My favourite ale drinking partner...

My favourite ale drinking partner, just to prove gorgeous women do drink ale, only problem is that she's always jilted me when I fix up a session, oh well ;-)

A midwinter pub crawl in Pett, East Sussex

My brother, Dan, and myself had a bit of a walk, bit tiring start over, up and down, the cliffs from Hastings walking eastwards to Pett Level, where we reached the Smuggler Inn. Up to 6 ales can be on, but just the two Tuesday morning. I had Fuller's London Pride and Dan had Harveys Sussex Best. You can get a drink here as early as 09.30, as they open to serve a very impressive breakfast, and other food too! See www.thesmugglerinn.co.uk

Then we walked uphill, over fields to miss the busy (at times) road, we reached the very recently restored Royal Oak, Pett Village. Can have up to 4 ales, for now though, usually 2 or 3. The unbiquitous Sussex Best was on sale, but we drank Rother Valley Level Best, a 4.0% bitter, very nice too. Food served as well. See www.royaloakpett.com

Finally, we reached my favourite pub of the three (all very good pubs) the Two Sawyers, Pett Village. Food again on sale, and 4 real ales, Harveys Sussex Best and Sussex Old Ale, Ringwood Fortyniner, and we drank the always cracking ale, Dark Star American Pale Ale (APA) 4.7% of pale, dry, hoppy scrumptiousness! We walked back across the top to Hastings, but you can get the hourly bus from over the road (appears to leave about a quarter to the hour, but check for exact times if depending on the bus, I may be wrong). See www.twosawyers.co.uk

The Rashleigh Inn, Cornwall

From Steve H…

I had to pay a flying visit to Fowey in Cornwall today and, en route to Par station, I was taken to the most superb pub the Rashleigh Inn. “The Inn on the Beach”, where I had a quick pint of Skinners Betty Stogs 4% brewed locally. Unfortunately, as I had a train to catch, I could only have the one pint but it was well worth the flying visit.

Ed: This is a pub very close to where I lived when I was working down in Cornwall. The Rashleigh Inn, Polkerris, Par, PL24 2TL (01726 813991 and www.rashleighinnpolkerris.co.uk) is situated between Par and Fowey, on the south coast and 3 miles from the Eden Project. The present landlords took over the running of this pub in 2001 and have since sensitively built up the business. The Inn sells real ales and has a very interesting restaurant menu, with a real log fire, and a bay window area that overlooks the beach.

Cheers Steve, just a bit jealous I wasn't there too :-D

Wellington, Sheffield - Shalesmoor

An old favourite haunt of mine, The Wellington, previously the 'Cask' after changing name from the original 'Welly', back to its original name now. Confusing? Shouldn't be...

Cracking beers in a cracking pub. Little Ale Cart brewery is out the back and produces (mostly) very pale and hoppy bitters, but has also produced some very excellent darker beers too, particularly stouts. Whatever, the quality of their own ales (at least 2 on at any one time) and guests, usually 8 or so ales on the bar plus a real cider, is always spot on.

In addition, you do get some amazing craic at the bar, if you like pubs that sell excellent ales together with 'characters' and 'eccentrics' both sides of the bar, you shouldn't miss the Welly!

The photo above was sent to me by a friend trying to make me jealous on his visiting from Scotland, worked. I am now looking forward to my own next trip to Sheffield, and the Wellington will be one of my first ports of call. Looking forward to it, Happy New Year to all!

Back to the Bricklayers in Putney...

Back to the Bricklayers, and why not, if in the area, it's got to be done, and it's not a hard job.

Fulham were player Arsenal later in the early evening, apparently, plastic 'beakers' are used for the beer match days for Fulham, not the best drinking vessel, but, as I was there just after 12.00, I managed to have my beer in a proper straight glass. I was only going to have one pint, but felt I should have another too (drank Downton's Quadhop, a pale, dry, hoppy bitter with a hint of a slightly nutty flavour. Very good!

Also, met a young Australian family, new to West London, so had a bit of a chat about pubs and real ale with them. Enjoyable time, loved the craic!