159. Sat 2/9/17: The Wigmore Arms, Luton

Beer: Sharp’s Doom Bar 4.0%

The Wiggy is looking a bit tired and the ale choice, once we’ve established that Abbot and Bombardier are off, is GKIPA and Doom Bar. Ho hum.

It’s an international weekend with the football so the place isn’t packed with polyester Prem’ fans, it’s quite nice and quiet; just a shame that, in this pub which was relatively recently listed in the Good Beer Guide, we’ve got better (Asda/M&S bought) beer at home.

That said, this is still a vibrant, bustling and good humoured community boozer.

Back at the bar for a second Doom Bar (I drink twice as fast as Steph) there’s some excitement as the bar staff are apparently pulling the Bombardier through. But, no, it’s 6pm… they’re cleaning the pipes. A sneaky coupla pints at The Wigmore isn’t as appealing as it has been.

20 Wed 29/3/17: Kings Arms, Lymington

Beer: Sharp's Doom Bar 4.0%

On the south coast/New Forest for work day out, which involves boating from Lymington to the IOW and back again, on Thursday 30th. Some go down the night before to sleep in local Premier Inns or the corporate day out organisers’ boat. I’m on a boat. Some go for a pre-arranged Italian meal on Wednesday night; I do a pub crawl on me tod.

The only GBG pubs are the Wetherspoons in town and The Monkey House which is a good twenty minute walk from the Marina. I pass the JDW and, wondering whether continuing the walk was justified, went into this pub on the way. I’d have stayed for a couple (and contemplated staying in the town centre) if the pub was better. My plan was to find a decent pub and enigmatically read Oscar Wilde’s essay on socialism… it wasn’t going to happen here.

Doom Bar was the only option. There were four regulars at the bar, the barman was regaling how, though he disliked “_____”, he loved working with her because she was so easy to bully… ordering her about, telling her what to do etc. Seemed a thoroughly unpleasant boast to me, but that’s the way things seem to be going – both in workplaces and politics these days. Anyway, the assembled clientele seemed amused enough with it. The bastards.

I supped up me beer and made a beeline to the Monkey House, listening to a podcast: The History of England Episode 209: (15th Century) Exploration.