569. Sat 15/12/18: Byatt’s Brewery Bar, Coventry

Beer: Byatt’s XXXmas 5.5%
COVENTRY CITY 1-2 LUTON TOWN

Excellent result in Coventry – new ground for me. My 105th, according to my (anal) “app”. A fantastic day out only marred by the weather which started out as very cold but, by the time we left, the freezing rain had started. We’re a bit stuck about what to do – my research for this trip sadly lacking – the GBG app on my phone gives directions to Byatt’s Brewery, but it’s a twenty minute walk and we’re getting soaked.

Thankfully we get to the little industrial estate where the brewery is based, and manage to warm up a little in its nicely appointed bar. There’s seats and heaters (and about a dozen Town fans) upstairs.

The beer is dark and strong, like I like my men. My phone has given up the ghost in the cold, and my selvedge LVC (seconds) jeans are soaked through.

Keith is in the party of Hatters – but the others leave together – leaving Mr H with us. We talk vaguely about the match, about Town’s chances of promotion, about Power Court. We eventually manage to wangle a couple of seats in the taxi Keith’s booked to take him (to meet back up with his pals) in another pub in the city centre.

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.

412. Fri 110518: The Victoria, Dunstable

Beer: Hook Norton Old Hooky 4.5% 

Steph bought tickets to see Danny Baker at Dunstable’s (excellent) Grove Theatre as a Christmas present – so that’s why we’re in Dunny. Good though, ain’t he, Danny Baker?

We’ve time for a couple beforehand – and go, firstly, like you do, to The Victoria: once Dunstable’s sole real ale bolthole… these days rather in the shade of The Globe. The Vic’ (as regulars may call it) is alright – and it certain retains the feel and the clientele of a decent community local.

Immediately on entry, we have to circumnavigate the large group of old boys, loudly effin’ and jeffin’ (but most effin’), and pretty efficiently blocking both entrance to/from the pub – and access to/from the bar.

Still, once got, the beer is very good.

Steph suggests, judging by the look of the locals – there are quite a few people in here that it’d be useful to know. They’re almost exclusively male, dressed in paint flecked apparel, and all apparently employed at doing “something useful” - swigging back lagers and swearing in accents that Steph suggests are “more Luton than you get in Luton”. I’m sitting there, sipping at real ale, surreptitiously scribbling notes and taking photographs… activities I’m involved enough with at the time to forget about feeling emasculated, until it comes round to typing this report out.

We only stay for one – and get a little bit lost in the back streets, trying to find The Globe.

491d. Wed 3/10/18: Snack Bar o Jacare, Madeira, Portugal

Beer: Madeira Coral 5.0% 

Post levada walk drink at the finishing point. For those who have not been to Madeira, the levadas are man made narrow channels of water which guide water from the mountains to the rest of the island. Originally built for irrigation of the land and then for collecting water for general usage, there are now a number of levadas that feed hydroelectric stations. Many of the levadas can be walked and take you through some lovely countryside. My beer stands next to the levada I followed. We were told not to drink water straight from the levada which was good advice as on the walk first a dead kitten and then a dead mouse floated past us! Thought the bar at the end of the walk would be prime tourist trap territory but fair do's, 50cls of Coral only €3.

 

300b. Sat 10/2/18: The Bricklayers Arms, Luton

Beer: Banks & Taylor Crooked Hooker 4.7%

Late Saturday night pub, celebrating and blowing smoke for Lee after the Light/Shade event at Wardown House. To be fair, the boy done very good indeed, and he and Anna seem in good spirits.

Chat revolves around 'projects', nights, work and the pros and cons of various aspects connected to each of them. And poetry. We're joined by Lawrence who's interested in something going on where I work. And poetry.

Meanwhile, Al's soldering behind the bar, training a new recruit who can ease what appears to be something of a shortage of weekend help. It's fairly busy - standing room only, which is pretty good - and despite my reservations about B&T beer, the Hooker is pretty good. Fnarr.

577. Tue 25/12/18: The Wigmore Arms, Luton

Beer: Marston’s Pedigree 4.5%

Two Wiggy visits in two days – this time it’s an early afternoon pre-dinner session with Steph and her folks. Again, the place is busy, but we manage to get a table in the main/front/lounge bar so can gauge the effect of the recent refurbishment – which has changed the pub into a branch of the “Sizzling Pub Grill” brand that nobody’s heard of. The most obvious change, for me, is that they’ve gotten rid of the wordy (boring, to be honest) history of the Wigmore family, misappropriated Holbein illustration and all, from the wall. This they’ve replaced with a big “Sizzler” decal screaming: “FRESH from our GRILL”… A beer mat on our table informs that Sizzler can provide us with a seasonal Cherry Bakewell Cocktail.

Have, Steph’s Mum wonders, they gotten rid of the lady who used to cook here? I suggest maybe not. I’m facing towards the bar and catch sight of the lady in question – apparently still employed in the kitchens.

Tables are full, mainly with family groups. A kid on the table next to ours is playing with his new Harry Potter wand. It’s all very convivial and noisy – the Wigmore regulars festive loud, but not boisterous. The tellies run through a selection of cheesy seasonal hits, thankfully the volume isn’t turned up as loud as yesterday. Macca is still enjoying his wonderful Chrismastime.

I have my back to the window. Steph and Roy are looking outside – gleaning a fair degree of entertainment from the steady, if not heavy, stream of cars driving into Asda – their drivers believing the petrol station and/or supermarket are open on Christmas Day.

Back in the pub, numbers fluctuate, but the place remains quite packed. Packed and festive and nice: Merry Christmas everybody…

 

498a. Fri 12/10/18: The Bricklayers Arms, Luton

Beer: Titanic Cherry Dark 4.4%

Back from The Black Horse beer festival. The Brickies is fairly busy. L8s has a table in the back. He admonishes me and TPK for our high spirits. Not sure why he admonishes us, or why we're so cheerful. Or if we're that cheerful. Anyway, he does and we may be.

We knuckle down to the business of drinking dark, complicated Chocolate and Vanilla Stout. It's sweet and the flavours are childish, but the beer's very good.