I'd been expecting a traumatic walk between Kiveton Bridge and the little village of Harthill, after other recent traumatic roadwalks, but the Google Map gods were on my side and I was walking across beautiful fields and lakes, where at one point, a heron almost landed on my head.
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| A heron is up there somewhere |
Then came the main crux of the journey, the ominously named "Hard Lane". I was imagining the usual "no pavement, no grass verge, awful traffic, strewn with hazards" but it was in fact very pleasant and should be renamed "Easy Meander". Soon I was in Harthill.
I finally broke ranks with my 2016 trend of entering the left hand room by going to the right (when presented with a 50/50 choice). This was because five old duffers with their wizened faces wedged in the nosebag looked ready to ruin any pubby atmosphere. I chose well, the right was much more a drinkers bar and I was presented with a huge range ales from Harthill itself, or Welbeck Abbey so I went for a Yorkshire Hart by the former and was very impressed. The barman was a friendly, softly spoken baby faced Ned from Neighbours with the kind of gravity defying hairstyle that you would never see north of Sheffield. Even my phone thought I was in the East Midlands which surely has to be vaguely insulting to Harthill. They were not shy of pushing the 'pub food' envelope, having "...and kitchen" tagged on to the pub name. This was the only annoying factor, but anywhere that wins an award for 'Best Sunday Roast in the Rotherham area" cannot be ignored. It's also won the pub of the year award for about the last 1,000 years (when William the Conqueror was the local CAMRA officer) and you could see why. A back room had a full sized snooker table, sadly covered, as I went to explore i.e. go to the loo and be nosy. Some 'Ale Men' looking visitors came in and made an exhibition of themselves attempting the simple task of ordering three pints, so I shook my head like a disgusted local. I meanwhile struggled to work out what 'fiery popcorn shrimp' might be on the giant blackboard next to me. I only had 28 mins here before the trek back to Kiveton for the train to York (via Sheffield via L**ds) and it took huge will power to leave!
"Hard" Lane was marginally more difficult uphill, and the dogs were suddenly multiplying, as they seemed to have opened their own home in the intervening 28 minutes:
But despite a long and frustrating journey back to York by 21:30ish for the sake of 28 minutes in one pub, I still would consider it a worthwhile evening out.
No BRAPA this weekend due to a local beer festival in Stillingfleet so I'll see you next midweek where we'll see if Hazlehead/Flouch really is as tricky as it looks. Mapplewell is the back up. And then Hull City have annoyingly got to Wembley so the Yorkshire Dales trip is postponed in favour of a bit of 'out of the box' Aylesbury & beyond fun!
Oh, and if you haven't done my blog survey about what time you most enjoy going to the pub, do so, it might be part of an important social historical document in 500 years. Or not.
Si
If you'd headed west from Kiveton Park you'd have been in Wales of course, Duke of Leeds a recent GBG entry.
ReplyDeleteWhen you go exploring and get challenged, do you also say "I'm just being nosy" like I do. Some pubs seem worried that you're looking at their lovely pub, presumably because they think you're sizing it up for a takeover bid.
People failing to order their drinks is one of the highlights of a pub visit,whether they're "Ale Men" or "Londoners in Norfolk". You will enjoy North Norfolk immensely, but go outside of winter.
"I'm just being nosey" was my exact quote in the Old Swan Uppers in Cookham, but I'd just taken a big swig of beer so took me a while to react to barmaid's puzzled glance! I;d never thought they might think I was launching a takeover, might also be why they get nervous when I take photos and nod to myself.
DeleteLove people struggling to perform simple pub tasks! Or when Americans come into York pubs and say "right, we're in the pub .... what do we do next!"
Your tale of Americans surprises me somewhat. I have 3 sources of information about American culture and two of them, The Simpsons and Family Guy, feature pubs that I would say have similarities with our own. But that said I am maybe being overly nice and not accounting for the extreme stupidity of such people.
DeleteYou have been doing quite well lately, so I shalln't be too harsh, but may I ask how you ticketed this expedition?
ReplyDeleteTheir are many definitions of East Midlands and this is very close, so I think it is harsh to criticise your telephone here. My preferred definition is Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire but bits of Lincs are frequently included. Stagecoach buses have it including Kingston upon Hull and East Mids bus day rover tickets are valid at Donny, but they are an extreme and I think odd example. I'd also suggest that the tag isn't that insulting, Derby and Nottingham are fine cities. It is just unfortunate that the area contains Mansfailed and Cheaterfiddle.
I did a ticket via Sheffield so it was cheaper than a via Donny one (which would have got me back to York sooner) so don't be too harsh on poor me.
Delete"Derby and Nottingham are fine cities"??? If you mean "ok cities", I agree. I think Grimsby and Cleethorpes are lowering your standards. My telephone said I was in Wales at one point, but as Martin mentions, there must be a town near here with the same name! I need a trip to BR Mansfield soon. Cheaterfidds less exciting.
With a fare of £11.50 for a cheap day return you didn't do terribly. However, you could have done it for £10 with some YEP coupons. How is collection of those going, by the way?
DeleteI once went on a school trip to Nottingham. To put my opinions into perspective, another school trip destination was Glanford Park.
There is a village in the area called Wales. I'd like to put my neck out and say it falls within Derbyshire, but I could be wrong.