A few months before the 2023 Good Beer Guide was released, I was on a bus between Garstang and Lancaster with my old mate Matthew 'SeeingtheLizards' Lawrenson off of the Twitter.
We pass through Galgate. He tells me grew up there. His family drank in these pubs. He was even sick on a pool table in one (as a baby, obviously). Sadly, I don't have THAT photo. but I do have this one he kindly shared .....
Now, Matthew is not a chap who is surprised by much. His demeanour is very much 'I've seen it all before pal' as we witness whenever I plonk Colin the Cauliflower down next to him. But even he was stunned on 2023 GBG release day when I report that Galgate has its first GBG tick in decades. I just had to invite him along so he could do the Stabiloing.
With a recent visit from 'BeardMeatsFood' off of la YouTube, a carpet that would be the envy of any Wetherspoons, some of the naughtiest fake brick wallpaper I've ever seen, a warm 'enclosed' kinda atmosphere, not to mention an ale range probably superior to what it had in 1979, the New Inn, Galgate (2414 / 4318) had plenty to commend it. Perhaps a tad ordinary, I don't just mean after Silverdale (anything is ordinary after that), but Warton too. Yet the Bowland Spring drank fruitily, Matthew highlighted the GBG with the air of a seasoned pro, which by now he is, and whilst I'm a bit regretful that this wasn't the 'pukey pool table' pub in question, where surely a blue plaque now stands (that was the Green Dragon, which I'm sure no longer exists), the presence of the New Inn in the Guide may well open the door in 2024 for the nearby Plough. Go on CAMRA, I dare ya, bin the Three Mariners Lancaster off, I want full controversy! And then open a Micro called the Pukey Pool Dragon for 2025.
I thought that sign said 'Special Si' and thought 'ahhh, that's me'
The beautifully mustard #MummyBRAPA mobile takes us southwards to North Preston next, to the suburb of Fulwood where Matthew lives, and plays host to a GBG newbie.
Preston eh? The Falmouth of the north. And if you are thinking 'errr Si, I've been to both towns and fail to see the likeness', what I mean is that a GBG year doesn't go by without a new entry appearing. It's like the local CAMRA branches have an advanced form of Tourette's.
Oh, and there is always BAD crime when I visit Preston. We'll come to that later.
Parking is tricky because Preston hospital is close by. An Ember Inn across the road would be the sensible option, but Daddy BRAPA elects for the sidestreets, perhaps fearing that stepping on consecrated Ember ground would induce a nosebleed (like Catholic burial grounds do).
Drinkers are getting younger!
So, Matthew's local then, Crafty Beggars Ale House, Preston (2415 / 4319) .... deceptively deep, and I do admire those mustard painted walls. A good and rarely used pub colour, and of course it matches the Mummy BRAPA mobile perfectly, shame we couldn't part right outside to do a comparison. There's a lively atmosphere today, a bookies next door on Grand National day is always going to help with that. But I can't say this place totally wins me over. I think if I lived in Fulwood, I'd still be catching the night bus to and from the Black Horse. The glassware is short and fat and irritating, like that bloke Irving from that Jewish western song which probably no one has heard of apart from us three. And my Kirkstall bitter. Pow! Well I love a traditional old bitter but this was something else, so hard to neck it. I mean, very good, but I reckon I'd bitten/supped off more I could chew. Anyway, mustn't grumble, I could see the Ember Inn from the window which made me perma-grateful to be in here.
Daddy, back from the loo, and the locals are basically forming a guard of honour
For our final tick of this fabulous Lancashire Saturday, we wend our way to a distant 'burb of Preston, Ashton on Ribble.
Sounds pretty and watery, but there'd been a double stabbing here the previous day. There'd been something similar the day before I visited the Plungington Hotel. And THREE cases of arson (or at least questionable fires) on THREE separate Thirsty Thursdays in Preston last summer.
Either I'm a bad omen, Preston is very dangerous, or a combination of the two.
On a happier note .........
Tap End, Preston (2416 / 4320) was for me at least, an upturn in fortunes on a day where I genuinely quite liked everywhere we visited anyway! Warm air blasts you in the chops on arrival, most welcome, I'm sick of April being so flippin' cold, what happened to global warming? I mean the ale I order is called Winter Porter by Snowhill for heaven's sake! Glorious as it is, shouldn't I be craving something more Madri shaped by this time of year? The guv'nor is a top bloke, and that makes such a difference, especially in what otherwise could be quite a flimsy doss house. Him and two other blokes share two Blackburn Rovers season tickets between them and there's one going spare tonight. Sadly, we already have match tickets and Matthew wisely declines, and then in a joyous twist, Matthew presents me with a mysterious looking cassette tape to assist me with my #WWWSI or #SiFiPieFri nights which if you don't already follow, I recommend, more boring and relaxed than BRAPA, but a bit of fun on my alternate Thursdays. That was all very pleasant - farewell to Matthew, next stop Blackburn!
Yes, I had briefly toyed with a sixth tick at Lostock Hall or Leyland, I'd even vaguely considered something pre-emptive near Accrington, but when all is said n' done, now was the time to play it safe.
So we went to a GBG tick I greened up a year ago courtesy of my old mate Ian Sutton. It was the seventh tick of the day then, so I probably didn't fully appreciate it, it is walkable from Ewok Park, and saves you stepping foot in Blackburn town centre so very much a win win win.
Cracking stuff tonight, plenty of Tigers in. Three B's are the brewery. First, we sat outside and had a Weaver Brew / J20 .....
But then it got chilly so we stood indoors and I enjoyed the much vaunted Doff Cocker, then it was off to the match, for a very jolly 0-0 :
We just love taking points off the play off contenders at the moment, though I think Middlesbrough will be a step too far tomorrow night cos they're on fire. Still, as long as I get some ticks in!
See you on Thursday/Friday for tales of that one. I need to keep up with my blogging over the next few days because the #BRAPASpringHoliday is just around the corner, and I'm very excited as it's in a part of the country I know absolutely nothing about!
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