18. Fri 24/3/17: The Bricklayers Arms, Hightown Road, Luton

Beer: Wantsum Bouclair 4.5%, Flipside Random Toss 4.4%

Out: AJK, Leighton, Steve

Not every evening down the pub is going to be enlightening, and this was one wasn’t particularly. Discussion revolved around the Knockouts rehearsal of Wednesday night, which produced some decent tunes, and potential stage apparel for the band to wear at potential gigs. KO trousers could be made up, and made available as the only thing available on the merch’ stall (we tend to sell bits of crap from a suitcase). My thoughts are of a nice embroidered polo (as opposed to polo necked) shirt – though L8s is adamant that the preferred logo be of a mod/ska man (like off of Two Tone records) kissing a pair of balls, over the legend “Kiss the balls”. Steve arrives late and leaves early.

The beer is decent. I can’t remember. I wrote the unlikely Wantsum BOUCLAIR in caps in my notebook – but can’t find any mention of it on their website. I moved onto the Flipside quite early… and think that’s the one pictured.

340. Wed 14/3/18: El Serrallo, Cádiz

Beer: San Miguel 5.0%

We watch the second half of the football (Barcelona 2-0 Chelsea) in this bar, a couple of doors down and nearer the fountain in Plaza Mentidero.

It’s a San Miguel bar, which is nice. Steph, untypically, has been moaning about Cruzcampo minutes earlier… frankly though, there are odd times when even this beer starts going down quite nicely after the first couple. This seems like one of those nights.

Messi scores again.

Clientele, made up of aged old fellas, sat on round tables at the end of the bar where the telly is, murmur muted appreciation. I’m bored of this meaningless megla-millionaire football.

They all disappear as soon as the match ends, but we sit and discuss relative values of Cádiz compared to Seville. It seems decidedly more laid back here, which is nice. I’m not entirely sure we’ll be coming back soon – but it’s a lovely place.

 

485. Fri 21/9/18: The White House, Luton

Beer: Exmoor Gold 4.5%

Around 5:30pm, and I was planning on getting the bus from Park Square to Markyate, to go to The Local micropub – and from there, using the Centrebus service, to Dunstable and back to Luton. There’s a £4.10 day ticket – I’d seen it advertised (see #457). Bargain. But… no, the driver informs, I couldn’t do that trip on a day ticket… I might be able to do it on a “Hip hop” ticket, let’s have a look… no, Markyate’s out of range. The driver is helpful and accommodating, eager to find me a ticket – but in the end can only suggest three singles totaling over £9. I’m also conscious that the queue behind is eager to pass the obstacle to their getting homeward bound that I’ve become. I thank the driver for his assistance, and tell him I’ll be giving the trip a miss. Next time – a simple return to Markyate…

Back in Luton – I meander somewhat aimlessly, get a pasty at Don Millers, and wander on to the White House.

 

Read previous reports on fluctuating feelings on the Wetherspoon estate, and the JDWWH in particular. It’s typically post-work busy here now – there clearly are still folk working in Luton town centre… they’re probably all LBC.

The service is pretty unexceptional, the beer is reasonably good. It’s a one pint visit – until I dig into my bag and pull out Boak and Bailey’s Gambrinus Waltz, the story of the rise and fall of Bavarian and Bohemian lager beer in Blighty from the late nineteenth century until the outbreak of the Great War. It’s an essay rather than a book – but a decent read. The White House, I’d suggest, mostly ‘cause one is usually here on one’s own, is a decent reading pub.

Anyway, that means it becomes a three pint visit, which allows plenty of time to finish the pamphlet.

491c. Tue 2/10/18: Beerhouse Brewery, Funchal, Portugal

Beer: Madeira Beerhouse Weissbeer ?%

Second visit of the holidays. Christine didn't want to eat so we got a quick taxi
down to the front and stopped here for a couple of drinks. I went for the inhouse-brewed Weissbeer this time and it was okay. I couldn't find anywhere its ABV, sorry, but I guess it's 4%. They brew it right in the bar/restaurant as you can see from the pics of the bright shiny mash tun and fermenting vessels.

Puts my own home brew equipment in a bad light (big saucepan and a plastic bucket). We got served the free samples of the Coral Stout again, have they got a surplus to get rid of? They were selling the cute tiny glasses they serve the samples in at €2.50 a pop - I bought two and may use them to serve a shot of whisky instead. On the way back up the hill to our hotel we pass the Madeira Casino. A rather strange building that looks very 70s sci-fi. I always call it the "Logan's Run" temple where everyone who reaches 30 goes to die.

487a. Fri 28/9/18: The Bricklayers Arms, Luton

Beer: Portobello Carnival Pale Ale 4.5%
A rather pedestrian night in The Bricklayers. Suits me and TPK fine, until the conversation and craic at the bar cut through, then rapidly gets a little overwhelming. As it can do at times.

PS is out, trying to round people up for The Bear Club. We decide, instead, to hit either The Great Northern, The George or The Wheelies, depending on which one looks less bad. PS advises the band on at The Bear has 'funk' in their name, but - surmises PS - 'they're not a funk band'.

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.

382. Fri 30/3/18: The Black Horse, Luton

Beer: Pheasantry Aurora 4.8%

There’s lots and time and effort gone into The Black Horse – and into events like this. This time round, landlord Chris has set a dozen or more casks in the beer garden, and has spent time and money on pretty elaborate festival menus.

We’ve become pre-match Saturday afternoon regulars recently, and some of the older beer bore Town fans are holding court in the middle of the pub. We find a space near the stage, near the back, nearer the festival barrels out in a beer tent in the garden. Decent though the beer selection is, the evening clientele make it difficult to enjoy it. Without wanting (but doubtless failing) to sound like I’d ideally like to see the gentrification of every pub we visit, one does feel this pub deserves better patrons than it seems to attract now. It’s difficult to imagine there’s much enthusiasm for the beer festival among much of the crowd in tonight.

It’s a pity. We stay for one – and head back for the Brickies.