It may've been a brutal churn again this year, but at least there were eleven occasions whilst I was cross-ticking the Good Beer Guide where I let out a little 'whoop' as I notice a pub that I can move from my pre-emptive spreadsheet to the main one i.e. inducting them to BRAPA greatness!
Here's a brief review with a photo if I can find them in my 'cloud' or whatever ......
Rising Sun, Kingsand (1st July 2022)
With time to kill before my next bus (that's awkward Cornwall for you), I'd come to pretty Kingsand to tick the still GBG listed Devonport Inn with its amazing coastal views and irritating West Yorkshire tourists dominating the immediate skyline with their arrogant heads. This highly speculative pre-emptive was more backstreet, poky local within, so I took my half of Proper Job outside where the loos claimed even aliens could use them if they landed on the patio, which may've been at attempt at some weird wokeness gone confused. I could smell and hear kitchen staff squabbling through a window. This experience was quickly forgotten about as my next pub the St John was a stonewall classic, so the inclusion of this really was an unexpected win.
Riverside Tap, Dumfries (8th September 2024)
Not to be confused with recent GBG regular, de-guided this year, the Riverside Bar, the local CAMRA have finally got it right on the evidence of my visit. This friendly cushioned crafty tapper wouldn't sell me a pint, tsk, two third measures only, I made my felines clear, but it did two things only one other pub (Robert the Bruce, Wetherspoons) in Dumfries town managed. A friendly welcome, and beer that didn't taste like utter shite. That has to be worth something. There may've been a curious incident with a dog in the daytime, but my memory is hazy despite it only being a year ago.
Fretwells, Hull (26th December 2023)
"How come ya never taken me in 'ere before?" I ask Daddy BRAPA, a Fretters expert by this stage of his career, two Christmas's back. Great beers, beautiful interior, great barmaids, random Hull bloke who we've seen in both Nuneaton and Chorley often propping up the bar. A secret back games room which my friend Jigalo recently had a successful first date in with a Hull Rebecca. Finding any pub open in Hull bang on 12 noon on the day of Boxing is a feat, trust me, we've been trying since 2001, so one this good is particular special. Dad tells me that the owner, as I hear so often in Hull, wasn't keen on being part of CAMRA, hence their exclusion til now, and why we get exciting ropey stuff like Old Bull & Bush in the Guide sometimes. A recent thawing perhaps? Dad also tells me they give great OAP discounts, but his main gripe is not a lot of great deal of seating that OAP's (or wannabe OAPs like me) would like to sit on. Still, a deserved debutant.
Court Leet, Ormskirk (8th Feb 2024)
Most definitely a post-emptive (it last appeared 2020, not that I knew that at the time), a messy early morning on the 6% Peerless Full Whack whilst slagging off a carpet I really didn't enjoy. And I love most 'Spoons carpets. I actually spent longer upstairs, first having an overdue morning poo. And then, the large glass windows reveal that the early sleet turned to a full on snow blizzard, so I hovered around leaning on the balcony phoning for a taxi to take me somewhere more awkward called the Kicking Donkey which I'd have walked to on a sunnier day.
Real Ale Classroom, Leicester Central (28th March 2024)
The then annual Easter Leics mop-up (I must get back on it in 2026!) had seen me start my ticking the previous day at the out of town Stoneygate Real Ale Classroom. Really liked it. Earlier today, I'd done the Lutterworth vehicle, which passed me by but was okay. Bit drab. Like 72% of Leicestershire pubs. This city centre version was a nosier beast, arriving quite late, already quite pissed, but it made sense to do it, in fact I'd been recommended it through pursed lips by a man earlier on. It seemed trippier, sparklier, nosier, craftier, like a kitten nibbling your ankles, and the 6% murk took me an age to drink.
Coach & Horses, Llangynidr (8th October 2022)
Flagging at the end of a long week in Abergavenny, I was up here in Mid Wales to tick off the excellent Red Lion (which it has replaced in this year's Guide, boo) but I had ages until the next bus. I heard a rumour this place sold Bass, so I thought 'why not?' It did! But it wasn't great. In fact, the place (a dire concrete grey from the outside) more resembled a seafood restaurant with an early Hallowe'en theme within. With the Brecon beacons all around, and the sun a brilliant blue in the sky, I take my pint outside and had a great chat with a Wakefield lady about jury service, which I was starting two days from now, although York seemed a long way from here. Proof to me that every pub is pre-emptive!
Princess Alexandra, Northampton (11th November 2023)
The lack of real ale tonight had me miffed, I was already in a bad mood for this, the last pub of my Northants debut holiday, TWO buses failing to turn up in Nether Heyford earlier leaving me nearly stranded on a freezing night. I didn't see the beer wall until it was too late, my rhubarb cider was ridiculously sweet, staff were bored and the punters noisy and up their own arses. I'd loved Northampton's pubs so this was a sad way to end .... well up until now .... it must have upped its cask game!
Beacon, Lichfield (1st February 2025)
Big shout out to Neil Hag off of TwXtter for recommending this on my day ticking the likes of Chasetown and Sutton Coldfield. One of the highlights of a pretty shitty pub day and rare fail for West Mids / Staffs. I'd not normally heed such sound pub advice, but I just had the right amount of time for a pint between trains/buses. A rejuvenated Titanic house, the Choc Vanilla stout was glorious and the barmaid tells me she hated beer when she started working here, now she drinks nothing else! It was a bit chaotic with sticky dining plates and broken loos, but you could appreciate it'd have real quality on a quiet weekday evening, probably!
Railway Inn, Stafford (18th April 2025)
Truth is, this was one pint too many. If you can ever drink too much Bass. On a day where I'd been drinking strong stuff all day in the 'burbs of Wolverhampton. So what do I remember? Leaving Stafford station from a weirder angle than usual. Hidden between 'ouses and railway sidings. I think it was Old Mudgie who'd recommended I go, Retired Martin may've mentioned it too. It is the elusive Paul Mudge's local fave (I'd love to meet him one day) but I wasn't as impressed with the Bass as some I'd had this holiday. Fairly rowdy in the tight-knit main bar, Sheff Utd are on TV, I'm hoping they win to do Hull City a favour. But I go through a narrow doorway to the right and drink alone, a bit cut off. Old skool pub. Almost felt more club. May've enjoyed it a lot more if circs had been different.
John Logie Baird, Hastings (6th July 2023)
A stultifyingly shit 'Spoons, totally at odds with Hastings wealth of pub riches. But every 'Spoons is a good pre-emptive shout, I said that in part one, and to see this drosser make the GBG fully solidifies it. I'm the only one not being ID'd, 10pm at night, more atmosphere on the moon because of course, adult Hastings folk are out enjoying one of their zillion better pubs. I'm sad it isn't the purple haired barmaid who sells me my half of Plum Porter, which is pedestrian at best. None of the teens are on it (imagine my surprise ... that was sarcasm). Giant Emily Atack on 'Who Do You Think You Are?' keeps me entertained after that.
Dolphin & Anchor, Chichester (4th May 2025)
As you can probably tell by the photo, another end of night unlikely pre-emptive 'Spoons strike. Just like the JLB, I was convinced this had little chance of GBG inclusion any time soon, though the beer in Chichester isn't as good as Hastings. During their pitch perfect Thornbridge Jaipur union, this was a rare miss. Had a strange vegetable matter twang so I left some of it behind one of those giant menus. I've made a promise to myself to pop in for at least another half if I find myself back in the Chich in the new season, which I may well do IF I get back to West Sussex or a few days, which was always the plan.
I'll leave it there for now, I'll do my little 'plan of campaign' as part of the month end blog in a few days.
I'll try and get MK banged out before then if I'm not pubbing too hard.
Kind regards / keep it pub, Si
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