375. Wed 21/3/18: The White House, Luton

Beer: Sambrooks Flat White Stout 4.5%

Has the JDWWH had a post refurb makeover since my last visit? It seems somehow more warming and welcoming than usual. Maybe it’s just the unusually quiet and polite clientele at 05:30pm on a Wednesday.

The beer is delicious.

The tranquil mood is bludgeoned as Darren, a fellow we’ve known for thirty odd years arrives, and exuberantly takes us back to yesteryear: tales of acquaintances I’m not entirely sure we shared (“no… I’m sure I’d recognise him/her if I saw him/her”). Crazy days (NB: they weren’t that crazy, not for me). Darren’s still crazy. I’ve not changed in 25 years, he lies. He’s still in skinny fit jeans – and looking amazing.

Darren’s a force of nature, and his appearance smashes the air of quietly whimsical contemplation I try to maintain on the solo sneaky pint. He’s a lovely fella but, bloody hell…

On my way out Darren suggests we go out one night – “just you and me. We’ll f***ing smash it”. I’m naturally flattered/scared/confused/struck by awe and star.

122. Wed 21/6/17: The Bear Club, Luton

Beer: Leighton Buzzard Restoration 4.6%
Richard Herring gig; warm-up for his “Oh Flip I’m 50” Edinburgh show. I’m a podcast subscribing fan of Mr Herring, and me brother bought me a ticket for my birthday (although I don’t usually go for live comedy). It is stupidly hot outside, and inside, The Bear. The warm-up acts are forgettable, and the compere picks on just about everyone apart (mercifully) from me. He’s called David. He’s gay. Not seen him before but I’ve since seen him on a talking heads clip show – where he was required to be aghast at 70s TV content… ‘cause it was racist and sexist and almost certainly homophobic too.

Anyway, Richard Herring was good – the crowd were a bit rubbish though; he deserved better levels of enthusiasm than a hot and bothered Luton crowd could muster. Still, I was audience, I should have laughed louder and applauded when me brother tried to start a round (it didn’t take).

At the end of the show I procured a copy of Richard Herring’s book of emergency questions. I asked him to sign it to Timothy. I stopped at least twice on the way home to laugh at the questions therein.

187. Tue 3/10/17: La Cava Aragonesa, Benidorm

Beer: Mahou 5%

After a strangely bewildering wild goose chase (involving Steph’s folks, who aren’t going to meet us after all, and an apartment – which we can’t find – that they wanted us to look over on their behalf…) we end up back at the LCA. It’s nearing mid-afternoon.

This place is bright and bustling, and just a bit better in every respect from the local competition… anyway, the music is still too loud and cheesy… but what the heck.

This turns out to be our last visit to La Cava Aragonesa this time round.

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.

379d Thu 29/3/18: The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno

Beer: Limestone Cowboy 4.5%

One of my favourite pubs here in Llandudno, either reasonably or very busy depending on the time of day. Can be an over propensity to reserve tables for eaters. Always a good selection of Welsh ales though. Bit dangerous to eat outside - seagulls will try and steal your food. I was over optimistic about the weather trying to push Spring along so ditched the jacket in favour of t-shirt/jumper combo. Bit of an error-bloomin' cold on the Pier. I'm not a cider drinker but the Welsh Black Dragon is a smooth flat drinkable cider (7.2%) which is rather appealing - the missus couldn't finish it.

363. Sun 18/3/18: Cerveceria el Tremendo, Seville

Beer: Cruzcampo 5.0%

An affable English speaking fellow at the party we gatecrashed in Cádiz (see episode 332) agreed that Cruzcampo is indeed an inferior product now – but there were still places in Seville that sold the good old traditional beer of yore. He gave us some names, which I jotted down in my Czech penguin notebook – and this is one of them.

There certainly seems to be something about this place. It looks clean and bright enough, but generally just bog standard – but it’s extremely popular with the locals. The bar probably has a long tradition as a community hub – but there are no shortage of establishments in this area (including El Rinconcillo, the oldest tapas bar in Seville, just round the corner), not many of which are nearly this busy… (El Rinconcillo is busier – but it is considerably bigger, and better represented on guide books and on telly).


I’m not sure about the beer. I don’t think it’s a relentlessly fizzy as normal, and maybe tastes a bit different/better. Stephanie remains sceptical of that opinion.

I’ve also noticed a sign saying “Cerveza Cruzcampo de barril” in this and, it turns out, several other places (including Casa Morales). The untranslated blurb I’ve managed to look up on the internet since does suggest at a non-pasteurised version – and this is probably it.

58. Fri 14/4/17: El Cangrejo, Seville

Beer: Cruzcampo 5%

Untrendy bar in Rinconcillo environs. The area is packed, but this place has ample room at the bar. It appears to be run by a young couple, whose kid sits on the beer kegs – tapping away, bored, on a device.

Nice tiles – too clean – no patina.

Suffice to say that this bar really wasn’t too noteworthy – although the notes that do exist convey some sympathy with the owners of an empty bar in a busy area. They also have a pop at their serving Cruzcampo, which seems more than a little uncharitable – what was I expecting? London Pride?