Back to Northampton, where Mr Coldwell is racing ahead.
I thought I might summarise the Northampton pubs in a couple of posts, but I seem to have found the town more photogenic than expected. Like the art deco church.
The next part of the crawl was the tricky one, corralling ten of us up the hill to the Olde England on the edge of town.
It turned out that despite health issues Paul Mudge walked rather faster than any of us when a pub was in sight.
So I had to be quick about getting a photo of this unique yellow triangle, a reminder of the days when Midlands mixologists added lemon juice to Draught Bass.
The Olde England was my must-see, but I couldn’t actually remember why, beer score apart.
Ah, that’s why.
It’s a medieval theme pub.
We had to walk up some stairs to a bar without handpumps, causing some consternation amongst traditionalists.
No-one else in the pub, oddly, so we had the baronial hall to ourselves. Which gave us plenty of space to play Captain Bones’ Gold.
I’m no fan of private dining rooms, preferring the bustle of a public bar, but it meant I got to talk to Mrs RM over a pint of Summer Lightning (NBSS 4), clearly the best choice on gravity on a hot day, but some folk never learn.
It’s a good job the Beer & Pubs Forum can talk the hind legs off a donkey, with no other customers and no eighties soundtrack to overanalyse.
The barmaid was one of several Northampton stars on the day, (though she was from Pontefract), recommending other pubs, cheerfully offering cellar tours to Richard and answering complex beer-related questions.
“What’s the boar called ?”
“Barry“. Of course he is.
“What do you think of the beer ?” How many bar staff ask that ?
“Really good. NBSS 4” I said, honestly.
She never asked what I thought of the snack selection.
retiredmartin 
The Summer Lightning was my second best pint of the day (quality and personal taste) and I really liked The Olde England (Ghost and all).
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Did you see the ghost or was that only at the 12th pub ?
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To be fair, although Sam told me that they had seen a cask move a fair distance on the CCTV, I wasn’t picking anything up, even in the cellar.
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We are waiting on Pubcurmudgeon’s review of the Ploughmans.
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Is the Jesus Centre reminds me of the art deco car repair place on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Is it a similar idea where you get your religious MOT while you wait?
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Excellent thinking. Don’t forget the Art Deco garage in Woodville, Derbys.
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The beer list really offers a lot of choice and variety.
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Yes, and served at really good temperature. Hope it’s busier later on.
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It better be to sell that much stout. Rather amazing to have two based on what I normally see at this time of year. Pale ale after pale ale..
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Less than a week, Dave 😉
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Pre trip jitters have started….
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Or, “far too many beers”. Although they did stock them all in pins, which should help.
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I’m going to Northampton this August, useful tips
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Loads of good stuff on BeerLeeds and Pub Curmudgeon from our trip. Don’t miss the (free) shoe museum.
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Are you not going to do a write-up of the Wig & Pen?
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I wrote up Wig & Pen on 13 May (” Follow the Bass braces”; then had to leave the Northants write-up till today due to lack of a laptop in Wales. So you’ve an excuse for being confused.
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Ah yes, I’ve drunk a few pints since then.
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#PubMan
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Is that all to do with Brexit – laptops not allowed in Wales ?
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Um. He said the B word. Actually, forgot to take my mouse and too tight to buy one.
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Love the pub underground map. 🙂
“Ah, that’s why.”
I can see why he looks dejected. The war’s over and he’s back to “yes dearing” around the kitchen (note the oven mitt). 😉
“It’s a medieval theme pub.”
Medieval indeed. You could hold one of those Knight’s dinner thingies in the baronial hall, complete with chucking chicken bones over your shoulder and calling out to the wench for more ale. 🙂
“clearly the best choice on gravity on a hot day, but some folk never learn.”
I would follow your lead at least 90% of the time. 😉
“cheerfully offering cellar tours to Richard”
I’m glad you added the beer-related questions rather than just stopping at Richard’s name. 😉
“What’s the boar called ?”
I think Basil or Bramwell would’ve been a better choice. 🙂
Cheers
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Did you ever try Summer Lightning while over here ? A great beer that Mrs RM and I fell for in the ’90s, even if it’s seen as old hat these days.
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In my opinion, Summer Lightning was the best beer of the 1990’s, whether cask or bottle conditioned. I am sure that many current stand-out ales – such as Hophead from Dark Star – were inspired by it.
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That’s interesting. Certainly it was the Plum Porter or Citra of its time. Spoiled by being served a couple of degrees too warm, and rarely seen as a guest these days.
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I haven’t been to the UK since the early 80’s so sadly can’t remember. 😊
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😦
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I wasn’t hanging about because it was after noon, we had still got nine pubs to do, 9pm is my usual bedtime and you had said something about going for a curry.
That charity box in front of Richard has the only one eyed guide dog I have ever seen.
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I like a man (or woman) who doesn’t hang about.
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No time Toulouse !
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“No time Toulouse !”
Another Python fan! 👍
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A ten man squad drinking 👍 a yellow bass triangle 👍 a great looking boozer 👍 usual witty irreverent top notch posting 👍
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No, we’ve been revitalised and it’s a seven man and three woman drinking squad now.
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I like that – a good sign of the times
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