If all else fails, fall back on alliteration.
Tim T and I made for Pub 4, leaving Mrs RM to buy some shopping from UniQlo that she’s since discovered she needs to take back (hopefully not to Oxford).
I assured Tim I knew the way to the Turf, but of course I didn’t really.
Our starting point was quite prophetic.
But at least the route took us part some characterful buildings.
We approached the Turf from the east, still unclear, until Google Maps started beeping at me.
There is a blackboard marking the alley leading to the Turf; it probably says “Prosecco 50 yards” or something.
And there it is;
Ah,the Turf Tavern, famous for historic visitors like Smokin’ Bill, Guzzlin’ Bob,and Old Rosie, who I don’t recall.
Tim had been a bit reluctant to revisit the Turf, perhaps not just because of the promise of G****e K**g, but it turned out to be my pub of the day.
A mix of folk of all ages, great hats,
questionable beer names (not the 6X),
and no GK IPA, oddly. In fact, a pedestrian beer range by revitalised CAMRA standards.
Wadworth 6X works for me, and for most of the group. Somewhere between NBSS 3.5 and 4, a cool, complex, malty joy of a pint.
Just look at it,
Quite how our group managed to find the last table in the house, I’ll never know. Mostly diners, but certainly not all, and few table reservations I saw.
Paul Mudge was impressed with the beer, and he lives close to the 6X stronghold at High Offley. Paul it was who provided the Bass badges, a sacred moment.
Like the Anchor, great outside toilets too !
I’d be tempted to put the Turf in my Top 100 pubs, but then I’d have to leave out something like the Sun in Stockton, and you’ll know what that sells.
Still, an essential visit.
retiredmartin 
Why is that chap wearing the hairless badger’s head? Has he used the badger hair for a stick-on beard?
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The Anchor certainly does have outside toilets. The Turf Tavern was my pub of the day too 😀
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corrected before the Anchor takes me to court !
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I do not see anything nice about going to an outside toilet,when drinking in a nice warm pub.
They got rid of outside toilets for housing when i was a kid and the outside toilets at the junior school i went to went when they pulled the school down and built a new one with nice inside toilets back in the early 70s.
Is this a Camra thing about liking outside toilets and having no music or TVs no pool tables,just drink and get cold and wet when you want a *iss.
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Alan,
No, it’s just that the proper fresh air makes you appreciate the hop aroma of your 6X when you return to it.
Inside toilets, like microwave ovens, are one of the more regrettable innovations of the 1970s.
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Alan, having met theothermudgie (Paul) a few times now, I’m still not sure if he has a drier sense of humour than me 😉
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I presume then that you have an outside toilet at your house,as it would be so nice to go outside in the middle of the night and get some fresh air.
I am pleased to say that all pubs in Stapleford have inside toilets.
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Good point Alan.
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I’ve no problem with outside lavs, provided they are clean and well kept. A good outside shithouse is imminently preferable to a stinking, filthy inside one; there are sadly lots of them out there.
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Martin – you’re all over the place in the second par.
Either all that alliteration went to your head or you’re easing Russ gently into the week but get a grip man.
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Phew, you saved me from a Russ rollicking there, Prof, and no mistake,
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Sadly I missed all the kerfuffle, owing in part to my mother, my sister and my brother, in that order.
But surely it would a Russ remonstrate vice a rollicking? 🙂
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Martin,
No, not a drier sense of humour than you, always deadly serious me.
Alan,
You won’t believe how many estate agents I went round but not one of them was offering a house in or near Stafford with a proper outside brick shithouse. That’s why I like to get to the Anchor and Turf Tavern as often as I can.
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There you go, Alan, he’s always deadly serious.
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And of course there was the unforgettable GBG description from the 1970s of the Crown in Stockport: “Awesome view of the viaduct from the outside gents’.”
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When did it go ?
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I think when the pub was refurbished and slightly opened out in the late 80s. All of those rooms used to have their own doors.
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Yes, indeed, I remember it well, “Spotless museum piece with awesome view of viaduct from outside gents”, not that there were quite as many Birmingham trains going over the viaduct back then.
Sadly it’s not quite as “spotless” now as it’s “increasingly scruffy and in need of TLC”
– with apologies for digressing from Oxford.
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Any digression that leads to Stockport is always allowable, indeed encouraged.
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Probably just as well there were less trains, as the view of the outside gents from the viaduct was probably much less awesome!
😉
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“questionable beer names (not the 6X),”
Since I’m over 60, Old Legover works for me; in more ways than one. 😉
“Quite how our group managed to find the last table in the house, I’ll never know. ”
Indeed! Since Mrs RM was shopping, correct?
Cheers
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Oxford is in the Midlands so you’re selling these places to me 👍 6X is a great pint
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Oxford is in the Midlands, is it ? I bet they’d disagree !
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They used to be on star soccer or its successor so good enough for me 😀
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Good point. Well made.
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I’d say Oxford is on the cusp of the South-East and the Midlands. Banbury is definitely Midlands, though.
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One thing that neither of us has remarked on so far is the lovely pair of Blue Staffies that one of the other customers had in the Turf.
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