BRAPA - Welly Day out (Scarborough, Malton, Cloughton)

Sign at Brytherstones Country Inn seemed almost fitting - read on ....

Good morning!  Fifty weeks had passed since our last annual "Welly" day out in Doncaster, the concept of which being that our gang of Hull City fans who used to meet up in Hull's now defunct Wellington would have a summer outing to keep those "football cravings" at bay (and I use those inverted commas in an ironic way).

I have claimed in previous posts that this day out is now a glorified BRAPA pub ticking exercise, but as you will see, there are some subtle differences.  Anyway, me and Dad met Chris and Bernie Irvin on the York-Scarborough 08;40 and we were soon joined by Tom in Scarbs just before 10am.  Mark Bainton (knee) and Christine Andrew (behind with her marking!) were the most notable absentees,

686 - Hayburn Wyke Hotel, Cloughton Newlands

After the delayed 115 bus to Cloughton (pronounced Clow-ton) Newlands helpfully dropped us off near the pub sign, we walked down in the early morning mist through a wooded valley which was odd because we could see the sea aswell.  It reminded the Irvin's of an Isle of Man pub they'd been to, and I thought IoM is a place I'd love to go to for BRAPA.  Despite worries we'd enter some posh gastropub restauarant effort, it was nice to see the friendly barmaid opening the doors pre 11am to a large but pleasing dark wooded clean interior.   There was an interesting woody smell, maybe coal fires.  The York Guzzler was amazing quality, shame you can't it this good within the city walls!  The Black Sheep Ale was also very nice, and maybe no surprise that Chris Irvin suggested we stay for another everything considered.  Such beahviour would be unheard of on a traditional BRAPA day but this was more of a special occasion, so happy to go along with it, plus he was buying!  Some locals and their excitable dogs than tried to dominate the bar area, I didn't like the woman, and was pleased to see some doggie-aggro on the way out as a man came in with his yappier version.

Tom, Bernie, Dad and Chris arrive at a misty Hayburn Wyke Hotel

Bryherstones Inn, Cloughton Newlands

As we had to walk back uphill to the road and then along the road into Cloughton proper, it seemed sensible to pop into this pub we were passing anyway.  It had been in the GBG 2014, looked nice from the outside, and some people needed the loo!  This was a more traditional country style pub and deceptively big with lots of rooms (one entirely inhabited by happy flies, who were enjoying the local silage, the friendly landlord told us!)  Only Tim Taylor Landlord and Sharp's Doom Bar were available, the TTL was a good if not great example of the ale.  Chris questioned the barmaids on the price of our round, I'd paid £11.20 for the equivalent which was now over £15 in this pub - as Dad joked, "it's because we are on the main road now!" but whilst I understand Chris's point, he laboured it a bit and it obviously upset the barmaids who despised us after this, you could see it in their eyes.  As a York resident, £3.50 sadly is not ridiculous for a pint these days.  As Jessie J (whoever she is) once sang, "it's not about the money money money", I think she needs to come drinking in Cloughton Newlands as it very much is.  The pub had that same smokey smell as the last one, that must be a Cloughton thing too.

The gang arrive at Bryherstones Country Inn

The sun was out as we left, gorgeous countryside walking along roads with no or little pavement, and then a bus farce - yes this really was starting to feel like a BRAPA day!  We waited patiently across the road at Cloughton's Red Lion, but the bus driver didn't stop - he even gestured so he had seen us.  Luckily we were with Tom, no better person to put in a travel complaint on our behalf.  

As Dad and I hopped into a taxi, the Irvin's waited for a bus.

687 - Indigo Alley, Scarborough 

And it was nice to see Ben Andrew shaking off his 'Newcastle trance night' shackles to join us, he was sat reading a paper looking very summery.  Now this pub, with it's basic cafe bar feel, had once been a real ale haven, but on my last two visits, had been very closed and in my mind, I saw burning beams, litter, the devil prodding a customer who couldn't escape and Carling Extra Cold.  I may have imagined it worse than it actually was.  After Dad nearly got in trouble for stealing a shopmobility scooter, we found a cracking beer range for the first time with the likes of Wold Top house ale, Indigo, and Half Moon's excellent Dark Masquerade.  The staff were friendly (though the barmaid could have given us a loyalty card sooner!) and locals seemed, well quite down to earth in a grizzled Scarborough way.  I have to say it, Scarborough is a shithole of the highest order but it has some good pubs.  The Irvin's were back with us as Ben contemplated going to a barbecue at Boothferry Park.  It was nice to have six of us out, I'd not have expected that earlier in the summer.  I was then reminded this was NOT a BRAPA day as people started ordering additional halves.  

Dad's decision to pose with hand on Shopmobility Scooter nearly caused trouble!

688 - Alma, Scarborough 

My final Scarborough 'tick' was a pub I hadn't even heard of on my previous visits.  This was a proper no nonsense street corner local, a no frills boozer, where people who actually live in Scarborough go to drink, laugh and chat whilst the staff ran it in a friendly, pragmatic way.  I got as good a feeling about this pub as any we went to today.  Hanging off the ceilings were pots & pans and things, I always like ceiling pub decoration and think it adds atmosphere.  A decent range of beers brought me a fine Rudgate brew which had quite an acquired taste, lemony, but stuck with it and was probably my favourite pint of the day alongside the opening Guzzler.   Sadly, I'd kind of run out of time to go to Filey without hanging around for ages, I think our 'additional drinks' was more to blame for this than the bus farce, but as Tom said, not a bad thing, as I still need other' ticks out here like Staxton (and plenty more likely entries in the next 30 years!) 

Chris, me and Dad arrive at the Alma : street corner classic

We all hopped aboard the York bound train, many ready for home, but I still had one more BRAPA pub up my sleeve.....

689 - New Malton, Malton

Having totally lost my bearings last time I was in this nice market town with John Watson on a dark winter's evening, I was pleased how much of it I recognised and remembered this time and pretty much came upon this pub without using my 'device' (as Tom would say) to direct me.  Again, really friendly and helpful staff was my first impression in this quite dominating building across the market place - they hang on for me whilst I desperately scrambled to the loo, and then helped me find a seat outside seeing I was looking for one.  Two Milestone beers from Notts are not by favourite brewery but stood out as interesting guests, though my Lion's Pride was typically strange tasting - not the pub's fault!  The market place was surprisingly quiet, the other outdoor drinkers cleared off, and I had a fantastic calm final pint in the hot summer sun, even needed to apply some suncream and snuck a sneaky cheese n onion roll to keep me sustained!  

Picturesque market place drinking in Malton.

Back in York in good time, I resisted the temptation of York Tap is favour of a cup of tea and some pasta, watched England's women win the third place play off, and off to bed by midnight.  A good day, job done!  

Onwards and upwards now as my attentions turn back towards Tuesday night's West Yorks outing.  Plus, I'll try and get some archives released this coming week too.

Happy drinking, but remember, rest your liver, it isn't a race! 

Si