"Av come in ere fr a parnt er Bansly bitter...
Aye
Aye
Aye...
Wiv me dog Gloria, aye, aye....
Aye...."
As with all writings on pub characters, I am significantly enough concerned to confirm that sine I thought of the pun in the title, I haven't seen this man, or indeed his hound, in about three months. Just like I have not seen 60s Clive, or whatever moniker I attributed to him, after my write up of his bizarre hobby of dragging his semi conscious incontinent Mother out with him, ironically, also to drink Barnsley Bitter (and then three pints of cider in half an hour), before his Mother lost interest/the will to live/control of her bowels. Am not suggesting for one moment that there is a link between my musings, strange folk, and Stancil Barnsley Bitter, am simply making an observation...
I have spotted the AR a number of times over a period of many years. I usually spot him in the Gardeners Rest, but have also encountered him in the Kelham Island Tavern and Shakespeares. He has a simultaneously intense yet distracted face, is plainly dressed, and always sups his favoured brown liquid with his dog in tow. I have never paid much attention to the hound but am fairly sure its the same one I have been seeing him with since day one, so it must be getting on a bit. He, meanwhile, is ageless. Which given how tiresome and frustrating his Aye symphony can become, is perhaps ironic.
Last year myself and friend Owen encountered him in Shakespeares. So amusing and yet maudlin was his repetition that we chose to sit outside in the cold to avoid him. However, unlike the troubling drunk with the shitting woman, he is, in fact, entirely harmless. I also heard rumours, and just that, suggesting that he lost his wife to a car accident many years ago, and has never got over it. If that is the case then I feel this once more demonstrates the succourable qualities embedded in the pub environment, although, that in itself is a subject for another post methinks...
To wear my psychological cap for a moment, I do think that the chap suffers from an affliction - mental or social - which inescapably defines the manner in which he espouses not so much this thoughts, but a carefully preplanned, perhaps oft rehearsed, sonnet of simple phrases. This of course, could be triggered by a deep loss. But as I have probably pointed out previously, I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist.....
One of the things I find odd about this affliction is that having found no response to or started a conversation with his two phrases, and possibly having given up his every ten second repetition of the word "aye" the bloke will often, without warning, let out a long and entirely singular aye, almost to remind us that he is still there. Often, when people glance over in surprise, this prompts a question to a usually younger or more nervous looking member of the pub's throng of drinkers, although this unfortunately does nothing to lessen their already palpable shyness, and the aye symphony restarts once again like a forward wound tape reel. If dogs weren't allowed in the pubs I drink in I imagine he would not be in, so it is therefore also notable that the existence of another dog is the final strand at which he swipes, in order to have a more personal symphony of communicative dysfunctionality with.
He does not stick around more than a couple of hours, usually finding that repeating his phrases and the word aye about twenty times is doing nothing to ameliorate his situation, nor to address his perhaps significant needs. He also never says goodbye - even though he already says the second half of it. And have never seen him catch a bus. If you like me are an observer, you will have seen him, am sure...
And heard the word aye.
Aye
Aye....
With regards
Beefolot.
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Tuesday, 23 April 2019
Monday, 22 April 2019
Two new ones and two old ones.
Hulloo,
Its much more likely these days that I will visit a newly opened venue than revisit an old haunt, especially given the searing pace at which Sheffield's beer scene is evolving and expanding. In the past fortnight however I have, amongst rather too many, visited an old pub new to me, a new pub in an existing licensed venue which was also new to me, and revisited two pubs that had previously gone somewhat daarn ill....
Nearly two weeks ago, prior to the first venue, I caught the bus up to Heeley and visited the Brothers Arms, which has remained a cracking boozer, and where I had a pint of Bad Seed Imperial lager, sat outside in their wonderful beer garden, enjoying the fabulous cloud patterns in the sky, and, of course, the beer. I then nipped to the Sheaf View where I had a pint of Neepsend and Lost Industry Spruce Almighty on cask, and a half of their dry hopped sour shutter speed on keg. The Shutter Speed was served flat, which didn't suggest it was OK at all, although upon finding out it was a sour the aroma and flavours, when mixed with the dry hopping, made more sense. Evidence I should read beer labels more carefully methinks! I also caught up with Jon and Mandy in the continuously excellent White Lion, next, and had two excellent pints of Abduction, sat in the snug on the left, before getting a taxi to Jabeerwocky.
This new bar is housed in the former Bar Ambassada PL on London Road, a Polish venue. There is still a similar theme to some of the beers sold and Eastern European dishes feature on the excellent food menu. I discovered whilst reading up on the venue after visiting that it is owned or run by Chris who used to be manager at the Bath Hotel. I got to know Chris whilst visiting there and it was ages ago that I spotted him in Bar Stewards (or he me) and he, probably, told me about his new venture. I understand that his partner is in charge of sourcing the food. This puts an extra glint on my single visit, where although the card machine wasn't working, I still had a pint of Gipsy Hill Partizan Pale on keg, and a meal which I often eat at the Czech run Old Queens Head, the name of which currently escapes me. The food was delicious (and much needed), as was the beer, so I will definitely be arranging a return visit soon.
Early last week I was catching up with the wonderful Tash and after meeting in town for a wander and some shopping we decided to pop into the Roebuck on Charles Street, now renamed (perhaps recently?) as the Roebuck Tavern and Kitchen. I used to go in here in the nineties, ended up there during quite a few team nights out in the Noughties, and gave it a go when it was owned by Wood Street Brewery (now no more). The last time I went in was probably three or four years ago and it was fairly terrible. Walking past, we saw boards advertising craft (shudder) beers and food from Yorkshire, and were swung by it's promise to serve proper Yorkshire fishcakes, not rissoles....
On entering there seems to have been a subtle redecoration, and true to their claim the beers on cask did seem to be from Yorkshire - I didn't check them all though as I noticed they had Blue Bee Centennial IPA on at 5.0% so went for a pint of that and a large glass of white for Tash. We tried sitting inside on some stools next to a shelf but there was a red hot radiator on right next to the seats so we headed out onto the terrace for a more comfortable drink and a catch up.
The Blue Bee was a little odd - it was not off but seemed to somehow taste like two separate concoctions. Knowing the breweries wares as I do I was unconvinced that this was how they had intended the beer to taste, but it was palatable so I decided not to mention it.
I did however go inside to the obviatorium, and found there was no working hand drier and the cold tap was rammed firmly and fully on and un-turn-off-able. I managed to turn my tap off with some wrangling so when I went past the bar I pointed out that the tap was on full and couldn't be turned off and that there was no working hand drier. The response I received encapsulated a complaint made by my friend Dougie about younger people being unable to apologise. He had encountered dire service and rooms at an expensive hotel and the starlet behind the counter had said thankyou, instead of, for example, "am really sorry to hear that", or, "we will knock something off your bill, or give you a voucher", or similar. The response to my reporting the above was met with "thanks for letting us know". Well, thanks back. I will go and sit outside with my wet hands whilst your bathroom fills with water. Its such a shame that getting two basic features of a pub right eluded the people at the Roebuck, especially when their beer range has improved and their food sounds very tempting.
The Saturday before I had gone to the Grindstone in Crookes with WK and many of his and our friends to finish his birthday celebrations. I had started drinking in this pub in 1991 when it was still owned by Wards. It was the first and only place I ever tasted Wards Kirby Ale, and also the first place I read Beer Matters magazine. Its fair to say that as well as a different number of previous reputations, the pub has since also had a number of different owners, and rumours that Greedy King were going to sell it may or may not have ousted, perhaps the third management team to walk out and leave the pub closed in the last couple of years. Whether related or not this pub is now owned by Stancill.
Arriving at 22.45 on a Friday night we expected the pub to open til 23.30 or midnight, in line with other venues in Crookes but after my half jokingly telling Wee Keefy to hurry up, they called last orders at 22.55, with the pub already starting to empty by 23.20. I know that in the last thirty years most pubs used to shut at this time but things have surely moved on? That said, although the keg was expensive, all the real ales were £2.50 a pint so I had a couple of pints of Stancill India Ale, and sat around a giant table in a bay window with the gang. In effect we didn't really spend long enough to make a detailed assessment but if nothing else, at least its open, and out of Greedy King's hands....
My final stop was yesterday in Penistone, a place I have only been to the pub in once before. Myself and WK walked from Royd Moor in the warm Easter Sunday sunshine and knowing their beer festival was on we stopped for a couple of halves each in the White Heart, who were hosting the free festival, before walking back to the car. WK tried a half of the Penistone Amber (I think) and I the same brewery's Back Oil stout which had a very distinctive and overpowering burnt taste to it. WK then had a half of Ashover Font which was excellent and myself a Fernandes Blue something, which was very enjoyable. The beers at the festival are all £3.20 a pint but I am told that normally in the bar all the beers are £4.00 a pint, which is pretty pricey for a 3.8% bitter on cask. WK went on Good Friday and expected to enjoy the Hog Roast which was advertised but was told that they weren't having one on Good Friday, and there was no evidence that there had been one on Sunday or was going to be. Again, little things, but puzzling why nobody has sorted them out. Am led to believe as well that this is one of the few places in the town to get a choice of real ales, so it is perhaps somewhere I may pop back into to check out it and its competition.
Having visited four completely different venues with differing results in each, this once again shows that the range of places to try beers in different types of location continues to change and expand apace. And it has also been a perfect way to enjoy the made up festival of bunnies that is Easter....
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Its much more likely these days that I will visit a newly opened venue than revisit an old haunt, especially given the searing pace at which Sheffield's beer scene is evolving and expanding. In the past fortnight however I have, amongst rather too many, visited an old pub new to me, a new pub in an existing licensed venue which was also new to me, and revisited two pubs that had previously gone somewhat daarn ill....
Nearly two weeks ago, prior to the first venue, I caught the bus up to Heeley and visited the Brothers Arms, which has remained a cracking boozer, and where I had a pint of Bad Seed Imperial lager, sat outside in their wonderful beer garden, enjoying the fabulous cloud patterns in the sky, and, of course, the beer. I then nipped to the Sheaf View where I had a pint of Neepsend and Lost Industry Spruce Almighty on cask, and a half of their dry hopped sour shutter speed on keg. The Shutter Speed was served flat, which didn't suggest it was OK at all, although upon finding out it was a sour the aroma and flavours, when mixed with the dry hopping, made more sense. Evidence I should read beer labels more carefully methinks! I also caught up with Jon and Mandy in the continuously excellent White Lion, next, and had two excellent pints of Abduction, sat in the snug on the left, before getting a taxi to Jabeerwocky.
This new bar is housed in the former Bar Ambassada PL on London Road, a Polish venue. There is still a similar theme to some of the beers sold and Eastern European dishes feature on the excellent food menu. I discovered whilst reading up on the venue after visiting that it is owned or run by Chris who used to be manager at the Bath Hotel. I got to know Chris whilst visiting there and it was ages ago that I spotted him in Bar Stewards (or he me) and he, probably, told me about his new venture. I understand that his partner is in charge of sourcing the food. This puts an extra glint on my single visit, where although the card machine wasn't working, I still had a pint of Gipsy Hill Partizan Pale on keg, and a meal which I often eat at the Czech run Old Queens Head, the name of which currently escapes me. The food was delicious (and much needed), as was the beer, so I will definitely be arranging a return visit soon.
Early last week I was catching up with the wonderful Tash and after meeting in town for a wander and some shopping we decided to pop into the Roebuck on Charles Street, now renamed (perhaps recently?) as the Roebuck Tavern and Kitchen. I used to go in here in the nineties, ended up there during quite a few team nights out in the Noughties, and gave it a go when it was owned by Wood Street Brewery (now no more). The last time I went in was probably three or four years ago and it was fairly terrible. Walking past, we saw boards advertising craft (shudder) beers and food from Yorkshire, and were swung by it's promise to serve proper Yorkshire fishcakes, not rissoles....
On entering there seems to have been a subtle redecoration, and true to their claim the beers on cask did seem to be from Yorkshire - I didn't check them all though as I noticed they had Blue Bee Centennial IPA on at 5.0% so went for a pint of that and a large glass of white for Tash. We tried sitting inside on some stools next to a shelf but there was a red hot radiator on right next to the seats so we headed out onto the terrace for a more comfortable drink and a catch up.
The Blue Bee was a little odd - it was not off but seemed to somehow taste like two separate concoctions. Knowing the breweries wares as I do I was unconvinced that this was how they had intended the beer to taste, but it was palatable so I decided not to mention it.
I did however go inside to the obviatorium, and found there was no working hand drier and the cold tap was rammed firmly and fully on and un-turn-off-able. I managed to turn my tap off with some wrangling so when I went past the bar I pointed out that the tap was on full and couldn't be turned off and that there was no working hand drier. The response I received encapsulated a complaint made by my friend Dougie about younger people being unable to apologise. He had encountered dire service and rooms at an expensive hotel and the starlet behind the counter had said thankyou, instead of, for example, "am really sorry to hear that", or, "we will knock something off your bill, or give you a voucher", or similar. The response to my reporting the above was met with "thanks for letting us know". Well, thanks back. I will go and sit outside with my wet hands whilst your bathroom fills with water. Its such a shame that getting two basic features of a pub right eluded the people at the Roebuck, especially when their beer range has improved and their food sounds very tempting.
The Saturday before I had gone to the Grindstone in Crookes with WK and many of his and our friends to finish his birthday celebrations. I had started drinking in this pub in 1991 when it was still owned by Wards. It was the first and only place I ever tasted Wards Kirby Ale, and also the first place I read Beer Matters magazine. Its fair to say that as well as a different number of previous reputations, the pub has since also had a number of different owners, and rumours that Greedy King were going to sell it may or may not have ousted, perhaps the third management team to walk out and leave the pub closed in the last couple of years. Whether related or not this pub is now owned by Stancill.
Arriving at 22.45 on a Friday night we expected the pub to open til 23.30 or midnight, in line with other venues in Crookes but after my half jokingly telling Wee Keefy to hurry up, they called last orders at 22.55, with the pub already starting to empty by 23.20. I know that in the last thirty years most pubs used to shut at this time but things have surely moved on? That said, although the keg was expensive, all the real ales were £2.50 a pint so I had a couple of pints of Stancill India Ale, and sat around a giant table in a bay window with the gang. In effect we didn't really spend long enough to make a detailed assessment but if nothing else, at least its open, and out of Greedy King's hands....
My final stop was yesterday in Penistone, a place I have only been to the pub in once before. Myself and WK walked from Royd Moor in the warm Easter Sunday sunshine and knowing their beer festival was on we stopped for a couple of halves each in the White Heart, who were hosting the free festival, before walking back to the car. WK tried a half of the Penistone Amber (I think) and I the same brewery's Back Oil stout which had a very distinctive and overpowering burnt taste to it. WK then had a half of Ashover Font which was excellent and myself a Fernandes Blue something, which was very enjoyable. The beers at the festival are all £3.20 a pint but I am told that normally in the bar all the beers are £4.00 a pint, which is pretty pricey for a 3.8% bitter on cask. WK went on Good Friday and expected to enjoy the Hog Roast which was advertised but was told that they weren't having one on Good Friday, and there was no evidence that there had been one on Sunday or was going to be. Again, little things, but puzzling why nobody has sorted them out. Am led to believe as well that this is one of the few places in the town to get a choice of real ales, so it is perhaps somewhere I may pop back into to check out it and its competition.
Having visited four completely different venues with differing results in each, this once again shows that the range of places to try beers in different types of location continues to change and expand apace. And it has also been a perfect way to enjoy the made up festival of bunnies that is Easter....
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Saturday, 13 April 2019
Wisewood Wander
Afternoo,
the first thing I should point out about this post is it doesn't include many pubs in Wisewood. I didn't go to the Castle for example, and in some ways, the first two pubs are actually in Loxley. The theme of this post is therefore deliberate misinformation. I did however, start at the Wisewood Inn.....
I had been to the Northern General to see a man about an issue and had caught the tortuous rambling 97 to Hillsborough and jumped om the 52A. I alighted just off Loxley Road and walked past Christingpher's house up to the Wisewood Inn. I had a pint of Marble Cross Collar on keg, a 5.2% West Coast style IPA made with the assistance of and with hops from Brook House Hops in Herefordshire. Having clambered carefully down the steps from the pool room I was soon sitting by myself in glorious sunshine at one of the tables overlooking the Loxley Valley. It was warm and oozingly relaxing. My second pint was a Wisewood 6 which was also a pale ale, but at possibly 4.8%. As it was reduced in price for the happy hour (I only found this out from the receipt!) it was a bargain at £2.40 a pint. Fabulous beer and scenery as always.
From here I set off on foot to the Nags Head at Stacey Bank, however I did quickly stop off at the Admiral Rodney for a pint of Wainwright on cask. The Roders is not my usual stop for a beer but despite the company of a gaggle of elderly gammons I sat outside in the warm sunshine enjoying my beer and the view very much.
Its not too far along Loxley Road from here to the Nags Head and I arrived about 45 minutes later. Luckily you can pay on card and they also do cashback - seeing as how I had just 5 pence on me after buying an all day saver ticket this was much appreciated. Sadly I have not seen Sixer for a while, and, maybe because all beer from Bradfield costs £2.50 a pint, it wasn't on here. Instead I had a pint of Bradfield Pale Ale, which aside the Sixer is my favourite Bradfield Beer. I sat on a bench outside, in the sun, and asked Matty if he wanted to join me. Several explanations of the times of the 61 and 62 followed as did two or three more pints of the Pale. When Matty arrived 90 minutes later we had just enough time for him to down a pint before walking to the bus stop to move on.
We didn't bother visiting the Horns at High Bradfield, although their beer garden would have been lovely, instead we got off outside the Plough in Low Bradfield and popped inside. I got a 4.2% beer which was either a new Bradfield or a guest, and Matty got something else. Now on my seventh pint I was relieved to find that they serve food all day so we ordered scran - Steak and ale for me and Meat and potato pie with chips veg and gravy for him. The meal came quite quickly and absolutely did the trick, with both plates being returned empty. We finished our ales in the beer garden, now noticeably chillier, before heading to catch the bus.
With funds shortening we didn't stop at the Royal at Dungworth and instead headed all the way back to Hillsborough. We then caught the tram to Shalesmor and popped in the Wellington. Here I had a single hopped pale ale from Neepsend which had a name, comprising of letters. We also bumped into the lovely Vikkie and John Brightmore, who was bemoaning the event of his curry the night before with Davefromtshop and others.
After a single pint in here we walked down to the Bar Stewards where I had a pint of North Riding (or Arbor) and Matty a can of Deya Just a Glimmer Pale ale which we shared. A fabulous hoppy end to a wonderful day of ales pubs and walking.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
the first thing I should point out about this post is it doesn't include many pubs in Wisewood. I didn't go to the Castle for example, and in some ways, the first two pubs are actually in Loxley. The theme of this post is therefore deliberate misinformation. I did however, start at the Wisewood Inn.....
I had been to the Northern General to see a man about an issue and had caught the tortuous rambling 97 to Hillsborough and jumped om the 52A. I alighted just off Loxley Road and walked past Christingpher's house up to the Wisewood Inn. I had a pint of Marble Cross Collar on keg, a 5.2% West Coast style IPA made with the assistance of and with hops from Brook House Hops in Herefordshire. Having clambered carefully down the steps from the pool room I was soon sitting by myself in glorious sunshine at one of the tables overlooking the Loxley Valley. It was warm and oozingly relaxing. My second pint was a Wisewood 6 which was also a pale ale, but at possibly 4.8%. As it was reduced in price for the happy hour (I only found this out from the receipt!) it was a bargain at £2.40 a pint. Fabulous beer and scenery as always.
From here I set off on foot to the Nags Head at Stacey Bank, however I did quickly stop off at the Admiral Rodney for a pint of Wainwright on cask. The Roders is not my usual stop for a beer but despite the company of a gaggle of elderly gammons I sat outside in the warm sunshine enjoying my beer and the view very much.
Its not too far along Loxley Road from here to the Nags Head and I arrived about 45 minutes later. Luckily you can pay on card and they also do cashback - seeing as how I had just 5 pence on me after buying an all day saver ticket this was much appreciated. Sadly I have not seen Sixer for a while, and, maybe because all beer from Bradfield costs £2.50 a pint, it wasn't on here. Instead I had a pint of Bradfield Pale Ale, which aside the Sixer is my favourite Bradfield Beer. I sat on a bench outside, in the sun, and asked Matty if he wanted to join me. Several explanations of the times of the 61 and 62 followed as did two or three more pints of the Pale. When Matty arrived 90 minutes later we had just enough time for him to down a pint before walking to the bus stop to move on.
We didn't bother visiting the Horns at High Bradfield, although their beer garden would have been lovely, instead we got off outside the Plough in Low Bradfield and popped inside. I got a 4.2% beer which was either a new Bradfield or a guest, and Matty got something else. Now on my seventh pint I was relieved to find that they serve food all day so we ordered scran - Steak and ale for me and Meat and potato pie with chips veg and gravy for him. The meal came quite quickly and absolutely did the trick, with both plates being returned empty. We finished our ales in the beer garden, now noticeably chillier, before heading to catch the bus.
With funds shortening we didn't stop at the Royal at Dungworth and instead headed all the way back to Hillsborough. We then caught the tram to Shalesmor and popped in the Wellington. Here I had a single hopped pale ale from Neepsend which had a name, comprising of letters. We also bumped into the lovely Vikkie and John Brightmore, who was bemoaning the event of his curry the night before with Davefromtshop and others.
After a single pint in here we walked down to the Bar Stewards where I had a pint of North Riding (or Arbor) and Matty a can of Deya Just a Glimmer Pale ale which we shared. A fabulous hoppy end to a wonderful day of ales pubs and walking.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Monday, 8 April 2019
Ilson
Herror,
when I told a work colleague that I was going to Ilkeston for the day on Saturday he looked at me for a moment and then said "what for?" Imagining that he thought I would be attending an Ikea or carpet roll end warehouse, I quickly reassured him that I was going on a pub crawl. This did not help assuage his concerns. I explained I had last been there about 7 years ago and it had been quite good. And now someone had told me that things had got very much better.....
I got on the train of madness to Nottingham, surprisingly getting a seat, and 45 minutes later I was on the platform bridge espying the Dewdrop. Regrettably this fine old pub doesn't open until 14 or even 16.00 so I carried out the long trek up the hill, hoping, incorrectly, to spot the Needlermakers, until I reached the roundabout and joined the hill which may be called Market street. After a quick check of a street map I came to my first pub, The Crafty One. A small pub selling cask and keg beers. The first difference I noticed between my usual haunts and this Derbyshire town was the justification of cloudy beer. I had ordered a pint of Beatnix Republic I Smash Citra and was warned it was unfined. Good! It also tasted bloody lovely. A fab hoppy start to my escapade....
Just down the road is the comparatively long established Spanish Bar. I think they used to sell beers from Maypole or Mallard brewery - can anyone recall? The bar is a relaxed mix of coffee shop and boozer selling a number of real ales of which I had one. It had a name, using letters, and was brewed by a UK brewer. Obvs.... I asked two fellow suppers how to get to the Burnt Pig Micropub and found it was just round the corner from the Crafty One. My mate Pat had described it in great terms, and to be fair, he wasn't wrong. Although a micropub, likely based in an old shop, the Burnt Pig does have three rooms - and the understandable level of business in this venue meant that this was fully justified.
The small bar is on the right as you enter and serves a range of five or six real ales. Avoiding the Skinners I went for a pint of a six percent beer from a local brewery. Or not. I sat in the middle room and bought myself a huge Bury black pudding pork pie which I ate at the table with a pot of mustard. The pub does not take cards but luckily, being so close to payday, I had sufficient funds to afford a pie and a pint. The pork pie was delicious, and I stowed half of it away in my coat pocket to eat later.
I got chatting to a local gent from a village nearby who my have been called Alan. To be fair, his name could have consisted of any of the 26 letters of the alphabet in any number of orders, so I would take this with a pinch of salt. He very kindly bought me a pint of a beer, the identity of which temporarily alludes me. We chatted for a further half hour before I headed off for my next venue.
Someway down the hill I popped into the New Inn, as it was advertising Butcombe Bitter at £2.80 a pint. It was quite bare inside with a throng of customers at the bar, but the beer tasted fine and I sat by myself checking the location of my next stop.
Following nipping into a Chinese chippy en route I soon arrived at the Ilson Tap. This is the brewery tap for Aurora brewery, I think, and was serving a range of their beers, of which I only had two halves - by this stage the 5 pints I had already had were playing on my senses a little. The Ilson Tap is a friendly and comfortable place with a good mix of regulars, and which is also dog friendly.
After a good rest and a natter I headed for my last stop, the Dewdrop Inn on Station Road. Always a favourite stop this featured a range of real ales including one of my favourites, Oakham Green Devil at £3.60 a pint for a 6% pale. Needles to say (that is deliberate) I had two pints....I then headed to the station to catch the train and have a snooze, before rejoining some Sheffield pals in my second and third homes to share details of my trip.
In the time since my previous trip Ilkeston has improved greatly in its range of pubs and bars and the styles of ales available. As its only a short train journey from Sheffield I heartily recommend you go there and try the town for yourselves.
Your very good health!
Wee Beefy
when I told a work colleague that I was going to Ilkeston for the day on Saturday he looked at me for a moment and then said "what for?" Imagining that he thought I would be attending an Ikea or carpet roll end warehouse, I quickly reassured him that I was going on a pub crawl. This did not help assuage his concerns. I explained I had last been there about 7 years ago and it had been quite good. And now someone had told me that things had got very much better.....
I got on the train of madness to Nottingham, surprisingly getting a seat, and 45 minutes later I was on the platform bridge espying the Dewdrop. Regrettably this fine old pub doesn't open until 14 or even 16.00 so I carried out the long trek up the hill, hoping, incorrectly, to spot the Needlermakers, until I reached the roundabout and joined the hill which may be called Market street. After a quick check of a street map I came to my first pub, The Crafty One. A small pub selling cask and keg beers. The first difference I noticed between my usual haunts and this Derbyshire town was the justification of cloudy beer. I had ordered a pint of Beatnix Republic I Smash Citra and was warned it was unfined. Good! It also tasted bloody lovely. A fab hoppy start to my escapade....
Just down the road is the comparatively long established Spanish Bar. I think they used to sell beers from Maypole or Mallard brewery - can anyone recall? The bar is a relaxed mix of coffee shop and boozer selling a number of real ales of which I had one. It had a name, using letters, and was brewed by a UK brewer. Obvs.... I asked two fellow suppers how to get to the Burnt Pig Micropub and found it was just round the corner from the Crafty One. My mate Pat had described it in great terms, and to be fair, he wasn't wrong. Although a micropub, likely based in an old shop, the Burnt Pig does have three rooms - and the understandable level of business in this venue meant that this was fully justified.
The small bar is on the right as you enter and serves a range of five or six real ales. Avoiding the Skinners I went for a pint of a six percent beer from a local brewery. Or not. I sat in the middle room and bought myself a huge Bury black pudding pork pie which I ate at the table with a pot of mustard. The pub does not take cards but luckily, being so close to payday, I had sufficient funds to afford a pie and a pint. The pork pie was delicious, and I stowed half of it away in my coat pocket to eat later.
I got chatting to a local gent from a village nearby who my have been called Alan. To be fair, his name could have consisted of any of the 26 letters of the alphabet in any number of orders, so I would take this with a pinch of salt. He very kindly bought me a pint of a beer, the identity of which temporarily alludes me. We chatted for a further half hour before I headed off for my next venue.
Someway down the hill I popped into the New Inn, as it was advertising Butcombe Bitter at £2.80 a pint. It was quite bare inside with a throng of customers at the bar, but the beer tasted fine and I sat by myself checking the location of my next stop.
Following nipping into a Chinese chippy en route I soon arrived at the Ilson Tap. This is the brewery tap for Aurora brewery, I think, and was serving a range of their beers, of which I only had two halves - by this stage the 5 pints I had already had were playing on my senses a little. The Ilson Tap is a friendly and comfortable place with a good mix of regulars, and which is also dog friendly.
After a good rest and a natter I headed for my last stop, the Dewdrop Inn on Station Road. Always a favourite stop this featured a range of real ales including one of my favourites, Oakham Green Devil at £3.60 a pint for a 6% pale. Needles to say (that is deliberate) I had two pints....I then headed to the station to catch the train and have a snooze, before rejoining some Sheffield pals in my second and third homes to share details of my trip.
In the time since my previous trip Ilkeston has improved greatly in its range of pubs and bars and the styles of ales available. As its only a short train journey from Sheffield I heartily recommend you go there and try the town for yourselves.
Your very good health!
Wee Beefy