BRAPA in .... THE LEANER GREENER MEANER HEANOR MACHINE (DERBYSHIRE PT 1/2)
Saturday 27th July 2024
From under the long shadow of Pride Park Stadium, our carriage awaits for another day of BRAPA productivity courtesy of the kindness of chauffeurs.
You may remember Rich and Steve from previous BRAPA adventures 'Forest Rabid Injury Time Consolation Celebration at Plungar' and 'Come into my Kniveton Carpetted Parlour of Joy'.
Just SIX ticks remained for me in Derbyshire, five on the list for today, plus one of my remaining TWO in Nottinghamshire. These really are vintage BRAPA times in the East Midlands.
Rich confesses that when I used the royal 'we', they didn't know if I meant I was just turning up with Colin the Cauliflower, or whether I actually meant Daddy BRAPA. The truth is both.
And soon we are whizzing north through posh Victorian housing and Denby pottery which has haunted Dad all of life, before we hit Ripley where there is a "definite tonal shift" (thanks Steve) and pub one can be found .....
Just like the striking Liquorice Gardens in Worksop only two days previously, I'd eyeballed the Red Lion, Ripley (2925 / 5085) on a previous Ripley visit and warned it 'don't you dare!' and as the ticking years roll by, I'm increasingly convinced that by the time I have 100% GBG completion, I'll have also unwittingly ticked every Wetherspoons in the land. This one? Slightly above average. If you've ever been to Ripley, you'll know its inhabitants are super-motivated and no way to better showcase that than in a Saturday morning 'Spoons setting. I gave the carpet an 8, the other three were leaning more towards a 7. Bit of a try hard perhaps? Four drinks for £8.34, I like those type of rounds. The Flipside beer drinks inconsequentially. Daddy B confesses he hates the band Chicago because he always wallpapered to them in the late 70's, and no one argues.
G'wan Rich, give us a tick!
Next up, a town I'd never been to before. Famous footballing Nigel's Clough and Pearson played for local football team, meaning I've now mentioned three Nigel football managers in two blogs. These are the stats you love! Wikipedia also tells me it had a factory famous for the production of Christmas puddings. Look, #BeMoreChrisDyson That's the message here.
Sensible mid pub snacking from Rich
First step to success was its lack of link to the Spurs brewery of the same name. Redemption Ale House, Heanor (2926 / 5086) was my pub of the day, and Daddy BRAPA agreed. In fact, at one point, on learning Langley Mill station is a short walk with direct routes to Derby, he exclaims (not a direct quote this) "YOU WILL FIND ME SAT HERE ON SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER (the day will play Derby away) ENJOYING SEVERAL PINTS OF THIS (Hawkshead Stout, if on again, doubtful) AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP MEEEE, ARRGGH" and I'm like 'Alright mate, chill'. One of those micropubs where the money has been spent, the love is felt, the decor is well considered and interesting - snob screens, wood burner, great rug coverage, deep oaky panelling, an upstairs lounge of much quality. Curious welcoming locals. I've been to shitter heritage pubs frankly. One of those where the term 'micro' becomes obsolete because let's face it, a good pub is a good pub is a good pub. And I'll take that quote to the grave. Thanks.
Pre-proclamation highlighting from Daddy BRAPA
To keep us grounded after such an early success, Rich drives us over the border into (inferior) Notts for pub three. And my THIRD time of asking after two closed failures, so this pub was seriously in my bad books. The area around the pub was incredibly familiar to me as a result, can pinpoint exactly where I dropped my phone in the mud and had a sly wee.
One thing I've learned about myself since the BRAPA inception which I'm not so happy with is my inability to forgive / let go, if a pub, person of brewery wrong me, I stay mad for decades!
So I'm almost peed off to find myself ENJOYING my experience at the 'can't be arsed to maintain our social media opening hours through the winter' micro which is the Roots Emporium, Kimberley (2927 / 5087). The unusual wood carvings make it, an interesting feast for the eyes / Google Pixel 8a lens. And a warm homely locals atmosphere. Vintage old signage completes the pleasing scene, think a kinda modern Star at Wenhaston if I'm being very generous. Little gaggle of them at the bar having a big old chinwag when we approach, one bloke on the customer side in particular is very interested in us, but I get a vague sense that his friends and staff wish he'd not bothered engaging so they can stick to their little chat. My beer from Bristol is a curious chewy pineapple thing, is it true pineapple contains enzymes which mean it is in effect, eating you? I heard that once! Fascinating if so, I've never actually been drunk by a beer before. And there you have it. Finally ticked, glad I went? Obviously! Good pub? Yes! Better than the previously GBG Cricketers? Not sure about that.
Look, it is Friday night and you've probably got serious drinking to do so I'll leave it here and bring you part two on Sunday.
Aim is still to catch up on my blogs before my September holiday. And I'm STILL blaming my epic Devon June for being behind!
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