FRENCH TARTS AND FUN WITH A PICNIC TABLE

Last weekend saw six of us doing a pub crawl by bus. We thought it would just be a gentle sort of day, visiting town and country pubs ; not to be.!

We met up in The Wild Boar, Houghton Le Spring for a traditional Wetherspoons breakfast and a couple of pints. The place was buzzing when we walked in , to discover, to our delight, that about 5 tables were taken over by 30-40 girls dressed as French Tarts, on a hen weekend. ( what ! no photographs - Ed).

They were all talking at once but we managed to discover they were heading on a coach to York. Half the men in the pub, including ourselves, were asking if there was any spare seats. "To hell with this pub crawl, lets do York instead".

Sadly they left without us so we headed down to the bus stop for a 5 minute ride to the Copt Hill, just outside the town. 

This pub used to be run by a certain Bobby Kerr and a plaque on the newly repainted pub displays his name.

 
Despite the fact it is in The Good Beer Guide we were confronted by 3 empty handpulls. On the verge of leaving and getting the next bus, I muttered to one of the guys, You wouldn't think this was in the Good Beer Guide would you. The barmaid overhead me and said, we have Doom Bar on, I just dont have a pump clip. So 2 pints of Doom Bar in the pub garden, with fantastic views while we waited for the bus across to Seaton

So, this is where the fun starts. The next pub was the Dun Cow in Seaton Village, , tucked away in a quiet cul de sac. Four handpulls and a large sunny garden with picnic tables greeted us. Ordering some Oakham JHB and a Guinness, the 6 of us headed for the ( as it turned out) most unstable table in the garden. 

Two were sitting opposite me ( so combined weight was greater than mine.) Someone said, "move along so we can all get on", so I dutifully stood up to move sideways. The opposite side of the bench was now heavier than my side, and being on slightly unstable ground, this resulted in a slight tilt towards the heavy side. 4 pints of nearly full glasses went flying , tipping most of the contents over one of the other two opposite. 

NOTE THE EMPTY GLASSES AND BEER STAINS

We were too busy laughing to offer any sympathy as the drowned rat proceeded to strip off his jeans to dry on a wall. I will spare you the worst sights, just the wet offending table. I took the empty glasses back into the bar and relayed our incident to the barmaid. She said " Oh yes, I know which table you mean, that's happened before !"  We got free replacement drinks. So no profit for the Dun Cow from us then !

Once dry in the sun, we then walked to the Seaton Lane Inn nearby for a couple more uneventful pints, then down into Seaham for the final drink in the Hat and Feathers and some fish and chips. I mention this because some of the split beer must have soaked into his brain, because believe or not, this last picture is a plate of fish and chips. 

So a great day out with free entertainment, helped by fantastic weather , interesting pubs and great beer , (that hadn't been spilt.). For those that need to know, the bus mostly used was the 238 which runs between Houghton, Seaton and Seaham. Again, for those that need to know, the dodgy table is the one in the bottom left hand corner of the Dun Cow garden

CAMRA ANGLE SPRING 2017

The Spring edition of CAMRA Angle , the quarterly magazine of the Sunderland and South Tyneside branch of CAMRA, has  just been published. Copies are being  distributed to real ale pubs throughout the area , and beyond. 

As usual , this is another full issue and well worth a read.  

This edition looks forward to the Sunderland Octoberfest with some interesting news. Also of interest was our AGM and a visit from Brinkburn Brewery ** 

A regular section is a news update on pubs and breweries in the branch as well as Locale pubs and those that offer discounts. A new feature is a notice board, aimed to provide local and Whatpub information.

There are articles from our roving reporter in Truro & Oxford, as well as an update about Beer from the Wood and Pub & Club of the Year,    

The pub walk feature returns with a walk down the coast between Whitburn and Roker.

This issue looks at the Ship Isis pub in Sunderland, as well as two beer styles, stout & mild.  

Issue 47 is rounded off by a  pub quiz and where am I.

If you cant find a copy, follow this link to download your own,  and for more branch news. .http://sst.camra.org.uk/

 

And remember, accept no imitations.  

**A night with Blinkburn Brewery 

THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

We are having a new kitchen fitted so the house is turmoil. A large yellow canvas skip full of rubbish adorns the front lawn. So I was ready for a CAMRA meeting in the Dun Cow in Sunderland, featuring a presentation by Newcastle based Brinkburn Brewery..

The pub was rammed when I got there as Ross Noble was on in the Sunderland Empire next door. The room we were given was also rammed , making for a cramped evening. The group I was sitting with were mostly drinking Leeds Midnight Oil, a 4.8% dark mild.

The Brinkburn men turned up, thankfully with some samples. The presentation focused on the beers, in strength order, working from lowest first. Examples included Canny Sculler II, Byker Blonde and House of the Rising Sun.

House of the Rising Sun is on the right.

Glasses were produced and the tasting began. I think the intention was to start at the bottom and work up. Not so the Midnight Oil crowd who collectively pointed to the House of the Rising Sun, principally because it was a 7.2% chocolate raspberry porter. There was a line of us holding glasses up like a group of beggars -  alms for the poor. You could possibly say we were acting like Animals for the  House of the Rising Sun.

The rest of the beer was good as well, but paled into significance after the porter. Got home later that evening and Mrs Ken said " You know the skip on the front lawn ? Well they are coming to collect it at 7 o clock in the morning; you'll have to be up"

Groan................

IF YOUVE GOT TO GO, YOUVE GOT TO GO

The pub nearest to where  I live that sells real ale is The Havelock. We usually go there for a lunch time meal. Now in the gents there is a large blackboard above the urinals with chalk to let you leave messages or draw silly cartoons. This got me thinking about unusual pub toilets in general, but not in a pervy way you understand !

Most times you go, you do your business, dry your hands on a 100 dB hand dryer, rendering conversation impossible, then leave.  But some loos are better than others. 

Over Christmas we did a Newcastle/Gateshead pub crawl and ended up in the Station East, which has only recently opened. They had a novel idea of fitting out the gents, as you can see from the photograph above. This contrasts with the graffiti decorating the loo in the Free Trade,  Newcastle.

Usually going to the loo is a simple event with short walk. Not so some  Wetherspoons who are famous for having toilets which are miles away from the bar. Through the door marked toilets is just the start. Up ( or down) flights of stairs, along several corridors till you find the actual door. Can you hell find your way back again ? There is a pub in Manchester ( not a Spoons pub) that has solved this problem. Called The Wharf, there is the long trek upstairs to the gents, but when you come out, there is a helpful sign " You came from this direction " Nice touch.

We were doing a pub crawl of South Shields a couple of years ago  to survey pubs for a Real Ale Trail ( well that was the excuse anyway). In the Holborn Rose & Crown near the river there was a sign in the gents " PLEASE DO NOT THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS IN THE URINAL, IT MAKES THEM SOGGY AND HARD TO LIGHT".

On the same day we called into The Rattler on the sea front and I'm not making this up -  there was a guy in trap one chatting away on his mobile taking part in an audio conference. Bizarre.

As you may well know, in a lot of gents toilets the decor is often complemented by the inevitable condom machine. Have you ever seen anyone use one, or even any one filling one ? I haven't, never.

Anyway, moving swiftly on. While writing this, I  got to thinking about the best gents I have been in. Without doubt  my award for the best loo I have visited last year   goes to     ( drum roll ) the Philharmonic Dining Rooms in Liverpool. See picture. Nothing can beat this.

Finally, a sign spotted in a Ladies  On it was written :-
 " my husband follows me everywhere". 

Underneath was written " No I do not !"

 

NEW BEER , FREE BEER, NO BEER, CRAP BEER

Well this past week has been interesting, with social activities, a new pub to visit and a wedding ( not mine)

Tuesday - New Beer.

When we visited the 2015 Great British Beer Festival at Olympia in London, the Supreme Champion had been announced the day before. It was called Cwtch, brewed by Tiny Rebel, from Newport, South Wales. None of us had heard of the brewery or the beer ; we weren't even sure how to pronounce Cwtch !. Needless to say, the beer had run out on the Thursday of our visit , and when they had added a new cask, the queue was horrendous. We collectively said "bollocks to that" and tried something else.

However, at our branch meeting last week in  The Ship Isis , Sunderland it was on ! The first time I had seen the beer in 18 months. A great beer and a worthy winner. Mind you, the pub knows how to keep its beers !

Anyhow, the pub has several social activities on throughout the week and Tuesday was no exception. As well as our meeting in the snug, upstairs there was a video games night and a local Pagan Society "moot" ( see picture as proof). It seemed entirely appropriate that a pub that is reputedly haunted should have a Pagan meeting ( whatever that entails ) going on upstairs.  

Thursday - Free Beer.

Having the urge for trip out on the bus and metro, headed for Jarrow and McConnell's Gin & Ale House ( as you do). I had not been there since the days of Jarrow Brewery and was immediately made to feel welcome. Although there was only 4 of us perched on bar stools like a scene from Cheers, it was good to see we were all drinking real ale. Arbier Brewery own the pub and they had their Jarrow Stout on ( and Swedish Blonde ). Absolutely spot on, in perfect condition. 

Gave the staff some CAMRA magazines and soon I was chatting to the manager. He was happy to discuss the brewery and the beers. Suddenly he said, we do bottle beer now, do you want some ?. He gave me two bottles of their Renaissance Golden Ale as a pressie. 

 

Note to self - go back again soon.

After McConnell's  it was 2 Metro stops to Simonside and Florence's Bar and Grill. This had just reopened before Xmas and had two handpulls, Allendale Golden Plover and Camerons Strongarm. Again, beer spot on and friendly bar staff. There was a couple of guys in black ties round the corner in the comfortable bar, knocking back the Plover. Headed for the loo and looked right. There was all this leftover scran on. I had walked in on the end of a wake !.

Dilemma - do I help myself, as I was hungry,, or just leave. Thinking it a bit cheeky, went to loo then left, bloody starving. I still lie awake at night about passing up on a free feed.

Saturday  Part 1 No Beer.

For most of Saturday we were at a family wedding in a local hotel. During the evening disco I got a text from a fellow CAMRA member , who was in the Florence Bar and Grill, based on a recommendation email I had sent out on Thursday night. The text read " No Real Ale on a Saturday night!"

Now I sometimes wonder about some pubs. No real ale means aficionados like me will be reluctant to go back , which means less beer could get drunk and they end up  taking it off, because no bugger is drinking it. There is a pub about 10 minutes drive from me, the Copt Hill, has been visited by two of us separately in the past 3 weeks, each time 3 empty handpulls, Going back on March 25th for a pub crawl , so we shall see.

Saturday Part 2 - Crap Beer.

As the do was in a hotel, I guessed that the beer would be shite, and I was right, so volunteered to drive . At night, had half of Super Cold Guinness , then pint of tap water with lemon and ice ( free) then another half of Guinness. Guess which one had the better taste...correct , the water.

Whats that all about ?  I can imagine someone from John Smiths, Guinness, Fosters ( delete where applicable) trying to sound enthusiastic when out for a few beers and drinking the own stuff. I can also imagine someone from Theakston or Maxim ( etc etc) drinking Old Peculier or Maximus and being equally enthusiastic, this time with justification.

Back on the proper stuff tonight, treating myself to my last bottle of Sam Adams.

Note to self number 2 - get some more Sam Adams !

 

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FAMOUS PEOPLE IN PUBS

I recently spotted on Facebook a photograph of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, with their wives,  sitting in a pub holding pint glasses. It was 1952 and they are in the Bull Inn at Bottesford in Leicestershire, the landlady of which was Stan's sister Olga. Can you imagine walking into a pub and seeing two famous people drinking there?!. Well...............

Back in the early seventies I used to work at the North East Electricity Board in Newcastle. The nearest pub was the Adlephi in Shakespeare Street. ( now called The Lady Grey). The pub happened to be opposite the stage door of the Theatre Royal. 

As I used to work shifts,   we could be found their most evenings for a break, or after the shift finished ( or both). In those days there was no real ale, I mostly drank McEwans Best Scotch. The method of dispense was a measured half pint in a glass cylinder, so it was easy to pull a pint, flick a handle across for one half, then back again to fill the glass. Dead easy. We used to get wrong off the barmaid, Betty, if we wanted a pint shandy as this would involve doing the half , then having to open a lemonade bottle. Thinking about it, she used to encourage drink driving as you were scared to order anything other than a pint.

Anyhow, one week when there was a comedy play on called Big Bad Mouse at the Theatre Royal and , some of the cast used to pop for a quick drink. One night I walked in, and there propping up the bar, were the shows stars, Jimmy Edwards and Eric Sykes. Now I am not a one for pestering people like this, they've just come out to relax like me after all. . So I walked up the bar and said to Betty, " A pint of Scotch please Betty "

Straightaway, Jimmy Edwards ears pricked up. " Bloody Hell, hes drinking a pint of Whisky !". I think my reply was, " well we are tough round here Jimmy".  

Later that week soon to be Mrs Ken and I went to see the play, which was bloody funny. There was a lot of ad libbing and at one point Eric Sykes came on the stage and stated that the Turks Head Hotel opposite ( where they were staying) was on fire. We all thought it was part of the act but it was true, although only with minor damage. 

Sadly, no room in the ad lib for the lad with the pint of whisky

   

 More on The Bull Inn

A LONG FORGOTTEN BOTTLE

Having a recent cupboard clear out lately, mainly the non beer cupboard. Hidden behind the various bottles of Martini,Ouzo, Sherry and Poncha was this bottle of Pink Pussy from Australia. We are assuming its a pink Babycham type drink, but the label doesn't say the strength ; its probably flat and pink vinegar by now.

We visited Australia for the first time in 1984, and one highlight of the trip was staying with Mrs Kens relatives and having a tour of the Barossa Valley wine region of South Australia. We must have staggered in and out of about 6 wineries, mainly for the discount booze. Of the 2 " novelty bottles" we came back with one, called Panthers Piss, has been drunk. The second, has been hidden away for over 32 years. I suppose we shall have to open it sometime !.

This set my mind wandering about a couple of incidents while we were there. We flew into Melbourne first , staying with friends in a small township called Melton. After we got over the jet lag they let us loose by ourselves wandering round the town. We inevitably ended up in a pub. 

Now in those days the beer was all piss, Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, all fizzy and most yellow.Due to a communication breakdown we ended up with a jug full of this yellow stuff. There must have been nearly 3 pints of it and I was really struggling to get it down.  Ended up leaving  half of it, which is not like me. Made the mistake of telling this to mine hosts later , who's catch phrase for the rest of our stay, became " Ken Likes Jugs" 

Over in Adelaide, South Australia, Mrs Kens brother took me to a local bar. Drinking some local shite, the barman but this EP on ( that would be vinyl - ed) of this local comedian called George Similovici - an Aussie version of Billy Connolly. The language was disgusting and this record was booming out over the speakers. I quickly realised that women did not frequent this bar., like a lot of pubs -  mainly men. Brought the EP back with me, listen to it occasionally. ( CD copy available ? Ed)  Google him on YouTube.

The state of beer in Australia now is far different to what it was in the 80s. There is a much greater choice. Even Fosters have got in on the act, making a wonderful Sheaf Stout.  Beers such as Coopers Sparkling Ale and Little Creatures Pale can sometimes be found in the UK.