Later, when real ale made an appearance, a Tuesday night quiz was always popular , although we were crap and hardly ever won anything. Half time featured a plate of roast potatoes ( between six of us!) . Worked at about 2 each.
I recall we had New Years fancy dress party at our house ( 1981 or 82) , so we started in the Sandpiper. One of my mates, covered in green paint and his clothes in shreds, came as the Incredible Hulk** Having had to much to drink, he leaps on one of the tables as midnight approaches , shouting and gesticulating. The Landlord was not pleased " Get down off that table or get out" Miserable sod.
After the party, we offered to let him stay the night. Big mistake - the sheets in the bed were all green and there were green hand marks on the staircase wallpaper when he left the next morning . We vowed - no more Incredible Hulk guests.
Back to the beer. At one time up to 4 handpulls were in use and the pub was one of the few to sell it at that time ( end of 80s ). Most of it was from the Greene King stable.
In the last 2 or 3 years , the real ale had been hit and miss with less and less handpulls in use . The local CAMRA branch published a Washington pub crawl leaflet in 2014 and included the Sandpiper. One reader commented to the branch magazine editor " The pubs only redeeming feature was the bus stop used on the way out ".
After the party, we offered to let him stay the night. Big mistake - the sheets in the bed were all green and there were green hand marks on the staircase wallpaper when he left the next morning . We vowed - no more Incredible Hulk guests.
Back to the beer. At one time up to 4 handpulls were in use and the pub was one of the few to sell it at that time ( end of 80s ). Most of it was from the Greene King stable.
In the last 2 or 3 years , the real ale had been hit and miss with less and less handpulls in use . The local CAMRA branch published a Washington pub crawl leaflet in 2014 and included the Sandpiper. One reader commented to the branch magazine editor " The pubs only redeeming feature was the bus stop used on the way out ".
At the turn of the year they stopped selling real ale and the doors closed in July. It was then reported a new tenant had been found and sure enough , the pub reopened about 2 weeks ago and real ale is back on - Greene King Old Golden Hen. The Landlady assured me when I visited there would always be a real ale on. Lets hope so
**For those remotely interested I went as the Kenny Everett character Marcel Wave
