BRAPA in ..... PRE-EMPTIVES COME GOOD (PT 1/3)

34 pre-emptives have come good for me in the 2027 Good Beer Guide. Triple my usual figure. Helping this year's #CruelChurn to be less #Cruel.

My increased mindfulness around pre-emptives (particularly Wetherspoons, Black Country Ales pubs and those rating 3* on the CAMRA website) seems to have paid off. Could I have done more? Of course, but it gives me hope going into the 2026/27 ticking season.

So let's look at the first twelve in question, with a photo I took at the time, date visited and I line or two about hopeful (out of 10) I was for its chances. Oh, and we'll see how many Wetherspoons make up the 34, I'm guessing about half but I promise, I haven't looked/cheated!

1. Track & Sleeper, Knaresborough (18/7/26)

Our last pub on the annual 'Summer Welly Day' where a group of former Hull City friends (who frequented Hull's now defunct but once brilliant Wellington) meet up in a random northern town for a few drinks. This station tap yielded a wonderful Bass and although a bit woozy by now, I was impressed beyond the lukewarm reviews other folk had given me. Great staff too. I could've had Jaipur but York Tap was calling and I didn't want to ruin myself. Hopeful Rating 7/10

2. Masons Arms, Branscombe (19/6/24)

A rare pre-2025 example of my mindfulness in pretty east Devon. One mad lad BRAPA devotee reckoned it was better than GBG listed Fountain Head, which I'd come here for. Game of opinions I guess, but no bloody way! Despite being dining zzz's by comparison, I was impressed by the professionalism and had a good chat with a Bulgarian barmaid, and the beer was Branscombe brewed despite the pub being St Austell owned. More importantly, I could get a bus from about the spot this photo was taken. Hopeful Rating 5/10.

3. Duke of York, Iddesleigh (2nd September 2026)

Arguably (well okay, definitely) the BEST pub of my recent North Devon holiday and it wasn't even in the GBG. It usually is. And the beer scores were maximum 3* on CAMRA. The walk from Winkleigh nearly killed me. As did the following walk to Hatherleigh. Signal was tough, taxi's were absent. Ben the young owner was a top guy. A dour Scot called McLean checked in for the night and sucked down two craft lagers before I was a quarter way down my pint. Four gnarly local root vegetables completed the scene. I finally got annoyed with myself for stressing about taxis, put my phone in my pocket, and soaked up the atmos and wonderful Bays Topsail. Best decision I made. Hopeful Rating 9.99999/10

4. Spey Inn (Craigellachie Hotel), Craigellachie (2nd May 2026)

Hiding out in obscure Aberdeenshire whilst the Tigers fuck up a stab at the playoffs at home to Norwich (or so it appeared at the time), I came for a tick called the Highlander but prefered both beer ( a rare stout win up here) and the cherubby staff in here. Less stuffy too. Less popular. Posher. I'd seen it in previous Guides. Building had some age. Oh and that chair was definitely fit for a pre-emptive pub ticker. Hopeful Rating 8/10

5. Gordon Highlander, Inverurie (4/5/26)

Finally a 'Spoons. This pre-emptive has me on a technicality because I'm told it was left out of the printed edition of the 2026 GBG by 'mistake'. Tsk CAMRA, you had ONE JOB. And I know they have proof-readers cos in Worksop Mallard, a guy was gonna contact a chap called Kev about the possibility of me becoming one! Secret Ticks all year ole ole ole. But in the cold light of day, I'm glad I heard no more about it. Having a job & a loose tongue and all. Anyway. this pub gave great carpet, top stout from Burton, and those signs up saying 'XX consecutive years in the GBG'. Sorry lads, not in the printed edition, no opportunity to wield the green Stabilo, doesn't count. Hopeful Rating 9.5/10

6. Arnold Machin, Newcastle-under-Lyme (19th April 2025)

Nothing says Easter Saturday quite like a deserted Stoke station at 9:30am on an overcast day. Daddy BRAPA came down to join me for the penultimate day of my Staffordshire mini-break and after a bus to N-u-L, the early hour meant 'Spoons made sense although this was five months before my 'Spoons mindfulness' truly kicked in. The carpet contained half a broken breakfast muffin, beer is CAMRA quiality, full of motivated breakfasteers and as for Arnie himself (a pacifist), he's possibly related to Mel. The only 'Spoons where 'Seeing The Lizards' has seen a fight, ironically. Hopeful Rating 6/10

7. Foresters, Worthing (8th August 2026)

I enjoy West Sussex quite a lot but I never enjoy Worthing. People + beer perenially disappointing. Shame as this is where half the county's GBG entries are. Encouraged by a cracking post-emptive called Fynn, I randomly spy this right next to West Worthing station on a walk up to two dreadful gaffs (a Fullers called Thomas A Beckett and a GBG entry called Fox & Finch). Googled it. Good beer scores, brand new, micropub! Nailed on? Barmaid's short denim shorts distracted me into ordering a pint when a half would've done. The pub didn't wholly convince, felt half-baked/built, needs ten years of bedding in & bolder furnishings. But the beer was better than 90% of Worthing pints. And best of all, it means in 26/27 I have no need to visit Worthing for the first time in BRAPA history. Hopeful Rating 9/10

8. Angel, Atherstone (7th Feb 2026)

I came here on 'Phone Charger Madness from Hell' day which limited my ability to get out to exciting villages like Baddesley Ensor (weirdly de-guided) where I'd have randomly bumped into Quinno. Having drained the excellent Market Tavern's electricity for long enough, I spy this pub across the way and recognised the name from recent GBG's. This pub feels very sorry for itself compared with the jumping popular Market T, and is sitting entirely empty at 1:30pm on a Saturday. I get on well with the landlady, her comments suggest a degree of bitter jealousy towards their rival. Wet-led was possibly the difference. Commendale, but I much preferred the Market. Still, the ale was decent, flooring fun, and they have an ancient brick near the wood burner that brick-tickers come in to see. Hopeful Rating 6.5/10.

9. Raglan Arms, Rugby (29th August 2026)

Rugby is the best #PubTown in Warwickshire by a mile. I don't think that's even a debate. Warwick, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon all found wanting by comparison. A drunken 2017 epic day convinced me of this, and a 'mop up' last year cemented its place in my mind as an underrated gem. And yet, I'd still not done this recent BCA conversion despite many GBG appearances. I came here with Daddy BRAPA. Even he'd been with one of his gangs, probably the David's. We weren't disappointed. Retains the character of 'boozer past', excellent couple behind the bar ("bit weathery out there lads!") ably assisted by their pot-bellied hound talk us through the ales ..... and if you've ever been to a BCA, that's a LOT of talking! The ice cream porter from Derby's 'Little' is heavenly. Was better than the actual GBG pubs we did in Northants later on (both dropped!) Hopeful Rating 9.5/10

10. Admiral Benbow, Penzance (13/6/19)

Astonishing nautical 70's theme pub, apparently reviled back in the day but quite rightly loved now. That's what 2019 Quinno told me anyway. I'd been recommended this when I was here to tick the Dock Inn. Beer quality was top hole too, and main man chuffed I'm on the cask. A fever dream, helped by being my final pub of a busy day mopping up my last few pubs in west Cornwall. I've been forever astonished to have never seen it in a GBG, and I'd need to read my 'Blogger' blog from back in t'day for further detail but can't be arsed now. Hopeful rating 9/10.

11. Rann Wartha, St Austell

A day after my A.Benbow success (although I wouldn't know that for 7 years), came another slow burner. Retired Martin recommended me this 'Spoons. Martin being Martin, with his deadpan dry humour, I couldn't tell whether he meant it was dreadful or genuniely a winner, but I had to risk it and glad to say it fell into the latter category. Sorry I ever doubted you mate! It didn't feel much like a 'Spoons. Very local. Burton Ale tasted 18th century. I was only here to tick a pre-emptive micro which shut down before it had chance to make the Guide, so this was definitely an afterthought. Funny how things work out in this game innit? Hopeful Rating 5/10

12. Duke of Wellington, Minehead (18/6/26)

We'll end part one with another south western 'Spoons, this one a recent textbook example of my pre-emptive push in 25/26. Having ticked the delicious Kildare Lodge, I just had time to squeeze this in before my Watchet bus. Speculative at the time, a brilliant decision now! I'm almost running operations at the bar because punters and staff were equally inept ("he's next, then her, then me!"), where I made friends with a quirky Leicester City couple partying with a dizziness like it's 2015/16. The husband later came over to my table to make joke about his hat, whilst his wife had an issues with condensation on her glasses and bumped into things. Marvellous. Hopeful rating 6/10.

Four 'Spoons so far.

See you for part 2, if I can bang it out before my month-ender.

And for those of you on X/Bluesky, see you for some Daddy B. chauffeuring tomorrow.

Keep it pub, Si