the farce out in the middle).

The Beer Festival is very popular though. I’ve worked out why. While, as members, our booze alternative is pots of Pedigree at a price comparable to drinks here – the rest of the crowd are served up whatever Marston’s weakest bitter is, and at a scandalous £5.20 a pint. A half of considerably better beer at the Harris Garden Beer Fest’ is £1.90.

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.

427. Sun 3/6/18: North Tower bar, Lord’s Pavilion, London

Beer: Marston's Pedigree 4.5%

Middx v Surrey, One-day Cup

A big crowd at “HQ”, as we never call it. We have to queue a while to get into the ground but, once in the Pavilion, we’re lucky enough to find some reasonably decent seats… we’re right by the north tower, and can’t see about a third of the playing area towards the Grand Stand; but the pitch is towards the Tavern Stand and – you don’t care, do you?

Anyway, ‘cause it’s a big crowd, they’ve deigned to open the bars at the top of the Pavilion, so I go there. I leave my seat and ask Stephanie to pass my camera – at which point the lady West Indian steward, who has been looming over us for a while, presumably to keep an eye on possibly unruly visiting members from Surrey, informs me I’m not allowed to take photographs in the Pavilion.

“I thought it was just in the Long Room.”

“Anywhere in the Pavilion.”

Steph informs the steward that I’d taken loads of photos in the Pavilion. The bloody grass.

I’ve not been rebuked by a Pavilion steward for a couple of years now. The rules are daft and petty, and one gets the feeling the stewards know it, but they dish out their tellings off so charmingly – it’s always a pleasure.

The bar is card only/no cash. On my return the steward has departed… I take a couple of sneaky snaps in defiant disregard of MCC protocol.

402. Sun 29/4/18: The Terrace Bar, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

Beer: Marston’s Pedigree 4.5%

Middlesex v Glamorgan, day three.

It’s freezing at Lord’s, but the brand spanking new Pelham Restaurant in the Warner Stand is open to (non-dining) members. In fact there’s no dining at all – chairs and tables are unceremoniously stacked up, free for folk to come over and plonk them in front of the windows. It’s all quite odd in a part of the stand which seems to have been built with an eye to barring all but MCC members and their chums who can afford to pay £££s for a posh meal – in a space that used to be a public bar (albeit in a stand only open to members). Not today though. Instead, there’s a few dozen people up here – some eating their own packed lunches… all reasonably chaotic, suitably civilised; but quiet… pin drop quiet.

The Terrace Bar is one (and maybe two) levels down in the innards of the new stand. It’s new and functional, minimalist and cold. It’s clearly not made for these quiet county matches – and maybe it’ll be more charming during test matches. I personally doubt that.

Anyway, they’re serving Pedigree in recyclable plastic beakers: they cost a pound extra, but you get that back if you remember to take your empty cup back to the bar. Naturally, I forgot to do that.

141 Sun 060817: Harris Garden, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

Beer: Ringwood Forty Niner 4.9%, Ringwood Circadian 4.5%

Warwickshire 62-5

The second year that Lord’s has hosted a “Beer Festival”; it was a very welcome novelty last year, but this time round… seems a bit half-hearted. I could personally do much worse than Pedigree as the standard (strong) beer at Lord’s – but the paucity of the Marston range is highlighted by this year's event.

Ringwood beers are normally good – and sometimes too quirky for their own good. I have a half of Forty Niner, which is dependable without being too exciting, and Circadian which is too floral for my liking.

Couldn’t help thinking that I’d be better off supping Pedigree in the stands, watching Warwickshire wickets tumble.