Today, Hastings...

Lovely weather back, but just one visit today, to the Dolphin Inn in Hastings, and a great chat, as usual, with the landlord, Mark, who keeps a crackin' pint and a friendly house...  

6 ales on today, Summer's coming, so expect this for at least the next 6 months, the usual 3 regulars, Hophead, Directors and Sussex Best, together with 3 guest ales, Brains Reverend James, Hastings Blonde and a new one, from my late 1980s haunting of the Scottish Borders, Broughton Clipper IPA, 4.2% of pale, hoppy, fruity apple aroma with a hint of sourness that comes through in the dry and bitter aftertaste... When I lived in Scotland it would have been rare to taste a beer like this! 

Early warning, an even more favourite ale of mine from the Dark Star brewery, American Pale Ale (APA) is soon to come on for the Spring/Summer as a regular; I know what I'll be drinking a few pints of over the next few months... 

If the Beermeister could...

If the Beermeister could do perfect drinking companions... (said it before ;-) 

The idea was to have a 'nightcap' last night, I wish...

Scot's invasion Day 2

The plan for Tuesday was to visit Icklesham, but we had nearly an hour to kill, as we'd just missed the number 100 bus, so we nipped down to the front and had a pint in the White Rock Hotel, 5.7% of in yer face hops that is Dark Star Revelation, crackin' ale!  The White Rock sells 4 ales at a time, all from local breweries, also having Arundel Sussex Gold and Rother Valley Chocolate Porter (both 4.2%), and the ubiquitous Sussex Best. 

We left in time to catch the bus and headed towards Icklesham, first stopping at the Queens Head, full of older people enjoying their lunchtime food, where they had 5 ales on today, including 1648 Brewery's St George at 4.5%, a nice 'real' bitter, as in, bitter and medium coloured, typical ale type in the South East.  Jeff was unhappy that the barmaid hadn't smiled at him on entering (she's a good judge of character, obviously), but gave me a wonderful smile later on when we did one of those dances you do when trying to walk by each other, but trying to let the other have advantage (as I said, good judge...).

We then walked back along the main road to the excellent Robin Hood, with its real ales and 2 real ciders served from handpumps.  Darcy and Debbie were working behind the bar as we entered, and we were welcomed by a lovely smile from Debbie, which made Jeff happy.  I positively loved drinking the Old Dairy Brewery seasonal ale, a strongish IPA style, whose name or strength I didn't make a note of as I was invited down to the cellar, but it was very nice (since checked on the brewery's website and can't find anything about it there either), and they also had Gales HSB and Archers Golden Ale (4%) and EMPIRE India Export Ale at 4.7%.  As I said, Darcy invited me down to the cellar, immaculate and spotless, as proudly shown to me by the publican of this hostelry for the last 15 years.  I also heard the story of Debbie falling down into the cellar from the bar (the cellar door is in the floor behind the bar), a story you'll have to find out more about yourself when you visit, but please don't say you heard it from me ;-)

Jeff, today, told me this was his favourite of all the previous pubs we visited, and the ones to follow, must have been the smile and the banter with a long regular, Fred, who I had had a fine chat with a few weeks previously too...

So, we caught the bus back to Hastings, despite the forecast warning us it would be raining most of the day, it hardly had yet... When we alighted from the bus at the bottom of The Bourne, we walked round the corner for a quick pint of Hophead in the Dolphin, a refreshing pint desperately required after the long arduous trip.  Jeff was happier here today, it was a bit more lively, which could be explained by a combination of brighter weather than on Monday, plus the ever-wonderful Louise behind the bar, and on top of the bar, and over the bar (she was updating the boards showing which artists and groups were to provide entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings), and she is always a pleasure to chat to. 

From the Dolphin we walked westwards along the front, passing the White Rock, and up through Warrior Square, across the station and up to Bohemia Road and the 2 pubs there.  First, we stopped in at the Dripping Spring, with 9 ales on today, including Moorhouses Black Cat mild, which Jeff enjoyed, and Wye Valley HPA, which I always enjoy.  Good ales and banter with all around the bar, plus the visit of a regular I remember seeing in this pub on my first ever trip to Hastings the week before I moved here, ie the delightful 'Rowlie'... I'm not sure of the spelling, but that's how her name sounded to me.   

We then crossed Bohemia Road to the North Star for a pint each, and Jeff 'stealing' the woman I was trying to chat up while he visited the loo, life ;-) before we walked back down Bohemia Road to the Dripping Well, where Nick tried to give me a pint for nothing by undercharging me.  Thanks Nick, but I'm too honest for that, so I paid up for the round, I had London Pride, can't remember what Jeff drank here, things were getting a little hazy by now...

Anyway, from here we virtually rolled downhill to the Wetherspoons, the John Logie Baird, yep, me, in a 'Spoons'!  Jeff had insisted he buy me a meal, and you can get 2 steaks and a bottle of wine for £16 on a Tuesday evening, amazing.  So, and I was quite surprised I admit, I actually enjoyed a 'rare' surloin steak... Cheers Jeff!

The Scot invades Hastings

My mate, Jeff MacDonut, stayed with me a couple of days, which meant I had to show him some of the delights of Hastings and its environs... I met him at the station early afternoon on Monday, but had enough time to have a quick pint of Youngs Special, bought from the lovely Ellen behind the bar this time, sadly, at the recently refurbished and reopened General Havelock...

So, I went and met Jeff, dragged him back the 5 minute walk to my place (he was thirsty, so in a hurry to drink), dropped off his bag, and we immediately returned to the General Havelock via the bank.  Jeff had a pint of Special, this time I had Wye Valley HPA, and Jeff was dead impressed by Ellen too, but for a different reason to mine...

We then rushed along the front, being pushed by the wind and rain, nipped up George Street, and visited the Hastings Arms, which Jeff really liked, calling it a "Working Class" pub, happy that the bloke behind the bar said we could come back later, however drunk, provided we didn't start a fight in there, "US?!?"  Haha, anyway, we moved on from there and I had a pint of Dark Star Hophead at the Dolphin, which was incredibly quiet this afternoon.

We then walked up All Saints Street to the Stag, where Jeff was impressed, again, by the barman, this time, and the ales and interior of the building.  When we left, we crossed The Bourne to the High Street and dropped down to the First In Last Out, knocking on my mate John's window to wave at him as we passed, he'll be happy with that!  In the FILO, John's good mate, Paul, was quickly finishing his beer as we entered (maybe he had an early warning from John we were on our way), had a quick chat before he scurried off, and chatted to Tony, the manager/brewer whilst supping a lovely pint of his Church IPA (Jeff had chosen his porter, Cardinal).    

So, on leaving the FILO, we were feeling a bit weary, but ventured back across The Bourne to the Cinque Ports, where we had our final pint (Fullers ESB, lovely jubbly), before returning back to eat and sup some Leffe Blonde with our meal.  Cheers!

General Havelock, Hastings, reopens

The General Havelock reopened Friday 20th April, and now selling real ales...

Having been invited to the reopening 'party' on Thursday, I duly attended, and spent time chatting to Mo and Laura from the Dolphin, amongst other people, including the lovely Ellen (barstaff, but officially off duty tonight).  Jamie the landlord turned up and, cheers Jamie, put some money for drinks behind the bar, and supplied a buffet (though I'd already eaten, so missed out on this).

Anyway, I had plenty of time to enjoy the listed Royal Doulton tiles, including the Battle of Hastings (above) and Hastings fishermen doing their bit for king and country as one of the Cinque Ports (below)...

2 real ales on to begin with (Sussex Best and Youngs Special), within days to be 3, and soon to be 4... then it depends on customers really...

Good luck to Jamie and his team, cheers!

Lady Greys, Newcastle

I've just found out about Lady Greys in Newcastle, and, as you'll see, it's worth a mention. As ever, I'd be grateful for feedback...

Lady Greys offers a fine selection of food and drink, including local produce from cask breweries and local farms in Northumberland. There is a friendly atmosphere, with a mixed clientele, and comfort is provided, thanks to their oversized chesterfield sofas; just the place for someone like me to fall asleep in (ask my brother).

They serve 4 regularly changing cask ales (eg Anchor Liberty and Allendale Golden Plover were on at the time of writing), Mordue Northumbrian Blonde as a regular, bottled beers (including many from Belgium and my old friends at Goose Island in Chicago), wine, and spirits from around the world, with knowledgeable staff to provide advice.

Traditional British food is served up with, what I’ve been told is a modern influence (the menu is varied and looks reyt interesting), and homemade burgers and pies. They have “2 for 1” offers for Sunday roasts and a hearty Sunday brunch menu.

Many thanks to Michael at Lady Greys for providing the above information and photographs; which I have edited. If you’d like to find out more, or wish to visit, which I shall have to plan for, go to www.ladygreys.co.uk

Michael has recently extended the opening hours until 2am, Monday-Saturday.

Cheers!

Birmingham 14 April - mark 1

Mark 1 - with thanks to Stephen H, a visit to Birmingham, and looking forward to Kieran's 'Mark 2'...

The Trocadero, Temple Street, Birmingham.

Having arrived in Birmingham at just after 12 noon, for the West Brom match we set off to find a decent pub and were not dissapointed. Our first stop was 'The Hill' in Bennetts Hill, just off New Street, where we started off by having a pint of Sharps Doom Bar but moved quickly onto a pint of Mad Goose 4.2% by the Purity Brewing Company. Mad Goose was new to me and I found it to be a pleasant light but very flavourable beer. We then moved onto the 'Trocadero' in Temple Street where I sampled a pint of Marstons EPA at 3.6% again a light ale but very tasty but my favourite of the day was a pint of Old Leg Over brewed by Daleside of Harrowgate, which at 4.1% proved to be the best of the day.

Matt at the Square Peg... From the Trocadero, we moved onto to join up with some of the R'sss fans who had set up base camp at the Weatherspoons, 'Square Peg' in Corporation Hill, a bit of a mistake as it was packed with QPR and Bristol City fans but we managed to get a pint of Abbot Ale but that was about as good as it got.

Cheers Steve!

Dripping Well visit and 'hot off the press' news...

"Hot off the press"? Yep, Tony and Carole have, sadly (for us, though not for them, I presume), retired from the pub-trade, yesterday being their last day in charge of the Dripping Well, 1 Dorset Place TN34 1LG.

Here's trusting any new ventures bring you happy times, Tony and Carole, best wishes to you.

So, apart from a rather emotional day at the Dripping Well, and for other reasons too, which included a plaque for a previous regular becoming a fixture, what happened at the Dripping Well yesterday?

The usual jazz Sunday, that occurs every second week, an even bigger buffet than usual with some great food being appreciated, an extra band playing more diverse music later in the day, I not only chatted to the new landlord and landlady as well as Tony, more chat and sharing beers with Chris and Steve the Fireman, and others, on this side of the bar, and I became a little bit 'merry' too...

The 4 ales on sale, all at under £3 a pint, despite recent tax increases, were Fullers London Pride (my choice for the day; my historic connections to West London mean I've drunk a fair few pints of this in my time), Wadworth's Henry's IPA, Adnams Southwold Bitter and Courage Directors. All ales, as ever, served up in great condition, good stuff.

So, if you're in the centre of Hastings and fancy a visit, carry on up the gradual hill that is Cambridge Road, first go past the Post Office on the right, and a couple of minutes up on your left, on the corner with Dorset Place, is the Dripping Well. Always friendly, and with a similar service to be continued by the new landlord and landlady, with a bit more music envisaged, so welcome to the previously described 'lovely' Pinar and Nick Brookes (I can't yet put such a friendly epithet for Nick as I've only just met him, and he is a bloke, but he certainly showed a friendly visage yesterday ;-)...

Great to meet you both, Pinar and Nick, and a very warm welcome to the Dripping Well, trusting your tenure will be memorable for all the correct reasons. Cheers!

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!

Sunshine in Hastings, not to be wasted, so updates...

The White Rock Hotel, still selling ales at £3 a pint... On sale was the ubiquitous Harveys Sussex Best, Westons Horsham Old (4.5%), and Dark Star's The Original and Golden Gate, a 4.5% pale and bitter refreshing ale that I tried for the first time, more bitter than I though it would be...

The Dolphin, back up to 6 ales again, presumably now for the rest of the year into the Autumn at least. 3 regulars, Hophead, Directors, Sussex Best, and 3 guests, Youngs Special, Hastings Best and St Austell Tribute.

Now something is happening 6 of the 7 evenings, with Irish Folk Music being added to Tuesday evenings... Fish Suppers on Monday and Sausage & Mash on Wednesdays (eg Wild Boar, Ostrich, Venison, Lamb & Mint sausages + various more exotic type mash), music Fridays and Saturdays, and Quiz Night on Thursdays.

I drank Hophead, well what would you expect?

Back to Hastings

OK, only the first photo here is new, after all, the other two are pubs I've been to many times before, and it was a pretty dire day, what would be the point of taking damp photographs? So, the Hastings Arms...

I've not been here before, hence it's dominance in this blog today, a Shepherd Neame pub that sells food, although, on this Bank Holiday Monday, they were fast running out of some food options; much food was still available, however, but it had been very busy yesterday + it was wet and relatively cold today, so, on this bank holiday Monday, people were soon seeking shelter in pubs and eating, good business...

4 of their own (Shepherd Neame) ales are on sale; today, I drank Bishop's Tipple, always a very good beer! They also had Dragon Fire (for St George's Day, a strangely newly visited 'celebration' in England, as I can't remember ever caring about celebrating a Turkish or Hungarian knight, whichever version you believe, in my early years), Amber Ale, and Spitfire had just run out. Spitfire and Kent's Best are regulars, usually...

Their lagers are above average choices, with Orangeboom and Hurlimans Export on sale, live Blues is performed on Monday evenings, 9-11pm, and a warm and friendly reception I did receive. The manager, I presume he was anyway, and barmaid, were both easy to talk to, and at least one customer caught my eye, nudge nudge ;-)

Of course, as it is my local, I had visited the Dolphin first and had a few pints there. As you know by now, I love the regular Dark Star Hophead, among their 5 ales on sale at the moment. Mark, the landlord, accepted a glass of Hastings HPA, a guest ale, from me...

Then, I met up with 2 friends, Paul and John, both from South East London, Millwall and Charlton respectively, this is South East London on Sea, after all, at the Cinque Ports...

As they always sell Fullers ESB here, that's what I drank today, as ever, also the ubiquitous Sussex Best was on sale, and Hastings HPA too. Happy Easter!

Wimbledon Park and back, via the Wandle...

Wimbledon park and back, via the Wandle, Thames, Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common... we walked not far off 20 miles...

The Dove in Hammersmith, on the River Thames, is one of my favourite Fullers pubs, indeed, it's one of my favourite pubs... Great history, great view of the Thames from the back, decent food and ales from Fullers, nowt to dislike about the Dove, but you may well have seen me write about it elsewhere, so no surprise I love this pub...

The City Barge, past the Fullers Brewery in Chiswick, was the pub in 'Help!' The Beatles film, where Ringo fell through a trapdoor in the floor. Locals just call it "The Barge", and it's made up of an older lower bar and a more modern addition. The ales here were Green King IPA, which you'll know I'd ignore, Old Speckled Hen (preferable), and Hardy's and Hanson's Olde Trip (now owned by Green King), which we did drink, not as impressive as I remember, but not bad.

Our real lunchtime destination was the London Apprentice, a Nicholsons pub, I believe; a very nice building, and named after the defence of London from Royalist troops in the English Civil War, ie by the London Apprentices, as well as other Parliamentary troops, of course.

Decent food here, and good ales, some of the usuals, Doom Bar, Pride, TEA and Bombardier, but 2 nice ones for me (though I do like Pride++ too), that is, the excellent Hop Back Summer Lightning, and a new one for me, Gales (OK, Fullers ;-) Spring Sprinter, a 4% pale, light refreshing ale.

We sat outside, watching the swans, ducks, geese and gulls, and the rising Thames, as the tide came in (we escaped before our feet got wet).

OK, our walk included Richmond, Richmond Hill and Richmond Park, and Wimbledon Common, but our later drinking pubs are covered elsewhere, as we visited them on more than one trip... Cheers!

Haynes Place

OK, Johnny's had his head chopped, and I've had my feet chopped, and it's nothing to do with ale, but my brother really wanted a coffee, and we were passing Fulham's ground, so we decided to have a coffee here, and take advantage of a photo opportunity with the statue of the first £100 a week footballer, Johnny Haynes, if you weren't aware...

I wasn't, but it said so inside the cafe, so it must be true.

Anyway, not too expensive, quiet, and great weather, the coffee was good, and the staff very friendly, and this statue is significantly better than their other one ;-)

Wimbledon Village and Common

We visited Wimbledon on Thursday and Friday, so had to visit the 3 decent Youngs pubs in the area. All sell good ales, all have plenty of friendly staff working for them, and all sell decent food too...

First was the Crooked Billet, Crooked Billet, SW19. All these 3 Youngs pubs sell good ales, not just Youngs, as we have recently come to expect due to the reorganisation of their relationship with the Bedford lot, but guest ales are common too.

Dan and me really like the Crooked Billet, mind we really like the others too. Crackin' atmosphere, good ales, friendly staff, especially love the manager!

I'll not mention the obvious ales, though they are having a Hogsback season at the moment, but I'll just say what we drank, ie Twickenham Original at 4.2%, and I have not been disappointed by any ales from that brewer. This has a fruity aroma, is easy to drink, a medium coloured bitter (proper colour for a bitter to a Youngs drinker from an early age), and is slightly bitter with a pleasant dry aftertaste. Very nice again...

The Hand in Hand seems to always have very lovely bar staff too, and Youngs again, but I decided to order the Otter Bitter, very disappointed... Oh well, can't get it right every time, but should have gone for the Youngs Special straight away, always excellent here!

The 3rd excellent pub in this Wimbledon Village/Common trio is the Rose & Crown, an old coaching inn, that used to be the last outpost when leaving London from this direction, just before the highwaymen robbed you. Good job the staff are warm and friendly; again, we drank Special here, crackin' ale!

The Junction to Wandsworth

The Woodman, Battersea High St, SW11 3HX (www.woodman-battersea.co.uk) has reopened, after a refurbishment, on 30th March. This used to be a smaller pub when I was a youngster, togther with the 'Original Woodman', and was where us school lads used to sneak our early years ale, it being very close to school ;-)

It has recently been taken over by a chef, James Rogers, and his partner, Annie Broom, consequently, some interesting food options here, and not too expensive either. But it remains a pub too, with 3 ales usually on offer, but with handpumps for 4, should their trade increase in that area, and I hope it does.

We visited on Thursday afternoon, quite early, so it was fairly quiet, it's clean and very neat, a pleasure to visit. Friendly barman, and with 2 ales on offer, we tried the Badger First Gold at 4.0% (nice easy to drink bitter); they also had King & Barnes Sussex (3.5%). I loved sitting on a stool at a barrel turned on its end. I will re-visit when they've had a bit more time to settle in.

The Hope Pole, Wandsworth, is a Shepherd Neame pub, the first of their pubs I ever drank at following drinking at the Bishop's Finger in Smithfield Market, many years ago! It's a real pub, sells Shepherd Neame ales, and Bishop's Finger is a crackin' pint...

This week...

London this week - watch out London...