BRAPA - South of York : Goole, Snaith, Thorne and Rawcliffe

After two days in Aberdeen, it's fair to say I could have done without a third consecutive day and walking through York to catch the 415 to Selby on race day was, luckily, the hardest part.

I was joined again by Jig, and Krzb who organised the trip and seemed to have a relative/anecdote for every leg of the journey.  They'd been with me on the less than romantic Valentine's 'Outer Selby' crawl.

A tight bus change at Selby ensued, owing to delays, and thankfully we made the bus to Snaith.

702.  Brewers Arms, Snaith

We entered this strangely shaped white pub to find a gaggle of either pre-racegoers or a wedding party milling around the entrance, but the pub itself was quite quiet and we were met by the friendliest landlady you could hope to find.  She thought we were on a real ale trail (which we were of sorts), wondered why we weren't at a beer festival (a bit random) and was very proud that they'd won a recent CAMRA award.  Top marks for her.  Less can be said of Old Mill beers.  Although they are brewed just a couple of streets away, the guest Summer Sunshine left us all with that usual bland feeling.  Perfectly kept of course, the ales just don't do enough,  I'm not wanting Magic Rock or Rat, just some bite!  We sat outside as it was a sunny if slightly windy day (indoors was a bit dark and full of flies), in a most fantastic beer garden and a bouncy castle had just finish erecting itself as we arrived.  A huge climbing frame/play area too was behind - it actually was a "beer garden!" A sign that said "No ballS games" was a bit more worrying.  One final quirk was a well inside the pub with a skeleton at the bottom - the Old Mill founder perhaps?

Krzb and Jig arrive in sunny Snaith

The same bus route then took us to the pretty village of Rawcliffe, which had elements of Poppleton with a village green type thing and a river running down a quiet street to our next pub,

703.  Jemmy Hirst at the Rose & Crown, Rawcliffe

This pub is on the list of "oh my god Si, how have you not been here before?  Call yourself a BRAPA man?  You are an embarrassment!"  In fact, I'm going to come up with a "bucket list" of ten of these to do in 2016 once the new GBG comes out.  Despite the harsh voices in my head, I could see why this has been mentioned in real ale circles for years .... a very old style country pub presided over by a professional and friendly landlord/barman who had to go to great efforts to get Jig's Rat beer back on due to an airlock in the new barrel.  This gave us time to admire the quirky decor and great selection of pump clips on the low ceiling.  Even the crisp range was reassuringly no nonsense - ready salted, salt n vinegar, cheese n onion or beef (the latter considered the exotic option).  Despite the lovely indoors, we again went to an outdoors area and whilst not quite at the Snaith standards, it was a pleasant little courtyard and as I felt my neck burning, it reminded me exactly of the second Horbury
pub beer outdoor area from 3 weeks ago.  In the "Scottish Voting" (which I ironically didn't do for Aberdeen), this won our pub of the day.

A happy jaunty angled Si arrived at the Jemmy Hirst

Our bus was slightly delayed from Rawcliffe as we were stared out by an old grubby vested man with boobs, a bit like Onslow from Keeping up Appearances.  But we were soon crossing over into South Yorkshire for pub three.

704.  Windmill, Thorne

Thorne seemed a surprisingly pleasant little town to walk through, which was just as well because the bus surely should have stopped sooner that it did!  Still, not a long walk to the pub which although we ended up rating the poorest of the day, had plenty to commend it.  Well, a few things.  The barmaid was a pretty young thing, so shame she didn't smile.  The only beer of interest was Kelham Island Pale Rider, I've had some really dodgy ones of these recently but this was a vast improvement, though I'm not sure I enjoy Kelham Island like I did ten years ago.  The pub didn't seem to know what it wanted to be, probably the age old problem of trying to appeal to all.  The bar felt 'traditional local' but it had been opened up into a more family friendly place, and a conservatory and vast outdoor seating area, both in car park and beyond, seemed to reinforce this.  Especially as there was in effect, a "kids only" beer garden (with child sized benches we almost sat on!) and a long haired boy playing noisily with a toy fire engine.  His parents looked a bit mean, but there was no sense of "be quiet Tommy, people are trying to have a relaxing drink!".

Beware kids with fire engines at the Windmill

Krzb told us there was plenty of time until the next bus, so after a quick stop at Copelands for a sausage roll, we decided to sample the nicest looking of the non-guide pubs......

The Old Vault, Thorne

And this really was a pre-emptive pub tick so well done Krzb, well done all of us, for coming here.  Some typically South Yorks locals (men in vests and shorts with no teeth) welcomed us and landlord was a top chap too, he told me they'd just opened in December so probably won't get in the GBG until the 2017 edition if that silly 'year rule' still applies.  It had really nice green and white tiling so Krzb speculated it might be a former Lloyds Bank, seeing a Yorkshire and HSBC in the same market square.  A great range of ales was on offer, plenty from Lytham (I had a stout) and a round for £7.50 was very impressive but apparently, it's £1,50 a pint on a Thursday!   Micro-pubs are the way forward for CAMRA at the moment with so many more historic pubs sadly tied to evil pubcos and this is the latest of many impressive ones I've been to this year.  A real find, and when I told Dad on the phone, was surprised he knows about it cos his friend Brian often passes through Thorne and stops here!

705.  City & County, Goole

After another bus ride, we were in Goole which didn't seem as much like a scene from a zombie film as I'd been expecting.  And no Gooligans more importantly, as we entered this quite grand building which used to be a Midland Bank, and certainly reminded me, externally at least, of the Archibald Simpson in Aberdeen.  It had that rough n ready Wetherspoons vibe and I went for a Dutch JDW guest ale collaboration which was okay but had that distinct Spoonsie clarty chewiness.  There were some interesting people and fashions on display, and the loos were hidden in a maze of corridors where you never came back in where you'd gone out!  So all very Spoons-esque actually.

City and County in Goole - see, you could be in Aberdeen!

A painful bus journey to Selby followed, absolutely dying for the loo when we got back, and again we 'made' time for a 'final' drink .....

Cricketers Arms, Selby

We played safe at this non-Guide Sam Smith's pub, mainly because we knew it did at least sell real ale!  Still, me and Jig went for a fruity bottle and Krzb struggled with his OBB - not he said because it wasn't a good pint but a heavy day of drinking plus a fairly heavy ale meant it was the wrong beer at the wrong time.  Still, staff were friendly and it had that traditional SS pub feel, dark oaky wood, traditional furnishings - which really is my kind of pub.  It didn't seem rammed, but no one was willing to give us half a sniff of a seat (so to speak) so we had to lean on stools and admire old Yorkshire cricketers like Len Hutton and the spinner Emmett from Victorian times.  Not sure how I remember that detail!  Whether you could call this a pre-emptive pub or not is a moot point - I'll let you know in 2042 whether it was worth the visit.  But I quite enjoyed it.

Organic Cherry fruit beer in Sam Smith's house, the Cricketers in Selby.

  

And then the bus back to York, Krzb departed Fulford, me and Jig "thought outside the box" and went into Three Tuns for a final pint and Scottish Voting and then it was fish n chips and home, job done!

See you tomorrow evening for a different type a Tuesday pub tick.

Si

BRAPA - Aberdeen (Day Two)

Typically, Aberdeen was the only wet place in the UK when I awoke on Friday morning - feeling the hangover slightly but just glad I hadn't done any more than six on the Thursday, and I'd got to bed early.  It was noisy though, what with seagulls and building work competing against each other.

After a much needed bacon roll and orange juice (thanks Greggs!), I was stood on Union Street sheltering from the rain under the Music Hall entrance, stalking my first pub of the day from across the road!  I was glad to see the door edging open at exactly 10am.

Stalking the pub from across the road .....

698.  Grill, Aberdeen

Always nice to visit a Heritage pub, this pub's not really changed since 1926 and you could feel the history in the bright and friendly one roomer.  The jolly landlady was immediately welcoming, and the good thing about being in an empty pub, you often get to talk to people unlike on a busier evening/afternoon.  A few interesting ales were on, so I went for an Orkney Red MacGregor, keeping my record of a different Scottish Microbrewery in each pub of my trip.  It was perfect hair of the dog, and I could immediately feel the BRAPA blood coursing through my veins again!  I explained my 'challenge' to the landlady who seemed to think it was an organised thing and did she need to stamp something to prove I'd been!  (this certainly got me thinking).  She showed me the amazing display of whiskies, the most expensive of which was £110 a shot so I said I'd stick to real ale.  A couple of locals came in and soon we were happily chatting about the weather, T in the Park, Royal Baby photos and other Aberdeen boozers.  I got landlady to 'red pen' the GBG entry (i.e. use a highlighter pen) and I left feeling uplifted, well and relaxed after a couple of dodgy experiences late on Thursday.

The Grill - proper old institution of a pub on the main Union Street drag

The weather was finally brightening up, it wasn't quite 11am so I was glad I still had another 10am opener on the agenda.  A scary girl jumped out at me and asked who my internet service provider was but I told her I was pub ticking, which seemed to leave her speechless.

699.  Prince of Wales, Aberdeen

I'd heard good things from everyone I spoke to, and just in the pedestrianised shopping precint, I found it tucked down a side street.  It wasn't dingy, but it had a delightfully dark oak wood feel and a really long bar counter with one of the best ale ranges I'd seen so far - I went for a Cromarty "hit the lip", and it did - a lovely light hoppy ale - I knew this brewery from my trip to Inverness in 2013 and am very impressed.  It was surprisingly busy, but most people were drinking coffee and the Scottish breakfasts (with added haggis, black pudding and heavy potato thing) looked very intriguing.  I think most people had spent half an hour shopping and came into the pub breathing heavily as though they'd been shopping all day.  An old couple sat near me, she had coffee but he went for some awful looking Tennants Lager so I made sure I gave him a disappointed look.  I felt like I could fall asleep again in the warmth and the gloom so decided to take action and make today more interesting....

Great beer range, great darkness, very impressed by PoW

Yes, it was true - we'd only just reached 11am, and only two pubs to do meant completing my challenge would be far too easy, not to mention bringing up the 700.  So on the advice of Untappd friend and all round good guy Rob Doyle, I sought out a modern bar called CASC (Cigars, Ale, Scotch and Coffee) hidden down a side street.....

C.A.S.C. Aberdeen 

It'd be hard to call it a pre-emptive tick as they deliberately do non-handpulled ale in favour of the less living, fizzer keg product.  Never mind, I'm open minded and had the time to experience all Aberdeen had to offer.  It was certainly a quirky place, and the young barmaid with lip piercing, on realising I'd never been here before, explained how it worked i,e, pick a beer from the blackboard and drink it!  Meanwhile, the main barman messed around with hundreds of cigar packets.  My initial beer choice was a Scottish one but it had just gone, so I had a Celt Experience "Yes Way!", a Welsh beer thus breaking my Scottish microbrewery record.  The place felt a bit like a cafe but had a pleasant hubbub, and a hairy tattooed Scot (possibly called Russell) was the only other customer.  Beer was very nice flavoured, would have been amazing if still and room temperature but I know what I was letting myself in for.  Barmaid wished me a nice rest of the day, and I was on my way!

An "off the wall" Untappd recommendation had me errm, staring at this wall (of beers)!

Brewdog, Aberdeen

We'd just reached the 12 noon mark, the doors of the landmark Brewdog house had just opened and I thought "whilst I'm on the experimental trail, it'd be wrong not to come here", let's face it, Punk IPA is one of the all time ground-breaking brews, superb, cask or not.  The barman was a friendly chap who really knew his stuff, offering me tasters but I said I believed in committing yourself to a beer so I went for a "Deaf Mermaid", at 5.4% one of their weaker efforts!  He told me it was a prototype beer when they were experimenting but it proved so popular, they did it for real.  Unlike last night, this place was empty and I got the full benefit.  It even has a degree of comfort I've never witnessed in the Leeds version of Brewdog.  The music was great too, first song being "Sell Out" by Reel Big Fish, almost felt like the BRAPA gods were making fun of me.  A few more solitary men came in for lunchtime pints, reading papers or tapping away on iPads.  I had a final protest bite of my Gregg's sandwich, guessing I'm the first person to eat a Gregg's in Brewdog - it made me feel good.  The toilets had the most amazing decor I'd ever seen, it reminded me of being in an episode of Trapdoor but if I was 'Berk', I wasn't feeling too 'Bony' after my Gregg's (sorry I'll stop now).  My beer impressed me less as it went down, seemed to bottom out into something approaching lager.  Interestingly, the GBG suggests Brewdog MAY do cask in the future,  If they do (and it's a big if at this stage in history), it'll be a GBG shoe-in I'm sure.  30 years to hope for it.

The first customer of the day at the flagship Brewdog bar.

700. Archibald Simpson, Aberdeen

It hadn't been purposeful to bring up the '700' in a Wetherspoons, especially one that used to be a Clydesdale Bank Headquarters but never mind!  This was a far superior 'Spoons to the Justice Mill though, a fantastic old Granite building full of pillars, it certainly felt like a bank from old Victorian times.  There was a bit of a Friday lunchtime surge on and getting served was tricky, but my second Orkney of the day "Dark Island" was fantastic and perhaps even better than the earlier Red Macgregor.  In all the mayhem of being served, I forgot to use my new 'Spoonie vouchers - again!  The air conditioning was way too cold, which did in fact reminded of the modern Clydesdale Bank.  When I came back from the loo, two old locals called Les & Jan(?) who may have been of Scandinavian origin were sat at my table - it was that busy, and they were the kind of tables you could share.  Les said MY accent was "strong(!)" as I explained BRAPA and he actually achieved a BRAPA first by REFUSING to tick off the pub in the GBG - "your challenge, you do it!" was his attitude as though I was asking too much.  But he was an awkward sod.  But as time went on, we got on a bit better and I gratefully left the building (as Peter Taylor would say) with a hearty handshake and good luck for the future.

Superb Granite former CB HQ Wetherspoons! 

701. Old Blackfriars, Aberdeen

And after all that chatting, suddenly time was a bit tight as I made my way to the last pub in the GBG for Aberdeen.  Luckily, it was just around the corner and not that far from the railway station.  Like a few others on my trip, you entered this down some steps which was slightly underground.  It had a slight touristy feel but with stone walls and ancient wood, it had quite a nice atmosphere and I think there was a bit of food going on.  My main aim was to drink fairly quickly, in case I got lost in Aberdeen Station, so my trip came full circle as I ordered an Inveralmond ale, "Ossian" which is another favourite going back to my Inverness trip - light, golden, highly drinkable.  There was a ground level area higher up where the loos were and more people were eating, but no more contoversy or weird encounters happened which was just as well.  

More underground drinking at Old Blackfriars - and the challenge is complete!

So there we had it, the journey went well.  I slept all the way to Edinburgh, woke up for lunch and a cup of tea, and only had to give my spare seat up at Darlo despite how busy it was, and even then, the old Colonel who was into sailing was quite apologetic, as it wouldn't have happened if a sweaty American and his daughter had sat where they were supposed to, or at least moved for him! 

A great trip though, but was slightly regretting the fact I had a Saturday BRAPA outing involving more new ticks as I was exhausted,  Early night was needed, report from Saturday coming up soon.

Si

BRAPA - Aberdeen (Day One)

Warning message at the Moorings (see pub 694) 

Despite the 'T in the Park' festival goers dominating the train, it was a pretty quiet, pleasant and easy journey up to Aberdeen where my aim was simple, to 'tick off' all ten BRAPA pubs before my train back 2:57pm on the following day.  

I even had time to learn from a very Scottish chap with daughter brandishing 'Hello Kitty' satchel, that Aberdeen houses a Wetherspoons that only serves you a minimum of two pints plus meal!  I hoped this didn't apply to either of my two 'Spoons ticks.

Kings College and student area of Old Aberdeen - worth a visit.

After five hours plus of sitting down, a brisk walk around the city was required so it made sense to get in my furthest tick, in the photogenic Old Aberdeen area, which strangely as well as being the prettiest, was also the student quarter.  It all felt a bit Rebus meets Morse as two miles walking later (I'd gone in a bit of a circle!), I reached my first pub amidst cobbled streets and granite.

692 - St Machar Bar, Old Aberdeen

And it immediately felt like a student pub, despite two grizzled locals at the end of the bar who looked like the uni had been built around them!  Three geeky guys were chatting to a crazy German student girl about why she'd chose to study Spanish in Aberdeen.  It all felt a bit like a bad pilot episode for Big Bang Theory.  It was a thin, small one roomed bar, presided over by two muscular jocks (in the American, not Scottish sense) who seemed to be doing bar work to fill in time between egg-chasing and rowing.  Perhaps.  Beermats had been replaced by flyers for 'Bangkok Lady Boys'.  I felt a bit isolated perched on the edge of seat, but tried to settle down to watch either tennis at one end of the bar, or cricket at the other.  Eventually, the local men demanded their favourite sport Golf be put on both channels!  My Inveralmond "Inkie Pinkie" was the first of many great local brews, the range satisfactory rather than stunning.  Three students came in, hovered, before being presented with food in a polystyrene tray, and left without buying a drink.  It was that kinda place!

Studenty fun at the St Machar Bar

I then walked back into the centre and checked in at my Travelodge, had some lunch and a hour's nap (that's how relaxed I was about the pub ticking) to take me through to about 16:30pm.

693.  Carriages, Aberdeen

Underneath the Brentwood Hotel was this classy, smart bar which had only just opened at 16:30 so was one I had to 'tick' on day one.  A bar man called Andy was being shown the ropes and I got service with a smile from this chap who was like if Marlon King wasn't a registered sex offender.  I went into the elegant, comfy side room full of leather settees, it would have felt like a Gentleman's club if it hadn't been for a huge screen showing the tennis - within five minutes it was over and two friendly old guys joined me in agreeing Sharapova, for all her grunting, isn't in the S.Williams class.
I ordered an ale called Clock Brew from Eden St Andrews - it is billed a 'traditional Scottish ale' so quite dark and heavy, but surely the sulphury tones shouldn't have been there and despite the nice place, it was certainly my most disappointing beer of my travels which soured an otherwise good experience in a pub that was doing real ale in the days when Aberdeen had hardly any outlets.

Carriages - a very plush hotel bar but sadly, my pint wasn't very good.

694.  Moorings, Aberdeen

Another strategic 'tick' next, as this place only opens 1pm on Friday and sometimes enforces a cover charge after 8:45pm - and no way I'd be paying that.  Weird location I thought, a bit isolted near the Quayside and I was expecting a few elderly fisherman so I got a big shock when I entered!  This is what they call a 'dive' bar, it was a feast for the eyes with young alternative people, geeks, rockers, hipsters, businessmen, punks, lawyers - well, so the mission statement on the menu said!  People come here from all walks of life, the only rule is you don't judge other people, oh, and don't vomit anywhere!  The way they'd gone into overdrive on the anti-vomiting signs and tried to make a joke out of it meant they've probably had some very sticky situations in the past.  The lively staff were jumping around and singing a bit,  There were 3 different groups of beer fonts, one helpfully proclaiming "cask beer" so that's where I went.  I ordered a Marooned by Windswept (Lossiemouth) and was amazed to find a sour blackberry flavoured fruit beer.  Apparently, it was maroon in colour but I was sat under a red neon light so couldn't tell.  I also had my red leather jacket on so everyone who entered Moorings squinted in a pained way as they saw this red feast!   A group of punks at the bar started reminiscing on "Are you Being Served?".  Then some hairy metallers stood near me and played pinball on a Star Trek themed machine .... it was that kinda dive! Superb.

Maroon pint, neon lights, a bit like a student bar dream at the Moorings

695.  Six Degrees North, Aberdeen

Whilst I was on the more 'modern bars' theme, I thought I'd give this one a try.  It was careful positioned near the similar and very busy looking Brewdog flagship bar (more on that later) and I guess it is no coincidence.  This was quite a unique place too, and my friend Lisa who originates from Aberdeen and loves 'brutalistic' architecture would have been in heaven with all the granite, steelwork, stonefloors and harsh industrial feel.  It had a busy hubbub of young drinkers, and I had to be pointed to a huge overhanging blackboard to ascertain what cask ales were on.  The young bar chap certainly knew his stuff, and soon I was drinking a Salted Caramel Porter by 'Fallen' - my fourth consecutive Scottish microbrewery, could I keep it going?  It was a delightful drop and great they do a cask range when the Six Degrees North brewery specialise in Belgian style Scottish ales.  As so often happens, everyone was crowded downstairs but a huge upstairs area was virtually empty so that's where I headed and I was starting to feel like I'd been drinking by now.  As I left, I was very surprised how the bar had almost completely cleared out almost like a ghost town - was there a fire drill?

Amazing ale but didn't like the (s)wanky glass it came in!

696.  Under The Hammer, Aberdeen

On the street where all the auction rooms are (hence the pub name), I had to get in this strategic tick today as it only opens 5pm midweek.  It took ages to find.  A huge pub next door, the Globe. looked really popular, but UTH was hidden unassumingly down some steps just like Carriages.  I entered a very peaceful dark one roomer, it had that 'Scottish real ale pub feel'.  I was very pleased to see a top range of Scottish ales, and Jarl by Fyne is one of those 'must have' brews.  Sadly, a moment of controversy soured the experience somewhat.  A serious looking American tourist, presumably he'd been at an auction, was trying to pronounce the second word on a fancy looking coin.  Our Bulgarian host seemed a clever young chap, and whilst serving me, he assisted our American friend with an expert pronunciation.  The American seemed humbled, so sensing he might feel bad, I interjected "I'd have not been able to pronounce that either!"   His reply to me?  "Off you go!"  So off I went, to sip my delicious Jarl from a nearby table where I could give him "evils".  I suspected Bulgarian host was on my side as he'd smiled sympathetically during the exchange.  Luckily the serene atmosphere, beautiful pint and fact I was already comfortably numb helped greatly.  But when I took my glass back to the bar and said thanks, Bulgaria's finest coin pronouncer (who'd later resorted to showing photos of his homeland to Captain America) simply glared at me!  I deserved better here.

Coin drama ensued at Under the Hammer

Back on Union Street, I got in some foody supplies for my evening feast but still had one more tick to get in, determined to get past the half way point.  Luckily, my Travelodge (the Justice Mill) had a next door Wetherspoons of the same name!  I hadn't even realised his when I booked it.  

697.  Justice Mill, Aberdeen

It seems strange to me that whilst Aberdeen has a few independent pubs that are 10am openers, the Wetherspoons have a strict "no alcohol til 11am, 12:30 on a Sunday" rule, so my original plan to do these pubs early next morning suddenly didn't work!  We were well into Thursday evening by now and a quite intimidating class of Aberdeen drinker had filled up the pub - lots of drunk people who couldn't walk straight, it was only about 7:30pm in truth.  I felt more suffocated by this because for 'Spoons standards, this was quite small and claustrophobic, well long and thin anyway so no real corners to hide in.  Sadly, I missed the statue of the upside down man and the 'fire behind the glass' art installations they pride themselves on, but I sat and cowered with by Williams Red Ale from the famous old Alloa brewery.  It was okay but the experience was quite bland 'Spoons to be honest, it was time to get back to my room for my supper and a relatively early night - early start tomorrow of course to finish our ticking so got to be on good form.  

Standard edgy 'Spoons fayre at the Justice Mill.

See you on day two! 

Si

BRAPA - Slawit, Linfit and MelTHam

Despite some pretty inclement July weather, Tuesday evening's pub ticking in the villages outside Huddersfield was a huge success, with some real quality on display.  It was of course, another huge step in the direction of completing the West Yorkshire section of the GBG.

First we had a conundrum* (see notes section below) as I'd wrongly assumed for two years now that the current Slaithwaite pub is the one I had visited a few years ago.  Wrong Simon!  Silly Simon!  What a good job I checked or I'd have brought BRAPA into disrepute.  It's been sitting there already highlighted since BRAPA began.

Commercial, Slaithwaite

I changed trains at 'Udders to one bound for Wigan Wallgate and was surprised to see about three quarters of passengers got off at Slaithwaite (pronounced Slawit or even Slowit if you are really hardcore).  Talking of hardcore, it was raining hard in a summery way and my coat was at the bottom of my bag so I was short sleeved.  It was soon obvious this was a totally new pub on me, being on a fairly busy street corner.  I felt a bit 'out in the wild wilderness of West Yorkshire' so a 5.5% Oblivion seemed a fitting beer to get, a fact that wasn't lost on a friendly drunken local next to me who seemed impressed I was pub ticking in his locality.  In fact, all staff and locals here were in ebullient mood and it was a cracking post-work atmosphere.  I still took my pint to some large red leather chairs which didn't seem to quite fit the pub feel.  Sticky table too.  One local got a phone-call, his wife wanted him home for tea. And then a young hybrid of Paul McShane and Stephen Quinn got a call from his Mum wanting to know where he was.  It felt like all Slawit men were hiding here.  And as my evening went on, everyone I spoke to raved about this pub.

Friendly locals enjoying a fine range of ales in the Commerical, Slaithwaite

I decided on a taxi having weighed up the key factors - heavy rain, dodgy walk, not suitably dressed for wet, needing to make a late bus from Meltham.  And I have to say, a more efficient service from Abbas and the Slawit-Golcar people you couldn't get - they literally were "just around the corner", fares were cheap, very friendly service too.  I asked him about whether Linthwaite was pronounced Linfit or Linthwaite - it seems it depends what side of town you live on, very confusing.

690 - Sair Inn, Linthwaite

As I got out of the taxi, I realised how high up we were as I looked down onto picturesque countryside between here and Huddersfield.  I'd had high hopes for this pub, and wasn't disappointed to find one of those ultra traditional 'drinkers only' pubs, like something from a rural 18th century setting.  I'd read about a "long suffering landlord" but all I found was a friendly barmaid who I was soon chatting BRAPA to, and she pointed me in the direction of the local CAMRA mag to give me some tips, though to be fair, 90% of pubs listed felt like old friends to me!  This pub is special in that it remains one of the few brewpubs around, and the Linfit ales seemed superb, my Autumn Gold was delicious and felt fitting considering the weather,  Being pedantic, I might point out this pub is in the LinTHWAITE side of town, rather than Linfit!  With hindsight, I might've taken the magazine back to bar and chatted with her more but it was choc-a-bloc with local after-work drinkers and probably a few farmers thrown in for good measure.  The pub even had a nice damp old fashioned smell, gotta be an early contender for pub of the month.  And Abbas was back on the scene quicker than I could drink to whisk me to Meltham.

A winking pig greets me as I enter the Sair in Linthwaite

691 - Wills O'Nats, Meltham

I really was out in the sticks now, just north of Meltham proper out towards Blackmoorfoot.  And to be honest, I was a bit of an idiot here and it was entirely my own fault I didn't enjoy it more.  Having said hi to two women in a tiny smoking area, I found a pleasant old fashioned bar with another healthy hubbub and nice staff as I ordered a Nook Best, remember that Holmfirth brewpub from a few weeks ago?  Now you should know by now my main pub vice is the whole foody gastro thing, well this pub had a much quieter 'food area' totally cordoned off with reception area and 'spare barmaid' like the entrance to a restaurant!  (well, I'm exaggerating a bit).  I decided to sit there but being ultra-polite, the staff let me.  Big mistake.  Soon, a young boy was turning round asking his family "why is that man only having a drink?" ('errm, because it's a PUB you little shit!'  I didn't say that, obvs.  "Sit facing me and eat your food Tommy" his Mum replied).  But when a young couple soon appeared and put a sleeping baby in a basket at my feet, I had to take the walk of shame back to the bar area admitting to the barmaid's that I'd made a mistake.  Thankfully, the gents toilet was not back through the 'restaurant' either!  I enjoyed the pub after that and reflected, they'd kept diners and drinkers so separate, the pub cannot be criticised - though the beer style and overall experience probably was still the weakest of the three.  

Master of my own downfall at Wills O' Nats, Meltham

A brisk walk into Meltham followed, the bus was thankfully on time and did stop for me and two teenage girls (who gave me six pence in coppers for some strange reason) and I had time for a quick half in the GBG listed KING'S HEAD at Huddersfield station before the direct service back to York, home before 9:30pm was a great result.  And the scales finally dropped from my eyes and I can see why CAMRA favour the King's Head over the Head of Steam but let's face it, both are great.

UP NEXT

Attentions now turn to Aberdeen tomorrow amidst rumours of flooding in the Granite City!  Floods and BRAPA don't mix, as my 2014 days at both Brighton and especially the Grosmont-Whitby farce have proved, but I am positive, I've packed my overnight bag, and ten pub ticks await as long as I plan it strategically enough - i.e. Under the Hammer only opens 4pm so will have to be a "day one" pub, the two Wetherspoons may be best left for the morning of day two as my train home is about 2:30pm on the Fri.

And Krzb Britain has planned the Goole area day on Saturday which makes my life easier.

Bon voyage, Si

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

BRAPA - Three More from West Yorkshire / July Agenda

About to finish ticking off another double page in Hebden Bridge

Apologies for the late write up but it's been a hectic working week.  On Tuesday night, whilst it was still June and warming up nicely for the heat of July, my weekly West Yorkshire trip took me out from Leeds on the 16:51 to Hebden Bridge.....

682 - Old Gate Bar & Restaurant, Hebden Bridge
Firstly, the name didn't exactly fill me with confidence that this was going to be pub of the year.  I was dripping with sweat when I arrived after the train journey and walk through town - it was hotter now that it had been at lunchtime.  A predictably modern, spacious bar greeted me, but a pleasing array of exciting guest ales on a long shiny copper bar, presided over by smiling young barmaids who made eye contact when they spoke to you, which isn't always a 'gimme' in the game of being served a pint, sadly.  After Saturday's success re outdoor drinking, I took one look around at the near deserted, spartan interior, and decided I should be "where the action is", with the masses outdoors!  It wasn't the best outdoor area, being at the front on the main road, full of smokers and being in the shade (which actually probably wasn't a bad thing!)  I asked an elderly couple if I could squeeze on the end of there bench and rang Dad to fine-tune some BRAPA meets for July.  Since when did he become such a key player?  Sadly, the old couple had soon left and were replaced by a rowdy foursome which seemed to be two tanned older ladies with pale thin student boys.  Their laughs were awful!  Still, as the wind created a much needed draft and blew my "Good Beer Guide" pages around, I decided my 5% Thornbridge Ruin was an excellent quality ale and it wasn't too bad an experience.

Arriving at the Old Gate, note the outdoor area to the left where I sat.

683 - Puzzle Hall Inn, Sowerby Bridge

Back down the train line in a 'Leeds-erly' direction, I was at Sowerby Bridge for my second a final (for now) visit to this pretty little town, think I actually prefer it to Hebden Bridge.  Flanked by a canal and river, I walked along the quiet Hollins Mill Lane until I reached this pub.  Now, I think the term "hidden gem" is overly used but it certainly applies here.  A friendly barmaid with a skirt so short & tight that she looked a bit uncomfortable served me a nice ale from Jarrow in the small traditional main bar but again, all the punters were outside, this time in a marquee with so many old beer kegs, it looked like a festival is always imminent.  The locals were a friendly bunch and despite some screaming kids at the river below, it was a tranquil experience.  I went to the loo and noticed loads of punk band stickers on the cubicle.  OFF!  Bootscraper.  The Franceens.  Surely they've not all played here?  That'd make it even more heavenly.  As I returned with a cracking half of Norfolk ale,  a man asked me if I'd been on Untappd but when I confirmed I had, he seemed more interested in the BRAPA challenge so maybe he'd been to look at my GBG I'd left on the table.  Always willing to explain BRAPA, I gave him and his three friends a card and went on my way, but not before he'd recommended some pork pies which had just come in, the maker of them was in the bar!  I had to get one, a cheese & pickle flavour, and it seriously was one if not the best growler I have ever witnessed.  

Hazy evening sun at the wonderful Puzzle Hall Inn.

The BRAPA gods (an awkward bunch at the best of times) were smiling on me now.  After this experience, the next train was delayed to an extent that allowed me chance to get back to the railway station to get it, but not only this but it was a rare Mirfield stopper where I needed a final pub tick!  In fact, it was delayed a little too long and with the last sensible train due to Leeds at 21:30, I worked out I needed to be in Mirfield before 20:53 to make it worth the stop off - and I calculated we made up some time and were in at 20:49.  Superb!

684 - Flowerpot, Mirfield

So, after legging it away from town I made it here before 9pm, a fine result.  I was pleased to see this was a more traditional style Ossett pub because they rarely let you down, and let's fact it, a West Yorkshire midweek trip isn't really the same without one.  An army of young females were behind the bar, it was quite busy and I reflected, peak pubbing time (I'm not normally out this late!)  so I got a Fernandes "Newky Black" cos' I hate Newcy Brown Ale and love Fernandes brewery.  However, when time is tight, a 6% stout isn't the most sensible thing.  There was a nice outdoor area, you could almost call this a beer garden with a patio at the top where I sat and quite a lot of students further down, near the bridge and river I'd crossed to get here.  It was still more than warm enough to be out as I unwound, though I soon find myself having to almost neck this impossible stout.  I managed it, there was a pleasant summer evening hubbub, the pub was still bustling inside, and I got my train comfortably in the end.  

A race against time : drinking in Mirfield

So it was almost 11pm when I was finally home but worth it.  I think I'd been galvanised by Saturday's adventure and I know I'm not a million miles away from completing West Yorkshire now .... watch the space but I don't want to divulge how many I have left.

NB : I also confirmed with my boss at work (an Otley resident) that I have indeed, from descriptions provided, visited the 'Fleece' on my birthday a couple of years ago.  It was the first pub of the day in fact with a great sloping garden.  It'll be properly reviewed in the archives but we are adding it in as pub 685.  

July Agenda

In 2014, July was by far and away the most productive month of BRAPA to date with 33 pubs ticked off!  I have similarly high, liver busting, hopes this time around.  Here's some of what I'm trying to do.  It might not all come off.

• "Welly" Day out.  It should really be called 'Me, Tom and the hangers on' as just like last year's Doncaster fun, we are the only fully committed people going to Scarborough, Filey, Malton and most importantly, Cloughton Newlands (from a North Yorkshire alphabetical position I mean).  Dad, Bernie & Chris Irvin and Ben might make cameos for certain points in the day.  5 new pubs to be ticked, I'd be happy if we achieve this.
• Goole Day - My resident South of York expert Krzb Britain (plus Jig Johnstone) helped me achieve the outer Selby crawl earlier this year and they return with Goole-Snaith-Rawcliffe-Thorne.  This will massively help with East Yorkshire which is racing West Yorks for the "first completed" county.
• Aberdeen Bonanza - I will be spending the night in Aberdeen, admiring the Granite City from a tourists perspective and of course, trying to tick off all the (10) GBG entries,of which there are plenty.  A bit like my first overnight trip to Bedford, it's a case of balancing what I do on "day one" with "day two" so I don't overdo it!  Controversially to some, I also wouldn't mind giving the cask-free local Brewdog a visit.
• Bedfordshire VI - Oh yes, I'm back again for part 6!  East Beds again too with some seriously unfinished business in Dunton and Sandy due to their tardy opening times.  With friend Clare Hoppett and fiancee James Whapshott now living in nearby Gamlingay, my ideal scenario would be for them to drive to Dunton, meet me, drink with me and taxi me round to Great Barford, Felmersham and the like, but having criticised Daddy Hoppett's beermat postage policy, I fear my cheekiness may be turning to pure hatred for me and BRAPA! 
• Golf Takeover Day - What could be nicer than a summer's Tuesday off work playing golf with your Dad and then going for a pub lunch?  I tell you what - going for a pub lunch at Lund and South Dalton, two difficult East Yorks ticks.  One has a Michelin star, one does "basic pub snacks".  Guess which one I am favouring?  
• 'East of Hull, Take me Home' Day - I told you Dad was a key player this month and we are also having a Saturday together, a mellow day out at Hollym and Hedon.  It may involve a coastal walk.  You may not realise but there are actually places further east than Hull!
• West Yorkshire Midweek Nights - No reason why my Tuesday trips can't go on,  My immediate focus is Linthwaite and Maltham, in that 'South of Huddersfield' belt.  Combining the two into one trip is one of my main focusses (foci?) at the moment.  
• Bonus 'Quick Win' Trips - With the long days, good weather and a tiny bit of time off work, I have a few vague plans to whip in a couple of (relatively) easy ticks that are coming up on the North Yorkshire agenda.  It may not happen so I won't be too specific in case.  

Phew!  So as you can see, lots of fun fun fun, social pubbing, you can tell summer is here!  

Happy BRAPping, I'm off to bed before 'Welly Day' tomorrow.

Si

BRAPA : the archives (241-251) - South Yorkshire Special

Welcome back all to the latest trip down memory lane.  In this entry, we'll be reviewing my experiences at the eleven pubs in South Yorkshire I visited before BRAPA became an official life-changing challenge so sit back with a bottle of Acorn, Abbeydale, a Blackcurrant Cordial or even a simple cup of tea, and enjoy!

241 - Old No. 7, Barnsley - To say Barnsley was crying out for a top real ale establishment on our early football visits in the mid noughties would be a massive understatement, the Gatehouse had sunk as quickly as it had risen.  But word of mouth (a family friend, various Welly gang people and hangers on) told us about this new place and we finally got our chance to go Tues 1st Nov 2011.  I was initally wowed by it, uncomplicated proper bare-boarded drinkers pub, with great helpful staff too, no wonder everyone had been raving about it.  However, our second visit 27 April 2013 was less impressive, not the pubs fault but it was absolutely rammed, even our our own group had too many people in it and it made for a disjointed session, though I remember enjoying beers from the fabulous Raw Brewery for the first time.  It was hard to even get our pre-match quizzes done!  Of course, this was a Hull City "Promotion Party" day which was always going to end in disaster, in fact it was one of the worst performances I have ever seen from us, and THAT is an achievement in itself.  I came back here after the match and sat in a weird downstairs annexed room for special occasions - like drowning your misery!  Luckily, we got to right those wrongs in July 2014 with a stunning visit, my favourite yet - there was a battle of two great breweries going head to head Acorn and Dark Star.  It was quiet too being a pre-season friendly so just me, Dad and Tom - it was pub heaven.  Sad they aren't in our division for this reason!

Chaotic second visit to Old No 7 in April 2013

242.  (Little) Plough, Doncaster - A pub I very much associate with the Irvin's, I felt like I was a late starter to this place when I decided to meet Chris and Tom here before a pre-season friendly v Donny, a first visit to their new Keep 'em Out stadium 28th July 2007.  I seem to remember talk of Jon Parkin 'training' in a nearby McDonalds but could be mistaken as we must've known he'd signed for Stoke by then!  May be I am getting confused with an earlier Belle Vue friendly where Delaney was booed off despite nearly dying on the pitch!  Anyway, I came here this day and was ridiculously earlier than the Irvin's, really making myself at home to such an extent, some old locals implied I was in "their" seat.  It was here I discovered Acorn Barnsley Bitter, a standard unfashionable gorgeous bitter, and I've never had it better kept than in here.  Staff friendly too, I seem to remember Chris marching us back here post match where a pub quiz was winding up.  It was all very jovial and as I had a later train, Chris and Tom left me propped up at the bar, barmaid promised to 'look after' me - haha!  Despite the emergence of the Cask Corner to excite those who favour quantity over quality, Dad and I managed to get in here as 'non football fans' on a high police intensity day, a bouncer on this pub felt wrong but the calmness in here compared with out in the street was an amazing contrast.  I was most recently here after the heaviest rainstorm I have ever witnessed last July.  Again, I was left with some, I have to say, weird locals, as others got the train first, but again, the Acorn was superb.

243. Salutation, Doncaster - In those early naive days of using the GBG to find an away pub, Dad and I decided on this one as it was most walkable to Belle Vue from.  It was an evening kick off, Monday 8th September 2003 and high excitement/aggro in the town as it was a 'top of the table' clash on Sky.  A boring 0-0 predictably ensued.  The 'Salutation' we were most likely to find in here was not 'hallo chaps!" but 'fuck off codheads' and so it came about, that I felt somewhat uncomfortable being clad in black n amber with a load of Burberry clad charvers staring at us.  The ale range was decent and quality was good.  We ordered fish n chips (unwisely) it turned out as we had just been called codheads when the waitress came out with two plates of food, and shouted "cod and chips for two!", you couldn't make it up!   Post food, which was acceptable standard pub quality, Dad moved us to the other side of the pub.  A decent move but it was even busier, but a bit less intimidating.  Never again we said, though in the GBG today, must be doing something right!

244. Devonshire Cat, Sheffield - I've heard this place slagged off so many times over the years, and apart from being a fairly modern style bar and in the trendier part of town, I've always thought it was pretty above average.  I have never been here on a football day, always used it for a pre-gig venue in the days I always seemed to be watching obscure punk bands in dingy soulless Sheffield dives (not Bramall Lane).  I'd go as far as to say this was amongst the first times I used the GBG to find me a pub on a non-football occasion so am going to stick my neck out and say November 2002 as it was dark, cold and most bands toured in Nov!    I walked up from the station armed with my Autoroute Map with pushpin of where the 'Cat' should be.  Well, this was an eye opener!  Not only was it bright, modern and full of young people, but a range of about 10 ales was unlike anything I had ever seen, I don't think I recognised more than two of them, the staff were very helpful, and despite the heaving scene at the bar, I think this was the first place I was offered a taster!  I declined as I always do now.  I like the gamble.  I had been waiting ages to be served stood in different places, in fairness.  I have only been in once or twice more since, the latest time before another gig on an evening when Newcastle were away at Sheff Utd.  It was so great, I couldn't move when I got there at 7pm for Geordies, but by 7:30pm, the place was near empty and I made a point of sitting in about 5 different seats (because I could) before meeting some friends at the venue.  I'd missed some of the support act, but I didn't care!

245.  Sheffield Tap, Sheffield - Being a station tap, I have absolutely no idea how many times or when I first came here!  Vague early memories include one Hallowe'en post football because they had a crazy huge pumpkin thing on display.  I would think my first visit would be not long after opening (8th Dec 2009) with the likes of Ben and Mark probably in the latter stages of the 09/10 season.  The strangest thing is despite several visits, Dad has only just realised it has a huge backroom (which I utilised to best effect on my favourite ever visit, a morning with Krzb and Jig/John with copper beer things banging away!)  And this had been the real reason Dad has always despised the place, he thought it was a tiny two room thing with a hallway.  I have to admit though, I've never thought the beer quality was that good, especially when we've been in after a game, particularly the Thornbridge Jaipur which should be gorgeous.  But a very nice building and worth the stop off.  Dad even insisted on it when we had time to spare before our train on our January Sheffield BRAPA day out.  How times change!

246.  Fat Cat, Sheffield - In my head, I created a kind of 'rivallry' between the Kelham Island Tavern (which I love) and this Fat Cat, which the rest of the 'Welly' gang raved about and try to get me to, but I contrarily dug my heels in for years - my loss I suppose!  In addition to the Welly gang factor, JW2 also came down on the Fat Cat side, being very much the opposite to me and not having visited KIT.  I therefore decided to make my first visit entirely on my terms, preferably on my own.  The opportunity came post match 25th July 2009 after one of the most boring pre-season friendlies ever (and that's saying something!) and the walk back from Hillsbrough was hot and gruelling and I needed a pit stop.  I had to admit it, a great traditional pub with young, vibrant staff with superb range of quality ales as I sat in the main bar in the corner and witnessed one of  the weirdest drink requests ever - a pint of Deuchars IPA with an ice cube in it!  The pub was gobsmacked for about 10 minutes afterwards before the bubbly atmos returned.  I hope the young student lady has since seen the error of her ways.  With the shackles off, I was actually happy when Christine requested we met there on Boxing Day 2010, this time before a Sheff Utd win where all the focus was on my new thermal vest!  I was the winner, as it was one of the coldest days you could imagine and I put my leather gloves on to drink some of my pint!

247.  Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield - Speak of the devil, this truly has to be one of my top pubs of all time and deserves all the awards and plaudits it gets.  My first visit from memory was 14th Feb 2009.  As if the range of superb Abbeydale and other local beers wasn't enough, a great pie and peas and chips made for a gorgeous simple pub snack, and it was here that I was introduced to Henderson's Relish too, a local classic.  I'm a bit of a nibbler when it comes to my food, and I was still picking at my chips half an hour later.  Usually, pub staff whisk my plate away but the landlord appreciated my 'nibbler' ways and let me carry on.  It's minor details like this which stick in the mind! and make it a classic in my eyes, silly as it sounds.  Our experience was soured slightly by our taxi (which we'd booked behind the bar) not showing up!  And we nearly missed the terrible defeat.  A few months later, I found myself in Sheffield for a pre-season friendly, and spent around an hour here drinking a Chocolate Orange stout and reading my PG Wodehouse - possibly the slowest I've ever drunk a pint in my life - it was strong and I seem to remember being fragile anyway!  A couple more visits followed (we always used it as a pre-Sheff Utd pub despite it being on the way north towards Hillsborough.    But this was rectified on my favourite ever visit, 6th Oct 2012.  I'd been working on the Sat morning but got away for 12 noon and Dad had resisted the usual Fat Cat calls and despite my taxi getting lost and my GBG App crashing on me,  I was soon there and found him alone with a pint of Abbeydale Dissolution on the table for waiting for me, chatting to some jolly Sheffield locals.  It was a perfect pub moment in a perfect pub.

248.  Harlequin, Sheffield - 19th April 2008, the sun was shining and despite a dodgy Autoroute map distorting the dimensions of Sheffield City Centre, we found this pub by a canalside location up near the Kelham Island area.  What we hadn't banked on was a beer festival, and the pub was bursting with red & white and black & amber serious ale drinkers, including a group we recognised from the Welly in Hull, and Mr Sticky-Out ears annoyed Dad by telling him he shouldn't be drink-driving (it was in our pre-train days for journey's like this) but it did make us think why just use trains for long distance trips?  The staff were very helpful, given us beer menus and stuff but it was more like one of those "pub with lots more beers on" than an actual festival - for example, no sign of tokens or glasses.  It annoys me when pubs to that.  It was hectic at first, I had to convince Dad to stick with it and we settled into a nice pre-match session once people started dispersing to pubs nearer the ground.  We remembered it fondly enough to return post-match on 6th Oct 2012 as we hadn't had very long pre-match and one of those hot & gruelling walks back into town from Hillsbrough meant we needed refreshment pre-train.  We'd won so were in good spirits, as we went into a more traditional lounge bar (we'd not even seen that on "festival" day) and joined a family of Hull City fans for a nice relaxing post-match 'brew' (or two) from the 'Brew Co,, their Tap I assume.

249.  Gardeners Rest, Sheffield -  Mine and Dad's 'official' pre-match pub of choice for Sheff Wed, we visited this on three occasions before flood damage closed it and had it lying in disrepair for a long while - plus it's opening hours are not the most generous for my tastes!  Our first visit on a midweek night 8th December 2004 saw us parked up in the car nervously waiting for it's 5pm opening before we saw a light flicker in the gloom.  We entered to the right hand room with books and a big world map - it felt a bit like a geography lesson, am sure the landlord had a ginger beard, green jumper with patches on the sleeves, though I could be making that up.  5 or 6 beers were pleasing and we trekked a couple of miles to the ground for THAT 4-2 win (we got in on time, did you?) and declared it an away pub of the season contender.  Next season, 9th Aug 2005 was another midweek night (our fault Wednesday had gone up) and I remember feeling this visit was a bit less magical (probably built it up in my mind too much), fewer beers on but still pleasant.  More of our fans milling around, Championship glory seekers meant we ended getting a lift up to Hillsborough with some random Hull guys.  Our final visit New Year's Day 2007, a Monday meant 7 points in three visits here - a lucky pub.  It was back to it's superb best with one of the most unique pre-match experiences ever. Pub workers and locals put on a panto of sorts, with current affairs jokes and references, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair featured heavily - it was absolutely brilliant and so pleased us two visitors could enjoy it.  So it was sad to walk past a decrepit shell on two ocassions during it's 'closed due to the floods years'.  We moved on to other pubs like KIT and Fat Cat as a consequence but great to see it back to GBG standard and would love to go again.

250.  New Barrack Tavern, Sheffield - In our early Sheffield visits, this pub was mentioned plentifully by Irvin's and Andrew's but it's relative proximity to Hillsborough, and let's face it, Wednesday fans are not generally the nicest people, meant we were a bit too skeptical to go.  I even saw Chris and Ben disappearing in there post-match once just ahead of us.  So a bit like Fat Cat, I waited until the 25th July 2009 pre-season friendly bore draw to take my chance.  It certainly had a huge range of ales, it was all wooden boards, old adverts and a friendly old school landlord - yes it felt like a proper drinkers pub.  A few nervous looking Hull fans showing colours were glad to see I wasn't a Wednesday skinhead and carried on drinking, some annoying women came in with tonnes of shopping and couldn't decide where to sit or what to do.  I took a beautiful pint of something local (it could've even been Nottingham's Castle Rock brewery ales!) to the furthest back corner of the furthest back room but I'd been to a few before so only stayed half an hour or so.  I'd have criticised the lack of atmosphere, but then again 'too much potential atmos' was why I'd always avoided it.  You can't win with me.

251.  Rising Sun, (West) Sheffield - I'd been out with work on the Friday and felt a bit rough when me n Krzb hopped aboard a bus on a grey murky morning to come to a beer festival - I'd guess July 2011 as it was pre-untappd and I can't remember much iPhoning either.  The sun came out, the Scunny real ale mob including Colin, Christine, the friendly guy with the funny eyes and of course, the crazy Scunny Sarah were soon on the scene to witness the superb Abbeydale ales, strange pricing system, belly dancers, sword people and all sorts of entertainment.  It was truly the BEST pub beer fest I have ever been to and if it wasn't for BRAPA, I'd be back.  Now the pedants among you (mentioning no names) may say "can you count it if you didn't go in the pub" but having bid the Scunts farewell, me and Krzb decided to witness the pub itself.  Abbeydale's spin-off side project, Dr Mortens, had generally been regarded as the best ales of the festival - inside the pub and out of a pint glass in the calm and darkness, they were even better and the locals (non-fussed by the fest) were friendly and chatty.  Bus and train back, Rustlers burger and watched Wimbledon tennis til I fell asleep about 9pm.

That's got my juices going for another Sheffield trip at least, certainly South Yorks is something I can maybe focus on a bit more in the coming months when & if I finish West and East Yorks.

See you soon for some North Yorks archiving.

Si