Via the Norton spare shop, our Beer & Pubs Forum headed onwards and sidewards to the Black Prince, sister pub to the Olde England.
You may be able to tell the familial resemblance, though the Gents owed more to the Combermere.
It’s a bit closer to town, on Northampton‘s equivalent of Cambridge’s Mill Road, and had a “mixed” crowd, in the best sense of the word.
Unlike the Olde England, it also had music. Sorry Simon, you’ve missed this;
Northampton has an underrated musical history. No, it really does. And not just Faye from Steps.
Not Freddie, but Des O’Connor, who apparently partnered Cobblers legend Ian Clarkson at some point before Des took up being the butt of Morecambe and Wise jokes. Des had the last laugh when he took his cover of (Bauhaus classic) Skye Boat Song to No. 10 in 1986. That was the only Top 10 single I didn’t buy from Parrot Records in 1986.
We entered to find locals murdering “Run“, which I guess is more Bangor than “Boot Quarter”. Mrs RM loaded Shazam and we had great fun for five minutes guessing what was playing on the jukebox (it was “Bat Out Of Hell“).
No Des on the jukebox, but I received inspiration from an unlikely quarter.
Our seats at the end of a long main room gave us a great view of the action.
“Look ! Look !” said Mrs RM, repeatedly.
“What ?”
You’ll have to look at Richard’s site to see what was animating Mrs RM*.
File under “characterful“.
Beer wise, very similar to everywhere else in town.
Which isn’t a criticism. But Marston’s Olde Empire, tucked to the left, called most of us. Not bad, but not really drinking its strength (NBSS 3 at a push).
Northampton is clearly a top musical town. Mudgie was highly tempted to stay a month amidst its charms so he could catch this cutting-edge offer.
But the pub cats of Stockport would miss him.
*See how us pub bloggers shamelessly cross-promote our silly blogs.
retiredmartin 
Please stop posting. I’m trying to do a 1500 word essay – the final piece of work for my Degree. I really want to be in bald pensive mood, as per the photo but you keep putting me off!
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I won’t post again till lunchtime, you’ll be fine. Randomwordgenerator is your friend.
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Randomwordgenerator is what my essay looks like at the minute!
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Greatest photo caption yet.
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The CAMRA discount one !?
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Yes, a most amazing photo too.
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I missed the one Richard got of the contortionist !
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I am surprised that physical flexibility surprised Mrs RM after spending the day with the group.
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“Mudgie and Olde Mudge prepare to battle for cask ale”
Via their avatars on the shelf I presume.
“Is there CAMRA discount ?”
From the looks of him, that Firestarter(d) on his head. 🙂
“But Marston’s Olde Empire, tucked to the left, called most of us. ”
After reading the history of Phipps that Richard linked to in one of his posts I think I would have plunked for their IPA.
“You’ll have to look at Richard’s site to see what was animating Mrs RM*.”
Was it the fellow attempting to be a contortionist?
Cheers
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Des was quicker than me, had a better voice, was a better footballer but I drink more Bass so I think that trumps him? More leverage to our music pubs are best option…I am going to find a punk karaoke bar and invite Rich 😉
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That’ll be somewhere on the Rhine and you can only sing Die Toten Hosen
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