tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56180890516393688792024-03-16T17:36:38.706+00:00Pubs: Then & NowThe Pub is one of the few great cultural icons of Britain. We are currently in a phase where the future of the pub is in doubt. This blog shows how pubs have changed (or not) over the past 20 - 30 years. I first started taking pictures of pubs in 1986 and have amassed quite a collection. Most of these pubs are within easy walking distance of the English Canals and most are based in the Midlands. Apart from a (very) few, I have drunk in every pub pictured (and sometimes been drunk in them!)PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.comBlogger398125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-87264566704776598812021-12-22T16:41:00.002+00:002021-12-22T16:45:30.491+00:00#291 The Navigation, Kilby Bridge, Leicestershire : 1986 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Our first ever visit to The Navigation Inn was on the evening of <b>Wednesday 23rd July 1986</b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh69stMXzFsSICHsz9SbAF76PX2Qx7lw9esyK1182WKW33Kw5j1DSHXgWaoLjsmrENQ2DPSWmJf1_0X_0Afe_PUqTBsXr9bNkCmFXoRA61IY3GXYtYrwIfvhu2gtN2iEYa5jPcuBE0HjaXXvLcQI51Iyu_GpgEYJeX_fUQ4AiRDEja9VUpSuR8b_-ghcw=s1746" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1746" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh69stMXzFsSICHsz9SbAF76PX2Qx7lw9esyK1182WKW33Kw5j1DSHXgWaoLjsmrENQ2DPSWmJf1_0X_0Afe_PUqTBsXr9bNkCmFXoRA61IY3GXYtYrwIfvhu2gtN2iEYa5jPcuBE0HjaXXvLcQI51Iyu_GpgEYJeX_fUQ4AiRDEja9VUpSuR8b_-ghcw=w640-h426" title="The Navigation Inn, Kilby Bridge - July 1986" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was our summer vacation and my first time along the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal. I remember little about the pub then apart from the fact that it was a pleasant, traditional canalside boozer (the photo is taken from the bridge over the canal).</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We didn't return for many years and, when we did, it was a disappointment on the evening of <b>Wednesday 27th August 1998</b>!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipN0F8OJdq7FzVVDB_9ePzWNfVZJViCS-Z5gPDWwpOu9yMwQT-4vMwRMZfgdXU7ChIB7uWHKNJ6rNn6GWbpFs9_Gz9-U-quPXg3p-SFKwhuikcjOvwFr1JDdB8A1qgiwq3zVCIKACQC1WdoHmhlmIlT5cg4gz9lstBim7JGsqSwT-pntBgPHx3Q_tabA=s1660" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1660" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipN0F8OJdq7FzVVDB_9ePzWNfVZJViCS-Z5gPDWwpOu9yMwQT-4vMwRMZfgdXU7ChIB7uWHKNJ6rNn6GWbpFs9_Gz9-U-quPXg3p-SFKwhuikcjOvwFr1JDdB8A1qgiwq3zVCIKACQC1WdoHmhlmIlT5cg4gz9lstBim7JGsqSwT-pntBgPHx3Q_tabA=w640-h422" title="The Navigation Inn, Kilby Bridge - August 1998" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The disappointment wasn't that it had become an Ansell's pub; no, it was that it was closed! We'd travelled for 5¼ hours in an afternoon from Foxton only to find that the landlord had, seemingly, done a 'runner'!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peering through the windows was like looking into the Mary Celeste - there were still empty glasses and crisp packets littering the tables, but no sign of life.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We managed to slake our thirst and assuage our hunger in the not so nearby town/village of Wigston. According to the locals it's just "5 minutes" away...but that was obviously in a fast car as it was a good 20 minute walk (not what you really want after a 5¼ hour afternoon boating session through a dozen wide, heavy locks)!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was another five years before we were back in Kilby Bridge for a lunchtime stop on <b>Wednesday 20th August 2003</b>.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ4GD0JwjAAvc_HAyO_TGArswwtug4dHEzyr8iS62QfD1al62MuQW8-n5Q7Gq4XgGy7rKR6MBI27TJDzbZb71UjdPFUfTLmSJxvNFfG_C1X9oyherQz2SRDBWFPVGcytGlOLRiF8T79JjUzcwhJaM2OhdBZOpYqgUqZ9zXHD9e1WcgctuGDfHZjymgcg=s1536" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ4GD0JwjAAvc_HAyO_TGArswwtug4dHEzyr8iS62QfD1al62MuQW8-n5Q7Gq4XgGy7rKR6MBI27TJDzbZb71UjdPFUfTLmSJxvNFfG_C1X9oyherQz2SRDBWFPVGcytGlOLRiF8T79JjUzcwhJaM2OhdBZOpYqgUqZ9zXHD9e1WcgctuGDfHZjymgcg=w640-h426" title="The Navigation, Kilby Bridge - August 2003" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This time it was open as just The Navigation and a free house as well. I have no recollection that particular visit, but over the years the pub has changed very little. (This time it took us just under 5 hours from Foxton!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Boating trips that take us to Kilby Bridge inevitably entail a visit to Leicester (and often Nottingham) which are places that are only accessible (for us) on two week holidays. Thus, there is usually a significant gap between visits.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was another six years before we returned, this time on the evening of <b>Monday 7th September 2009</b> having had a lunchtime session in Leicester whilst waiting for our third crew member to join us for the rest of the trip.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEUXrQcDN09LOqZMr81WOlyE__qzg3VvgH7EJRz53Yeq37OYqcWlOX5ejD-bbgcOfXe1rB7_7hd0CvBkg2mK_CmZYT2P1qHrOPCl-XSNQR361cjsxYPmStiVkzK617WA_sdmui4lx__nkKbp7p-_4bsTmipm4JWKTb3O6e7dXNP4VZFWiVFGt6U7ZrCg=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEUXrQcDN09LOqZMr81WOlyE__qzg3VvgH7EJRz53Yeq37OYqcWlOX5ejD-bbgcOfXe1rB7_7hd0CvBkg2mK_CmZYT2P1qHrOPCl-XSNQR361cjsxYPmStiVkzK617WA_sdmui4lx__nkKbp7p-_4bsTmipm4JWKTb3O6e7dXNP4VZFWiVFGt6U7ZrCg=w640-h480" title="The Navigation, Kilby Bridge - September 2009" width="640" /></a></div>There appeared to have been little change to the exterior of the pub (apart from a 'token' shelter over the external seating).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It would seem that our routine has changed from a visit every five years to six - we were back again at lunchtime on <b>Friday 28th August 2015</b>.<br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh90M39LIGP4z4BAVmQmG7nJHbiC0MsDVWbryQJk7_1NIBzMNzUWQ1RBJ7Tct_B557CFC7E2iE2KkNsTRzDc8dtxZbGQZCLuQfHORf1-7Umk9C-SfoDvJMr0unkHJLKY1o2AEXvDe6TUSSxIu-sT06EzbXFzz4-PMW6B73OBVRF6-X_ruDZwiZxRHq7QQ=s4928" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh90M39LIGP4z4BAVmQmG7nJHbiC0MsDVWbryQJk7_1NIBzMNzUWQ1RBJ7Tct_B557CFC7E2iE2KkNsTRzDc8dtxZbGQZCLuQfHORf1-7Umk9C-SfoDvJMr0unkHJLKY1o2AEXvDe6TUSSxIu-sT06EzbXFzz4-PMW6B73OBVRF6-X_ruDZwiZxRHq7QQ=w640-h424" title="The Navigation, Kilby Bridge - August 2015" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again, no discernible change.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another six years on and we made our most recent visit at lunchtime on <b>Tuesday 10th August 2021</b>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsnrAo1BKydVU8OC8xd4eeMklfYSUOiWVzNkSh-lcqBoYxjxL3T5eUXUlNQUoo7IiSxulgDKo_znL7hOlV6bLK49vGaujBhZbriHar3B8vm4SWdKCM5k5bkeI2iDm0-_TVH_wmvcv7arp5s4lT1q_Fmbk7IVU64TaCchsClg6gWRehHVE4tchqKMs-mQ=s5635" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3757" data-original-width="5635" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsnrAo1BKydVU8OC8xd4eeMklfYSUOiWVzNkSh-lcqBoYxjxL3T5eUXUlNQUoo7IiSxulgDKo_znL7hOlV6bLK49vGaujBhZbriHar3B8vm4SWdKCM5k5bkeI2iDm0-_TVH_wmvcv7arp5s4lT1q_Fmbk7IVU64TaCchsClg6gWRehHVE4tchqKMs-mQ=w640-h426" title="The Navigation, Kilby Bridge - August 2021" width="640" /></a></div>The exterior is again largely unchanged (ignoring the fading of signs that have been there for at least 18 years!) but the doors and windows have been painted grey and the hanging sign has been replaced.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We sat in the front bar which is a proper old school canal pub bar and had a very pleasant lunchtime pub experience as I reported <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2021/09/boozin-and-cruisin-through-east.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Navigation is a little gem of a pub and do I hope that we will be visiting it in the years to come (at 5 - 6 year intervals!)</span></span><br /></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com0109 Welford Rd, Wigston LE18 3TE, UK52.568388100000007 -1.100444552.565779559272521 -1.1047360344238282 52.570996640727493 -1.0961529655761719tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-31209900005817573942021-11-25T12:50:00.001+00:002021-11-25T12:50:19.409+00:00#290 Red Lion, Cropredy, Oxfordshire : 1998 to 2021<div><div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our first ever visit to Cropredy was on the evening of <b>Wednesday 2nd September 1998</b> on our way to Oxford by boat for the first time. On that evening we paid our first visit to the Red Lion (as well as the Brasenose Arms - <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2021/07/286-brasenose-arms-cropredy-oxfordshire.html" target="_blank">#286</a>)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We also stopped there on the way back on the evening of <b>Tuesday 8th September 1998.</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xxGToyLTKX_Ln7OWqMGrBdKRWiwg6pA_T3sCv1_cxYli7DbTxvs8CQq1meH5twxL-TbqMEVUyQt4_gzhIekcdnEfKMigvFcZnKiMWyVq0no2Chsl0gNRenWVWIC3O2gh00P1dznhkGvn/s2048/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xxGToyLTKX_Ln7OWqMGrBdKRWiwg6pA_T3sCv1_cxYli7DbTxvs8CQq1meH5twxL-TbqMEVUyQt4_gzhIekcdnEfKMigvFcZnKiMWyVq0no2Chsl0gNRenWVWIC3O2gh00P1dznhkGvn/w640-h426/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+1998.jpg" title="Red Lion, Cropredy 1998" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are only two things I remember about the pub. Firstly that it was a cosy village local that did good food and, secondly, that there seemed to be no mention of Fairport Convention, nor the annual folk festival...anywhere! (Not quite sure what I did expect, but there were no pictures/posters at all!)</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our next jaunt along the Oxford Canal took us back to Cropredy on the evening of <b>Monday 27th May 2002</b> as part of a short trip to Banbury and back.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhX-mAvOs_Fo2em6BYPHnPwmSy5X4PoZe8qXiqqODVlPDQzI15goeTyJfCEFCI7QQND6UaFZGH64edN94aqt4LNAy2qkBgWnPPA5gej3nVXHkz7Hmt05JlVxdEbd14EeVerrvR7hp8HEC/s1536/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhX-mAvOs_Fo2em6BYPHnPwmSy5X4PoZe8qXiqqODVlPDQzI15goeTyJfCEFCI7QQND6UaFZGH64edN94aqt4LNAy2qkBgWnPPA5gej3nVXHkz7Hmt05JlVxdEbd14EeVerrvR7hp8HEC/w640-h426/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2002.jpg" title="Red Lion, Cropredy 2002" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hardly any changes...even the same flags were hanging outside!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next time was at lunchtime on <b>Tuesday 24th August 2004</b> in the early part of our journey that had started out from Oxford.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_AyRhel5MY_8tS4LjTUMOLK2-ZIOYbAEeDBvxjtLFDcGp0CZdcB6yyo3sGdyMOMMnQ_VRgqHWcestRpohuxsxVPcd2Sv4S_rQKWUKY4YtHP3VdDJa6D3lPtFUZf8M4gGXlc_uiIj1q4z/s1500/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1500" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_AyRhel5MY_8tS4LjTUMOLK2-ZIOYbAEeDBvxjtLFDcGp0CZdcB6yyo3sGdyMOMMnQ_VRgqHWcestRpohuxsxVPcd2Sv4S_rQKWUKY4YtHP3VdDJa6D3lPtFUZf8M4gGXlc_uiIj1q4z/w640-h436/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2004.jpg" title="Red Lion, Cropredy 2004" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again, not much appears to have changed although the flags have gone (and the house that was 'Sold' last time appears to be back up for sale!)</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a long time before we ventured back down the Oxford Canal, but our next stop at Cropredy was on the evening of <b>Friday 26th July 2019</b> - the first evening of our journey that would take us down the River Thames.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJ7feEHWfNTmsAe3V-bn7aol_ONBj9frQghkRTGh1cL0UfuBZHg99dAuf8zxe7YeRL7NkLn7JzB8blaeabE-GGnwrUy-2tbYKzi8ecHeUtXVECvo4qj_tBsw_JIwggPDH82yb97fpVPAD/s2048/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJ7feEHWfNTmsAe3V-bn7aol_ONBj9frQghkRTGh1cL0UfuBZHg99dAuf8zxe7YeRL7NkLn7JzB8blaeabE-GGnwrUy-2tbYKzi8ecHeUtXVECvo4qj_tBsw_JIwggPDH82yb97fpVPAD/w640-h426/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2019.jpg" title="Red Lion, Cropredy 2019" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At least, this time, the hanging sign has changed and the bloke in the picture is wearing different clothes (and there's still a house for sale!)</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our most recent visits were on the evenings of <b>Tuesday 18th May 2021</b> and <b>Monday 24th May 2021</b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqCmVAAQ9JHeeEJ6QhRlftkvWB0T8a5GBCcsvtwIIHKl5MCoOLbMQeYTU5GwwfAbuFAqqhyLvrSmFqCWv1iPWp9asICIQkTFM6SoOzpYV5kWM-syBUEPU-qiElIZhvjVitu27b-wjyyKF/s2048/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqCmVAAQ9JHeeEJ6QhRlftkvWB0T8a5GBCcsvtwIIHKl5MCoOLbMQeYTU5GwwfAbuFAqqhyLvrSmFqCWv1iPWp9asICIQkTFM6SoOzpYV5kWM-syBUEPU-qiElIZhvjVitu27b-wjyyKF/w640-h426/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2021.jpg" title="Red Lion, Cropredy 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo0BB4OEy67Lw7aaD7NOPTVwg1rp_oZxtSvQi4SqHXtjb9c5MfoSPwiSYqm4B-onxtv-6ZdIJV0kL92t4AU2eC4fYZcBqSStuc6YU5tLEfXexVUGV1GlbV7FyjjhR7wQt4SX5_hKijEVV/s2048/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2021b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo0BB4OEy67Lw7aaD7NOPTVwg1rp_oZxtSvQi4SqHXtjb9c5MfoSPwiSYqm4B-onxtv-6ZdIJV0kL92t4AU2eC4fYZcBqSStuc6YU5tLEfXexVUGV1GlbV7FyjjhR7wQt4SX5_hKijEVV/w640-h426/Red+Lion%252C+Cropredy+2021b.jpg" title="Red Lion, Cropredy 2021" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first visit was very fleeting. The pandemic restrictions had only just relaxed to allow for indoor eating and drinking, but as we hadn't booked, there was no room for us to even just have a drink! (We'd intended to eat in the Brasenose Arms, but it was the chef's night off!)</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On our return from Oxford, we made the decision to book in advance, so there were no problems this time. I can also report that the Red Lion is still a cosy local village pub that does very good food!<br /></span></span></p>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com18 Red Lion St, Cropredy, Banbury OX17 1PB, UK52.1166419 -1.316030652.11400660371514 -1.3203221344238281 52.119277196284855 -1.3117390655761718tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-38204298924637230582021-11-15T11:37:00.004+00:002021-11-15T11:37:00.210+00:00#289 Foxton Locks Inn, Foxton, Leicestershire : 1986 to 2021<div><div><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know, it's been a while since I last posted, but I'm back now with a few more new pubs from my archives!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This time I'll start with a pub that didn't exist! Back in 1986, we descended Foxton Locks (a genuinely thrilling experience...then, as now!), but this was the scene that greeted us at the bottom on the afternoon of <b>Wednesday 23rd July 1986</b>.<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bhaQlycStVAvWwFiQoC_-FY4zTChxO69t5tKU7KUH_brOoKi6uVETTtqw5GQTded4R4yuh7bmJqXrY-5r9pewICxqfhKC3mkPkf0YX76LGOPK6PVKFKKkJUxCOXUpOHDy1tME6NbR2pv/s1630/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+1986.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1630" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bhaQlycStVAvWwFiQoC_-FY4zTChxO69t5tKU7KUH_brOoKi6uVETTtqw5GQTded4R4yuh7bmJqXrY-5r9pewICxqfhKC3mkPkf0YX76LGOPK6PVKFKKkJUxCOXUpOHDy1tME6NbR2pv/w640-h434/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+1986.jpg" title="Foxton Boat Services, Foxton 1986" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From this viewpoint; to the right is the set of ten locks that make up the Foxton Flight; to the left is the 1½ miles of the Market Harborough Branch and behind is the rest of the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal leading to Leicester and the Soar Navigation beyond that.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back in 1986, the building directly ahead was Foxton Boat Services which was a chandlery and boat repairs in the main.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next time we visited, in 1997, it was still the same set up and I didn't take a photo. However, it was a memorable and potentially disastrous visit at lunchtime on <b>Wednesday 27th August 1997</b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the day that I nearly blew up our boat Emma Jane! We'd descended the locks without problem and gone for lunch at one of the nearby pubs. After lunch, we needed to buy a new Calor Gas cylinder as the previous one had run out. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I connected the gas and William paid for the cylinder in the shop. It was my turn to steer for the afternoon, but we were in no rush. So, before starting the engine I stepped back onto the boat where I got a very, very strong smell of gas...one burner of the gas cooker was still open and the whole cabin was filled with gas!! I quickly closed the valve, opened the windows and got off the boat (and warned William not to light his cigarette!!)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fortunately, there was no spark and, after a few nervous minutes, the gas dispersed safely...but it could have been a very serious event!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next time we were there was on the evening of <b>Tuesday 8th September 2009 </b>and the scene was very different!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXYQ10DUA-1CRKBKDWsTcOlGPAk9_ZLHVKg3eVU9pMFgqpKm3rVsBIwOF5dH53QeSaU9ixw96bQJH_Vko57WxLKuhrDAfEdl1rxZND1k0TbvTWvcjR_6Ga4SV1buyC6ODd9nf2dT6k5_o/s2048/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+2009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXYQ10DUA-1CRKBKDWsTcOlGPAk9_ZLHVKg3eVU9pMFgqpKm3rVsBIwOF5dH53QeSaU9ixw96bQJH_Vko57WxLKuhrDAfEdl1rxZND1k0TbvTWvcjR_6Ga4SV1buyC6ODd9nf2dT6k5_o/w640-h480/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+2009.jpg" title="Foxton Locks Inn, Foxton 2009" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A completely different vista to previously and a new pub had been established. This picture was taken before we entered the lock flight and moored above the locks for the evening. The Foxton Locks Inn had become a popular tourist destination and we only had a pint before moving on to one of the other Foxton pubs.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have no idea when it became a pub, but it certainly has become a popular place. Our next encounter was on the morning of <b>Saturday 29th August 2015</b>, although we were only passing by on the way to Market Harborough for lunch.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw5rTCGQrXnZsEjeOZwEr373j4Dct5PIr_vksWaobo3kt9hgYIOoTkNhuowNPzXUON1HaQvEofuZEgwwR6wkn1pSrm8r6juyKwDoBvwqFsDnDrAPcRvIaEtlXW9E5mbfQsX_sJpsaUuqw/s2048/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw5rTCGQrXnZsEjeOZwEr373j4Dct5PIr_vksWaobo3kt9hgYIOoTkNhuowNPzXUON1HaQvEofuZEgwwR6wkn1pSrm8r6juyKwDoBvwqFsDnDrAPcRvIaEtlXW9E5mbfQsX_sJpsaUuqw/w640-h424/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+2015.jpg" title="Foxton Locks Inn, Foxton 2015" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the intervening years the exterior had been repainted and the restaurant had got a more permanent, flat roof.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our most recent encounter was at lunchtime on <b>Monday 9th August 2021</b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLjJVbvhMw_OfbsL-S1bIBD4iiG0HYFq1k65iuiO3QeNsIaNwyIHRdaI-lb-KVmKqm2VhwvkeLD7nFvCfSH-JOAI7d3uVbZfCdU-iSSU2DpwcwYtcIK4GNzYKBCv_BwKVKiuwmI3_8lcS/s2048/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+2021+%2528a%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLjJVbvhMw_OfbsL-S1bIBD4iiG0HYFq1k65iuiO3QeNsIaNwyIHRdaI-lb-KVmKqm2VhwvkeLD7nFvCfSH-JOAI7d3uVbZfCdU-iSSU2DpwcwYtcIK4GNzYKBCv_BwKVKiuwmI3_8lcS/w640-h426/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+2021+%2528a%2529.jpg" title="Foxton Locks Inn, Foxton 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Little seemed to have changed in the six years since we were last passing by, but it is certainly a popular spot during the boating season! It was still operating a table service system, but as it is more of a restaurant than proper pub, that wasn't a problem.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDlGlO2av9d_zbaal3rp0bJ_yQ6uwN9fErIxOCxBe-GjUq3VF5Tg8WBWRtgDh7qvozr_d97F9SCAyFysA9n_llfwR3yTzpIz4uvIgk2lwQ8i9wOTsP5wf9O9OaMHNOHEXhYkF89v4lRVs/s2048/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+2021+%2528b%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDlGlO2av9d_zbaal3rp0bJ_yQ6uwN9fErIxOCxBe-GjUq3VF5Tg8WBWRtgDh7qvozr_d97F9SCAyFysA9n_llfwR3yTzpIz4uvIgk2lwQ8i9wOTsP5wf9O9OaMHNOHEXhYkF89v4lRVs/w640-h426/Foxton+Locks+Inn%252C+Foxton+Locks+2021+%2528b%2529.jpg" title="Foxton Locks Inn, Foxton 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This final image is from the same bridge as the first picture back in 1986 to give the perspective of 35 years of change! (And it is nice, for a change, to be able to report on a pub that has been created rather than reporting on one that's been lost!) </span></span><br /></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com1Bottom Lock, Gumley Rd, Foxton, Market Harborough LE16 7RA, UK52.501214999999988 -0.98232252.4999088080384 -0.98446776721191409 52.502521191961577 -0.980176232788086tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-29445852126100515292021-10-19T11:37:00.001+01:002021-10-19T11:37:00.259+01:00A Saunter Round Sunny Stockport<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After an enforced hiatus of 19 months it was time to get back into the saddle and start saving pubs again (or just visiting some decent boozers in convivial company!)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My participation almost didn't happen as a bout of severe toothache overnight nearly derailed my plans. By morning, the pain had subsided somewhat and with a strict 'diet' of painkillers and alcohol, I was sure that I could survive the day!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My first port of call for a Proper Pub Day Out is usually the same - <b>Bournville Café</b> for a decent breakfast to set me up for the journey.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDpHQ-pmBGlY1zKtZYJpk5wjZKIULGJ0c5YGySJwVvzg4j6Vc31pgdMmwnqD5HdHWtKwwj8XE3UhpKLfH3rrQ9Pk3hOfr2PS4s48Fq_lX4t_UlFBLDo-QJBtlRG2hgX0E8Cn2p69z1WSj/s2048/DSC_0924-1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDpHQ-pmBGlY1zKtZYJpk5wjZKIULGJ0c5YGySJwVvzg4j6Vc31pgdMmwnqD5HdHWtKwwj8XE3UhpKLfH3rrQ9Pk3hOfr2PS4s48Fq_lX4t_UlFBLDo-QJBtlRG2hgX0E8Cn2p69z1WSj/w640-h426/DSC_0924-1a.jpg" title="Bournville Cafe - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed the use of the word 'sunny' in my title and yet this looks decidedly overcast...well, yes, it was a somewhat dull start to the day, but by the time I arrived at Stockport Station the sun was out.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After studying the maps and Google Street View, the walk to our rendezvous pub was shorter and easier than I'd expected! <br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PhSLZXyuJ1eW2JvxurI2UMTaRHhXOnySYdH-JeMZyLCJSMknV6x9nwUVoFOerddm97e2g7Sxg0pX2Y0mVFEAS9_TZcR9Wvi5rhJEpQLJctfl_QtcYZ_7fIGbzKgGnUkZVjreiZjT5-Wx/s2048/DSC_0927-1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PhSLZXyuJ1eW2JvxurI2UMTaRHhXOnySYdH-JeMZyLCJSMknV6x9nwUVoFOerddm97e2g7Sxg0pX2Y0mVFEAS9_TZcR9Wvi5rhJEpQLJctfl_QtcYZ_7fIGbzKgGnUkZVjreiZjT5-Wx/w426-h640/DSC_0927-1a.jpg" title="Queens Head, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The <b>Queens Head</b> is a 'larger than it looks from the outside' Sam Smith's establishment. <b><a href="https://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2021/10/bringing-them-all-back-home-part-1.html" target="_blank">Pub Curmudgeon</a></b> and <b><a href="https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2021/10/taking-stock-of-stockport.html" target="_blank">Paul Bailey</a></b> were already there...and have both reported on the day out already (I'm usually last in these matters!). Soon we were joined by Retired Martin, Sheffield Hatter and Leonlen...sadly Paul Mudge was unable to join us owing to a broken foot. Anyway, my pint of Taddy Lager was fine!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Soon it was time to move on to the next pub, but not before a slight detour to see a clock strike noon...except that it didn't...apparently it is still out of commission as the building refurbishment continues!<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GGG2PNr20V_dhKHvGitLKmIqLCKeYvuBcuzkUC8OKanYpgiM1yJ14QbAL_zZtGRJ6NH2c4A4WMg0IJ-mo8Z97a32fJWuwvvgpMUXktXVQIUe4lEIA8bUp0kbEi0ojaddDGqK6CYas9Z4/s2048/DSC_0930-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GGG2PNr20V_dhKHvGitLKmIqLCKeYvuBcuzkUC8OKanYpgiM1yJ14QbAL_zZtGRJ6NH2c4A4WMg0IJ-mo8Z97a32fJWuwvvgpMUXktXVQIUe4lEIA8bUp0kbEi0ojaddDGqK6CYas9Z4/w640-h426/DSC_0930-1.jpg" title="Winter's, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A stroll through the shopping centre brought us to the <b>Swan with Two Necks</b>.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKRIN87gsAKyxxeJAD9WBfNQDIOUSUTe0vs9aHV9arj7BSX2CVtAAtghulO1Vl1ohApYGjmaDk9ID1rVg27c4ODV6H-4xCUaXmwaxO3jvnZ8oJirZzLxki-EZbYzaoa5C-ji4e-VocwWy/s2048/DSC_0942-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKRIN87gsAKyxxeJAD9WBfNQDIOUSUTe0vs9aHV9arj7BSX2CVtAAtghulO1Vl1ohApYGjmaDk9ID1rVg27c4ODV6H-4xCUaXmwaxO3jvnZ8oJirZzLxki-EZbYzaoa5C-ji4e-VocwWy/w426-h640/DSC_0942-1.jpg" title="Swan with Two Necks, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our first Robinson's pub of the day...and some of 'the gang' just about to enter. This is another one of those 'bigger on the inside' places with an interesting layout. My Dizzy Blonde was very pleasant.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All too soon it was time to move on to our lunch stop at the <b>Arden Arms</b>.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnd2ye9H5yuPgaWeI1X_bWlJ0Zbc9lPXBFr5kR6WCfLC1f86qjtRlwaeIFrytiIjFRrhi0Bw-ylXSAW3ivvMqqaIOtwcoByx4zj_zHLBN2EQf2NAo6K7fmeNTK7F7hgOHTHXAd94u98wv/s2048/DSC_0948-1-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnd2ye9H5yuPgaWeI1X_bWlJ0Zbc9lPXBFr5kR6WCfLC1f86qjtRlwaeIFrytiIjFRrhi0Bw-ylXSAW3ivvMqqaIOtwcoByx4zj_zHLBN2EQf2NAo6K7fmeNTK7F7hgOHTHXAd94u98wv/w640-h426/DSC_0948-1-2.jpg" title="Arden Arms, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite being a little out of the town centre, the Arden Arms was doing a brisk trade and it was a good job that Pub Curmudgeon had booked a table for us! The food and drinks arrived promptly...well...apart from my pudding which took a bit longer! My Robinson's Hopnik Citra IPA was superb...even though it looked very much like a lager.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although it looks somewhat unprepossessing from the outside, the Arden Arms is a gem inside and well worth the visit.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next up was <b>The Railway</b>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_QhGrLO2dersK0lRbMyXLYRo_bJnE1WsbSuxLA9kpIho8h73w2J8ds_vpu75WBUOoYc4cC4MFMt6lXMZIaonVSRaLvSdTmvjKWt1utk4J6vWsPOynIJDkdb6w32vIEF4s4ZZx13KOSJ-/s2048/DSC_0960-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_QhGrLO2dersK0lRbMyXLYRo_bJnE1WsbSuxLA9kpIho8h73w2J8ds_vpu75WBUOoYc4cC4MFMt6lXMZIaonVSRaLvSdTmvjKWt1utk4J6vWsPOynIJDkdb6w32vIEF4s4ZZx13KOSJ-/w640-h426/DSC_0960-1.jpg" title="The Railway, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></div>If I hadn't been with people in the know, I'd have walked past without realising there was a pub there. The fact that it has been under threat of closure and demolition for a number of years explains the lack of investment in fancy new signage. Inside it is still a proper pub serving a range of beers...and we're at the stage, now, where I can't remember what I did have to drink! ("Take notes!!" I hear you cry. Well, I did have three pens with me, but all three were knackered!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope it survives as it's a friendly pub and there seemed to be enough derelict shops nearby that deserve to be demolished first! Then it was time to move on again...to the <b>Boar's Head</b>.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbSUfXD0kcPFd9b5ZQ9UBfscY9yVuVGRKQMqu49eEWUaWHU6cGnRvUVCmUHe32iMUKYdmNpcQnN3V9_48MGNZCScUZ3-_Oe2pPU3NoP8IQQQ2NQSVvC6osZtYtEmMwYutY5VKCmoTlAim/s2048/DSC_0963-1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbSUfXD0kcPFd9b5ZQ9UBfscY9yVuVGRKQMqu49eEWUaWHU6cGnRvUVCmUHe32iMUKYdmNpcQnN3V9_48MGNZCScUZ3-_Oe2pPU3NoP8IQQQ2NQSVvC6osZtYtEmMwYutY5VKCmoTlAim/w640-h426/DSC_0963-1a.jpg" title="Boars Head Hotel, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another magnificent Sam Smith's establishment...so it was another pint of Taddy Lager for me (I'm not a fan of Old Brewery Bitter)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All too quickly, we were off again heading for <b>The Petersgate Tap</b> which I'd passed, but not noticed, on my way from the station several hours earlier!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGQqKd8vKj3F3lGoTKveOnlIa-jT2ryU0QTM19nU04P0Q98STyxnlg-C4ltY0b2sbNJOqUg38JXryL4yaNH2PVCzZgg1ZO0mg5acrNxeXvfP9Z-9rRM2bhqepHcQjjFLEnJ-JzEhJMWBL/s2048/DSC_0969-1-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGQqKd8vKj3F3lGoTKveOnlIa-jT2ryU0QTM19nU04P0Q98STyxnlg-C4ltY0b2sbNJOqUg38JXryL4yaNH2PVCzZgg1ZO0mg5acrNxeXvfP9Z-9rRM2bhqepHcQjjFLEnJ-JzEhJMWBL/w640-h426/DSC_0969-1-2.jpg" title="Petersgate Tap, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></div>Inside, it felt more like a pub than do many micros with a fine range of cask ales, craft beer and gins. No doubt I had something hoppy and citrussy, but I have no recollection as to what it was! This was the place where we got 'the gang' back together after various people had gone in different directions at lunchtime (the usual schism - food versus no food on a pub crawl!).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then it was time for our saunter to turn into an uphill trek, which would have been more of a problem for me in the recent past, but I only required one major sit down on the way (thanks to my twice weekly gym sessions!). Before we got to our destination, there was a chance for a picture of the iconic <b>Robinson's Unicorn Brewery</b> looking magnificent in the late afternoon sunshine (and with a bit of extra editing from me!) <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GpMa_Lhc6dbHyl5rM0G3KgqFdmn2KDuJuNCSXjHe47hz2xUyIk1jwdprQCuSlliSDJHAPzuyJxoP7juaABBpzTHeOsYSIKo4LWW-s05zEzG6A8ZnZE4RRDdUO7hvCplw9KcZMEC2w_ET/s2048/Stockport+-+Robinsons+Brewery+R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GpMa_Lhc6dbHyl5rM0G3KgqFdmn2KDuJuNCSXjHe47hz2xUyIk1jwdprQCuSlliSDJHAPzuyJxoP7juaABBpzTHeOsYSIKo4LWW-s05zEzG6A8ZnZE4RRDdUO7hvCplw9KcZMEC2w_ET/w640-h426/Stockport+-+Robinsons+Brewery+R.jpg" title="Robinson's Unicorn Brewery, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our ultimate destination, the <b>Sun & Castle</b> wasn't too much further away!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GM1YmBY2AnqgL8LGtjtBuLv4nC5LyRxCgby2c3tFH9t2a8upU40qxn0n8nIHIJisD1C29FwDECcti9US6HfHXASqKeA0tT7KQcMKsxt5OPVknYTBQu7GhBW8-3Emt6ekHVaGZiuk8JFp/s2048/DSC_0984-1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GM1YmBY2AnqgL8LGtjtBuLv4nC5LyRxCgby2c3tFH9t2a8upU40qxn0n8nIHIJisD1C29FwDECcti9US6HfHXASqKeA0tT7KQcMKsxt5OPVknYTBQu7GhBW8-3Emt6ekHVaGZiuk8JFp/w640-h426/DSC_0984-1a.jpg" title="Sun & Castle, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></div>It is a good number of years since I had a pint of Holt's Bitter (2013 - The Volunteer in Sale!) and it tasted pretty much as I remembered although the price was somewhat higher than back then (understandably!). Another lovely pub.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then it was time to move on again to <b>The Armoury</b>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpgspb_FEP6soXaaL9fmKrGmEzebPu4tf59gowssgZLtnW0KpSxN4Hs33vsq1uxqMiFgzdZGsR8IXfdYoJ-z2n6yTJPgcsZRFcc48hH5PHBmI9JWRgoN5SydstAdlTw23RqwF6ZE5nsiW/s2048/DSC_0987-1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpgspb_FEP6soXaaL9fmKrGmEzebPu4tf59gowssgZLtnW0KpSxN4Hs33vsq1uxqMiFgzdZGsR8IXfdYoJ-z2n6yTJPgcsZRFcc48hH5PHBmI9JWRgoN5SydstAdlTw23RqwF6ZE5nsiW/w640-h426/DSC_0987-1a.jpg" title="The Armoury, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By now, my memories are getting pretty vague and, if I hadn't been carrying a camera, I'd probably have forgotten the visit altogether!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, finally, it was time to move on to our last pub of the day out - <b>Ye Olde Vic</b> (ignoring sound advice, I took the picture after I left for the station by which time the sun had set!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgh-k3HF_qYPHMvzEkLWRICoTxjvrAClXT4F86pIzd7gfUwKlF7VGnKumJE0ku3gHdQ6dSoPcxl7avq3UNXpNMBVDkFHAVAYufheoR01nA6Lrg_nzQ3wHfEM_yq2Uf6i2qgRLbD57EKBp/s2048/DSC_0999-1-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgh-k3HF_qYPHMvzEkLWRICoTxjvrAClXT4F86pIzd7gfUwKlF7VGnKumJE0ku3gHdQ6dSoPcxl7avq3UNXpNMBVDkFHAVAYufheoR01nA6Lrg_nzQ3wHfEM_yq2Uf6i2qgRLbD57EKBp/w640-h426/DSC_0999-1-2.jpg" title="Ye Olde Vic, Stockport - 8th October 2021" width="640" /></a></div>I have no recollection as to what I drank here, but I do remember there being a gentle discussion of climate change. I also seem to remember saying that, "I'm right, of course!" which in a more sober state I'd never dream of saying as it's the last thing that will win an argument! Hey ho! All good clean fun!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pub Curmudgeon's interesting and cunning itinerary meant that the station was only just over the road and easily accessible (if you don't go into the car park next door!) With that, I was soon on a train whizzing back to Brum - change at Stoke; change at New Street and change at Kings Norton (oops!)! The last change was unplanned as I dozed off between Selly Oak and Bournville (2 minutes at most!) and only regained consciousness just as the doors were closing!<br /> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a magnificent day out, aided by the wonderful autumn weather and a superb selection of proper pubs...not a dud amongst them! Thanks again to Pub Curmudgeon for arranging this little saunter!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Where to next? Sheffield Hatter is planning a trip to Belper on Thursday 18th November (which sounds interesting!). Macclesfield has also been mooted by Retired Martin for (possibly) Friday 5th November which is also of interest as I haven't been there since January 2015 (and I don't think that we've ever done it justice!). Unfortunately, this time of year is my busiest time in the run up to Christmas, so I don't know which (if any) I'll be able to make! </span></span><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com6The Olde Vic, 1 Chatham St, Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9ED, UK53.404231 -2.165139453.403911192520766 -2.1656758418029787 53.404550807479239 -2.1646029581970216tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-60466167782395556132021-09-27T17:14:00.001+01:002021-09-27T17:14:55.212+01:00UPDATE - #054 The Fountain Inn, Cheapside, Birmingham<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Contrary to my <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2021/01/054-fountain-cheapside-birmingham-1998.html" target="_blank">last post on The Fountain</a>, the pub has been resurrected as The Fountain Inn!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstqQyZwz4d24ypf0g-n1HjETb2kRyW9StjGarCunhkWzd0UH9WX-3IBqCHi0Dan2NSfQ0aVyTZTjXCzT3IWpZfFbayW1R5t2L7HfRIo1_FxCXq0VSwv-xkdgEMEdKEUQUUFIzZUItF0b5/s6000/DSC_0238.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstqQyZwz4d24ypf0g-n1HjETb2kRyW9StjGarCunhkWzd0UH9WX-3IBqCHi0Dan2NSfQ0aVyTZTjXCzT3IWpZfFbayW1R5t2L7HfRIo1_FxCXq0VSwv-xkdgEMEdKEUQUUFIzZUItF0b5/w640-h426/DSC_0238.JPG" title="The Fountain Inn, Cheapside, Birmingham 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I realise that I'm not the first to bring you this good news, but better late than never. It must be doing some things right, though...note the mobility scooter outside and the 'old boy' getting into the taxi!</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Apparently, the refurbishments cost £1 millon and included installing a 1920's car in side the pub - more details <a href="https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/1-million-city-centre-pub-21447246" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For those looking for real ale, it doesn't look promising from the inerior bar shots in the article! Still, it is just great news that a 'lost' pub has returned! </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com1The Fountain, 93 Cheapside, Deritend, Birmingham B12 0QH, UK52.4716947 -1.884677452.471041147825915 -1.885750283605957 52.472348252174086 -1.8836045163940429tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-26746849452709065162021-09-21T11:07:00.001+01:002021-09-21T11:07:00.227+01:00Boozin' and Cruisin' through the East Midlands (Part 6)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <u><b>Day 11 - Tuesday</b></u></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We're on the final leg of our little tour of the Midlands and now moving away from the hub of <b><a href="https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Life After Football</a></b> country!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The journey from Atherstone takes us through Hartshill (nice pub, the Anchor, but I haven't been for several years...bad timing!) and through Nuneaton heading for our lunchtime destination of <b>The Greyhound</b> at Hawkesbury Junction.<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRt4TU_RYzrPwJ0grjdsU3Le-WUUTslPPpVW_Rac9yxYpwVLs68miPrV2fQGKyEqGf_Y4eu5ES4h0vlz9noQy17W_dEdzVVTDIDvTHMoxFpo6aGXqog3SRaMa8Fz7CEXhH9_s7KpOV0bd/s2048/242-2021+Hawkesbury+Junction.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRt4TU_RYzrPwJ0grjdsU3Le-WUUTslPPpVW_Rac9yxYpwVLs68miPrV2fQGKyEqGf_Y4eu5ES4h0vlz9noQy17W_dEdzVVTDIDvTHMoxFpo6aGXqog3SRaMa8Fz7CEXhH9_s7KpOV0bd/w640-h426/242-2021+Hawkesbury+Junction.jpg" title="The Greayhound, Exhall 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The gazebo/tent for outdoor service has gone and the pub is almost back to normal...except that it was table service via an app (which actually worked well!). This meant that for today's Bass porn you don't get to see the hand pump...just an 'interracial' threesome on a bar room table!</span></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhl4XRgRpaF_vD33glmmBQWncugrpEqnaeEZxjF0qB3FkYK4WjieZzW-Tiyxi_gHIWkAZj8J7R5gQmQilsAEczGvmCtLCV7QawH4z5aozs4_iJbar7Wuu1rNoaGlYOfmYKp7GNPi0Vqz3/s2048/242a-2021+Hawkesbury+Junction.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhl4XRgRpaF_vD33glmmBQWncugrpEqnaeEZxjF0qB3FkYK4WjieZzW-Tiyxi_gHIWkAZj8J7R5gQmQilsAEczGvmCtLCV7QawH4z5aozs4_iJbar7Wuu1rNoaGlYOfmYKp7GNPi0Vqz3/w640-h426/242a-2021+Hawkesbury+Junction.jpg" title="The Greyhound, Exhall 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've already played this game on Twitter - guess which is my pint!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Following a very pleasant lunchtime session we set off for a rare trip into Coventry - UK City of Culture 2021. The final 5-mile stretch of the Coventry Canal has become increasingly more pleasant over the past few years as decaying industry and derelict factories get turned into residential complexes. The canal basin at the terminus is still a lovely little haven, although mooring was at a premium as certain places had to be booked in advance because of Coventry's new-found status. We just managed to squeeze Peggy Ellen into a (semi) legal mooring spot.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And so, into Coventry we ventured! In the past we've struggled to find decent pubs in the city, but with the help of <a href="https://retiredmartin.com/" target="_blank"><b>Retired Martin</b></a> we headed for this gem!<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1erlttSXRmhN4E2ZUGS05gAd2NGwFz-xQs7G5hDFAMAjEv4RxqmhABwf5P1a9WjyEghsLZxbFa9_3THftAe9Ax4S4isiY1iETOdm1xO99Nr2zaZgC0TXcb6AEbmwRur7hUXG5stERAtbB/s2048/249-2021+Coventry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1erlttSXRmhN4E2ZUGS05gAd2NGwFz-xQs7G5hDFAMAjEv4RxqmhABwf5P1a9WjyEghsLZxbFa9_3THftAe9Ax4S4isiY1iETOdm1xO99Nr2zaZgC0TXcb6AEbmwRur7hUXG5stERAtbB/w640-h426/249-2021+Coventry.jpg" title="Town Wall Tavern, Coventry 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Without Martin's excellent blog (and Google Maps) we would never have discovered this lovely pub...the <b>Town Wall Tavern</b>...a proper local in the city centre!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a couple of pints we moved on in search of food - a lovely Italian - through the rain which always seems to accompany our jaunts into Coventry city centre (whether forecast or not!). Then it was onward to our final pub of the evening.<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi2H6t-W9T0H8-8XQmuaRkO1i05G1v93HhDqpXPs4PMt-88OTKOux0bwaw1EZunK5zMypFm_cRgWVZQpgwnyRlrE5_F5zABFMadxDYBzMXaOrfeRbVVrBG6y97M805Bl3l43TYaqqLbcn/s2048/250-2021+Coventry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi2H6t-W9T0H8-8XQmuaRkO1i05G1v93HhDqpXPs4PMt-88OTKOux0bwaw1EZunK5zMypFm_cRgWVZQpgwnyRlrE5_F5zABFMadxDYBzMXaOrfeRbVVrBG6y97M805Bl3l43TYaqqLbcn/w640-h426/250-2021+Coventry.jpg" title="The Flying Standard, Coventry 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, <b>The Flying Standard </b>is a Wetherspoon's, but it was now after 10pm and not much else was open! The rain finally eased and, after a couple of pints, we strolled back to Coventry Canal Basin and our slightly dodgy mooring!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3FvUeiUiYc1a52X0V161hxM8vzORFGjXXFl3ctre3dT9SjbXS9mcxwOcSSYGMeuYweb_8z-UhagHDy0z6V_ERZWGAIa7Xtu3hc4e0X7y3sNQC_IUPX1n206ItWRWfkeZCQS97wpBsm-h/s2048/252-2021+Coventry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3FvUeiUiYc1a52X0V161hxM8vzORFGjXXFl3ctre3dT9SjbXS9mcxwOcSSYGMeuYweb_8z-UhagHDy0z6V_ERZWGAIa7Xtu3hc4e0X7y3sNQC_IUPX1n206ItWRWfkeZCQS97wpBsm-h/w640-h426/252-2021+Coventry.jpg" title="Coventry Canal Basin August 2021" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jvmFnv7kbwycNonzcsPSNuVJ5MbgFDYR4aO-vqMSHvwWq-SUbLdptGJjnLYX06u4Ci2Wtb3J62mb1o_e4ruhbOLOAvA7qB8WY1IjHDiljst2WShSFusNZQphXTRdyLUpOGaHTR97NS-z/s2048/257-2021+Coventry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jvmFnv7kbwycNonzcsPSNuVJ5MbgFDYR4aO-vqMSHvwWq-SUbLdptGJjnLYX06u4Ci2Wtb3J62mb1o_e4ruhbOLOAvA7qB8WY1IjHDiljst2WShSFusNZQphXTRdyLUpOGaHTR97NS-z/w640-h426/257-2021+Coventry.jpg" title="Coventry Canal Basin August 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span><u><b>Day 12 - Wednesday</b></u></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the morning we retraced our route out of Coventry to Hawkesbury Junction where we joined the (North) Oxford Canal. It was way too early to stop at The Greyhound again, so we pushed on to Ansty.<br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6fNhiOCSLvBZO2CrLR8n_0s9WqSB3RPwAh6ZWZqs5toU7yzIq4-lmTsJZzaBcwBgVqdz-uDgubLkafGDUymkF9UDvOyk_EK5UicSfskh6CsdO_VhnBZRWijA-peCq6k-zrjISajKGU9I/s2048/261-2021+Ansty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6fNhiOCSLvBZO2CrLR8n_0s9WqSB3RPwAh6ZWZqs5toU7yzIq4-lmTsJZzaBcwBgVqdz-uDgubLkafGDUymkF9UDvOyk_EK5UicSfskh6CsdO_VhnBZRWijA-peCq6k-zrjISajKGU9I/w640-h426/261-2021+Ansty.jpg" title="Rose & Castle, Ansty 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is a good many years since I've been to the <b>Rose & Castle</b> and it has undergone a complete external transformation (<b><a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2016/01/035-update-rose-castle-ansty.html" target="_blank">#035 UPDATE</a></b>). Inside, however, was pretty much as I remembered it. In reality the Rose & Castle is no longer a pub (and hasn't been for many years), but it was almost full on this Wednesday lunchtime so you can't really argue with their model! The food was good, the beer satisfied, so what's not to like!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The afternoon's cruising took us to Rugby with a brief stop for a pump-out at Rose Narrowboats. It was my intention to take my shipmates to some of the fine pubs we visited on our <b><a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2019/05/school-trip-to-rugby.html" target="_blank">Proper Day Out</a></b> to Rugby in 2019. As our mooring was well over a mile away from the town centre, we called a cab, first stop <b>The Seven Stars</b>.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPUlk6oUk6GSATDlfStm_MujqD5GkhhVv8JnWn7HeLLOy3__e8Oa9FkyQsncEmfUw_aCu-ILdh_aDJjmo4bKzsyw-Qq6cMDkx1tkDMCcNAlRD9CsMT-FwlyB9_DOqgAMlIWcB8IyIizOt/s2048/262-2021+Rugby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPUlk6oUk6GSATDlfStm_MujqD5GkhhVv8JnWn7HeLLOy3__e8Oa9FkyQsncEmfUw_aCu-ILdh_aDJjmo4bKzsyw-Qq6cMDkx1tkDMCcNAlRD9CsMT-FwlyB9_DOqgAMlIWcB8IyIizOt/w640-h426/262-2021+Rugby.jpg" title="The Seven Stars, Rugby 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My travelling companions were as impressed as I'd hoped, but we had to go after one pint as there were other pubs to see! Next stop the Alexandra Arms...except it only opens on Thursdays to Sundays (and it is now the Alexandra Tavern!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, it was back to an old favourite - <b>The Squirrel</b>.<br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwTya_b7L84poEGMS1uojhFayFGjshz4n7nbhQICs7WKBkGfPYqY_Za26KiPyHBPGGAmmq-a9sn7nSSZocFd3MhmwwzyT8l4S8jyTkCxaHqFDqnClRy9YoC_tG_4D6dcXjhyphenhyphengK2JdU3wx/s2048/263-2021+Rugby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwTya_b7L84poEGMS1uojhFayFGjshz4n7nbhQICs7WKBkGfPYqY_Za26KiPyHBPGGAmmq-a9sn7nSSZocFd3MhmwwzyT8l4S8jyTkCxaHqFDqnClRy9YoC_tG_4D6dcXjhyphenhyphengK2JdU3wx/w640-h426/263-2021+Rugby.jpg" title="The Squirrel, Rugby 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfortunatey, for us, it was 'Open Mic' night so the place was packed, but we managed to get seats...without a table! It obviously works well for the pub, but not really our thing. We scurried out after a pint, had a Chinese meal across the road and finished off in <b>The Rupert Brooke</b>.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu61c7sJcJeK59DwXnMeetdJKwlz2XiSMSd8PFxUEneGjb7wBBzwA5FoGwgv54w3PCNpDWDc-FmY8GwFhMxw4nwx64KcolF36DJyx4oCruyrYr_71tzcuuxAUm-PsoOFpUGFSHEhWkhjt/s2048/264-2021+Rugby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu61c7sJcJeK59DwXnMeetdJKwlz2XiSMSd8PFxUEneGjb7wBBzwA5FoGwgv54w3PCNpDWDc-FmY8GwFhMxw4nwx64KcolF36DJyx4oCruyrYr_71tzcuuxAUm-PsoOFpUGFSHEhWkhjt/w640-h426/264-2021+Rugby.jpg" title="The Rupert Brooke, Rugby 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, I know it's the town Wetherspoon's (two nights running!), but both the Victoria Inn and Merchant's Stores were in the wrong direction for us!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Day 13 - Thursday</span></span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next morning gave us a pleasant session of Hillmorton Locks which can, sometimes, take ages to get through, but with the help of the Canal & River Trust volunteers, we traversed the three locks without delay. This meant a relatively early lunch stop at a pub that I'd visited on my first ever canal trip in 1980 (and moored in the exact same spot!).</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGZmyWkcj3xQxqXTj2lbjUgu_r5etAm8EmV8yc04YoDWOMtKEVOl6WqKi7QrNOuHsNDEk9MVkU-FP-9PE_ynZeARVgyHTjkZGkrXl3ZAEQ7jV_3Qe52y-RiGtyRDM5ij7OBjcoeFScA8N/s2048/272-2021+Hillmorton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="formerly The Old Royal Oak" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGZmyWkcj3xQxqXTj2lbjUgu_r5etAm8EmV8yc04YoDWOMtKEVOl6WqKi7QrNOuHsNDEk9MVkU-FP-9PE_ynZeARVgyHTjkZGkrXl3ZAEQ7jV_3Qe52y-RiGtyRDM5ij7OBjcoeFScA8N/w640-h426/272-2021+Hillmorton.jpg" title="The Waterside, Hillmorton 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back then it was a proper country pub called The Old Royal Oak, now it is a Greene King Pub & Carvery called <b>The Waterside</b>.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWjgvM7KywBZE6v5GaKQxL7jf9IYa4ehnYqWCPqc5MiMcexo8cBCHfhv0OsGr2eu_OZLNV96N-W1n0C7H2v25s27s54JrCdVOFHIGOh3PmlyH5oBcyLRo_WlGFzRkO7FGtr_2ztdj1NDB/s2048/274-2021+Hillmorton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="formerly The Old Royal Oak" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWjgvM7KywBZE6v5GaKQxL7jf9IYa4ehnYqWCPqc5MiMcexo8cBCHfhv0OsGr2eu_OZLNV96N-W1n0C7H2v25s27s54JrCdVOFHIGOh3PmlyH5oBcyLRo_WlGFzRkO7FGtr_2ztdj1NDB/w640-h426/274-2021+Hillmorton.jpg" title="The Waterside, Hillmorton 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite the fact it was Thursday lunchtime, carvery was the only menu choice (or hot roast baps!). Not ideal, but we coped...as usual!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our afternoon was taken up with the relatively short stretch to Braunston where our first pub of the trip became our last pub as well.<br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUe_tuHUjpenABqLxiVbEmICKiNA1LIJVgfX6NxYnwnH7qzyxYiQ1LjXdhwT2YHqYNN9rRwuZI8JNl-sWrNPZE9FhOeZHyiqsVMteo4_2Y6kT6PqtbYFRQXs2S021IUxCs-CNvx7H9Zkx/s2048/276-2021+Braunston.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUe_tuHUjpenABqLxiVbEmICKiNA1LIJVgfX6NxYnwnH7qzyxYiQ1LjXdhwT2YHqYNN9rRwuZI8JNl-sWrNPZE9FhOeZHyiqsVMteo4_2Y6kT6PqtbYFRQXs2S021IUxCs-CNvx7H9Zkx/w640-h426/276-2021+Braunston.jpg" title="The Boat House, Braunston 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our final evening of the trip, back in <b>The Boat House</b>, which was as pleasant and satisfying as ever.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Day 14 - Friday</span></span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This just left us the 90 - 110 minute journey back to Wigrams Turn Marina. We'd agreed on a breakfast free, early start, but a mis-communication between the Captain and his crew saw us get underway at the <strike>ungodly</strike> remarkably early time of 7:10 am! The crew had been expecting an 8:00 am start (after the Captain's morning walk, which never happened!) and were somewhat startled as the engine started up just after 7 am! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our Captain (and proprietor) was under the impression that this was normal procedure for the final morning trip back to the marina, but I do believe that he had mistaken us for a different crew that he also journeys along the waterways with! No real hardship and we were back at the marina and on the road home by about 10:00 am at the end of another thoroughly enjoyable trip aboard Peggy Ellen!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>THE END</b> </span><br /></span></div></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com0Shuckburgh Rd, Southam CV47 8NL, UK52.256093 -1.313520623.945859163821154 -36.4697706 80.566326836178845 33.8427294tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-74665242061805834632021-09-18T11:53:00.002+01:002021-09-18T11:53:45.158+01:00Boozin' and Cruisin' through the East Midlands (Part 5)<p style="text-align: center;"><u><b> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 9 - Sunday</span></span></b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the view from the canal as you leave Burton, heading south on the Trent & Mersey Canal.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjarLJWGUweEH3G3YbyelIGIXin16pljos7_Nq1FXCfJ8I5ChWNp0whvraqNRvpK9LWIY25mXgB6modC6OpN8Qasei0_q6Pov4oye_ID0jYAQlhA0zboWe4vEypSFfqSUrCWTXdX5jdPP/s2048/Leaving+Burton-upon-Trent+Aug21+R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjarLJWGUweEH3G3YbyelIGIXin16pljos7_Nq1FXCfJ8I5ChWNp0whvraqNRvpK9LWIY25mXgB6modC6OpN8Qasei0_q6Pov4oye_ID0jYAQlhA0zboWe4vEypSFfqSUrCWTXdX5jdPP/w640-h426/Leaving+Burton-upon-Trent+Aug21+R.jpg" title="Shobnall Basin, Burton 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next stop Alrewas...passing through several locks along the way. This stretch of the Trent & Mersey is quite pleasant, but there is the constant presence of the A38 that's never far away.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are three pubs in Alrewas, but it is a few years since we stopped there. This time, we tied up at the first avaialble mooring and headed into the village. The first pub we came across was the <b>William IV</b>, a place we haven't visited for many, many years.<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7sIJ9a8_OC659nFfmuwpXCHWKNp_J1cnh44N7QwPXYjwQcH1jMx713HSXOGuyjrhLPyQYierh-bVPhyphenhyphen4iegfwVqzNAnW7ZjI5_WyT_8Dvyn49nOKxAgb-mnxVLE6TJvY-M-N_nHaO61R/s2048/210-2021+Alrewas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7sIJ9a8_OC659nFfmuwpXCHWKNp_J1cnh44N7QwPXYjwQcH1jMx713HSXOGuyjrhLPyQYierh-bVPhyphenhyphen4iegfwVqzNAnW7ZjI5_WyT_8Dvyn49nOKxAgb-mnxVLE6TJvY-M-N_nHaO61R/w640-h426/210-2021+Alrewas.jpg" title="William IV, Alrewas 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a comfortable village pub that was almost full when we arrived. We were informed that there was no space for us to eat Sunday lunch, but we could sit down and drink in the small area reserved for drinkers. However, the landlord did his best to retain us as his customers by suggesting that, if we waited about 45 minutes, he was sure that at least one table would become available...and he was right. One couple left after their meal giving us the opportunity to have the best value Sunday lunch you'll find anywhere (which explained exactly why the pub was so popular!)</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This wasn't a carvery, but a plated full Sunday roast was a mere £5.99p, delivered to the table...I almost told him that he should charge a couple of quid more (and it would still be good value!), but decided against it! Certainly one of the best customer service experiences of the holiday!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then it was back to Peggy Ellen for a somewhat drizzly afternoon trip to Fradley Junction (not the right time for the Swan Inn) and along the Coventry Canal to Hopwas and the <b>Tame Otter</b>.<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4doOHD4wld19_-AX9cIYarCcp3TKPk4111ygnXhASTgtnDGPSKdeNVTp2Y_Zk6mlFHLQ-AafnWdHPZn0YhLJA8P90HT2o7UCvCiWbfiFiubZlBbZTf35tqBoowfo6K8DUOD1HeaTp_byK/s2048/213-2021+Hopwas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4doOHD4wld19_-AX9cIYarCcp3TKPk4111ygnXhASTgtnDGPSKdeNVTp2Y_Zk6mlFHLQ-AafnWdHPZn0YhLJA8P90HT2o7UCvCiWbfiFiubZlBbZTf35tqBoowfo6K8DUOD1HeaTp_byK/w640-h426/213-2021+Hopwas.jpg" title="Tame Otter, Hopwas 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We chose the Tame Otter because we knew that they served food till 8pm on a Sunday (it's a Vintage Inn) and it's always reasonable.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 10 - Monday</span></span></b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since it was fully opened in 1789, the Coventry Canal has always been a busy route as it links the Trent & Mersey to the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal and the Oxford Canal giving a link to the Grand Union Canal to London. In the modern era it is still a busy waterway!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since leaving the River Trent, the traffic had steadily gotten busier and the Coventry Canal was as busy as we could remember it ever being. It is a canal of few locks, but the two at Glascote can add hours to a day's journey. This time we were fourth in the queue, but at the head of that queue was a pair of traditional boats which were being hauled through the locks by a husband and wife team and their two young children. A magnificent sight, but an extra hour (plus) on our journey.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsTdQQUu0ap_ZPuWLrkE0kaD-ivZXnj0UDXH5Q3YGkU5aVxQjO8fb24MAIxgHAkBicZAuoJLv9ZznM2oulcWmHD_ulCnPZIqKDmV7G4WFMpB2c00Og9rr0537p388bwWfQMvYr5V_ETaX/s2048/220-2021+Glascote+Locks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsTdQQUu0ap_ZPuWLrkE0kaD-ivZXnj0UDXH5Q3YGkU5aVxQjO8fb24MAIxgHAkBicZAuoJLv9ZznM2oulcWmHD_ulCnPZIqKDmV7G4WFMpB2c00Og9rr0537p388bwWfQMvYr5V_ETaX/w640-h426/220-2021+Glascote+Locks.jpg" title="Glascote Locks August 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHF9zNAvbLDhjcjVGQVoCccUlE-A_iCd3K9zjFP_ZXKztXjgj2cpZC4tcDIIHYHYCnPeinrwWLHw77OTMFfCXBsLvZJSZeHhkWRCs77lDngnRmB4OX14iSe9qHsod_6j00P_SaVQJJNPxb/s2048/223-2021+Glascote+Locks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHF9zNAvbLDhjcjVGQVoCccUlE-A_iCd3K9zjFP_ZXKztXjgj2cpZC4tcDIIHYHYCnPeinrwWLHw77OTMFfCXBsLvZJSZeHhkWRCs77lDngnRmB4OX14iSe9qHsod_6j00P_SaVQJJNPxb/w426-h640/223-2021+Glascote+Locks.jpg" title="Glascote Locks August 2021" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, rather than pushing on to Polesworth, we stopped at the <b>Gate Inn</b> in Amington.</span></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-AgCm_u0DyqBZ0TlyO4q6c437EEI917kNqZFG0d1Wp8cbCwvh94vVVGXjWpXa_lvFr5lcBHV9bZKMVKa8U0JcFg2LoROfJ9odnAznz5shdrQPLNFKfLGOme4KFH2rQBqCAQN2X86L6fB/s2048/233-2021+Amington.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-AgCm_u0DyqBZ0TlyO4q6c437EEI917kNqZFG0d1Wp8cbCwvh94vVVGXjWpXa_lvFr5lcBHV9bZKMVKa8U0JcFg2LoROfJ9odnAznz5shdrQPLNFKfLGOme4KFH2rQBqCAQN2X86L6fB/w640-h426/233-2021+Amington.jpg" title="Gate Inn, Amington 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">A pleasant boozer with a perfect location for us boaters as we moored up right outside the pub. It was very quiet (Monday lunchtime!), but both the beer/lager and food were very welcome.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Atherstone was to be our evening stop, but we didn't know at this stage whether we'd have to stop after six locks of the Atherstone flight, or whether we could make it through all eleven before darkness fell.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were in luck - all of the boats we'd been following most of the afternoon either stopped or turned around...and the traditional pair from earlier had also moored up for the night. Once we'd entered the flight there was a fairly steady stream of boats coming down meaning less work and a quicker passage for us.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mooring above the top lock at Atherstone was quite competitive, but we found a spot about ¼ mile from the bridge. So, we headed into town for the Market Square.<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJNutwJ1H8nx-7SnF-iJ5-Z7PkmQYaZunzqfFNOdzX36LczFpuysMmx_tKNudnEgQclZcsYEkWHe4MD4pUJhcCfqdN71xLiDr_0RkF-qbZfBv7IRSZMBWDmXtRc0TIsQRUyXUgkIxtPKd/s2048/237-2021+Atherstone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJNutwJ1H8nx-7SnF-iJ5-Z7PkmQYaZunzqfFNOdzX36LczFpuysMmx_tKNudnEgQclZcsYEkWHe4MD4pUJhcCfqdN71xLiDr_0RkF-qbZfBv7IRSZMBWDmXtRc0TIsQRUyXUgkIxtPKd/w640-h426/237-2021+Atherstone.jpg" title="The Angel, Atherstone 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Considering it was a Monday evening, <b>The Angel</b> was doing a very nice trade and we struggled to find a seat...but the Citra was very nice! After a couple of pints we went in search of food. I think it's fair to say that Atherstone isn't a place for gourmet dining (we've had previous bad experiences!), but we managed to find an Indian restaurant which was perfectly adequate!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then we moved on to the next pub we came across - the Black Horse (and a bit more Bass porn for the afficionados!)</span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwqaxzl_ZndrfHRyGM8iFFcZDoT-BCG6Pch8v_Z6Wampc0YUoLeX6JQaImk6fjkf_DNkjxsAn_KmXqLBdROV4NJ374y_UNmnEGWxr41PEqlpJCQoAblAUP_ISvjJ4nbXx69TvkfO62X_X/s2048/238-2021+Atherstone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bass porn" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwqaxzl_ZndrfHRyGM8iFFcZDoT-BCG6Pch8v_Z6Wampc0YUoLeX6JQaImk6fjkf_DNkjxsAn_KmXqLBdROV4NJ374y_UNmnEGWxr41PEqlpJCQoAblAUP_ISvjJ4nbXx69TvkfO62X_X/w426-h640/238-2021+Atherstone.jpg" title="Black Horse, Atherstone 2021" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aPKfsUjBglKCCCoOTzRfKNRcRtWPRnYtSSBl8PiY1Db62Jc6-NgsDRM5B_pCLTkZ9hpT0OuvOHUR0GzAJm6zvohLXMHhUA-4cyuuvb1SkyuO3m8X579wKHr4Phvd2jJdHHOpAaaMJHOJ/s2048/239-2021+Atherstone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aPKfsUjBglKCCCoOTzRfKNRcRtWPRnYtSSBl8PiY1Db62Jc6-NgsDRM5B_pCLTkZ9hpT0OuvOHUR0GzAJm6zvohLXMHhUA-4cyuuvb1SkyuO3m8X579wKHr4Phvd2jJdHHOpAaaMJHOJ/w640-h426/239-2021+Atherstone.jpg" title="Black Horse, Atherstone 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A cosy little pub that we've been unable to get in previously, but it wasn't very busy on a Monday evening (despite/because of having hand pulled Bass available!!)</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">...and there I must leave you again! Our journey is nearing it's conclusion, but I didn't think it would occupy this many posts! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">(To be continued)</span></span><br /></p></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com016 Market St, Atherstone CV9 1ET, UK52.5778829 -1.546691452.575275071313726 -1.5509829344238282 52.580490728686271 -1.5423998655761719tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-25778050856291247192021-09-16T11:27:00.001+01:002021-09-16T11:27:00.229+01:00Boozin' and Cruisin' through the East Midlands (Part 4)<p style="text-align: center;"> <u><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Day 7 - Friday</span></span></b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Leaving Nottingham meant that we were now officially heading back to the marina - first stop Trent Lock for lunch. Again we passed by the Boat & Horses in Beeston and again it wasn't the right time to stop, being about 10:30am. Once we exited Beeston Lock onto the main channel of the River Trent we discovered just how windy it was that day. It was so windy that our 'life saver' ring blew off the roof despite being laid down flat. Hopefully, this gives some idea of the wind when we moored at Trent Lock.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQloCYLtLGyyLaCap9VTXDgKjQQODkMqlwjkLJdKcckO6_4c8EtDevwvKOOSY7rYVaV8GJXo6klN2OsLgmkT5Q7w6IBqyAdWTRCqlvBcgsV3ruJp3G_cOPiTdMc_L4NwzSHDvlU_i6XlKK/s2048/184-2021+Trent+Lock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQloCYLtLGyyLaCap9VTXDgKjQQODkMqlwjkLJdKcckO6_4c8EtDevwvKOOSY7rYVaV8GJXo6klN2OsLgmkT5Q7w6IBqyAdWTRCqlvBcgsV3ruJp3G_cOPiTdMc_L4NwzSHDvlU_i6XlKK/w640-h426/184-2021+Trent+Lock.jpg" title="Trent Lock, Cranfleet Cut August 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This time we decided to visit the <b>Steamboat</b> for lunch for a change.</span></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiThPvukQVxC6oB9267-JkRkYK2dDyURn8c2qCo8b-qIjBse4xsFNdvuDsE-K_sTva3mLS6vZNa-zRy3KTisl7RgQ-rMNpMnYHDhlaYBbPYe6lKrOWn3jUSU8JVF8m-a9Dn_fJaqLMjXs0/s2048/183-2021+Trent+Lock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiThPvukQVxC6oB9267-JkRkYK2dDyURn8c2qCo8b-qIjBse4xsFNdvuDsE-K_sTva3mLS6vZNa-zRy3KTisl7RgQ-rMNpMnYHDhlaYBbPYe6lKrOWn3jUSU8JVF8m-a9Dn_fJaqLMjXs0/w640-h426/183-2021+Trent+Lock.jpg" title="Steamboat, Trent Lock 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Considering it was now a Friday, the Steamboat was still much less busy than the Trent Lock had been 24 hours earlier. </span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It soon became apparent why. The food is more basic (a plus in my book!) and both food and drinks were cheaper than in the Trent Lock, but everything else was just a bit off. I've always liked the quirky décor in the Steamboat, but it looked tired and unloved. It's a family run place and whilst the landlady was left on her own behind the bar (occasionally disappearing to take food orders to the kitchen!) her husband (I assume!) was watching telly with his mates in the corner. Sadly, I've witnessed this scenario too many times and it always results in disappointing service, a drop off in clientele and eventually going out of business - all in a place that should be raking it in!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Still, we'd had our fill and set off towards the Trent & Mersey Canal for a relatively uneventful trip to Swarkestone, passing through Sawley and Shardlow...apart from me (as steerer for the afternoon) invoking the wrath of a fellow boater just outside Shardlow. He'd stopped to help re-moor a boat that had gotten loose and drifted across the cut. I didn't realise this (until I was told later!) so when he tried to pull out just as we were getting to his position, I naturally didn't let him out!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He really sounded off at me and, once I'd understood the situation, I let him pass by and a little later I let the cruiser go past who'd also been helping. Then, when we got to the next lock (double width) we ended up sharing it with the narrowboat as the cruiser didn't want to share. We had a nice chat about it and became 'best of friends' for the rest of the times when we encountered each other over the next few days!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was getting a bit late by the time we got to Swarkestone Lock, so we moored below it and set off for the long stroll to the pub, getting there by 9pm...just!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn44qxvYreHiOcYSFh_L_xusYepRVpr6YTKuRQT8IebUqECcBjKD6hYe_hNhB8T1a86iKRQWLFDMgCovMH_7I8c6rn4uX0zDdr_J6mr-ajvx2JEskw0ybunQXaH1HwSpttABhpOtYhKTcy/s2048/190-2021+Swarkestone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn44qxvYreHiOcYSFh_L_xusYepRVpr6YTKuRQT8IebUqECcBjKD6hYe_hNhB8T1a86iKRQWLFDMgCovMH_7I8c6rn4uX0zDdr_J6mr-ajvx2JEskw0ybunQXaH1HwSpttABhpOtYhKTcy/w640-h426/190-2021+Swarkestone.jpg" title="Crewe & Harpur, Swarkestone 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <b>Crewe & Harpur</b> is a pub that I've reported on before (<b><a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2016/12/204-crewe-harpur-swarkestone-derbyshire.html" target="_blank">#204</a></b>) as has Life After Football (<b><a href="https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/12/12/pubs-galore-on-swarkestone-branch-of-the-a514/" target="_blank">here</a></b>). Our first visit was back in 1986 when it was a proper village pub, but now it has expanded to become a Marston's Rotisserie pub and hotel. The food was good and the lager was cold, so progress hasn't spoiled the experience!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Day 8 - Saturday</span></span></b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our lunchtime destination was the village of Willington which has been well covered by Life After Football and me in the past. There are three pubs within 100 yards of each other!<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoqnLIX5uSp-DgP5M5ebrF9dAcEBa7b2VRogZ0v5REy4e2V0kEwzke_-037nGdeA_YGuQcgecLZdqHBMPgNYCUh28iC9MF63kA_abf6fZbHvByK3uGZB57_qCyg7nowUErP0BwTbKZYku/s2048/198-2021+Willington.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoqnLIX5uSp-DgP5M5ebrF9dAcEBa7b2VRogZ0v5REy4e2V0kEwzke_-037nGdeA_YGuQcgecLZdqHBMPgNYCUh28iC9MF63kA_abf6fZbHvByK3uGZB57_qCyg7nowUErP0BwTbKZYku/w640-h426/198-2021+Willington.jpg" title="The Dragon, Willington 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">First up was <b>The Dragon</b> which has become more of a restaurant than a pub, but they managed to find a table for us despite it being fairly busy. The food and the beer were both very good, but we decided to take the long stroll to one of the other pubs...it would have been rude not to!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We couldn't quite tell whether the Green Man was open or not, so we went into the<b> Rising Sun</b> for the first time in very meny years.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh9VedTqLFQu0aJXsGA7tXYEFlHz7zwyG6lCK5xEAsHBrLKDsFRKnU3I4h4AMwGZwEyXda3GxLE7RtPu1gjfeFXpA_NSOU3hAshryZwd0ERc9WAqTHrMyrNw9BkyqSGEpfAWlihsniPj3/s2048/200-2021+Willington.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh9VedTqLFQu0aJXsGA7tXYEFlHz7zwyG6lCK5xEAsHBrLKDsFRKnU3I4h4AMwGZwEyXda3GxLE7RtPu1gjfeFXpA_NSOU3hAshryZwd0ERc9WAqTHrMyrNw9BkyqSGEpfAWlihsniPj3/w640-h426/200-2021+Willington.jpg" title="Rising Sun, Willington 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We hadn't missed much! The bar looked to be the only room open. It is definitely a locals pub and somewhat of a stark contrast to The Dragon, but a village needs both types of pub to cater for the wide range of people you can get.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then it was time to get back to the boat and head off for a Saturday night in Burton-upon-Trent. We had one goal in mind, but as it is a long walk from the canal we popped into the <b>Oak & Ivy</b> for a 'splash 'n' go' pitstop on our way to the <b>Cooper's Tavern</b>. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08htIW9s_zGMz6KMSLs8R_wFdX6bSJz1YLN32cYh-kS7OIKKCd5sbvrkBefXCZ48DyD2JA1NXb0LF7oO6tEdALwhi_bPtQJH3S8m6j3oTiaQv6TjKDM1Gx1e_cg3H6jkMuWDRDwTCCIf_/s2048/202-2021+Burton-upon-Trent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08htIW9s_zGMz6KMSLs8R_wFdX6bSJz1YLN32cYh-kS7OIKKCd5sbvrkBefXCZ48DyD2JA1NXb0LF7oO6tEdALwhi_bPtQJH3S8m6j3oTiaQv6TjKDM1Gx1e_cg3H6jkMuWDRDwTCCIf_/w640-h426/202-2021+Burton-upon-Trent.jpg" title="Oak & Ivy, Burton-upon-Trent 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfttw3Zwb_eo6VY7PVA7Yn_QvueUMr3lo9R5Od_sI3rxN_9FoAzlaD8up96wXmLbTy0TTLmF19_lGcFO4flhzgp0N0Skf7Ul9FlDSiZ37hhFbw_PmPJ1S1CSBPOVIbh5uZjIjQSerARa6-/s2048/204-2021+Burton-upon-Trent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfttw3Zwb_eo6VY7PVA7Yn_QvueUMr3lo9R5Od_sI3rxN_9FoAzlaD8up96wXmLbTy0TTLmF19_lGcFO4flhzgp0N0Skf7Ul9FlDSiZ37hhFbw_PmPJ1S1CSBPOVIbh5uZjIjQSerARa6-/w640-h426/204-2021+Burton-upon-Trent.jpg" title="Cooper's Tavern, Burton-upon-Trent 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I failed to get my fellow travellers to veer off into the Devonshire Arms for a quick pint (even though, last time, I'd struggled to get them out of there...before they'd experienced the Cooper's!). It was packed, but we managed to grab a table just as a group was leaving. Apparently, the Bass was very good as was my pint of Joules (one of their seasonal beers). This was also the first time we discovered that we could take our drinks to the Indian restaurant next door (Apne)...so we did.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a lovely meal, we strolled back to the boat, but not before another pitstop at the Oak & Ivy to break up the walk!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">More than halfway through the trip and we still have the delights of Atherstone and Coventry to relate!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(To be continued) </span></span><br /></p></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com3Coopers Tavern, 43 Cross St, Burton-on-Trent DE14 1EG, UK52.8046528 -1.637652.80400420610507 -1.638672883605957 52.805301393894929 -1.6365271163940429tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-5212239436506370452021-09-14T11:03:00.003+01:002021-09-14T11:03:00.313+01:00Boozin' and Cruisin' through the East Midlands (Part 3)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u><b>Day 5 - Wednesday</b></u> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were now heading out of Leicester, down the River Soar towards Loughborough and, ultimately, Nottingham! We were heading for <b><a href="https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Life After Football</a></b> country! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">First pitstop for lunch was the <b>Hope & Anchor</b> at Syston which is a truly canalside pub!</span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmi-Swgp9TyZLhHqQfZ2HVrzFurNLTGwLpSlgOg18-iJ06pxqiNULnoMh9j7Jil_6Jm72A7wV-iNhDiZDDuUbx8eS9_MPY_D66vgEDpq-xdaaulTBABPB4tmxS2dE7DB4CyXeHC8Daljv/s2048/139-2021+Syston.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmi-Swgp9TyZLhHqQfZ2HVrzFurNLTGwLpSlgOg18-iJ06pxqiNULnoMh9j7Jil_6Jm72A7wV-iNhDiZDDuUbx8eS9_MPY_D66vgEDpq-xdaaulTBABPB4tmxS2dE7DB4CyXeHC8Daljv/w426-h640/139-2021+Syston.jpg" title="Hope & Anchor, Syston 2021" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1bhhJPXvHuUwHxuh2D9fWDrGQCOKmofSGEBYTOBPtyQAXdoCHryDn7NR1yMc1LQ7cEFOzVBfiSBdqMNG3ecLbPqlMc-6b-ps2cLu3KcXqrn3HmzfZTXns44CHzv2dpTX1yc6rLfQAV8C/s2048/140-2021+Syston.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1bhhJPXvHuUwHxuh2D9fWDrGQCOKmofSGEBYTOBPtyQAXdoCHryDn7NR1yMc1LQ7cEFOzVBfiSBdqMNG3ecLbPqlMc-6b-ps2cLu3KcXqrn3HmzfZTXns44CHzv2dpTX1yc6rLfQAV8C/w640-h426/140-2021+Syston.jpg" title="Hope & Anchor, Syston 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This pub has a greater significance, for me, than just by being a canalside boozer. As a child of about 10 years old (not sure when we went exactly) we had a family day out to visit the Hope & Anchor to see my Mum & Dad's friend Reg Snelling who was the landlord. Reg was a real character with the appearance and demeanour of Eric Morecambe and he allowed me to pour a pint (keg) and also to make my own shandy! (The pub was not open, so no laws were broken!) I also remember walking down to the bank of the canal, not realising that I'd be making several return journeys over the years.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the past 50 years it has lost almost all of it's character with the extensions and major alterations, but there's a little room behind where the bar is now that still has the low ceiling and, just for a moment, I could imagine that I was back in the old pub.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a less than average lunch, we headed off for Loughborough as our night time stopover. This meant passing through Barrow-upon-Soar (which has some very good pubs) and Mountsorrel (below).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9UAGDov4AJKr4tJKaJxaHCbo8-RNCJ2AkLDTuzqpIpWfuuMDZoM11uml5rbPC05O6Igy290nRbpPzVRZBe4_ymhgiN92gMUrW9UFVU8O86z4Ne5etv9QN_wmQYcdx-EoxfD6pNQYP0og/s2048/142-2021+Mountsorrell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9UAGDov4AJKr4tJKaJxaHCbo8-RNCJ2AkLDTuzqpIpWfuuMDZoM11uml5rbPC05O6Igy290nRbpPzVRZBe4_ymhgiN92gMUrW9UFVU8O86z4Ne5etv9QN_wmQYcdx-EoxfD6pNQYP0og/w640-h426/142-2021+Mountsorrell.jpg" title="Waterside Inn, Mountsorrel 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We managed to secure a mooring outside <b>The Boat</b> in Loughborough and we popped in for a pint!</span></span><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r6ARZy51kQRu08BrJHR-2_9W-mUG8GFfXqQw0NgdoTdUHblMhDLmSg_RTCEaC9IgboO6PRdwabgrmyPGqFfuDCHEf4vdxzmmKpDDSDbU0fmAvZjFIPKnEYkunkze220tvWtIZbmwjtX6/s2048/147-2021+Loughborough.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r6ARZy51kQRu08BrJHR-2_9W-mUG8GFfXqQw0NgdoTdUHblMhDLmSg_RTCEaC9IgboO6PRdwabgrmyPGqFfuDCHEf4vdxzmmKpDDSDbU0fmAvZjFIPKnEYkunkze220tvWtIZbmwjtX6/w640-h426/147-2021+Loughborough.jpg" title="The Boat, Loughborough 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We then set off for, what I hoped would be, pastures new. It turned out that we'd visited The Windmill on a previous occasion!</span></span><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTrqLsmMEHp1NF6p3DpdrNqW4R_9xCNFcH-QUFIIbhE5rUiAFUEtPs70-xSVN2j1LFzxCM6Wn8jfdszHlv4lak0_KwP694-4mwLt2Yd2UNlB8EVTVs59qlVya2lTl53j8Q2fI-xpsYzq8/s2048/149-2021+Loughborough.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTrqLsmMEHp1NF6p3DpdrNqW4R_9xCNFcH-QUFIIbhE5rUiAFUEtPs70-xSVN2j1LFzxCM6Wn8jfdszHlv4lak0_KwP694-4mwLt2Yd2UNlB8EVTVs59qlVya2lTl53j8Q2fI-xpsYzq8/w426-h640/149-2021+Loughborough.jpg" title="The Windmill, Loughborough 2021" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A bit of Bass 'porn' for those who like that sort of thing!</span></span><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs47a5R8MBbWBqmF5_p9xRo810_kNocA76mHIG1NafmAeKMNtSwuSGUyu1U9cRJs1XTkFCqxwkV6KwZAvYwsJjikaXrDTZTckRgtXDVJ6z_7koPxMdiG_Gc9nc6YZgS0y_dFypTJZYTXh/s2048/148-2021+Loughborough.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs47a5R8MBbWBqmF5_p9xRo810_kNocA76mHIG1NafmAeKMNtSwuSGUyu1U9cRJs1XTkFCqxwkV6KwZAvYwsJjikaXrDTZTckRgtXDVJ6z_7koPxMdiG_Gc9nc6YZgS0y_dFypTJZYTXh/w640-h426/148-2021+Loughborough.jpg" title="The Windmill, Loughborough 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't remember exactly when we last visited there, but it is still a proper little boozer! So, after a lovely Italian meal at Caravelli (just across the road from the Windmill) we ended up in <b>The Three Nuns</b> for our final drinks of the evening.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs-9ljK1qnm0rW2a0pYfOXZayrhxB5MoDMkF3FABOiDcDObXufv4oUCkbHgLtoFZNIxyPBXTTy4YlO89SUvsWsyQoXGpoq2tWC5x5oCjuQ_E9ebcfUK4jI6mCLCrXDRacaZ_9491RWxIG/s2048/152-2021+Loughborough.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs-9ljK1qnm0rW2a0pYfOXZayrhxB5MoDMkF3FABOiDcDObXufv4oUCkbHgLtoFZNIxyPBXTTy4YlO89SUvsWsyQoXGpoq2tWC5x5oCjuQ_E9ebcfUK4jI6mCLCrXDRacaZ_9491RWxIG/w640-h426/152-2021+Loughborough.jpg" title="The Three Nuns, Loughborough 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Apparently the pub got it's name because of a spelling mistake/typo and they decided to keep it! It's another lovely little pub that had the best screens I've come across in any pub or elsewhere. They had been installed by the landlord and his son. The plastic was perfectly transparent, the wooden frames were painted to exactly match the bar and they were sized perfectly to allow for ease of access to your pint whilst also giving perfect sound for communication across the bar.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 6 - Thursday</span></span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We made an early getaway as it was a long way to the River Trent. We were still in Loughborough when we passed what had been (to me) one of the best pub experiences in the land. Sadly, a pub no more!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65XCFKkVLPIKjiFz_ipCea8B9Kl9ftgKfgRHNPmJkjnon2EZqxkO_EW6piMR_gbwejkmnr9R9bW37dZbw2WQW95LoYmLWEoXVf70MfX4ya3b1r_aKYX7dHAWglPa_6PoLcHTHSEuW70pd/s2048/153-2021+Loughborough.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65XCFKkVLPIKjiFz_ipCea8B9Kl9ftgKfgRHNPmJkjnon2EZqxkO_EW6piMR_gbwejkmnr9R9bW37dZbw2WQW95LoYmLWEoXVf70MfX4ya3b1r_aKYX7dHAWglPa_6PoLcHTHSEuW70pd/w640-h426/153-2021+Loughborough.jpg" title="The Albion (RIP), Loughborough 2021" width="640" /></a></div>It was called The Albion and every time we visited it felt as cosy as if you were in someone's house, but it was decorated in a nautical/seaside style and I always felt as though I was by the coast in a 'smuggler's cove!<br /> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was another pleasant sunny day as we travelled down the Soar Navigation towards Trent Lock where the River Soar meets the River Trent and the Erewash Canal. We mmored just on the Cranfleet Cut of the Trent and headed for the <b>Trent Lock</b> pub.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqETLiG835_W_OyiMPg_SQ9KE4_MH9n4mePChnO_1JtEbScwQyJakN_0tDYJrScTGnE5BpCq4sTNZ-62VuJxvj-wyHPNTcKQm0SvhME4iGTznsS18oxP7_MhYaGkMqyD7j5osCwLWAz-o/s2048/159-2021+Trent+Lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqETLiG835_W_OyiMPg_SQ9KE4_MH9n4mePChnO_1JtEbScwQyJakN_0tDYJrScTGnE5BpCq4sTNZ-62VuJxvj-wyHPNTcKQm0SvhME4iGTznsS18oxP7_MhYaGkMqyD7j5osCwLWAz-o/w640-h426/159-2021+Trent+Lock.jpg" title="Trent Lock 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a pub that Life After Football (<a href="https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2020/07/10/cask-renaissance-continues-in-sawley/" target="_blank">here</a>) and I (<a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2016/07/188-trent-lock-inn-long-eaton.html" target="_blank">#188</a>) have both reported on in the past. As it was such a nice day, the pub garden was pretty full and there weren't enough bar staff to cope adequately. We sat inside and had a pleasant lunch and three pints...not being too affected by the shortages the pub was experiencing at the time. All too soon it was time to return to Peggy Ellen for the short afternoon trip into Nottingham.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just after exiting Beeston Lock I kept a lookout for the Boat & Horses pub recommended by Life After Football. It was easy to see from the cut, but even if we'd wanted to stop (it was only 4:30pm) there were no available moorings. Less than 90 minutes later and we were moored at our regular mooring spot in Nottingham.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrMiMbKLDG8VZjTs-UGrwfToLp4KKzwsEQvRvOG3fQrJThNP6RjxR7YltoWKyKQK9XavB8_NCIFfyanDBsZ9uKn6jLcwcuBrRhJ-dRhZc9uqYnm9vcWTCEfmNLVxkpaDYTzH5m4fV4goB/s2048/171-2021+Nottingham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrMiMbKLDG8VZjTs-UGrwfToLp4KKzwsEQvRvOG3fQrJThNP6RjxR7YltoWKyKQK9XavB8_NCIFfyanDBsZ9uKn6jLcwcuBrRhJ-dRhZc9uqYnm9vcWTCEfmNLVxkpaDYTzH5m4fV4goB/w640-h426/171-2021+Nottingham.jpg" title="Nottingham August 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first stop on our evening's entertainment was the <b>VAT & Fiddle</b> which is the taphouse for the Castle Rock brewery...and only a short walk from our mooring!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePTU9EgSVUW4wJ6iHBTCjQ40jHW1ayJE1XO-069JtrrvYDjAzg7Xa0BpXN9qvRC0rlv9tfW-_yjkmWiQdyFAOLJbcdGfKoon9E7kaWaD6Yw7aZadD5103_D18xCOBbZxlLKY82VYxOgU1/s2048/173-2021+Nottingham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePTU9EgSVUW4wJ6iHBTCjQ40jHW1ayJE1XO-069JtrrvYDjAzg7Xa0BpXN9qvRC0rlv9tfW-_yjkmWiQdyFAOLJbcdGfKoon9E7kaWaD6Yw7aZadD5103_D18xCOBbZxlLKY82VYxOgU1/w640-h426/173-2021+Nottingham.jpg" title="VAT & Fiddle, Nottingham 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was quite early in the evening and consequently it lacked clientele and atmosphere! There was a full range of Castle Rock ales available, all very good, but I feel that they could do a bit more to the pub to make it feel special...it is just a normal, unremarkable boozer at present. Then it was time to find somewhere to eat. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this day and age, Google Maps is your friend...except when left in the hands of a friend who isn't fazed by a 1 mile walk (mostly up hill!) to a Chinese restaurant which turned out to be very good (but I reckon there must have been just as good places closer by!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then it was the route march back (down hill now!) to <b>Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfy9i23i5vZpnjsR1-S_mFfBRHcjuDxRoHidRfpkHpfCQMcUfmbVWroTs2eTtVYpfyDIzygKzOa4GxXEVJGOwP6Q6vRguOyqlrlTg0cDvLcAr-cG4KlkqOwwuXou0WqQBfrEZbu90GnRb/s2048/175-2021+Nottingham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfy9i23i5vZpnjsR1-S_mFfBRHcjuDxRoHidRfpkHpfCQMcUfmbVWroTs2eTtVYpfyDIzygKzOa4GxXEVJGOwP6Q6vRguOyqlrlTg0cDvLcAr-cG4KlkqOwwuXou0WqQBfrEZbu90GnRb/w640-h426/175-2021+Nottingham.jpg" title="Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham 2021" width="640" /></a></div>We could hear the final throes of a pop concert in the castle grounds as we approached the pub, but the pub itself was very quiet. For the first time ever, I think, we easily got seats in the first bar as you enter and we had an entertaining last couple of pints in the company of one of the pub's regulars!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Six days into our journey and it was time to commence the journey back to Napton and Wigrams Turn Marina. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">(To be continued)</span></span><br /></div></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com0starts at The Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham NG1 6AD, UK52.94932 -1.15264852.948996781780252 -1.1531844418029784 52.949643218219748 -1.1521115581970214tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-8527883071256221992021-09-12T11:27:00.006+01:002021-09-12T11:27:00.255+01:00Boozin' and Cruisin' through the East Midlands (Part 2)<p style="text-align: center;"> <b><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 3 - Monday</span></span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Usually, at the start of the week, it can be difficult to find pubs that are open, never mind serving food, at lunchtimes. Today was not one of those days!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were travelling along the summit level of the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal which meant that we had to negotiate Foxton Locks. Ten locks arranged in to two staircases of five locks each; a magnificent setting and a magnet for gongoozlers of all ages! There was a bit of a wait at the top and we were the fourth boat in the queue - it could have been much worse! This is the view from the first lock of the second five.<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAXmI_s4Ixv1A0nl5bPIFRmqrgVWrvwwptWWWz4h40u0idtCKPCZztaNs7NCmvhNVaAqWRR4uA9snUgTwmSI7TzQrB9Qe0rj6yBzE-YHVfvrNQTVgAXDHOe5Moqsh2l3rsP2CwzBC4hwm/s2048/111-2021+Foxton+Locks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAXmI_s4Ixv1A0nl5bPIFRmqrgVWrvwwptWWWz4h40u0idtCKPCZztaNs7NCmvhNVaAqWRR4uA9snUgTwmSI7TzQrB9Qe0rj6yBzE-YHVfvrNQTVgAXDHOe5Moqsh2l3rsP2CwzBC4hwm/w640-h426/111-2021+Foxton+Locks.jpg" title="Foxton Locks - August 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With help from the volunteer lockkeepers we were soon down at the bottom where we turned left (heading for Leicester) and moored up for lunch in the imaginatively named <b>Foxton Locks Inn</b>.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPTGHAG3Rrdvwz2prA7bZ2FYM7OrZio41aXknzxeIGT_96EbEBsJFp4bpibgiUeXULqIcwU0tpox8an_Rx__79gge3cxMiV97Yvhk4iy2i1QpTr0uMLzZJRUvHIJQvc0BKvAt2IA9lnhz/s2048/117-2021+Foxton+Locks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPTGHAG3Rrdvwz2prA7bZ2FYM7OrZio41aXknzxeIGT_96EbEBsJFp4bpibgiUeXULqIcwU0tpox8an_Rx__79gge3cxMiV97Yvhk4iy2i1QpTr0uMLzZJRUvHIJQvc0BKvAt2IA9lnhz/w640-h426/117-2021+Foxton+Locks.jpg" title="Foxton Locks Inn 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For a Monday it was pleasantly busy, but table service was the order of the day. The food was good as was the beer and so we returned to Peggy Ellen for the next stage of our journey.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the bottom of Foxton, you can turn left towards Leicester (leading to the River Soar) or right towards the terminus at Market Harborough. Most boats took the latter option whilst we headed towards Leicester.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As it was early August and the canal had been very busy up to this point, we were hopeful that we'd have plenty of company to share the many wide locks en route to Leicester. Sadly, this was not the case and we saw only a handful of boats all the way to Leicester.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our first stop along this route was at Fleckney which isn't exactly a canalside village!<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji94N6C9CgGmlDhTYO98lAISMQAfeBanZHB996pidHOwtYzUttofPq0rDiL65c9mC5g1C-lkXdxpvXK70QGoOhWYp-TsJbWubhnfwMrAXy-Yks3rPDXwlMOJss5kYVtzK1MyPzGEtB-VUG/s2048/122-2021+Fleckney.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji94N6C9CgGmlDhTYO98lAISMQAfeBanZHB996pidHOwtYzUttofPq0rDiL65c9mC5g1C-lkXdxpvXK70QGoOhWYp-TsJbWubhnfwMrAXy-Yks3rPDXwlMOJss5kYVtzK1MyPzGEtB-VUG/w640-h426/122-2021+Fleckney.jpg" title="The walk into Fleckney 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was the walk into the village, which boasts two pubs...neither of which was serving food on a Monday night! (and the chippy was closed!)</span></span><br /></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoogjjTJqsLI3T5H9Hw3lPRKS7ImB9kU1R3_ib8615g7e7NI7_f_kETtiu5E2l_0PX0DuJjmAToGnym3s7bbqA6LCZjIIFvqjY2hBhhClJCmsWa-r8dk-7hNPKkYeNbfWtENE5b1oTakUh/s2048/123-2021+Fleckney.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoogjjTJqsLI3T5H9Hw3lPRKS7ImB9kU1R3_ib8615g7e7NI7_f_kETtiu5E2l_0PX0DuJjmAToGnym3s7bbqA6LCZjIIFvqjY2hBhhClJCmsWa-r8dk-7hNPKkYeNbfWtENE5b1oTakUh/w640-h426/123-2021+Fleckney.jpg" title="Old Crown, Fleckney 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We've visited the <b>Old Crown</b> in the past and it is a perfectly decent local village pub. Ordinarily, it would have been a one pint and we're moving on pub...except...although they weren't doing food themselves, parked out front was a pizza van making freshly made pizzas that could be consumed in the pub. What a result! They have different vans/trucks on different nights...a fantastic idea!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We still decided to move on for a couple in the more upmarket <b>Golden Shield</b>; Fleckney's other pub.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoN-NzW7nrJJ5kGjOWcLLASs-MEk7eAHntY013fHApzv8zwkS93tyiTN77CWsUxuezOasRSXyVqLd_sK8psFhhvvP_REyHBNwLVis07jYN7QtgZaXa2eFx4hpTvqcE7Rx_1Qd0KAZtEVu/s2048/124-2021+Fleckney.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoN-NzW7nrJJ5kGjOWcLLASs-MEk7eAHntY013fHApzv8zwkS93tyiTN77CWsUxuezOasRSXyVqLd_sK8psFhhvvP_REyHBNwLVis07jYN7QtgZaXa2eFx4hpTvqcE7Rx_1Qd0KAZtEVu/w640-h426/124-2021+Fleckney.jpg" title="Golden Sheild, Fleckney 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last time we'd been to Fleckney, this is where we'd eaten, but the restaurant wasn't open on a Monday. It seemed to be little changed from the time the late Alan Winfield visited it ten years earlier and reviewed it on <b><a href="https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/20560/" target="_blank">Pubs Galore</a></b>.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 4 - Tuesday</span></span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From Fleckney it is a long journey to Leicester through 20+ wide locks (with no one to share the <strike>joy</strike> work!) and the next pub was a long way away ay Kilby Bridge. We moored up at about 2pm!<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5fKxC9bYLpTAvNqxOfaCTc2MeQHVmwukuaIwVXDhWF-zdv5JazLTBcwuX70Sg6A9aHoQt9bX6tWTvtnQ-D9Infi25APykkQX5bnePtxpb0fXDILzrTOx45H6CQskdK3bfDeQL8-1eOyS/s2048/127-2021+Kilby+Bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5fKxC9bYLpTAvNqxOfaCTc2MeQHVmwukuaIwVXDhWF-zdv5JazLTBcwuX70Sg6A9aHoQt9bX6tWTvtnQ-D9Infi25APykkQX5bnePtxpb0fXDILzrTOx45H6CQskdK3bfDeQL8-1eOyS/w640-h426/127-2021+Kilby+Bridge.jpg" title="The Navigation, Kilby Bridge 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Navigation</b> is a lovely old, proper canalside pub and we were happy to see that it was open. Unfortunately, they weren't doing food and when I asked about cobs/rolls I was given a quite brusque, "No, we don't do them they only get left uneaten!" Oh well, a lunch of crisps, nuts and scratchings wasn't the end of the world!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, about 15 minutes later, the other barman (possibly landlord) appeared with large trays of freshly made sandwiches, mini scotch eggs and sausage rolls which were offered to us and the other half dozen people in the pub...for free! Fantastic customer service!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, after a great lunchtime session, we set off again for Leicester. Still very little traffic and some quite shallow sections, but we made it to Leicester without too much hassle.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-USH5IA49_C03rTEp4nXYWncEXflAhwyDGY7tpR__zCUKyVzhWMOuEIn9mx_T7_LzLK96TQjWcj7yOnpxnevarR5IU3TNDQ8FNI9aO8Ur6HscTAqVIf_X1eLuRg6GAhPx1J3rMGT3Nja/s2048/132-2021+Leicester.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-USH5IA49_C03rTEp4nXYWncEXflAhwyDGY7tpR__zCUKyVzhWMOuEIn9mx_T7_LzLK96TQjWcj7yOnpxnevarR5IU3TNDQ8FNI9aO8Ur6HscTAqVIf_X1eLuRg6GAhPx1J3rMGT3Nja/w640-h426/132-2021+Leicester.jpg" title="The Globe, Leicester 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Globe</b> was our first port of call and, whist it is a great old pub, it was disappointing to see it so empty! Unfortunately, we only had the one pint before we set off in search of food. We found a lovely curry at a place called Tandem and then went for more beer at the <b>High Cross</b>...the local Wetherspoon's...which was considerably busier than The Globe had been (as were many of the other bars in that vicinity)!</span></span><br /></div></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR_dgARghmPDUA_X5exrpZhG8OmWiboCdWMIjtF3y34CZBUGJh17eTU_d8dTPNJ7Qn3M4UlrvJ3RupZIfmS8WqCDvU3LHeJ8yWjUnii9GFEiAL6L-eyaaGIEiUafU4Utw4DAE687pGLLH/s2048/133-2021+Leicester.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR_dgARghmPDUA_X5exrpZhG8OmWiboCdWMIjtF3y34CZBUGJh17eTU_d8dTPNJ7Qn3M4UlrvJ3RupZIfmS8WqCDvU3LHeJ8yWjUnii9GFEiAL6L-eyaaGIEiUafU4Utw4DAE687pGLLH/w640-h426/133-2021+Leicester.jpg" title="High Cross, Leicester 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And that was it for our night out in Leicester, but in our defence, we didn't moor up until after 8pm and the canal/river is a bit of a walk from the city centre.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(To be Continued)</span></span><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span><p></p></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com0103-105 High St, Leicester LE1 4JB, UK52.6353769 -1.138496552.634074685581332 -1.1406422672119141 52.636679114418662 -1.136350732788086tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-58901908012968960132021-09-10T11:03:00.012+01:002021-09-10T11:03:00.199+01:00Boozin' & Cruisin' through the East Midlands (Part 1)<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's been a while since my last post and a few weeks since we returned from our most recent canal trip, which compared to recent years, was relatively uneventful!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>Day 1 - Saturday</u></b> <br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We left Wigrams Turn Marina at Napton just before noon and arrived at our designated lunch stop, <b>The Boathouse</b> at Braunston in plenty of time.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFfp24Eoa-HV-C5Ps05XciCXE0GKJ4BxwmwDeto6IIi7qwgKSMMOnzh6lS6HBtTN8yn9yqBQnSarah9qaDjtpmTaF-2mIMFqSwjH1ZxKBYjTExyYlLTbtLbeTdavQA-u4cwFqikiGtTy_/s2048/088-2021+Braunston.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFfp24Eoa-HV-C5Ps05XciCXE0GKJ4BxwmwDeto6IIi7qwgKSMMOnzh6lS6HBtTN8yn9yqBQnSarah9qaDjtpmTaF-2mIMFqSwjH1ZxKBYjTExyYlLTbtLbeTdavQA-u4cwFqikiGtTy_/w640-h426/088-2021+Braunston.jpg" title="The Boathouse, Braunston 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's a pub we've visited many times in the past and it is still a solid Marstons pub that majors on food. It delivered again!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The canal had been very busy on the trip to Braunston and we were unsure how long it would take us to negotiate the six locks that lead to the tunnel - especially as there is a hire base nearby!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We struck very lucky, two boats exited the bottom lock just as we were approaching and only one of the hire boats was ready to depart, so they shared the lock with us. There was little drama in ascending the lock flight and I even had time to take a photo of the <b>Admiral Nelson</b> which stands by the third lock up.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbN9SwNMWqmVslZoMXuKFJCzxjIfEPtnVOGHZBosNkPBtBxK85kxgbc12rVBEjvP-8rMWnSVzUS3UxJZzNha8x-m_ZgT27cRGN35MtBeJ-BSJsS3IYKs-7ax32ltXNFnp07PqtLn2ss3s/s2048/090-2021+Braunston+Locks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbN9SwNMWqmVslZoMXuKFJCzxjIfEPtnVOGHZBosNkPBtBxK85kxgbc12rVBEjvP-8rMWnSVzUS3UxJZzNha8x-m_ZgT27cRGN35MtBeJ-BSJsS3IYKs-7ax32ltXNFnp07PqtLn2ss3s/w640-h426/090-2021+Braunston+Locks.jpg" title="Admiral Nelson, Braunston 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sadly, there was no time for a pint, but in the past we've managed to squeeze in a swift half (or more) whilst queueing for this lock. So, it was onward and upwards through the rest of the locks and a busy Braunston Tunnel to our evening destination of the <b>New Inn</b> at Long Buckby.</span></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOLFIWVXrzuFHDHwhtnvke-7G7UXqekUjCeWC5cKu1eFL6wmEsCBHZO76CzaxlLuzBI4VLTZQAr4T3TXILFkv-eqGH1RLC6GFrOduCAMbYk-IAxAWigch2WJZXMYW4Y7M7VNv8GGBxZ17/s2048/093-2021+Long+Buckby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOLFIWVXrzuFHDHwhtnvke-7G7UXqekUjCeWC5cKu1eFL6wmEsCBHZO76CzaxlLuzBI4VLTZQAr4T3TXILFkv-eqGH1RLC6GFrOduCAMbYk-IAxAWigch2WJZXMYW4Y7M7VNv8GGBxZ17/w640-h426/093-2021+Long+Buckby.jpg" title="New Inn, Long Buckby 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is a pub I've reported on before and, whilst it is a lovely pub it has been seriously let down by it's management in the past - <b><a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2016/08/192-new-inn-long-buckby.html" target="_blank">#192</a></b> - again it didn't disappoint on that front. It was 6:45pm, the pub was virtually deserted and yet, they were fully booked for food! After a brief discussion, we called a cab and went into Daventry...for the first time in many years!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The taxi driver dropped us off in the town centre and we went into the first pub we found.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98sLPhNGZyb2aeQnh5k-nYyMAC4waDuxTEy2qHWkMVvUaYG7GaPiLq0_lxkB_U8hyphenhyphenJNLUJVAxnRLUu6nHpFAfP-JFq9NqbJmKRsYaHvIKrjT1WqLytzcj6R3IxdwEbP9Jb4cW01u9JIdM/s2048/094-2021+Daventry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98sLPhNGZyb2aeQnh5k-nYyMAC4waDuxTEy2qHWkMVvUaYG7GaPiLq0_lxkB_U8hyphenhyphenJNLUJVAxnRLUu6nHpFAfP-JFq9NqbJmKRsYaHvIKrjT1WqLytzcj6R3IxdwEbP9Jb4cW01u9JIdM/w640-h426/094-2021+Daventry.jpg" title="Plume of Feathers, Daventry 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <b>Plume of Feathers</b> was a lively proper town centre boozer that did have cask ale available. However, we were getting a bit peckish by now so strolled along the High Street until we found our saviour!</span></span><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_170aKux-Ap0RFXBLWJw3GqNKvYxLhIQwBJDP2VMu24Q8oqIleAwGT80xZ7h6N5bNu1cUh9VCVoyK7bpUwTzV0z9WbAqb7D4bllz844A4YytZw_KBvSDkWjVjwgnRi6J2cJarRMQUUSgy/s2048/097-2021+Daventry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_170aKux-Ap0RFXBLWJw3GqNKvYxLhIQwBJDP2VMu24Q8oqIleAwGT80xZ7h6N5bNu1cUh9VCVoyK7bpUwTzV0z9WbAqb7D4bllz844A4YytZw_KBvSDkWjVjwgnRi6J2cJarRMQUUSgy/w640-h426/097-2021+Daventry.jpg" title="The Saracen's Head, Daventry 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Where else is there to eat on a Saturday night in small town England apart from the local 'Spoons! <b>The Saracen's Head</b> was also quite busy and they were still operating table service for food.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After our sumptuous repast, we popped across the road to a pub that I did remember from a previous excursion to Daventry.<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjpZQYSiXhSWUsqVerMRcSwNcu-kzhs3EdJsRa1_vScHsjRuD-v-fG0TrDld8Fa6gCdid6Zlvskssvpcs3vOrGSbfPjJtqMSWhw9tH-8eArxt9L5Psp4uqWcdO8qcr4pn5OTOR4NyYeHH/s2048/098-2021+Daventry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjpZQYSiXhSWUsqVerMRcSwNcu-kzhs3EdJsRa1_vScHsjRuD-v-fG0TrDld8Fa6gCdid6Zlvskssvpcs3vOrGSbfPjJtqMSWhw9tH-8eArxt9L5Psp4uqWcdO8qcr4pn5OTOR4NyYeHH/w640-h426/098-2021+Daventry.jpg" title="Dun Cow, Daventry 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last time we were here, the <b>Dun Cow</b> was a fairly standard boozer; a far cry from the modern day, upmarket gin palace that it has become! All too soon it was time to call the taxi firm again and return to the canal.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Day 2 - Sunday</span></span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sundays are rapidly becoming the most difficult days on the canal for finding food and drink at civilised times!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our first obstacle was Watford Locks which have restricted opening times and there was a queue. Fortunately, there was a full complement of volunteer lock keepers so the whole process flowed smoothly and efficiently. However, it still meant that we were quite late arriving at Crick, not getting to the pub until 1:45pm.<br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8OO-jRW1Ojor5rvmfsYjEL9fG5VIv3lr0BpBAIjqGAsmwHrHb87uscw_jVewFDPlTD9PhKV_5oDMhebuzP7anTBT5LjZaq3QB0w4GNiz820hGdntZm0DHICWalG0NKJd8nxi8D3h5M4q/s2048/102-2021+Crick.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8OO-jRW1Ojor5rvmfsYjEL9fG5VIv3lr0BpBAIjqGAsmwHrHb87uscw_jVewFDPlTD9PhKV_5oDMhebuzP7anTBT5LjZaq3QB0w4GNiz820hGdntZm0DHICWalG0NKJd8nxi8D3h5M4q/w640-h426/102-2021+Crick.jpg" title="The Wheatsheaf, Crick 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fortunately, <b>The Wheatsheaf</b> was still serving food and a very pleasant Sunday roast it was too.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At this stage we knew that there would be no food available at our evening stop in North Kilworth so we acquired supplies from the village Co-op over the road from the pub.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is quite a stroll to the pub in North Kilworth from the canal, but after our Chicken Carbonara we were ready for a few pints to wash <strike>away the taste</strike> it down and the pub website said that they were open until 11pm.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6Xt83ZVQ4l4h9x7HHByMPa35DZ3k2bX6t70Wd1Y706Hhmr4-NFpwNQiFoFEGe3vo2iWCTPfv7gdiYLYFIAUPmjtxhT-ZR1ApOSl5TuukrNvcrPg073X2ObIajCEygicCel0ATKsbrahi/s2048/104-2021+North+Kilworth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6Xt83ZVQ4l4h9x7HHByMPa35DZ3k2bX6t70Wd1Y706Hhmr4-NFpwNQiFoFEGe3vo2iWCTPfv7gdiYLYFIAUPmjtxhT-ZR1ApOSl5TuukrNvcrPg073X2ObIajCEygicCel0ATKsbrahi/w640-h426/104-2021+North+Kilworth.jpg" title="White Lion, North Kilworth 2021" width="640" /></a></div>We arrived at the <b>White Lion</b> just after 8pm only to find that they were closing! They did serve us a pint each and after chatting to the bar staff we understood what had happened. Apparently, the gaffer had been making a really good go of it and the pub was doing very well. But the pandemic came along which knocked the stuffing out of him and he'd lost interest! (A not uncommon tale I suspect!) Hence the 'To Let' sign outside!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After another pint and a vain attempt to get a taxi to anywhere nearby for less than £25, we bought some wine and beer to take out and shuffled back to the boat for a quiet night in!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After promising you that this trip was relatively uneventful, it was quite a 'difficult' first couple of evenings...it does get better!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(To Be Continued) </span></span><br /></div></div></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com21 Station Rd, North Kilworth, Lutterworth LE17 6ES, UK52.446831499999988 -1.093734652.446177577046967 -1.0948074836059569 52.447485422953008 -1.0926617163940429tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-13038417054605923502021-08-13T12:28:00.001+01:002021-08-13T12:28:00.176+01:00#288 Old Bookbinders, Jericho, Oxford : 2004 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Still catching up with pubs from our recent jaunt down the Oxford Canal, although the Old Bookbinders is a pub we've only visited twice in almost 17 years.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first visit was at lunchtime on <b>Saturday 21st August 2004</b>, but I have little recollection about it other than it was a pleasant backstreet corner pub.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0JPtK-AXnlQOSdlmO5UmAcd-eUEeFhghJTvsf5C6cGPFplJq-NCDi60zT0o-2iexTuVvabe_jC_FhjOjjy8fEyKwMK_UYZCnniMzZzfPpUe7QAIrvFTUi-_A3r6UxMdyPEF0ATmeeGmN/s1500/Old+Bookbinders%252C+Oxford+2004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1500" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0JPtK-AXnlQOSdlmO5UmAcd-eUEeFhghJTvsf5C6cGPFplJq-NCDi60zT0o-2iexTuVvabe_jC_FhjOjjy8fEyKwMK_UYZCnniMzZzfPpUe7QAIrvFTUi-_A3r6UxMdyPEF0ATmeeGmN/w640-h436/Old+Bookbinders%252C+Oxford+2004.jpg" title="Old Bookbinders, Jericho, Oxford 2004" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As I recall, we'd had lunch in a nearby Lebanese restaurant and were embarking on a mini-crawl for the afternoon as we were not setting sail again until Sunday morning. I suspect we had the one pint and moved on.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, moving on just the 17 years (almost) and we're back at the Old Bookbinders on the evening of <b>Saturday 21st May 2021</b>.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR86CUVb5OfkxgPFJHxOCuQD73wSmxY4N6fJz6f76sc423xujS43-5eQVVvuxOnOpew-RxBa09pQasGIzHMnUjMUu_7WJmBBXY2p1UAm18zcKc3MEQ_e8lTQH8lsY3_-_Yy6DmvhK776-u/s2048/Old+Bookbinders%252C+Oxford+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR86CUVb5OfkxgPFJHxOCuQD73wSmxY4N6fJz6f76sc423xujS43-5eQVVvuxOnOpew-RxBa09pQasGIzHMnUjMUu_7WJmBBXY2p1UAm18zcKc3MEQ_e8lTQH8lsY3_-_Yy6DmvhK776-u/w640-h426/Old+Bookbinders%252C+Oxford+2021.jpg" title="Old Bookbinders, Jericho, Oxford 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We'd spent the somewhat damp afternoon on a small pub crawl through the centre of Oxford and were planning a little wander through the streets of Jericho for the evening. However, we managed to snaffle the last available tabe, close to the bar, and so we stayed for the rest of the evening!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Old Bookbinders is now much more a foodie place, but for the first time on this trip it actually felt like we were in a pub as it was as full as social distancing regulations allowed. </span></span><br /></p>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com017-18 Victor St, Oxford OX2 6BT, UK51.7584765 -1.269732451.757812407660793 -1.2708052836059571 51.759140592339207 -1.2686595163940431tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-87651499925020800092021-08-06T11:11:00.002+01:002021-08-06T11:11:00.218+01:00#287 The Boat Inn, Thrupp, Oxfordshire : 1998 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We're back on the Oxford Canal and another pub that has hardly seems to have changed over the years, but look a little closer and you'll find the differences!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Boat in Thrupp has appeared in "Inspector Morse" and there is a 'Morse Room' with pictures from the episode on the walls. Our first visit was at lunchtime on <b>Friday 4th September 1998</b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85hKkpu1LDtAoXSFt-zydFQbXXDKLvxW2dMwsCMhkzhl8H90mRQZqvzrDfW245-mGyGXARwgqeImHloKKnXJSy7GuM1ZQbJrewv4v_Ks9K4VB5co67MR4iB3F1-Q3dND56SS51oGcddSQ/s2048/The+Boat%252C+Thrupp+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85hKkpu1LDtAoXSFt-zydFQbXXDKLvxW2dMwsCMhkzhl8H90mRQZqvzrDfW245-mGyGXARwgqeImHloKKnXJSy7GuM1ZQbJrewv4v_Ks9K4VB5co67MR4iB3F1-Q3dND56SS51oGcddSQ/w640-h426/The+Boat%252C+Thrupp+1998.jpg" title="The Boat, Thrupp 1998" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in 1998 it was still a quite upmarket dining pub, but still a pub nonetheless. It was a Morrell's pub, but research indicates that 1998 was the year that the brewery closed (after a family dispute) and the tied houses were bought by an American entrepreneur.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We didn't return until the evening of <b>Sunday 28th July 2019</b> - on the surface it was largely unchanged.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGmzpNs1ADdKfE0dgx7Qh92jbpilvuoAMxu0lqV14bZuj2tEVs5jakHmHv6490ZHI-o1LkgTnlpB6xl_EOP-tpHC8_2ikzzqZZfjG8AvM0leqo2ylbtN03MUwI5TE1JHdm9MKaxBN18Wb/s6000/The+Boat%252C+Thrupp+2019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGmzpNs1ADdKfE0dgx7Qh92jbpilvuoAMxu0lqV14bZuj2tEVs5jakHmHv6490ZHI-o1LkgTnlpB6xl_EOP-tpHC8_2ikzzqZZfjG8AvM0leqo2ylbtN03MUwI5TE1JHdm9MKaxBN18Wb/w640-h426/The+Boat%252C+Thrupp+2019.JPG" title="The Boat Inn, Thrupp 2019" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However, on closer inspection you can see that it is now The Boat Inn and is a Greene King pub! After 19 years, I don't recall how much it had changed inside (not a lot probably), but it was definitely more of a restaurant than a pub.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our most recent visit was another evening session on <b>Saturday 22nd May 2021</b>.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFHnU4Aj91JNhGNfHyUJraRqh-mfgTNexfoRbYRDiS_biNvL4hlOkhsiRH57SYK4Juy6Z28ybJIN_KVDocfn5ol0hqcoeQjKihJ_n5to-o6RJ-9MharVjrQ_p277PN-aDWBCkqCrkxTaP/s2048/The+Boat%252C+Thrupp+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFHnU4Aj91JNhGNfHyUJraRqh-mfgTNexfoRbYRDiS_biNvL4hlOkhsiRH57SYK4Juy6Z28ybJIN_KVDocfn5ol0hqcoeQjKihJ_n5to-o6RJ-9MharVjrQ_p277PN-aDWBCkqCrkxTaP/w640-h426/The+Boat%252C+Thrupp+2021.jpg" title="The Boat Inn, Thrupp 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This picture better shows the changes from 1998 which, apart from the signage, are quite minimal. We were lucky to get a mooring close to the pub as, on the way down to Oxford there was no room at all, but on our return we managed to get a spot close enough that even I couldn't moan about the walk to the pub!</span></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgYMaWugjXCkwwp51_o9eWfXNKpS0wLID5c8v7U3JS00Ulc-WF3BYf83Ly7Bk-beCgskKMqIL8NNeLZxbmum6iV8eq1SrsY6LwGABPImpMTjusdFTbzLaq3J3Vxw5B1f0xEIEZSxLIn7q/s2048/050-2021+Thrupp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgYMaWugjXCkwwp51_o9eWfXNKpS0wLID5c8v7U3JS00Ulc-WF3BYf83Ly7Bk-beCgskKMqIL8NNeLZxbmum6iV8eq1SrsY6LwGABPImpMTjusdFTbzLaq3J3Vxw5B1f0xEIEZSxLIn7q/w640-h426/050-2021+Thrupp.jpg" title="The Boat Inn, Thrupp 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, that's our vessel...the good ship Peggy Ellen...moored as close as you can get to The Boat Inn!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It will be a good number of years before we're back here as Peggy Ellen is moving back to Kings Bromley Marina in a few weeks time making journeys down the Oxford Canal less likely! </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com02 Canal Rd, Thrupp, Kidlington OX5 1LD, UK51.8386909 -1.303369351.838027998732855 -1.304442183605957 51.839353801267151 -1.3022964163940429tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-63251484758770010002021-07-26T14:04:00.001+01:002021-07-26T15:19:03.217+01:00#286 Brasenose Arms, Cropredy, Oxfordshire : 1998 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trips along the Southern Oxford Canal are quite rare for us and so the first time I ever visited Cropredy was on the evening of <b>Wednesday 2nd September 1998</b> - just 18 years into my canal adventuring!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are two pubs in Cropredy and on this first visit, we sampled both, but I'll concentrate on the Brasenose Arms this time.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtKXuBwbnsH3V6l7C9o1FeT2XY7-Z6PCnPPNXs4PJDSy7odsjM0FZXHh86jBh66KzDa_ihVfcnGgFTyzGfvbF7C_bvfRydoZLmzQW9PNhNpcLxltw2kAiPLDQGyL4_Hvej6hjP8HOaK-5/s2048/Brasenose+Arms%252C+Cropredy+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtKXuBwbnsH3V6l7C9o1FeT2XY7-Z6PCnPPNXs4PJDSy7odsjM0FZXHh86jBh66KzDa_ihVfcnGgFTyzGfvbF7C_bvfRydoZLmzQW9PNhNpcLxltw2kAiPLDQGyL4_Hvej6hjP8HOaK-5/w640-h426/Brasenose+Arms%252C+Cropredy+1998.jpg" title="Brasenose Arms, Cropredy 1998" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do I have any recollection as to what it was like? Err...no! Looks like it was an M & B pub from the lantern above the entrance.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our next visit was a lunchtime stop on <b>Tuesday 24th August 2004</b> on a trip that started out in Oxford.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt8LV7_zrgcQf8sbyBhO1_2oYVYLUxPUMOkeU9-yoJ4IQbc96lJJEyA2T84la6K6-2jmWHsvp8om8WKcmu2W33OXkOtWnQJI-Y4vK004VP9VriUGwU1KA0QUdEmxm5e_oNoFGHuD29RAN/s1500/Brasenose+Arms%252C+Cropredy+2004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1500" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt8LV7_zrgcQf8sbyBhO1_2oYVYLUxPUMOkeU9-yoJ4IQbc96lJJEyA2T84la6K6-2jmWHsvp8om8WKcmu2W33OXkOtWnQJI-Y4vK004VP9VriUGwU1KA0QUdEmxm5e_oNoFGHuD29RAN/w640-h436/Brasenose+Arms%252C+Cropredy+2004.jpg" title="Brasenose Arms, Cropredy 2004" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It would appear, from my image library, that we again visited both pubs in the village. We probably ate in the Red Lion and had a final pint in the Brasenose Arms before setting off again.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All new exterior signage and it would appear to be one of Enterprise Inns stable of pubs (M & B lantern has also gone).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our most recent visit was on <b>Tuesday 18th May 2021</b>, the day after the second relaxation that allowed eating and drinking INSIDE pubs and restaurants.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmLLJwPlHjr-NjTT_YzUwOYDac3t65JMKsfY6LUFGQ5HQUhEGjdaZkbWceX8Jn7XI-LwWadZMEvzkL5-1r8a6QerAB6_zAUwNMCinwt-acp5c7feJM0CVud3Qt751z9TWDbQ1QznDNuL1/s2048/Brasenose+Arms%252C+Cropredy+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmLLJwPlHjr-NjTT_YzUwOYDac3t65JMKsfY6LUFGQ5HQUhEGjdaZkbWceX8Jn7XI-LwWadZMEvzkL5-1r8a6QerAB6_zAUwNMCinwt-acp5c7feJM0CVud3Qt751z9TWDbQ1QznDNuL1/w640-h426/Brasenose+Arms%252C+Cropredy+2021.jpg" title="Brasenose Arms, Cropredy 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On this occasion, I chose the Brasenose Arms because it had been serving a large garden of customers with food since the first relaxation to outdoor drinking/dining and so, I reasoned, they'd be best set up to serve us a decent evening meal. If only I'd paid more attention to the website, which clearly stated (I saw later) that Tuesdays were the chef's days off. So, no food, also they'd taken the decision not to open the pub, just garden service!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, we tried the Red Lion, but not surprisingly, it was fuly booked. So, it was back to the Brasenose Arms for an evening of not-cold-enough lager, crisps, nuts and scratchings! Could've been worse, at least we managed a few pints!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the outside, the pub appears to have changed little, but it is no longer part of Enterprise Inns, who are now part of Stonegate pubs. As far as I can ascertain it is now privately owned.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com2Brasenose Arms, Cropredy, Banbury OX17 1PW, UK52.115467 -1.31890652.114808170303583 -1.3199788836059569 52.116125829696422 -1.3178331163940429tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-71060987902566315392021-07-05T14:51:00.001+01:002021-07-05T14:54:02.105+01:00#285 Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury, Oxfordshire : 1998 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the joys of visiting Banbury on the Oxford Canal is getting the chance to revisit Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our first visit was at lunchtime on <b>Tuesday 8th September 1998</b> as part of our return journey from Oxford.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA49M_s0rVHdJZ0ftahkreqLK2iG3sjsdx3sKTsL8YJXGMXatEpAVlHq3Ygow7o04afKCq4CEdvOZjhxWU-U0wg6A4QiggiC6IIq86IAIEHWWptgFjYlyJL-vDldFJkf4wrye8MuTfYTxg/s2048/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA49M_s0rVHdJZ0ftahkreqLK2iG3sjsdx3sKTsL8YJXGMXatEpAVlHq3Ygow7o04afKCq4CEdvOZjhxWU-U0wg6A4QiggiC6IIq86IAIEHWWptgFjYlyJL-vDldFJkf4wrye8MuTfYTxg/w426-h640/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+1998.jpg" title="Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury 1998" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not my best composed picture, but it shows off the pub quite nicely. I remember it being a proper pub that served food and somewhere that was worth revisiting.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We duly returned four years later at lunchtime on <b>Tuesday 28th May 2002</b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8f463kC5w0D94CB2mLtIgpLN-jKh-wXHFSiMOdKajVyDafl0fct_h6CDcKkWHxNMemkNF2XWWq0uiEqwXXv5z_WYkl0fVZy-mpXWrPcWfkBlJ1-WqBaxbEllMZrr6R16Vj9i6WrmJz2pt/s1536/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8f463kC5w0D94CB2mLtIgpLN-jKh-wXHFSiMOdKajVyDafl0fct_h6CDcKkWHxNMemkNF2XWWq0uiEqwXXv5z_WYkl0fVZy-mpXWrPcWfkBlJ1-WqBaxbEllMZrr6R16Vj9i6WrmJz2pt/w640-h426/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2002.jpg" title="Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury 2002" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At first glance it looks to be unchanged (apart from the window boxes), but the sign has been replaced with a subtle change of name to Ye Olde Reindeer Inn and the removal of the supporting beam.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It wasn't too long before our next return on the evening of <b>Monday 23rd August 2004</b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoLW99QIEQVgCxSVwPWLh5kO7IMHw5t7vth_vQq8LfnzPLr-TlWbAhfJ33DZeqo-Rt5X-IwaDA4xt563CynVIxmLyh3FUUUaNOXrr52S6HYGEhVobSV56lrapj3jT6w3jW-O3EInqwfwK/s1202/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2004+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1202" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoLW99QIEQVgCxSVwPWLh5kO7IMHw5t7vth_vQq8LfnzPLr-TlWbAhfJ33DZeqo-Rt5X-IwaDA4xt563CynVIxmLyh3FUUUaNOXrr52S6HYGEhVobSV56lrapj3jT6w3jW-O3EInqwfwK/w640-h438/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2004+%25282%2529.jpg" title="Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury 2004" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Still the same pub sign and still the same old unspoilt pub!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was to be a good number of years before we returned to Banbury, this time en route to the River Thames at lunchtime on <b>Saturday 27th July 2019</b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EBU-GBgdQ_nA3ZLfttpDzq_B4cEMhCdTLxTmO2p1C1hRob2QWoLmp2mmKTYxF0u8Bewa-O75TatP_segpx9hpaObP5T0kZBB6DzDhNhHS2Sujkzh69zINAcnOtZ-hVIW2CCA01lf965G/s2048/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EBU-GBgdQ_nA3ZLfttpDzq_B4cEMhCdTLxTmO2p1C1hRob2QWoLmp2mmKTYxF0u8Bewa-O75TatP_segpx9hpaObP5T0kZBB6DzDhNhHS2Sujkzh69zINAcnOtZ-hVIW2CCA01lf965G/w640-h426/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2019.jpg" title="Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury 2019" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not surprisingly, the signage had changed in the intervening 15 years and the pub had reverted back to being Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn. With the added bonus that the sign is now parallel with the </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(now pedestrianised)</span></span> street below! Inside, the pub was largely as we remembered it.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was only a couple of years later that we returned (twice, both lunchtimes) on <b>Wednesday 19th May 2021</b> and <b>Monday 24th May 2021</b>. </span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIYfyN1bks3352yEFtSv3cHI_o7EPnRlC6SAu7VuQvn5Rqw70NHRX21extUTIQoogsZmFZmfEOfkRDy5-aalu49gGdrwenXjaIMWE1o6QPxaI9iYnPt7o5oedn0c-5-QHhN0bt2HM5p9x/s2048/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIYfyN1bks3352yEFtSv3cHI_o7EPnRlC6SAu7VuQvn5Rqw70NHRX21extUTIQoogsZmFZmfEOfkRDy5-aalu49gGdrwenXjaIMWE1o6QPxaI9iYnPt7o5oedn0c-5-QHhN0bt2HM5p9x/w640-h426/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2021.jpg" title="Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL7gtQjzxt28cSTSzqz7zOHNDwYJF6fLEujYtSzhtcxkhP6bX_kozdGKMZTrMbjZdsxwaouDra5FZoA2GeoYk1HlnPIJGjhM2iTUX6qko9HMw1NnVsPgoxMOVjxS0Z72qdRW6MV5ZTeDN/s2048/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2021b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL7gtQjzxt28cSTSzqz7zOHNDwYJF6fLEujYtSzhtcxkhP6bX_kozdGKMZTrMbjZdsxwaouDra5FZoA2GeoYk1HlnPIJGjhM2iTUX6qko9HMw1NnVsPgoxMOVjxS0Z72qdRW6MV5ZTeDN/w640-h426/Ye+Olde+Reindeer%252C+Banbury+2021b.jpg" title="Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our first visit included my first drink inside a pub for many months! It was very quiet inside on both occasions, but it is still a wonderful pub.</span></span><br /></div><div><p></p></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com247 Parson's St, Banbury OX16 5NA, UK52.06218 -1.33774452.061850194080073 -1.3382804418029786 52.062509805919923 -1.3372075581970215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-56111021809694273822021-06-23T14:30:00.001+01:002021-07-05T13:50:52.903+01:00#284 Three Goats Heads, Oxford : 1998 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This will only be a short entry, but it is a proper pub and well worth a visit...especially if you like Sam Smith's.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our first visit was on the evening of<b> Saturday 5th September 1998</b> and, as it was quite late, this was my only shot of the pub.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9WqZ-becmJ7AUyyo6OyoNUfWqE7hy3BDBh9Jy7c8GeBsGDvc48QhIo_lpyssK0S_GI-f1RCg2YKJQNMZlq79l-6_t1YpErQkqC5_KjReWYNINsfhOX5afUSQ7N5gi0tPJs7Iee7XJXkj/s2048/Three+Goats+Heads%252C+Oxford+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9WqZ-becmJ7AUyyo6OyoNUfWqE7hy3BDBh9Jy7c8GeBsGDvc48QhIo_lpyssK0S_GI-f1RCg2YKJQNMZlq79l-6_t1YpErQkqC5_KjReWYNINsfhOX5afUSQ7N5gi0tPJs7Iee7XJXkj/w426-h640/Three+Goats+Heads%252C+Oxford+1998.jpg" title="Three Goats Heads, Oxford 1998" width="426" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have little recollection of the pub other than I remembered it for more than just it's unusual name. I recalled that it was a good, proper pub, but that's about all!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, on our recent visit to Oxford, the Three Goats Heads was one of the pubs I wanted to revisit. However, I had no idea where it was located, but in this day and age of Google Maps, that wasn't a problem. We'd finished lunch in the Four Candles (<a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2019/08/263-four-candles-oxford-1998-to-2019.html" target="_blank">#263</a>) and, after consulting the map app on my phone, I realised that it was very close to us. This how it looked on the rainy afternoon of <b>Friday 21st May 2021</b>.<br /> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YTRVNMfXZKlwmF19MbfreyZ7XTdW5xVUQMZ87bHg2bN2nwK0Sjvn5IIU_xXFgkt5QKtYqeIWwnNmUXfi_G9YxT_ocbQDxF117Qwr0z8jp5AMRbWtfinmcjQWRle_p24qqaxiEAFIeFaf/s2048/Three+Goats+Heads%252C+Oxford+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YTRVNMfXZKlwmF19MbfreyZ7XTdW5xVUQMZ87bHg2bN2nwK0Sjvn5IIU_xXFgkt5QKtYqeIWwnNmUXfi_G9YxT_ocbQDxF117Qwr0z8jp5AMRbWtfinmcjQWRle_p24qqaxiEAFIeFaf/w426-h640/Three+Goats+Heads%252C+Oxford+2021.jpg" title="Three Goats Heads, Oxford 2021" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the first Saturday that indoor opening of pubs had been allowed, but it was very quiet inside. (Probably because of the cold, wet weather, a lack of tourists/shoppers and a reluctance to go out!)</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm not a fan of Old Brewery Bitter, so I had a pint of the Double Four Lager, which was OK, but it's no Carling! The décor was typical of other Sam Smith's pubs I've been to - dark wood and lots of framed photos - not particularly to my taste as it all seems to be a bit too regimented. (I like the more random, higgledy-piggledy look of old school boozers!) Still, there are many worse.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We chatted a bit to the landlady who informed us that it has been a Sam Smith's pub since the mid 1980's. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you can find it, the Three Goats Heads is well worth a visit, especially if you're a Sam Smith's fan! </span></span><br /></p>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com21 St Michael's St, Oxford OX1 2DR, UK51.753457399999988 -1.259042751.7533743793324 -1.2591768104507446 51.753540420667576 -1.2589085895492553tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-5984065855176990022021-06-16T11:32:00.011+01:002021-06-16T11:55:21.490+01:00UPDATE: #264 The Bell, Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire : 1998 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This isn't something that I'd normally do less than two years after the previous visit, but we live in strange times so, why not?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My original report (from September 2019) can be found <b><a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2019/09/264-bell-inn-lower-heyford-oxfordshire.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>. This is what the pub looked like at lunchtime on <b>Sunday 28th July 2019</b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0E-h9emLGFcvJrq-IM1R69Qq-xG7c_DjiofevjP6EPkbS9NuPyndw0SzbThT9OfFsHlsYmOaoV5_81fF4fGr2Lvnz6b3f21NUzLQUb2kdRr6Lq7rgtuWCXasrMWzkFj91lyZoF37HsOnj/s2048/The+Bell%252C+Lower+Heyford+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0E-h9emLGFcvJrq-IM1R69Qq-xG7c_DjiofevjP6EPkbS9NuPyndw0SzbThT9OfFsHlsYmOaoV5_81fF4fGr2Lvnz6b3f21NUzLQUb2kdRr6Lq7rgtuWCXasrMWzkFj91lyZoF37HsOnj/w640-h426/The+Bell%252C+Lower+Heyford+2019.jpg" title="The Bell Inn, Lower Heyford 2019" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Less than two years had passed by and we were back at lunchtime on <b>Sunday 23rd May 2021</b>.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0VUNigCYyCdZ6mdX6cWTQLYzSY-3Fh35pqa6X_iwiX6K8B_XZxmho7YaeGdJybTgZKslQxd7kb04yEOC3ASf9lzetLTgQnzPQn7ppGW4lSXgkvSZkyJ5XsOS5Eo9DTFVebuaiExF0zbn/s2048/The+Bell%252C+Lower+Heyford+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0VUNigCYyCdZ6mdX6cWTQLYzSY-3Fh35pqa6X_iwiX6K8B_XZxmho7YaeGdJybTgZKslQxd7kb04yEOC3ASf9lzetLTgQnzPQn7ppGW4lSXgkvSZkyJ5XsOS5Eo9DTFVebuaiExF0zbn/w640-h426/The+Bell%252C+Lower+Heyford+2021.jpg" title="The Bell, Lower Heyford 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first thing you notice is that it is busier despite certain restrictions still being in place (and despite the cool, damp weather!). Then you notice the sign which says just 'The Bell' in a more traditional style. And finally, the new owners (I assume!) have removed the last vestiges of the ivy from around the front door.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I certainly wasn't expecting such a complete change of signage in less than two years...that would normally take closer to ten years for a village pub like The Bell. The Sunday lunch was good, the Carlsberg was cold and it felt like a local village pub/restaurant. All-in-all, well worth a visit! </span></span><br /></p>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com021 Market Square, Lower Heyford, Bicester OX25 5NY, UK51.9195664 -1.294165851.916919514893713 -1.2984573344238282 51.922213285106288 -1.2898742655761719tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-70031808486529131962021-06-07T15:38:00.000+01:002021-06-07T15:38:37.533+01:00Canal Cruising in Continuing COVID Times (Part 2)<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You left us last time as we were staggering back to Peggy Ellen after a 3/4 pub lunchtime session in a cool and damp Oxford. This gave us a couple of hours rest before we headed out into Jericho for the evening.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHTfzCIqD41EqyMT89DXr6rZ81cj7q1HBcuP9UC8XJez_B_8-kop8qwZtCdkGa48QHnqpvWQzjFtH3o0KO9oCkLhpFepEP4mz8eGw3mD0taJ78jX9XD8Yznt2272lf2AHaQzTKbnqCrl4/s2048/037-2021+Oxford+%2528Jericho%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHTfzCIqD41EqyMT89DXr6rZ81cj7q1HBcuP9UC8XJez_B_8-kop8qwZtCdkGa48QHnqpvWQzjFtH3o0KO9oCkLhpFepEP4mz8eGw3mD0taJ78jX9XD8Yznt2272lf2AHaQzTKbnqCrl4/w640-h426/037-2021+Oxford+%2528Jericho%2529.jpg" title="Jericho, Oxford May 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was our mooring on the Oxford Canal and, after a short stroll over the cut, this (below) was to be our residence for the evening.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y__508-o5ZwsmSJN5HYofqtE0GnPTqHnXkfjoarnMA6ynWZWyyz5dSdI3fmwEXaLgpAkMKonZgQokmWEpUceSnsahLkyeECqqMZiBdcn7WmfBbDDk7JTSiPytCoIkG4lkINARbxrBLkK/s2048/039-2021+Oxford+%2528Jericho%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y__508-o5ZwsmSJN5HYofqtE0GnPTqHnXkfjoarnMA6ynWZWyyz5dSdI3fmwEXaLgpAkMKonZgQokmWEpUceSnsahLkyeECqqMZiBdcn7WmfBbDDk7JTSiPytCoIkG4lkINARbxrBLkK/w640-h426/039-2021+Oxford+%2528Jericho%2529.jpg" title="Old Bookbinders, Jericho, Oxford 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was 7:30pm and, fortunately there was a small table available, right in front of the bar, so table service worked well for us. It is now as much a French restaurant as a pub, but they didn't mind that we only wanted to drink. We did get quite comfortable as it felt like we were back in a proper pub with some atmosphere for the first time on our trip.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our plan had been to explore more of the pubs in Jericho, but we got so comfortable that we stayed all night...even pushing the boat out for some Garlic & Chilli Chips and a Tomato & Onion Salad to keep us sustained!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next morning we were up and ready to resume our journey back to Napton, but there was the little matter of turning the boat. Our previous trips had been in the 35ft long Emma Jane which could be turned easily without leaving the canal. Peggy Ellen is 57ft long which necessitates the use of Isis Lock to descend onto a backwater of the Thames, turn the boat and negotiate the lock again to get back onto the canal.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f1TRzijiJBZ38UH0qmi0qkcJ3upx3WODDUQzVhEbuIKlIGGLrjyhVQvfF6pFwpWbdVDJ-tvqi0UNXIGwlfsyoTCJYJ0Ds13zIrQHyDl7KcPR4SJT1Jlxg-dyivie89NwZSWvtP5azs_O/s2048/041-2021+Oxford+Canal+%2528Isis+Lock%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f1TRzijiJBZ38UH0qmi0qkcJ3upx3WODDUQzVhEbuIKlIGGLrjyhVQvfF6pFwpWbdVDJ-tvqi0UNXIGwlfsyoTCJYJ0Ds13zIrQHyDl7KcPR4SJT1Jlxg-dyivie89NwZSWvtP5azs_O/w640-h426/041-2021+Oxford+Canal+%2528Isis+Lock%2529.jpg" title="Isis Lock, Oxford Canal 2021" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was our first real queue for a lock on the trip; we were fourth in line which is quite ironic as we were moored so close to it overnight! The delay was exacerbated by one boat not following instructions which resulted in them having to be towed away from the weir on Castle Mill Stream! To be honest, if the instructions hadn't been pointed out to me I'd probably have done the same thing!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This delay meant that by the time we reached The Highwayman we were too late for lunch as there was no food served between 2pm and 6pm!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigafBoihClejRlI0G-XABnijxojPmv7s2OAe6k1lRUEYIAdixkg_s9x2vSZymy_p0sOeV7syb867sgLWva43eXBmwzW9U32qje-eovb28cHKjfnblQ783S66EhuPFqtiiq2fS9wYZrPCCg/s2048/048-2021+Kidlington.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigafBoihClejRlI0G-XABnijxojPmv7s2OAe6k1lRUEYIAdixkg_s9x2vSZymy_p0sOeV7syb867sgLWva43eXBmwzW9U32qje-eovb28cHKjfnblQ783S66EhuPFqtiiq2fS9wYZrPCCg/w640-h426/048-2021+Kidlington.jpg" title="The Highwayman, Kidlington 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, it was another session of nuts and crisps washed down with cold lager. Not ideal, but we survived! It is also an hotel and it had fairly modern décor inside. By the time we'd downed our third pint it was way too late to expect to get to Lower Heyford and find a seat, so we made a momentous decision to have a 10 minute afternoon cruise to The Boat Inn at Thrupp. This time there was plenty of mooring space (which was filled within half-an-hour of us pulling up)!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLCbcSfZ7JCY77qU-HP1p7Lu3cAPpn3CGh0lcu2FQSWKrLrTcE6GlS5shbxGEI1ZzkxLXW1qUbdTJXRfD4BrDKrNXjei58GEpjDn-yp8GYqCiqBSk52WdRNxEpjQ4ZL7wdha5zg7kDpGq/s2048/050-2021+Thrupp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLCbcSfZ7JCY77qU-HP1p7Lu3cAPpn3CGh0lcu2FQSWKrLrTcE6GlS5shbxGEI1ZzkxLXW1qUbdTJXRfD4BrDKrNXjei58GEpjDn-yp8GYqCiqBSk52WdRNxEpjQ4ZL7wdha5zg7kDpGq/w640-h426/050-2021+Thrupp.jpg" title="The Boat Inn, Thrupp 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another long walk to the pub! We'd booked in advance because The Boat Inn is really a restaurant these days and a bit of a tourist destination as it has featured in "Inspector Morse" - indeed, we were seated in the Morse Room. This was another pub that closed when most people had gone home. Unsurprisingly we were last out! Not overly busy for a Saturday night; a combination of the weather and the pandemic restrictions I suspect.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next destination, The Bell at Lower Heyford for Sunday lunch (booked in advance!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0jzKM-rQkrlj5pa0Qkn4pjw4NEwj6e_v0aAUBiV7sWqYbaqZ-lYw6DVYiTK-DWadEg70LylGe-U6HKKYko_V6pvANQctbeHAPB3fcFxyOcCEJ17B5UxDitwGaiXNv1MKQSTbTg8CYK84/s2048/055-2021+Lower+Heyford.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0jzKM-rQkrlj5pa0Qkn4pjw4NEwj6e_v0aAUBiV7sWqYbaqZ-lYw6DVYiTK-DWadEg70LylGe-U6HKKYko_V6pvANQctbeHAPB3fcFxyOcCEJ17B5UxDitwGaiXNv1MKQSTbTg8CYK84/w640-h426/055-2021+Lower+Heyford.jpg" title="The Bell, Lower Heyford 2021" width="640" /></a></div>The journey had taken somewhat longer than anticipated, but after ringing the pub from one of the locks, they held onto our table. It was quite busy and the Sunday lunch was served differently to anywhere else I've encountered before. Essentially, you bought a sharing platter for two (for £28-95p) and that was your Sunday lunch! It seemed to work and it was all cooked and presented well.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Our next stop, for Sunday evening, was Aynho Wharf. We knew that there was no way we'd get there before the 6pm Sunday closing time (not to be blamed on the pandemic as this was becoming increasingly common before the plague struck!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our plan had been to get a taxi into Banbury, but after an afternoon of cold and rain followed by an increased downpour shortly after we moored our plan was abandoned. There was no point in wandering around Banbury in the rain trying to find pubs that might be open...and boy, did it rain!! So, it was an evening of beer/lager and sandwiches.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next day we were back in Banbury for lunch...and no guesses for which pub we visited!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp06_PgxCf6mPeIdznVSnFt6_F3bWTUw1l5ZmOIUPTm44OuhO5gdsORJGuBk9XNBAuzzYJW_NmK0BbZhQQqaAvlUUU2oXGZLYeH-rw14P4pRcXnFIdydQlyahDXYW9caEKLHG0nxbm-rt/s2048/059-2021+Banbury.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp06_PgxCf6mPeIdznVSnFt6_F3bWTUw1l5ZmOIUPTm44OuhO5gdsORJGuBk9XNBAuzzYJW_NmK0BbZhQQqaAvlUUU2oXGZLYeH-rw14P4pRcXnFIdydQlyahDXYW9caEKLHG0nxbm-rt/w640-h426/059-2021+Banbury.jpg" title="Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury 2021" width="640" /></a></div>It was even quieter than before, but it was a Monday lunchtime!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Our afternoon trip to Cropredy should have been fairly uneventful, but for the first time in many a long year, I was caught outside during a hailstorm! Whilst the hailstones weren't particularly large there were moments during the downpour that I couldn't see the front of the boat from my position on the tiller. We were in a lock, so this wasn't critical!<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Cropredy, the sun finally reappeared giving a lovely evening glow. To avoid the problems we had on the way down to Oxford, this time we'd made a booking!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo5NESlIBYBr4ij_2FycXCG8jlRTE_UzC2M23P9jmYxOcqP726ivDZmSuLyv6ihCptuMkYO3I7OKqhtGd2i7J0nGtMCaBNv72HACD2ydujtJz-qUSFClmtdt9Um82OqxHK4oC8e6yGoRy/s2048/062-2021+Cropredy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo5NESlIBYBr4ij_2FycXCG8jlRTE_UzC2M23P9jmYxOcqP726ivDZmSuLyv6ihCptuMkYO3I7OKqhtGd2i7J0nGtMCaBNv72HACD2ydujtJz-qUSFClmtdt9Um82OqxHK4oC8e6yGoRy/w640-h426/062-2021+Cropredy.jpg" title="Red Lion, Cropredy 2021" width="640" /></a></div>The Red Lion was fairly busy again, mostly with diners, but discovered quite a few locals in the other rooms. The food was good and the landlady (same one as on our visit in 2019) was as attentive and chatty as ever. So, again feeling close to being back to normal.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Next day brought us the final, long leg back to Napton...unless The Wharf at Fenny Compton was open. (The landlady of the Red Lion seemed to believe that it was closed!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we passed by, it looked as though she was correct.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39mmCBXhKQRkGWiUGqmpPCrFD7QOpegBc7nHEpitUJCEGT6WBXvz8t3yI1RiNvYSoMLKX86pDMdsxu6lOac8gDpM9_N3C_eD0gGTK9arY8j0xuGA1rs-bRZQqGNsYbXjNUS9AZkOonTRO/s2048/069-2021+Fenny+Compton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39mmCBXhKQRkGWiUGqmpPCrFD7QOpegBc7nHEpitUJCEGT6WBXvz8t3yI1RiNvYSoMLKX86pDMdsxu6lOac8gDpM9_N3C_eD0gGTK9arY8j0xuGA1rs-bRZQqGNsYbXjNUS9AZkOonTRO/w640-h426/069-2021+Fenny+Compton.jpg" title="The Wharf, Fenny Compton 2021" width="640" /></a></div>It didn't look open, but there was someone watering flowers so it may be on the way back. However, up-to-date internet information is not to be found. So, another lunchtime of sandwiches on the move!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Another pub we passed by (that was definitely open) was The Folly at the bottom of Napton Locks.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhdG00jDCzEbNOeXX3c1F8xYuSH-E0mDAvE_c8aepkiQIMFgr-itzL8W6ZeT0O-Q2B8ug-xgxCnVNSnKTCw_Rk2MHNQkTz2pO5rTPud4kVvka-eyY5rnGew3SSAYI9SlBuiva1xf2e5C0/s2048/075-2021+Napton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhdG00jDCzEbNOeXX3c1F8xYuSH-E0mDAvE_c8aepkiQIMFgr-itzL8W6ZeT0O-Q2B8ug-xgxCnVNSnKTCw_Rk2MHNQkTz2pO5rTPud4kVvka-eyY5rnGew3SSAYI9SlBuiva1xf2e5C0/w640-h426/075-2021+Napton.jpg" title="The Folly, Napton 2021" width="640" /></a></div>It is many years since we last stopped at The Folly - this time it was because our mooring is only half an hour away and the King's Head is only a short walk from the marina.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />...and so this is where we finished our journey.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3HPk0RW7kTXdfwopSNvZ8pOtNUgtBMb1Wmw6YDAouiB4yJpOPdOUzCtY6a5pdPem9PH8l__G7GjZyz_xf1YMygPdavp-UXBTO2zMBXIvs_uu8E4kSTtLEXc6FQVTr5Y1x9mAiZxRj5qD/s2048/077-2021+Napton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3HPk0RW7kTXdfwopSNvZ8pOtNUgtBMb1Wmw6YDAouiB4yJpOPdOUzCtY6a5pdPem9PH8l__G7GjZyz_xf1YMygPdavp-UXBTO2zMBXIvs_uu8E4kSTtLEXc6FQVTr5Y1x9mAiZxRj5qD/w640-h426/077-2021+Napton.jpg" title="Kings Head, Napton-on-the-Hill 2021" width="640" /></a></div>It's fair to say that the King's Head is more restaurant than pub, but I doubt that it would have survived in it's previous incarnation just as a pub that did food.<br /> </span></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, after a week-long trip how is hospitality holding up? We didn't manage to get into as many pubs as I expected and we missed more pub sessions than I thought we would. This was partly due to the route we chose as there are long stretches of canal with no pub making the ones that have survived even busier. It was also, in part, because we'd set off the day after the restrictions had lifted.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was quite an eye-opener to see the magnificent efforts taken by those pubs with outdoor space to maximise that area with some fantastically inventive structures. Hopefully they will reap the rewards from their efforts.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next trip is planned for August - will the pubs be fully open by then? I would hope so, but given the record of this government and it's loose regard for consistency, who can say?</span><br /></span></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com2Wigrams Turn Marina52.2546626 -1.312813352.2533491221464 -1.314959067211914 52.2559760778536 -1.3106675327880859tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-56480436444171509512021-06-02T17:50:00.000+01:002021-06-02T17:50:08.879+01:00Canal Cruising in Continuing COVID Times (Part 1)<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For our first boating trip of 2021 we waited until indoor hospitality was open again, albeit under Summer 2020 rules. Our destination was Oxford on the basis that we hadn't been there (for a good session) in a long time.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Travelling from the boat's home marina at Napton-on-the-Hill presents a bit of a dilemma as the refreshment stops between there and Cropredy (9 hours cruising away) are limited. There is The Folly which is just half an hour from the marina and The Wharf at Fenny Compton which is about 4½ hours away, about which we had no information regarding it's status.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, it was a lunch on board without stopping!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We arrived at Cropredy in plenty of time and it was a pleasant sunny evening. There are two pubs in the village; the Brasenose Arms which had been open (outdoors) for several weeks serving food to a massive garden.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoI43hDideI9VIma9C2gu5sQJmoaa74LK_2hueor-HyI1CwQA6IP7aRXXNV0gWVi0SsmIPnihh50la-5PKVNIXf7lXjKWpYPziHWBYaY_NQKgkxawVwaUSCToTHOnVtWht1H4rKH9bWHpp/s2048/011-2021+Cropredy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoI43hDideI9VIma9C2gu5sQJmoaa74LK_2hueor-HyI1CwQA6IP7aRXXNV0gWVi0SsmIPnihh50la-5PKVNIXf7lXjKWpYPziHWBYaY_NQKgkxawVwaUSCToTHOnVtWht1H4rKH9bWHpp/w640-h426/011-2021+Cropredy.jpg" title="Brasenose Arms, Cropredy" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfortunately for us, the chef has his day off on Tuesdays, so the pub building was closed and there was no food available...only drinks were being served in the garden.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We strolled round to the Red Lion only to find, unsurprisingly, that it was fully booked and we couldn't even get a drink! So, it was back to the Brasenose for a sumptuous fare of crisps, nuts, scratchings and not cold enough lager!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, our first pint of 2021, inside a pub, was in Ye Olde Reine Deer in Banbury.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwshdaoMZIahYK9o6b2iNEYRa7r2SAKQggRIbcQB6vI7ybrdZ2TS7HBwNzJEX9a1qZzCMSNdHbXqTe43vcEcg_LdChUYu2jB5S_FpLVXPQYNkhmMrlv-jCSwndeBNJRYbAMmkb-TMygOhL/s2048/016-2021+Banbury.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwshdaoMZIahYK9o6b2iNEYRa7r2SAKQggRIbcQB6vI7ybrdZ2TS7HBwNzJEX9a1qZzCMSNdHbXqTe43vcEcg_LdChUYu2jB5S_FpLVXPQYNkhmMrlv-jCSwndeBNJRYbAMmkb-TMygOhL/w640-h426/016-2021+Banbury.jpg" title="Ye Olde Reine Deer, Banbury" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This time we found it without too much trouble and there was no problem finding a free table. It was disappointing that it wasn't busier, but it will take time to get back to some semblance of 'normal'. As many people are noting, the full range of (Hook Norton) beers wasn't available, but there was sufficient choice for us.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For the evening we'd already booked our table at the Great Western Arms at Aynho Wharf. Even before the pandemic, this had become an upmarket gastropub, but it was remarkably quite busy.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIlnVbxGwLboYT8V0UQgm5nI3rl0ENBVQCvEKQTBeMGIp3M0R1-irTo8Xa2pz5GAYRh-XpDPBflhz-Ui8bNli-eiAgiuSIyVU7KnoTtTuquX0TUXo162hLawEOuHrpsC83wUyXutlUfiY/s2048/023-2021+Aynho.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIlnVbxGwLboYT8V0UQgm5nI3rl0ENBVQCvEKQTBeMGIp3M0R1-irTo8Xa2pz5GAYRh-XpDPBflhz-Ui8bNli-eiAgiuSIyVU7KnoTtTuquX0TUXo162hLawEOuHrpsC83wUyXutlUfiY/w640-h426/023-2021+Aynho.jpg" title="Great Western Arms, Aynho Wharf" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our table was in the Lavender Garden which is a semi-outdoor area taking maximum advantage of existing outbuildings. All-in-all, a pleasant experience.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our lunchtime stopping place for the next day was Lower Heyford. Unfortunately, The Bell doesn't open on Thursday lunchtimes and the Barley Mow was completely closed, awaiting new management. So, this was the venue for another sumptuous lunch!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ6UW0_RDSBqX9ATMphwPZXk-Spb2SAdDm_6fBKIhJxxqw7Mk6sVp_UdpXLLcmoRfTjH1tAJFDZc0lNwaB1B2DVJ_nak3wP_nZ0ScD0XPOphyphenhyphenBIJmd8nSOOBx7BWP-dy7mYnFPaw7QCFY/s2048/024-2021+Lower+Heyford.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ6UW0_RDSBqX9ATMphwPZXk-Spb2SAdDm_6fBKIhJxxqw7Mk6sVp_UdpXLLcmoRfTjH1tAJFDZc0lNwaB1B2DVJ_nak3wP_nZ0ScD0XPOphyphenhyphenBIJmd8nSOOBx7BWP-dy7mYnFPaw7QCFY/w640-h426/024-2021+Lower+Heyford.jpg" title="Oxfordshire Narrowboats, Lower Heyford" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A brief stop to stock up with essentials like cheese and corned beef for a beer and sandwiches lunch on board the good ship Peggy Ellen. Then we resumed our journey south - next stop Thrupp.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Along the way we passed by former "EastEnders" actor Phil Daniels and his boat Tuppence, moored in an attractive tree lined cutting, just before we came across the sad sight of the now closed Rock of Gibraltar pub. <br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjpSIWQ0iSJpDqQOosegAzP_J60R9gGXHQuXQ1dIVfAAQD_VY5I5phXCn94MBDqTNxK7c82hThzwUZHLeD-IjWIv-_t6SlJnz6SRUcwmSGtqCHCwmYfYo3bfuqEYGkc8Y88jAR06Mn-fS/s2048/054-2021+Rock+of+Gibraltar+%2528RIP%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjpSIWQ0iSJpDqQOosegAzP_J60R9gGXHQuXQ1dIVfAAQD_VY5I5phXCn94MBDqTNxK7c82hThzwUZHLeD-IjWIv-_t6SlJnz6SRUcwmSGtqCHCwmYfYo3bfuqEYGkc8Y88jAR06Mn-fS/w640-h426/054-2021+Rock+of+Gibraltar+%2528RIP%2529.jpg" title="Rock of Gibraltar, Enslow (RIP)" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a pub that I've never actually been into...and now never will!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After miles of canal where the pubs are half-a-day's cruising apart, you get to Thrupp where there are three pubs within a 15 minute walk of each other! There were no mooring spaces outside The Boat Inn, but plenty of room outside The Jolly Boatman!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20p7IbAzveC_ftQoa4hh27KVzzWQM2_rvmH6yFlVZsT0zleORYnGEuAD8SpjeJ6fSmbXBAI5PojzBvntopMaTdhcXofmN0mxlxq4UiwwomrBKD0fu_LiF0m6VkC6pt_WhHSAOTg8xEVK0/s2048/028-2021+Thrupp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20p7IbAzveC_ftQoa4hh27KVzzWQM2_rvmH6yFlVZsT0zleORYnGEuAD8SpjeJ6fSmbXBAI5PojzBvntopMaTdhcXofmN0mxlxq4UiwwomrBKD0fu_LiF0m6VkC6pt_WhHSAOTg8xEVK0/w640-h426/028-2021+Thrupp.jpg" title="The Jolly Boatman, Thrupp" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This shows how close we were moored. It is a pleasantly run pub - they managed to find us a table, the food was good, the lager cold and they pre-warned us that closing time was dependent on how busy they were. In the event, it was around 10pm when they closed the bar allowing us a relaxed drinking up period. Luckily for us, the pub's one-way system led us out through the garden/smoking shelter, almost to our front door!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next stop Oxford! It was another rainy day when we moored up in Jericho and strolled along the last few hundred yards of the canal and into the city. Dreaming spires, fantastic old and characterful pubs...you've guessed it though...Wetherspoon's Four Candles was our first stop!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRWe_z98oHr1wMrglqtsyqgMV1rrCzMEEByYe4W508RNFvPXlpsvEZYXtUWAjB0JX8r10TF_Z7NYC436x46qrodXFuiMV4Cukf9Y_nnEmrW4Rv7a8pWiKo4FrP_Fxb3sMqK8r1-G74ouW/s2048/030-2021+Oxford.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRWe_z98oHr1wMrglqtsyqgMV1rrCzMEEByYe4W508RNFvPXlpsvEZYXtUWAjB0JX8r10TF_Z7NYC436x46qrodXFuiMV4Cukf9Y_nnEmrW4Rv7a8pWiKo4FrP_Fxb3sMqK8r1-G74ouW/w640-h426/030-2021+Oxford.jpg" title="Four Candles, Oxford" width="640" /></a></div>Amazingly there was no queue, although there weren't many free tables. We were downstairs, so the technical glitch with their app didn't affect us as we got the table service, which worked very well. After a couple of pints and lunch we moved on in search of a pub that we'd been into in 1998, but remembered little else about apart from it's name - the Three Goats Heads.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYuK5Sz9uw46N1UDp2bbFvwqB9NhhRsgTkjO6O4FV1DQXP9dTMVLkntZlg53y4jUtRUf6ZpOenOPbBcFQ2m3Cc7JHQXBU0Cx_dhCc96qilSNWygV0M5OvkUaEUBwQL245W8cJlb3F1rU/s2048/031-2021+Oxford.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYuK5Sz9uw46N1UDp2bbFvwqB9NhhRsgTkjO6O4FV1DQXP9dTMVLkntZlg53y4jUtRUf6ZpOenOPbBcFQ2m3Cc7JHQXBU0Cx_dhCc96qilSNWygV0M5OvkUaEUBwQL245W8cJlb3F1rU/w426-h640/031-2021+Oxford.jpg" title="Three Goats Heads, Oxford" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">What a fine pub it is and, unexpectedly, it's a Sam Smiths boozer! I'm not a fan of Sam Smiths Old Brewery Bitter, so I was on the lager and my travelling companion went for the OBB! Sadly, it wasn't very busy - most likely a combination of the pandemic restrictions and the fact that it was rainy and cold!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next we wanted to find a pub that neither of us could remember the name of. We knew that it was a small corner pub close to one of the colleges and that it had a magnificent collection of ties. This is when a smart phone with a map is your friend.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6Xn3e8v81-ZQo7EWQXrLi8_o3Cy928mBsnbNF8hsQiMxN5LPxd2d5QT2Ta97ZIqvWx3PfrVpBbH8lzoLW-GPJ0sUn1pRZnwXKEMlK7L35RkWZS6QEcFfg3naJYCEsT0W46ev8y-A5afs/s2048/032-2021+Oxford.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6Xn3e8v81-ZQo7EWQXrLi8_o3Cy928mBsnbNF8hsQiMxN5LPxd2d5QT2Ta97ZIqvWx3PfrVpBbH8lzoLW-GPJ0sUn1pRZnwXKEMlK7L35RkWZS6QEcFfg3naJYCEsT0W46ev8y-A5afs/w640-h426/032-2021+Oxford.jpg" title="The Bear, Oxford" width="640" /></a></div>As they used to say in local cinema adverts, "'ere Bert, this is the place!" We stepped inside The Bear and it was seemingly unchanged except that, in these curious times, it was full...with just three people inside! Sure, we could've had a drink in the 'beer garden', but what's the point? With the current rules, I don't know how many more pubs there are in a similar situation, because that just isn't viable.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Moving on, we found a lovely little pub that we'd never been to before for our last pint of the session.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsD2aGBfMk4KT8yG_EGQGyuPA7ffKQWYcik1RqmCjaFF6df3TCuy_0X29Qpx5umwML7Vqzj8IlgDH0rknhJp2btW36VJSrm3S2qHCl7jXH4b0auc0gEVws3csD9Perri9JTlwA5F-6Iam/s2048/033-2021+Oxford.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsD2aGBfMk4KT8yG_EGQGyuPA7ffKQWYcik1RqmCjaFF6df3TCuy_0X29Qpx5umwML7Vqzj8IlgDH0rknhJp2btW36VJSrm3S2qHCl7jXH4b0auc0gEVws3csD9Perri9JTlwA5F-6Iam/w426-h640/033-2021+Oxford.jpg" title="White Horse, Oxford" width="426" /></a></div>The White Horse is somewhat TARDIS like in that it goes back a long way inside which meant that there was plenty of space for us! Obviously, no-one was drinking outside, but the rain had finally begun to ease. I don't really recollect too much about the interior other than it felt like a proper town pub...and they served food as well.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />By the time we'd had a pint it was almost 5pm and so time for the long stroll back to the boat to 'prepare' for our evening session. As we walked back past the 'Spoon's we could see that a queue had formed. A little further on and we came to the terminus of the Oxford Canal...only a few more steps to our mooring!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYBUczyTgibvWVQ7Qhd84_OLCkJStC_DZDnba2paBwg_qfzx-Y_8J_G-ABjejv2axEwqiMrkxfSKYcCog2FFHk1rl9QQCSUmLEk_ogmir7seJjoPFZjIoXu-qfHSOuFAkXUd8z6fg_74s/s2048/035-2021+Oxford.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYBUczyTgibvWVQ7Qhd84_OLCkJStC_DZDnba2paBwg_qfzx-Y_8J_G-ABjejv2axEwqiMrkxfSKYcCog2FFHk1rl9QQCSUmLEk_ogmir7seJjoPFZjIoXu-qfHSOuFAkXUd8z6fg_74s/w640-h426/035-2021+Oxford.jpg" title="Oxford Canal Terminus" width="640" /></a></div></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Next time - a night out in Jericho, a 10 minute afternoon cruise between pub sessions and a river almost in flood - stay tuned for more tales of "Canal Cruising in Continuing COVID Times"!)</span></span><br /></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com2Oxford Canal Terminus, Oxford51.7538206 -1.264460151.7531564392485 -1.265532983605957 51.754484760751495 -1.2633872163940429tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-28439736223940246672021-05-08T16:32:00.005+01:002021-05-11T12:04:35.680+01:00Concluding the Digbeth/Eastside Update<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">With the pubs being back open again (well, for outdoor table service only) I realise that I've left a few of the Digbeth stragglers without an up date. So, here we go: -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">#064 White Swan, Bradford Street, Digbeth</span></b></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Last year <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2020/02/064-white-swan-digbeth-1998-to-2020.html" target="_blank">I reported the depressing news</a> that this magnificent boozer had closed with little prospect of reopening in the near future. This is the scene that I discovered a few weeks ago.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYZ449H-8AYIRce07i_QuFJd96uXVMgUXdpWq2CG3Z_UHUEMB9bZRfRPucnwtFiBwi17Wayfc_k666G4HVug_6x-otvugtSDpklACk19NTn04cd2i_sGsW4yflri37J0KRC20QJ5kh19e/s2048/White+Swan+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYZ449H-8AYIRce07i_QuFJd96uXVMgUXdpWq2CG3Z_UHUEMB9bZRfRPucnwtFiBwi17Wayfc_k666G4HVug_6x-otvugtSDpklACk19NTn04cd2i_sGsW4yflri37J0KRC20QJ5kh19e/w640-h426/White+Swan+2021.jpg" title="White Swan, Digbeth 2021" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b>White Swan, Digbeth 2021</b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On the face of it, there would appear to be few prospects of it reopening any time soon with extra layers of grafitti having been added. However, appearances can be deceptive. That whole plot of land behind the White Swan is owned by Seven Capital who are also now the owners of the pub. They have pledged to reopen the pub and, as they own the land, they plan to have an extensive 'garden' area at the back of the property - <a href="https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/revealed-shocking-state-gorgeous-old-19575227" target="_blank">details here</a>.</span></p></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">#048 Adam & Eve, Bradford Street, Deritend (RIP)</span><br /></span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When I <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2018/03/048-adam-eve-deritend-1998-to-2018.html" target="_blank">last reported on</a> the Adam & Eve in 2018 it had closed as a pub and resurrected itself as </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Evolve - a café and event space designed to provide young people with training. Now into 2021...there's been no change!</span></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW1iUT8fQlnuWGK1QfnDE3juYhgQsmCAR67NhBeD4VyLjDlr0Ux-riEIjGAQZebKokBtXog6vgf9PvSUkL8hyyLJZoELIV4DKHkgfW3IG-DAVwsH-IGA7F_pjxe4o2wZdd9W6XGOU8TQD/s2048/Adam+%2526+Eve+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW1iUT8fQlnuWGK1QfnDE3juYhgQsmCAR67NhBeD4VyLjDlr0Ux-riEIjGAQZebKokBtXog6vgf9PvSUkL8hyyLJZoELIV4DKHkgfW3IG-DAVwsH-IGA7F_pjxe4o2wZdd9W6XGOU8TQD/w640-h426/Adam+%2526+Eve+2021.jpg" title="Adam & Eve, Deritend 2021" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Adam & Eve, Deritend 2021</span></b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span><p></p><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><u><span style="font-family: verdana;">#018 Subside (aka The Dubliner), Digbeth</span></u></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For many years this was The Barrel Organ, which then morphed into The Dubliner and, when I <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2018/03/018-subside-aka-dubliner-digbeth-1998.html" target="_blank">last reported</a> in 2018, it had changed name, again, to Subside which is more of a nightclub than a pub. Here in 2021, nothing much has changed.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></span></span></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFGn0m57681Fyu8f-msaI74wI_DpS4_run1_BSUWR7CWf2Ly8s67UCsSoVmajLBaEjdjEeXlSHUKuzk0ACK-mImVCq6GpmZD2Z2_WXVW0ktv9hyF8NIT_ML1AYhjbN_27bN_TPgLdSPfV/s2048/Dubliner+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFGn0m57681Fyu8f-msaI74wI_DpS4_run1_BSUWR7CWf2Ly8s67UCsSoVmajLBaEjdjEeXlSHUKuzk0ACK-mImVCq6GpmZD2Z2_WXVW0ktv9hyF8NIT_ML1AYhjbN_27bN_TPgLdSPfV/w640-h410/Dubliner+2021.jpg" title="Subside, Digbeth 2021" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Subside, Digbeth 2021</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></h3><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">#068 The Ruin, Floodgate Street, Digbeth</span></span></u></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another pub that I <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2018/02/068-ruin-floodgate-street-digbeth-1998.html" target="_blank">last reported on</a> in 2018 and another Digbeth survivor that has had many names over the past few years...and another that has changed very little over the past few years.</span></span></span></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtlDzhrMS0EfC1eHakcThWXLvb49BR0UMTkM1_-4ibrlXsC1uXYskbEbZ0w7EX4Z0i3coJ7_1kRDixo7-CaQR3-WtwCiRdlhYQX-Gz9uoewSlXo5wWS1dV5PgKYmDiN1r_QXpvG2ZpZoz/s2048/The+Ruin+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtlDzhrMS0EfC1eHakcThWXLvb49BR0UMTkM1_-4ibrlXsC1uXYskbEbZ0w7EX4Z0i3coJ7_1kRDixo7-CaQR3-WtwCiRdlhYQX-Gz9uoewSlXo5wWS1dV5PgKYmDiN1r_QXpvG2ZpZoz/w640-h426/The+Ruin+2021.jpg" title="The Ruin, Digbeth 2021" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Ruin, Digbeth 2021</b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><u><span style="font-family: verdana;">#012 The Forge Tavern, Digbeth (RIP)</span></u></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I<a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2018/06/012-forge-tavern-digbeth-1998-to-2018.html" target="_blank"> last reported</a> in 2018 The Forge Tavern had been closed down following a fatal stabbing in 2017. Unfortunately, in the intervening years it would appear that only decay and dereliction have followed.</span></span></span></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_A9kRSp7SrCsUL5ksrkZtC1SEeTj9CT-u6BN0C84Rtu5H1Dq57P1pv1afuddALVZQNErNvvX5CnkwFX9qL_EAtL7wTTFrQnYJrPJIE_7WvA6XyiCiT7fOfXr_-fn4bQZN7E0iPyuQOlW/s2048/Forge+Tavern+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_A9kRSp7SrCsUL5ksrkZtC1SEeTj9CT-u6BN0C84Rtu5H1Dq57P1pv1afuddALVZQNErNvvX5CnkwFX9qL_EAtL7wTTFrQnYJrPJIE_7WvA6XyiCiT7fOfXr_-fn4bQZN7E0iPyuQOlW/w640-h426/Forge+Tavern+2021.jpg" title="The Forge Tavern, Digbeth 2021" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Forge Tavern, Digbeth 2021</b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u><b>#056 The Woodman, Digbeth</b></u></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Surprisingly, I haven't <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2012/03/056-woodman-digbeth-1998-to-2011-rip.html" target="_blank">reported on</a> the Woodman since the original blog post in 2011, although it has appeared in several posts in the meantime. Although it is a few yards away from the site of the much missed Eagle & Tun, The Woodman is guaranteed to survive the building of the new HS2 terminus.</span></span></span></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_CAjqaqxrNlHI2LQxz5oi4alWaiRm07yYlzIA0pcVmVBZHOYvibCYL36lRMXOehcA25ZcBdmeLzAlxOE5HrVpl22li5QBxkUUxGhGkp7kvj3CvrADu53StpJRTItpPTa_Yrq41LTQN23/s2048/Woodman+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_CAjqaqxrNlHI2LQxz5oi4alWaiRm07yYlzIA0pcVmVBZHOYvibCYL36lRMXOehcA25ZcBdmeLzAlxOE5HrVpl22li5QBxkUUxGhGkp7kvj3CvrADu53StpJRTItpPTa_Yrq41LTQN23/w640-h426/Woodman+2021.jpg" title="The Woodman, Digbeth 2021" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Woodman, Digbeth 2021</b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, depite the tremendous upheavals in the vicinity, The Woodman has been back as strong as ever since the pubs were allowed to reopen!</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">#040 Eagle & Ball, Gopsal Street, Birmingham City University</span> </span></span></u></b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Eagle & Ball has been one of the success stories of this area with the old Moby Dick's being resurrected as the Eagle & Ball. I <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2018/01/040-eagle-ball-eastside-birmingham-1998.html" target="_blank">last reported</a> in 2018 when it had reopened, and now...no real change! </span></span></span></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgp8GpGUfR6kSwlQOKzfE1mpToI4SPKotuTYrvRkDo5aZUNcxT9-dxje8lZDEFWIxmqYg-J1B45yfZOJc7SxfuN8gJvSHWH0-unZ9oCCskcgRmzup-QGmouP8ZjElZW6rW8SVpsje9sMK/s2048/Eagle+%2526+Ball+2021a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgp8GpGUfR6kSwlQOKzfE1mpToI4SPKotuTYrvRkDo5aZUNcxT9-dxje8lZDEFWIxmqYg-J1B45yfZOJc7SxfuN8gJvSHWH0-unZ9oCCskcgRmzup-QGmouP8ZjElZW6rW8SVpsje9sMK/w640-h426/Eagle+%2526+Ball+2021a.jpg" title="Eagle & Ball, Gopsal Street 2021" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Eagle & Ball, Gopsal Street, BCU</b></span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And finally....</span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><h1><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><u><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">#013 Mist Shisha Lounge, Adelaide Street, Deritend</span></span></u></span></b></span></h1></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When I first pictured this establishment it was the Carpenters Arms, but by 2011 it had become the Moon Shisha Lounge. I <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2018/05/013-carpenters-arms-digbeth-1998-to.html" target="_blank">last reported</a> in 2018 when it had changed to Mist Shisha Lounge. This is the scene in 2021.</span></span></span></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SXrRZS0PDT9ohL4kNIRriBGt-SDZ7n5DEWoLJh1Mse8m0roJBll1gsVjoeyjZLLM3oeCg7HDcwp0MtP7emqRbWLrJihyU3aeYgg4imsQI6gYNEQoabfrQvysBYPxgfb4H6fUUEohWFil/s2048/Carpenters+Arms%252C+Digbeth+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SXrRZS0PDT9ohL4kNIRriBGt-SDZ7n5DEWoLJh1Mse8m0roJBll1gsVjoeyjZLLM3oeCg7HDcwp0MtP7emqRbWLrJihyU3aeYgg4imsQI6gYNEQoabfrQvysBYPxgfb4H6fUUEohWFil/w640-h424/Carpenters+Arms%252C+Digbeth+2021.jpg" title="Mist Shisha Lounge, Adelaide Street 2021" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mist Shisha Lounge, Adelaide Street, Deritend</span><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It has been redecorated in the ensuing years and still appears to be a going concern.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, there you have it, a whistlestop tour through the last few pubs in Digbeth and Eastside. Not many more have gone for good, but the next few months will be critical for the survival propsects of many. Let's hope for a warm summer with good football to swell pub attendances!</span><br /></span></span></span></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com2Digbeth, Birmingham, UK52.4754938 -1.888111124.165259963821157 -37.0443611 80.785727636178848 33.2681389tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-75759321430847533552021-04-16T12:27:00.001+01:002021-04-16T12:28:54.900+01:00It's Bandwagon Time!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> To misquote The Bard of Avon, "Is this a bandwagon which I see before me, Come let me jump aboard!" Ever since the 'glorious' twelfth (of April) any reputable (and a few disreputable) beer/pub blogger has been revelling in and reporting on our new found freedom to have a proper pub pint in a proper pub...garden!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Who am I to buck this trend? Yesterday I took my first steps back towards normality with a lunchtime session at the Sacks of Potatoes pub by Aston University. I haven't been to 'The Sack' for many years, but I have previously reported on it on this blog (<a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2016/12/205-sacks-of-potatoes-gosta-green.html" target="_blank">#205</a>).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We chose here because our regular local, the Country Girl in Selly Oak, hasn't yet reopened (26th April). We booked online, but it was possible to just turn up.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GhpMhpg5sJH1vfHU_JGIkFkEvKkiwpFCbvY78aU0EuaoWdSnUK7AWKrIwQTLAbFTPQem7-k4mq2Ee0zSEjB8VaA-ne13tRBhYbITF8MVyUWCS_SBcOTaXbDyW7dvKrsuCToBZNcwLiqk/s6000/DSC_0538.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GhpMhpg5sJH1vfHU_JGIkFkEvKkiwpFCbvY78aU0EuaoWdSnUK7AWKrIwQTLAbFTPQem7-k4mq2Ee0zSEjB8VaA-ne13tRBhYbITF8MVyUWCS_SBcOTaXbDyW7dvKrsuCToBZNcwLiqk/w640-h426/DSC_0538.JPG" title="Sacks of Potatoes, Gosta Green 2021" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the scene, a typically beautiful sunny day in Brum...with a bit of a chill wind! It is so long since my last visit, I was convinced that they'd moved the pub as it wasn't quite where I thought it should be!</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On arrival we were shown to our table in the outdoor <strike>smoking</strike> dining area and asked to fill in their track and trace forms (as neither of us have the app!). Service was swift and efficient...and the Carling was as good as ever!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBEH5nje_PId6kZW6qf7YW1VyS9I4hHy32bsNl1dUjliUZXep0vy7tV5ZI4ilZ2nDx0uIYpSRIpLpTxp-kt7PMt6yZUxmyZ6UneHumSwksdxm2Swpshg3j45PQpFFR29L_QSuo2Zv_uev/s2048/20210415_124356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBEH5nje_PId6kZW6qf7YW1VyS9I4hHy32bsNl1dUjliUZXep0vy7tV5ZI4ilZ2nDx0uIYpSRIpLpTxp-kt7PMt6yZUxmyZ6UneHumSwksdxm2Swpshg3j45PQpFFR29L_QSuo2Zv_uev/w480-h640/20210415_124356.jpg" title="Sacks of Potatoes, Gosta Green 2021" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The limited food offering was just right for us, although on another day I may have bemoaned the lack of a proper sandwich...but not today, I was just happy to be back out in the real world!</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Drinking at home and with friends is fine, but you don't get the banter with bar staff or the unexpected (brief) conversation with a stranger (and Rangers fan) about how much longer Stevie G might stay north of the border before taking over at Liverpool. Nor do you get the frisson of excitement/apprehension as when a group of young Asian men and women turn up without booking and just sit down at a table. After a brief chat with the bar staff, it wasn't a problem! Reassuringly reasonable...all's well (so far) in publand!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our stroll back to New Street Station took us past one of the seemingly less loved of Birmingham's statues - Bruce Williams 1996 sculpture of Tony Hancock. <br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGSLHY5xmsL443X7sxxQ9hDyHvgkclSG6plVek6Yl8jETswB79TIs0wvlDeE3QJko-ynfrBBxvzlrdsUIH07xgmNJ9R9Jxfd-O2abK6q0im7UetI8HQdzR6rqd69fmIjbJ0UtMzYsZBs8/s2048/Tony+Hancock+Corporation+Street+2021+R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGSLHY5xmsL443X7sxxQ9hDyHvgkclSG6plVek6Yl8jETswB79TIs0wvlDeE3QJko-ynfrBBxvzlrdsUIH07xgmNJ9R9Jxfd-O2abK6q0im7UetI8HQdzR6rqd69fmIjbJ0UtMzYsZBs8/w640-h426/Tony+Hancock+Corporation+Street+2021+R.jpg" title="Tony Hancock, Corporation Street, Birmingham" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is my retouched version because in real life it is looking somewhat shabby after many years of neglect.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And so to home to spend the rest of the day sleepily thinking, "Why did I have that fourth pint?" Worth it!</span><br /></p>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com310 Gosta Green, Birmingham B4 7ER, UK52.48742 -1.888174252.486766680728785 -1.8892470836059569 52.488073319271216 -1.8871013163940429tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-44132946323894278892021-04-14T12:18:00.001+01:002021-04-14T12:25:36.763+01:00#025 The Anchor, Digbeth, Birmingham : 1998 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Whilst my fellow bloggers and pub tickers renew their acquaintance with beer gardens and blogging, I've still got one or two Digbeth classics to catch up with, and today's offering is <b>The Anchor</b>. Here's what I wrote back in 2011: -</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"<span style="color: black;"><b>The Anchor</b> in Digbeth is a success story</span><span style="color: black;"> in a world where proper pubs are disappearing, this pub is thriving. This is the eleventh in my 'Birmingham Eastside' series.</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"></span></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ5MGxtxNaSl600DxsE_pAdhDckYAMiEtHPhlK3KfRVavAiOe_teyWkJs5pgeHhu1AmrPm-Nypqe5sTc_7qpNn_8oAXxfvdTO0jJW08G9pklq3vaJNrnqMyyfmj31b92WwUncHBOk1ha7/s2048/Anchor+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ5MGxtxNaSl600DxsE_pAdhDckYAMiEtHPhlK3KfRVavAiOe_teyWkJs5pgeHhu1AmrPm-Nypqe5sTc_7qpNn_8oAXxfvdTO0jJW08G9pklq3vaJNrnqMyyfmj31b92WwUncHBOk1ha7/w640-h434/Anchor+1998.jpg" title="The Anchor, Digbeth 1998" width="640" /></a></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Here it is in 1998 and at this time I'd never been inside. This is another example of a pub built by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_%26_Lister_Lea">James & Lister Lea </a>and
it is a Grade II listed building. Since taking the photo I have visited
and found it to be a great place and 'unspoilt by progress'.</span></span></i></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVd5Zeuko8rmgcJ5tnAO6iqCULrduj38URVIj6MRGlhJsjHreOuxMN-Jgyc6UwmO-VTCfYpOQAzsLG6PoQ0UtFpXnE-pzuVKfoR3vsq3v0F0hLhyphenhyphenGvBFVFnZ0cEcpu9ZUWa9V-3LDXZ-_/s2048/Anchor+2011a+ModPE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVd5Zeuko8rmgcJ5tnAO6iqCULrduj38URVIj6MRGlhJsjHreOuxMN-Jgyc6UwmO-VTCfYpOQAzsLG6PoQ0UtFpXnE-pzuVKfoR3vsq3v0F0hLhyphenhyphenGvBFVFnZ0cEcpu9ZUWa9V-3LDXZ-_/w640-h426/Anchor+2011a+ModPE.jpg" title="The Anchor, Digbeth 2011" width="640" /></a></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Here
we are in 2011 and from the outside very little has changed. Even the
lamp post is still the same one, although it has been painted in the
intervening years! The inside is listed on the <a href="https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk/pubs/162" target="_blank">National Inventory of Pub Interiors</a> which is run by CAMRA and shows pictures of the various rooms. The Anchor website
is fairly extensive and also has plenty of useful information </span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">(not any more)</span></span></span></b></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">. If you
find yourself in Birmingham (especially if you're at the Coach Station),
<b> The Anchor</b> is well worth a visit.</span>"</span></span></i></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Moving on to 2018 and I paid two visits to <b>The Anchor</b>. The first was in January when I took this picture.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmx2b2qUqZmRa0z5BxiA6qjXI7WSX7HFn5yAWvT9dlKBK4V_DyJxg0Uvk2BnTrRtVKK1nwIGGJk28rvH9sAw7vjXzpYhBuSXkuCq6-4nHiGfNEPDPxVqewegkbqWn8tg_s8JWMx9PGtcWm/s2048/Anchor+2018+modPE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmx2b2qUqZmRa0z5BxiA6qjXI7WSX7HFn5yAWvT9dlKBK4V_DyJxg0Uvk2BnTrRtVKK1nwIGGJk28rvH9sAw7vjXzpYhBuSXkuCq6-4nHiGfNEPDPxVqewegkbqWn8tg_s8JWMx9PGtcWm/w640-h426/Anchor+2018+modPE.jpg" title="The Anchor, Digbeth 2018" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">As you can see it has had a bit of an external makeover...and the streetlight has disappeared! Apart from that, very little has changed about <b>The Anchor</b> as we found out on my second visit of the year for July's <a href="https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2018/07/digbeth-in-daytime-crawl-through.html" target="_blank">Proper Pubs Day Out</a> trip around Digbeth.</span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">So, as we reach 2021, how has <b>The Anchor</b> changed? <br /></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_ovCu-x56DjQjvekBYZWukLoGRa9IG6vvCt-GFcgRyWa0q71-4Gbsn_h_iv5Vp6VYqRmeHuR20iKMM3xVqj57icRRf1LWFMDU8UKEM8_PD5aWSmFHfrQN12TauFBBOBaVa1tOnhy-f7o/s2048/Anchor+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="2048" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_ovCu-x56DjQjvekBYZWukLoGRa9IG6vvCt-GFcgRyWa0q71-4Gbsn_h_iv5Vp6VYqRmeHuR20iKMM3xVqj57icRRf1LWFMDU8UKEM8_PD5aWSmFHfrQN12TauFBBOBaVa1tOnhy-f7o/w640-h404/Anchor+2021.jpg" title="The Anchor, Digbeth 2021" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;">You'd have to say, "Not a lot!" The main question is, "When will it reopen (if at all)?" The good news, according to their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheAnchorDigbeth/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, is that <b>The Anchor</b> will reopen on 21st May (assuming the government don't do a U-turn)!</span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></i></span></div><p></p>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com1308 Bradford St, Birmingham B5 6ET, UK52.474485400000013 -1.888458652.473831887415635 -1.8895314836059571 52.475138912584391 -1.8873857163940431tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-67748219732804638862021-04-11T17:55:00.001+01:002021-04-11T17:55:25.746+01:00#044 Sir Charles Napier, Highgate, Birmingham : 1955 to 1998 to 2011 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">This is another pub that I've never been in, but it still thrives despite this! Here's what I wrote in 2011: -</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>"T<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">his
is another of those pubs that I first discovered on my initial 1998
trip around the area. The <b>Sir Charles Napier</b> looks like a typical back
street, corner pub of which there were many more then than there are
now.<br /></span></span></span></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwSdpoI6NQ5G-w03ZseKZGlHKITzeD25u6gVEMmpty3OrU-hOVU8xolA_qxdEb6AAV4EpXlsVk-UjQAdV1DjwUnIXFzt8UVGCakHilPwNTvDCrj6WHzLNhx3Xn5AeXE3p8XipAyWVOFIu/s2048/Sir+Charles+Napier+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwSdpoI6NQ5G-w03ZseKZGlHKITzeD25u6gVEMmpty3OrU-hOVU8xolA_qxdEb6AAV4EpXlsVk-UjQAdV1DjwUnIXFzt8UVGCakHilPwNTvDCrj6WHzLNhx3Xn5AeXE3p8XipAyWVOFIu/w640-h436/Sir+Charles+Napier+1998.jpg" title="Sir Charles Napier, Highgate 1998" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I've still not set foot inside, but I was pleased to see that the <b>Sir
Charles Napier</b> was still in business when I returned in 2011.</span></span></span></span></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2-1tU5jlPDIZYIAYMpA-0CqS9XoMhvLpUN0_X9mxGW4XMdlP1ty20Qfxsxu6E41L5pDn-EgqYM9ivAePmVCyZAr_dXN_WyaVxexylFQ6Kb0hbnbJ1bXARAK2pz3FutL3Xs1O7by-SN7s/s2048/Sir+Charles+Napier+2011a+modPE2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2-1tU5jlPDIZYIAYMpA-0CqS9XoMhvLpUN0_X9mxGW4XMdlP1ty20Qfxsxu6E41L5pDn-EgqYM9ivAePmVCyZAr_dXN_WyaVxexylFQ6Kb0hbnbJ1bXARAK2pz3FutL3Xs1O7by-SN7s/w640-h480/Sir+Charles+Napier+2011a+modPE2.jpg" title="Sir Charles Napier, Highgate 2011" width="640" /></a></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apart from a lick of paint it doesn't appear to have changed in the
intervening years, aside from it not being an M&B pub any more. The
shamrock leaves indicate that it is another Irish pub. It's unlikely
that I'll ever visit the Sir Charles Napier for a drink as it is a bit
off the beaten track from my usual pub crawls around the 'Eastside' of
Birmingham </span></i></div><p></p><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></i><div style="text-align: center;">
</div><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;">This is the twentieth in my 'Birmingham Eastside' series.</span></span></i></div><i>
</i><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<i><br /></i></div><i>
</i><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black;">As I was researching the <b>Sir Charles Napier</b> I came across this website - <a href="http://www.digital-photographic-images.co.uk/postcards/birmingham-inns/">Digital Photographic Images</a> </span></i><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(broken link)</span></b></span><i><span style="color: black;">
- which has many old photos of Birmingham pubs. One of the images was
of the Sir Charles Napier from 1955. So I've acquired the postcard and
scanned it so that you can see how the pub has changed over a longer
period.</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigse_62-eNPh900Uz7ZU00sVQ8JnWT4imem1xakhTaWR3qoj-7UT0YHfbXQKNeXlgoBxeqyJRL4ZHmKg4fdsTibAGN6BjJBo38tCLv5sJ6mbJxnOmESjUFmDhGeoBi7Wh9h6bSX1l7hI12/s1664/Sir+Charles+Napier+1955+Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="1664" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigse_62-eNPh900Uz7ZU00sVQ8JnWT4imem1xakhTaWR3qoj-7UT0YHfbXQKNeXlgoBxeqyJRL4ZHmKg4fdsTibAGN6BjJBo38tCLv5sJ6mbJxnOmESjUFmDhGeoBi7Wh9h6bSX1l7hI12/w640-h486/Sir+Charles+Napier+1955+Original.jpg" title="Sir Charles Napier, Highgate 1955" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="color: black;">The
main difference, and I can't quite work out how it was achieved, is
that in 1955 the junction was a right angle as was the corner of the
pub. However in 1998 the junction is an obtuse angle and the pub looks
to have been similarly altered, but with no change to the overall
appearance of the building! </span>
</i><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<i><br /></i></div><i>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;">When
I started this blog my intention was to use only photos that I'd taken,
but I think in a few cases these old photos add to the detail and
interest."</span></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;">Moving on to 2018 and we get another external redecoration.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX-P66A0Zg3OXgLsSKuzIGYFb11lxCKQMHDzHYW8f0xBZQYeQ-nrrAjaSuk1EmEcodvhVSMLblMk10tFFi-61EkUU02FMlOHxUGBdzipvgSOfGCxk7F6tShKqRApxcjDh1gv0ICNJUCWl/s2048/Sir+Charles+Napier+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX-P66A0Zg3OXgLsSKuzIGYFb11lxCKQMHDzHYW8f0xBZQYeQ-nrrAjaSuk1EmEcodvhVSMLblMk10tFFi-61EkUU02FMlOHxUGBdzipvgSOfGCxk7F6tShKqRApxcjDh1gv0ICNJUCWl/w640-h426/Sir+Charles+Napier+2018.jpg" title="Sir Charles Napier, Highgate 2018" width="640" /></a></div>Lovely bright paintwork which is often a sign that the pub is still thriving.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;">I can't seem to find any information about when the <b>Sir Charles Napier</b> will be reopening, but their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSirCharlesNapier0" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page seems to be active and promoting other local pubs and businesses.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZevGRoEj3jpaffG1c4usApB9HBfKkpjgNWnoKFmptLh25kaMOPuRo50e-Fubto47-rb03XPwTAXcIae8TR5ko6qqXfX8v5h2aElrFgim-qKSJ38drYlG-LKwyjH6Iq6MJSZjnkeKGL1j/s2048/Sir+Charles+Napier+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZevGRoEj3jpaffG1c4usApB9HBfKkpjgNWnoKFmptLh25kaMOPuRo50e-Fubto47-rb03XPwTAXcIae8TR5ko6qqXfX8v5h2aElrFgim-qKSJ38drYlG-LKwyjH6Iq6MJSZjnkeKGL1j/w640-h426/Sir+Charles+Napier+2021.jpg" title="Sir Charles Napier, Highgate 2021" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;">This is how it looks in 2021. </span></span>Another slight redecoration, but still looking vibrant!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><i><span style="color: black;"> </span></i><span style="color: black;">As I've been writing this I wondered, "Who was Sir Charles Napier?" Not as simple a question as I'd hoped - it turns out, according to Wikipedia, that there were three of them!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">General Sir Charles James Napier (1782 - 1853)</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Admiral Sir Charles John Napier (1786 - 1860)<br />Captain Sir Charles Elers Napier (1812 - 1847)</span><i><span style="color: black;"></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">So, I'm still not sure who the pub is named in honour of!</span><i><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></i></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com2210 Gooch St, Birmingham B5 7HY, UK52.467902 -1.893636252.467575195707539 -1.8941726418029785 52.468228804292465 -1.8930997581970215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-75005426362047827052021-04-06T16:33:00.001+01:002021-04-06T16:33:53.608+01:00#030 Catherine O'Donovan, Highgate, Birmingham : 1998 to 2021 (RIP)<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">This will be a relatively short entry, mainly because of the lack of concrete information. Here's what I wrote in 2011: -</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;">"Back in 1998 when I took this photo the pub was called the <b>Pig & Whistle</b></span><span style="color: black;">.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdv8SeRuN8mr-i2F0fh_R-_kGtehyphenhyphenXADI-EzNflEHLqIRrCA7gzFOUX3dxiRmznjN_-UkJO9raAmy79HXx9UnLzVvz0yPV5gOCO1-9sGez2O2KMtDsLAWzoDpjeKVMXe98qQAOVPcTFXl/s2048/Pig+%2526+Whistle+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Catherine O'Donovan" border="0" data-original-height="1395" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdv8SeRuN8mr-i2F0fh_R-_kGtehyphenhyphenXADI-EzNflEHLqIRrCA7gzFOUX3dxiRmznjN_-UkJO9raAmy79HXx9UnLzVvz0yPV5gOCO1-9sGez2O2KMtDsLAWzoDpjeKVMXe98qQAOVPcTFXl/w640-h436/Pig+%2526+Whistle+1998.jpg" title="Pig & Whistle, Highgate 1998" width="640" /></a></div></span></i></span><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It is a pub I'd not been in then...and I still haven't in 2011!</i></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;">I
was somewhat surprised to see that it was still open thirteen years
later, seemingly thriving under the new name of the <b>Catherine O'Donovan</b>.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9dtugmWYIoCkNiIxgRufz24UVftnaxBKtR8Xiqfcv5F8G7OCsJiO9uOThB1k-bcdg2neOu_XKqPWrFewrp72V2aXJbAcHWLPeVK-Lh3LSn8ZDlGAWhZcErikcEMYRntlnwD_hGA5upD2/s2048/Pig+%2526+Whistle+2011a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9dtugmWYIoCkNiIxgRufz24UVftnaxBKtR8Xiqfcv5F8G7OCsJiO9uOThB1k-bcdg2neOu_XKqPWrFewrp72V2aXJbAcHWLPeVK-Lh3LSn8ZDlGAWhZcErikcEMYRntlnwD_hGA5upD2/w640-h480/Pig+%2526+Whistle+2011a.JPG" title="Catherine O'Donovan, Highgate 2011" width="640" /></a></div></span></i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">It
is quite remarkable that it has changed so little from the outside. I
assume that it has been redecorated since 1998, but the owners/tenants
have kept to the same colour scheme."</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">I did pass by in 2018 and took this photo from the other angle.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsLlX1VT7C_pMr3G8sbcXK5Fb1JuUVB6zPlZyBhOJ0-IJgUG0C20qmQOIp4GWD5hECQLBVEG34u4E3xHMz92Wfgpi-J3qCrUUISY2saLB-oBWtXEWAFLGMjW4q0-oIgWtEwDFXHMMiT8e/s2048/Catherine+o%2527+Donovan+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsLlX1VT7C_pMr3G8sbcXK5Fb1JuUVB6zPlZyBhOJ0-IJgUG0C20qmQOIp4GWD5hECQLBVEG34u4E3xHMz92Wfgpi-J3qCrUUISY2saLB-oBWtXEWAFLGMjW4q0-oIgWtEwDFXHMMiT8e/w640-h426/Catherine+o%2527+Donovan+2018.jpg" title="Catherine O'Donovan, Highgate 2018" width="640" /></a></div>Largely unchanged in the intervening seven years (redecorated, no hanging sign), but, from what I can gather from t'internet, it was already closed by then.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><br /> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Moving on to 2021 and the <b>Catherine O'Donovan</b> is still in the same state as previously!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwiZ7YD-cveNGrLJXwPvGaEo_MO3CdGk6ims-cl0PnAevAvOOJXEvB410eqp96OvnaAtpFbKK43zIqaSsQp3C0J4BBq1Di6nU2SeOfU5SnbnQAzAoVsnIQP9zH3VL_bZLzQmGlgl5qF1t/s2048/Catherine+o%2527+Donovan+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwiZ7YD-cveNGrLJXwPvGaEo_MO3CdGk6ims-cl0PnAevAvOOJXEvB410eqp96OvnaAtpFbKK43zIqaSsQp3C0J4BBq1Di6nU2SeOfU5SnbnQAzAoVsnIQP9zH3VL_bZLzQmGlgl5qF1t/w640-h426/Catherine+o%2527+Donovan+2021.jpg" title="Catherine O'Donovan, Highgate 2021" width="640" /></a></div>If it is closed, it's very strange not to see it boarded up, I can only assume that the premises are still occupied (but I'm guessing!).</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><br /> In the modern era (pre-pandemic) it's not too surprising that it had closed down, being the only pub on a street exclusively made up of industrial premises, but it is nice to see it preserved (museum-like) showing a fine example of a back-street boozer in a purely industrial setting.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Postscript: as I was researching the rather sparse details on the <b>Catherine O'Donovan</b>, I did come across a little bit of it's earlier histroy and it was once called <b>The Beehive Inn</b> - picture <a href="http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/warwickshire/birmingham_b5_beehive.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></i></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;"></span></i></span></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com297 Bissell St, Birmingham B5 7HQ, UK52.469384899999987 -1.892211552.469058107016593 -1.8927479418029785 52.469711692983381 -1.8916750581970214tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618089051639368879.post-53408390982390102242021-04-01T16:06:00.001+01:002021-04-01T23:07:58.751+01:00#062 Town Crier, Digbeth, Birmingham : 1998 to 2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The<b> Town Crier </b>is still a pub that I've never been inside, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">but despite that, it seems to be surviving OK! Here's what I wrote back in 2011: -</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">"This is a pub I've never been inside although I've passed by on many occasions. This is how it looked in 1998.</span></span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span></span></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QZjx73EqicbXpFW2F7gHgX8LnY2YKZSdTuBCXwSQPvsI-zxJtt-VnqBUc31hC-kGqH7SYQoBgAcBcIzdzEebcoXtEHhM2V21eyCx65a42MPPwBFXBatKbEs93wy-yhpn7PKXLH8Yb-Co/s2048/Town+Crier+1998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QZjx73EqicbXpFW2F7gHgX8LnY2YKZSdTuBCXwSQPvsI-zxJtt-VnqBUc31hC-kGqH7SYQoBgAcBcIzdzEebcoXtEHhM2V21eyCx65a42MPPwBFXBatKbEs93wy-yhpn7PKXLH8Yb-Co/w640-h436/Town+Crier+1998.jpg" title="Town Crier, Digfbeth 1998" width="640" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">A rather unprepossessing appearance, but surprisingly it has survived into 2011!</span></span></span></span></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span></span></span></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mIdZPynCmPg8cv-zsFe7yz8DkG9Yw1q0BESdHi8Rvg-oRmO2hcM97WzzCaSAR6T3Nq1X1S8GYPus_PZSi94LzQUvbclejpG01KMbiZrox56KXj4GAWMjPsqfUIW7VCahuJspBLGbVpNb/s2048/Town+Crier+2011c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mIdZPynCmPg8cv-zsFe7yz8DkG9Yw1q0BESdHi8Rvg-oRmO2hcM97WzzCaSAR6T3Nq1X1S8GYPus_PZSi94LzQUvbclejpG01KMbiZrox56KXj4GAWMjPsqfUIW7VCahuJspBLGbVpNb/w640-h480/Town+Crier+2011c.jpg" title="Town Crier, Digbeth 2011" width="640" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Quite a few
external changes have occurred in the intervening thirteen years. Most
notably, it was an M&B pub and now it is Banks's. The Off Licence
(or 'outdoor' as we Brummies call it!) is closed and boarded up and the
windows have been replaced. Apart from that, there have been signage and
other changes as well.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Apart from that I don't have much more information.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;">This is the twenty-ninth in my 'Birmingham Eastside' series."</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;">One reason for its continuing success, that i didn't know in 2011, is that the interior of the <b>Town Crier</b> is on the <a href="https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk/pubs/10180" target="_blank">Regional CAMRA Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors</a>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;">I revisited (for photographic purposes) in January 2018 and this was the scene.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBk2AQnG4Krlxy1kJJ_1DOdSZIQwLS_UB2uER3oUctb7d-Pp2zKyccf2O9kWSmVbUR4JR0MZW5IEfWSPIU-5ifnd6xQejuG6KDa7UurTglu0sRVDsggq9xUj_96vHWLcgbEYP9V55ZE7VC/s2048/Town+Crier+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBk2AQnG4Krlxy1kJJ_1DOdSZIQwLS_UB2uER3oUctb7d-Pp2zKyccf2O9kWSmVbUR4JR0MZW5IEfWSPIU-5ifnd6xQejuG6KDa7UurTglu0sRVDsggq9xUj_96vHWLcgbEYP9V55ZE7VC/w640-h426/Town+Crier+2018.jpg" title="Town Crier, Digbeth 2018" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some superficial changes have taken place over the years...seemingly an equal split between design choices and general decay. On our Proper Pubs Day Out later in 2018, the <b>Town Crier</b> wasn't on our itinerary, but one of our party did take a detour to pay a visit. Sheffield Hatter's review can be found <a href="https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/37909/" target="_blank">here on the Pubs Galore website</a>. This was when I found out about the heritage of the <b>Town Crier</b>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />So, we move on to early 2021 and this is how the pub looks at the moment.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyTSdbdshuPy0isQ1N6AgB3zHDqaCBaBVwF6lcoLScTItREOpGQCAhZmljdsG4O4aZTc3cellVdZBzlk4k5vgnBN_KhyphenhyphenfjjAvzgxDj-M4qv8NviwR6JuaVO0iIowcMwAJYcMYhgdWXQnU/s2048/Town+Crier+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyTSdbdshuPy0isQ1N6AgB3zHDqaCBaBVwF6lcoLScTItREOpGQCAhZmljdsG4O4aZTc3cellVdZBzlk4k5vgnBN_KhyphenhyphenfjjAvzgxDj-M4qv8NviwR6JuaVO0iIowcMwAJYcMYhgdWXQnU/w640-h426/Town+Crier+2021.jpg" title="Town Crier, Digbeth 2021" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is difficult to discern whether the Town Crier is still a going concern or whether it will reopen when the current lockdown is over. I suspect that it will as it has proven to be a survivor over the past few years (but I can find no confirmation either way!)</span></span><i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br /></span></i></div>PetesQuizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13620433090438752385noreply@blogger.com234 MacDonald St, Birmingham B5 6TG, UK52.47 -1.891388952.469673214094271 -1.8919253418029784 52.470326785905726 -1.8908524581970214