This is a post about irrational lust for a pub tick, the sort of obsession that only completists like BRAPA and the Pubmeister will recognise. Perhaps not quite the euphoria of the visit to the Anchor, Anchor. But close.
Patrick’s Bar wasn’t even my last tick in North-West Wales.
But it’s a town I left a year ago with a hole in my heart (and an unpinked gap in the GBG), as the eponymous owner was called away by other duties. Even the views over the Menai Strait couldn’t compensate that day.
So we made a special trip to Bangor for Patricks, Mrs RM allowing me 20 minutes while she ticked Tescos. It was further up the hill than I remember, which meant I only had 12 minutes in the pub. Mrs RM can be mean.
Patricks is a real Irish bar, one of very few in the Beer Guide. Watford used to have one that made the GBG selling Tetley and 6X years ago; obviously that sort of thing is illegal nowadays.
Very homely, though with a touch of “Tut & Shive” about the décor, to go with the actual (and rare) Tap & Spile down the hill.
“Are you Patrick ? I follow you on Twitter”
He looked a bit shocked. Or worried. But soon realised I wasn’t armed.
Pleasingly, it was ticking over with professional drinkers (no higher compliment) on a Saturday lunchtime a month before the students return, which meant the beer was in good nick.
I should have gone local, but succumbed to the Charrington IPA. As you can see, a beautifully presented pint in a place of high standards and low banter.
I can bring you a picture of the Gents, but for the ladies you’ll have to wait a while. Use your imagination. Or send me a pint of Bass.
retiredmartin 
Good pub and a good tick. Some awkward ones left unpinked there!
LikeLike
Thank you Martin .I finally got to meet you sorry the beer was in the wrong glass ..
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a gorgeous glass !
LikeLike
Who brews Charrington’s IPA, and where? Presumably another resurrected beer, brought back from the dead?
When this beer was still brewed at Charrington’s original brewery, in London’s Mile End, it was a good quaffing bitter. Following the closure of the latter, IPA was shunted around a number of Bass breweries in the Midlands; including the M&B plant at Cape Hill, Birmingham. It was never as good, as it had that sweetness often associated with Midlands beers.
I’m surprised to see it available once more, but with the likes of Trumans, Lacon’s and Bullards all making a comeback who knows. Perhaps Fremlins Three Star, or even their revered County Ale will once again grace the bars of Kentish pubs.
LikeLike
Brewed in Burton at the Natonal Brewery Centre according to this.
http://protzonbeer.co.uk/features/2015/12/16/cockney-classic-ipa-recreated-in-burton
LikeLike
Hendrix reference? Not sure how hard you are pushing the music theme.
LikeLike
Very hard. Do hope you didn’t see the Dylan debate earlier.
LikeLike
Just one more topic to discuss with Alan when I meet him😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Martin, I may chase different things, but the feeling of getting the metaphorical red pen out is equal. Especially when overcoming farce or previous defeat.
To be a real Irish bar. I’d suggest that the bar itself should be constructed in Ireland then shipped over, or alternatively be situated in Ireland itself. Everything else is an imitation, no matter how good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps the whole of Bangor was shipped over in time long past, Tom. Wasn’t Hull part of France once ?
LikeLike
We are Hull City
We’ll never be French*
Apart from Jon in the late 1990s. And Dancing Bernard Mendy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you miss out on the Murphy’s from the wood? Was it still settling?
LikeLike
You can’t rush a Murphy’s, as the ad probably goes.
LikeLike
It doesn’t seem like two minutes ago (a small minority of) the natives were setting fire to second homes and property owned by non Welsh folk in this part of the world and now they’ve got a fecking Irish Pub! You couldn’t write it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha !
LikeLike