BRAPA - THIRSTY MERSEY : I CAN SEE BEERLY NOW THE RAINFORD'S GONE (PT 1/2)
Thursday 18th January 2024
The way the train guy announces it, just shy of Newton-le-Willows, we are in dire straits. Totally Knopfler'd. So Far Away.
I'd been hoping to jump off at Lea Green and take a bus up to St Helens, but as we crawl into NLW with a stark warning to expect to be stuck here for quite some time due to 'track issues', I decide to take matters into my own hands and jump aboard a delayed 13:08 bus to St H. from here. Why worry?
Needless to say, when I check live train times five minutes later, everything is moving freely again, hunky-dory, trains swinging like sultans. I guess that's the public transport gamble.
A further bus takes me to the leafy outskirts of Rainford for pub. Shall we go in? Yes let's.
Star Inn, Rainford (2600 / 4761)
Maximum respect must be given. This could've been a dining disaster. It is actually a pubby pub which is in no way drabby drab. Half close your eyes with the sun streaming in through the back window and you could be in a smoky fug of a 1975 Blackpool estate boozer. Almost. In fact, not really at all, but the shape, benches and carpet all did a fine job. The barmaid loves my pink Virgin Money credit card, so of course it fails when I swipe it. My 'forgotten PIN banter' doesn't go down quite as well as it did in the Tamworth Tap, but I guess that's why it won pub of the year. Again. She later unpacks a box of Guinness t-shirts with an excited chuckle, St Paddy's day isn't far away. Remind me to stay home.
The bus turns up prompt so it is back into St Helens for my second pub.
George, St Helens (2601 / 4762)
This is what I'm loving about the Good Beer Guide 2024, putting in no nonsense pubs that scream 'BOOZER' and then boink you on the head with a dirty glass. 1977 was the only other time this pub appeared in a GBG. The same year Derby won city status. Yes, Derby is classed as a city. Let that sink in. Must've been something to do with punk and society being in turmoil. Talking of a punk, an obscure bonus track by the 4Skins is playing, how fabulously random. However, it is the sound of Bill Withers crooning 'Ain't No Sunshine' which gets the toothless beer bellies putting their pool cues down and singing along. Everyone says hi. Barmaid KNOWS I'm a CAMRA member before I do. The beer, a plum porter called Old Boston by Wigan Brewhouse, is absolutely marvellous! Some pub.
Next up, a train to Prescot (pronounced Pressed Gut) and flip me, is it actually getting colder? I didn't think this was possible!
When I arrive in the town, it is like Narnia comparatively. Much more snow, sheets of ice underfoot, and minimal gritting. We'd only travelled a couple of miles from St H. so this was quite a surprise as I skid to the first of two pubs. Whooooosh, it was 'Spoooooooons time.
Watch Maker, Prescot (2602 / 4763)
A tiled clock-face floor mural greets me, making up for the drab carpet. Watch making was a big deal in Prescot back in the day, they made the best in Europe in 1785, but it died out around 1920. Amazing what you learn off a 'Spoons menu. The 4pm school/work chucking out crowd are boisterous, and people are struggling to find a free table. Twild life, hi-vizzers and tanned Mummies with buggies are the main clientele, but there's a few wheezing oldies dotted about looking shambolic. But all in all, pretty life affirming and East Midlands favourite Brewster's is drinking well at £1.84.
And there we have it, part one complete.
Join me tomorrow for part two as it all becomes very micro, and ends with a train shambles.
Haha, cheers GH, they obviously didn’t dive deep enough.
Funnily, re the Star in Rainford, that song was playing when I left, so the pub came easily. Makes me wonder so they have playlist with ‘Rain’ related tracks they can apply to Rainford?
Colin is obviously more at home in a gastro pub, strange as his relatives are often on the menu.
Great post - some quality music punning there!
What was it that frightened Colin in the George - possibly the toothless beerbelly singalong?
It looks like the St Helens Star need to improve their fact checking or speak to a pubman before publishing?!!
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/23838769.george-celebrates-first-camra-good-beer-guide-entry/