Our first official Northampton pub (Paul Mudge always has a head start in Spoons) was the only GBG entry that opened before midday, and you know how much we like our morning openers.
Pleasingly, Paul managed to identify the former Fish, where Mrs RM and I spent a night in 1998 before buying a Ford Ka from Car Supermarket. See if you can see the clue.
There’s some handsome buildings in central Northampton, and some solid looking pubs.
Perhaps nothing stunning, but I reckon BRAPA will warm to pubs like these when he gets on to the letter “N”. In about 2043 (if it’s not all micros and the Rifle Drum then).
The Wig & Pen would have been my automatic recommendation for the town; bustling, live music, good (mainly) national beer brands, CAMRA discount (joke). And some traditional seating with plenty of space for a large group of us.
The rest of the group “ummed” and “aahed” over exotica like Hook Norton; I just went for the IPA.
We spent a good 45 minutes reintroducing ourselves, which isn’t strictly necessary when we’re all called Peter, Paul and Mary, but that’s the British for you.
The music lurched from “Come on Eileen” by Dexy’s to whatever Beyoncé was singing about (something about hair), with a Bauhaus tribute no doubt planned for later.
I guarantee Simon will enjoy his 27.5 minutes here, whether or not it coincides with football or dreadful rugby fans tipping up.
But the star turn came from Jon, on day release from Devizes, who taunted us with a pair of Bass braces bought dead cheap from a local charity shop that morning.
I eyed them lustily, but Jon wasn’t selling. Cyndi Lauper began to sing the strangely appropriate “She Bop”, and it was time to move on. Perhaps we’d stumble across a Pedigree pashmina en route to the Olde England.
retiredmartin 
Great stuff, these braces.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scrap the beer, just make braces and mirrors. Bit like the Ramones just make T-shirts these days.
LikeLike
Joey loved a pint of #DraughtBass. Always knocked it back in less than 3 minutes.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Wig and Pen is a really nice looking pub. Nice way to start the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Stockport standards these pubs can seem a but plain, but in a world of diners and brewery bars and micros a plain pub is a thing of joy.
LikeLike
In terms of “pubbiness”, the Wig & Pen was my favourite of the day. They also had a screen showing funny cat videos 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d agree with that, best all-rounder. Some people pick up on cat videos more than others !
LikeLike
“9 on the list, we did 11”
Forgot to look closely on the previous post. By gum, it looks like most of the streets are named after people.
“See if you can see the clue.”
Well, I looked in ‘vane’ but I’m not sure ‘weather’ or not I found it. 😉
“In about 2043 ”
Good lord! It’s gone up 20 years in just one post!
“Someone left their daft hat on the bar”
Whoever it was probably needs those glasses to find it. 😉
“bought dead cheap from a local charity shop that morning.”
My better half loves shopping at the local thrift stores in town. Between cooking and gardening she doesn’t have to give a monkey’s if she ruins her clothing now. 🙂
Cheers
LikeLike
I put the e.t.a. for Northants up by 20 years when Fred reminded me “D” comes before “N”. The things you learn.
LikeLike
” See if you can see the clue. ”
Well,seeing as no-one else can be arsed.
The weathervane.
LikeLike
Bugger.
I now see that pesky Russ has beaten me to it.
And here was me thinking he’d still be off listening to the sound of duelling banjos
LikeLike
(whistles innocently)
As for duelling banjos, pfft. Up here in the Pacific Northwest it’s nothing but a constant “hey how are you” over and over again*. 🙂
* – I can get away with that as my better half is a paid up Native American member 😉
LikeLike
And from the black lion clearly visible on the front of the building can anyone guess the old name of the Wig & Pen ?
LikeLike
No. 72, D’Arcys @ The Grind ?
LikeLike
Simba?
LikeLike
As a side not I have to say that’s a pretty fit group of pub men.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Extended pub crawls are an under-appreciated form of exercise 😛
LikeLiked by 3 people
Racked up 10 miles during the day, surprisingly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-Music-Black-Clip-On-Trouser-Braces-Elastic-Suspenders-Handmade-UK/323028907006?hash=item4b3605f3fe:g:JT8AAOSw8A1aacBG
LikeLike
Ah. It’s not Bass, it’s a plectrum.
LikeLike
Good to see the Stockport CAMRA publication being read there, the young couple on the front of it clearly indicative of the type of new members we can now expect to see in large numbers post-Revitalisation.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The Stockport CAMRA publication was only there because someone had a rucksack full of them. I took one home and it’s a very good magazine, if a little large in format. Personally I prefer the Leeds CAMRA New Full Measure which is a handy A5 size, although the bloke who edits it is a bit of a tw@t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been looking in the mirror then ?
LikeLiked by 1 person