Edinburgh, capital city of Scotland!

An interesting report from Marcus’ recent visit to Edinburgh, many thanks. I’ve not visited for a while, so very grateful for this.  He reported back favourably of 4 pubs in particular, including The Kenilworth, a Nicholson’s pub in Rose Street, originally built in 1789, but converted to a pub in 1904, The Kenilworth is tiled inside from floor to ceiling.  

 

 

Marcus pointed out 4 ales he really enjoyed, including, what appears to have been his favourite ale on this visit, ie Yakima IPA from Great Heck in Yorkshire, a 7.4% fruity ale with a slightly bitter aftertaste, that he drank at The 'Bow Bar', West Bow (aka Victoria Street), which serves an excellent selection of ales. A very friendly pub, and very nice, says Marcus, and good ales too, it appears!

 

The other 3 ales he enjoyed were all from Scottish breweries, ie Stewart Brewing Zymic from Edinburgh, a citrusy 3.5% light ‘mild’, that he found slightly bitter; Williams Brothers of Alloa Harvest Sun, a 3.9% fragrant, light, sweetish hoppy 4% ale; and Harviestoun of Alva Natural Blonde, a light, refreshing and “lovely” ale. However, it appears that drinking too many of them has effected his memory, so not quite sure at which hostelries they were imbibed! 

 

Marcus also recommends trying ‘haggis balls’ bar snacks (if that takes your fancy) at Dirty Dicks in Rose Street, which was established in 1859, a pub that sells 200 whiskies and fine ales, and is covered inside with thousands of 'random items'.

 

Finally, despite it not having real ale, Marcus suggests a pub to finish the evening at is the Jekyll & Hyde in Hanover Street, which is open until late, has “crazy chandeliers, false bookshelf doors, scary medical equipment, and ‘crazy’, but nice, customers!”    

 

Cheers Marcus!

Friday 11th May

Had a wander round the countryside close by Icklesham this Friday, bit of research, so had to drop into the Robin Hood Inn before returning to Hastings...

 



It's becoming a bit of a regular for me now, chatted to Ollie behind the bar, and Fred this side (it was his birthday on 10th, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (Belated)  A Wells & Young bitter was rebadged with his own pump clip produced, "Old Git Ale" at 3.6% (Youngs 'Ordinary' Bitter).  There was also, the more local(e) Hastings Best Bitter and, a newer locale brewery, Longman Best Bitter at 4%, which did what it said on the label, it is a bitter of copper colour, typical South East bitter style, I would say, and pretty good too!

There were also 2 Welsh ales on the bar, Brains SA and, another newer brewery, Bragdy Conwy's Rampart, another bitter, 4.5%, slightly sour taste and bitter aftertaste, I liked it ;-)

 

I caught the 100 bus back to Hastings (leaves Icklesham at about 5 minutes to the hour) and first visited the Dolphin, Rock-a-Nore, down by the fishing beach, opposite the net huts; you'll have probably guessed by now that this is my 'local', in effect, though there are some very good other local public houses too.  I had some chips and Dark Star Hophead here, giving their APA a miss today, bit strong...  

 



I then crossed The Bourne to the High Street and visited the First In Last Out (FILO), which usually serves 4 of its own ales and a guest ale, which today was an old favourite, Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted, had to be drunk first, good bitter!  Chatted to Tony, the manager and brewer, and also chatted to Mike (landlord) and his wife, Sharon (landlady and chef) too, always nice people to meet up with.

I drank their own FILO Crofters, their 3.8% 'session bitter', a very drinkable ale: they also had their own Cardinal Sussex Porter (4.6%), a very good porter; Churches Pale Ale (4.2%); and Old Town Tom (4.2%), their 'ginger' flavoured ale, which used to be called Ginger Tom, but threatened legal action from Robinsons Brewery (they have copyright of the name it appears), who mix their Old Tom with 'ginger beer' to make their own 'shandy' version of Ginger Tom, meant a rename for the FILO real ale version... You couldn't make it up!   

Cheers one and all, crackin' day :-D 

Icklesham - today's visit

Today I visited Icklesham, and it was a very good decision, 2 crackin' pubs, both free houses...

The Queen's Head, Parsonage Lane, TN36 4BL, a 17th century inn, was my first port of call, where I met John, behind the bar, who was a great source of information (many thanks John), and a fine chap to chat with. Like most pubs in the country, the Queen's Head relies quite heavily on food sales, (the chap I met outside beforehand warned me that I'd better have a good appetitie if eating here), and, despite my being there very early (opens at 11.00 and I was waiting outside by then), the evidence of reserved tables for a Thursday lunchtime tells its own story.

The Queen's Head also sells a fine range of real ales, between 5 (during the week) and 10 at weekends are on offer, plus a real cider; the beer range includes 'locales' from Dark Star, Old Dairy and Whitstable breweries, for example. Today, I drank Adnams Ghost Ship, not quite so local, but an ale that's been served in my more local pub very recently, and it was very pleasant, and a bit too easy to drink.

I then visited the Robin Hood, Main Road, TN36 4BD, another freehouse (quite reminds me of being back in Sheffield, freehouses galore), parts of the building dating back to 1607. The Robin Hood also is renowned for its good food, and also its good ales and 2 ciders (including, more rarely, a perry). There are 5 regularly changing ales on offer, I drank the 'locale' Old Dairy Spring Tap and finished off with the 3.7% Harviestoun Ruck & Maul, a rather away from home Scottish ale, very pale and hoppy, with a grapefruit taste... just has to be cascade, or a US similar, hop, but, and I'll be honest, I haven't researched it, but very nice...

The ciders are the very familiar Old Rosie and Westons Vintage Organic, both 7.3%.

I had a good chat to Ollie, the barman, and to a regular, Fred, who does have some very interesting tales to tell from his service in the army in WW2, very good company.

Oh yeh, and it's the CAMRA South East Pub of the Year, apparently...

I caught the bus back to Hastings from very close to the pub, a very 'happy bunny', cheers!