Contrary to popular belief, I don’t do this blog just to keep Russ out of trouble, keeping him indoors drafting “witty” responses.
Writing this rubbish is therapeutic, apparently, and trying to match photos to scruffy notes and construct a narrative invigorating.
Next up, Dunbar. Yes, the Dunbar just visited by Duncan.
Lucky Dunbar, two pub obsessives visiting the famous rocks in May.
Duncan is a GBG athlete and cycles here, possibly from Sicily. I take the 20 minute train from Edinburgh with a can of Irn Bru and a bar of haggis chocolate.
Despite the fast train link, Dunbar lacks the tourist hordes that North Berwick enjoys, which means less chance of me bumping into pushchairs and schoolchildren on the attractive high street.
There’s some very strange art in the shops.
As well as the classic Scottish tiling. I enjoyed a gloppy macaroni pie (£1) from the co-operative deli, only later finding out to my horror it contained my entire weekly calories.
Two pubs to sprint to in Dunbar. First up, some Belhaven in Belhaven, an exciting 20 minute macaroni pie aided jog to the brewery.
Oh, it’s closed.
Very closed.
A quick look on the Facebook page told a tale. “Sorry, this content isn’t available at the moment“.
Perhaps just as well, as WhatPub gives me two warnings;
WARNING: Real ale occasionally unavailable.
NOTE: Return Trays (AKA Autovacs /Beer Economisers) in use.
Looking back now I see a further warning about impending refurbishment. Be warned Simon.
Now, you might wonder how a pub closed for refurbishment with unpredictable ale availability and return trays can be in the Guide when the Coopers Arms isn’t. You might, I couldn’t possibly comment. And I love the autovac.
retiredmartin 
A tin man eating a car is great art!
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I believe car eating is a national sport in the Lothians, Dan.
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Only deep fried cars.
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You beat me to use of that title pic- it’s superb to see it unchanged and implicitly celebrated since 1952. Lovely place, Dunbar.
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Dunbar in next post, very lovely.
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The GBG should have a nationally approved subs bench.
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You mean like Russ ?
He’s always subbing Martin’s copy.
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We should just put all the pubs on the Wickingman Bass list in a big hat, draw out 500, and they can constitute the GBG.
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“I don’t do this blog just to keep Russ out of trouble, keeping him indoors drafting “witty” responses.”
Maybe not the MAIN reason, but… 🙂
“What is this ?”
The Tin Man from Oz, obviously. It’s well known that he saved a mouse from a wildcat. 😉
“I enjoyed a gloppy macaroni pie (£1) from the co-operative deli, only later finding out to my horror it contained my entire weekly calories.”
Well, there’s both poverty and anorexia solved in one go!
“NOTE: Return Trays (AKA Autovacs /Beer Economisers) in use.”
I had to look up what a return tray autovac was. (puzzled look)
Cheers
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Ah ! The Tin Man. Of course. That story was set in Scotland, wasn’t it ?
Shouldn’t have laughed at the dietary advice, but did 😉
Those return trays ( beer that pours over the side is recycled is new to me too). CAMRA here have been obsessing over it this year. Personally, I reckon it adds something to the creaminess of a pint, but if I fall dead in a certain Musselburgh pub you’ll know who to blame.
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Autovac? I’m none the wiser Martin? The Coopers needs to shorten it’s opening hours to get in…a schoolboy error
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In layman terms, when the beer is pulled and spills over the edge of the glass, it’s collected in a bucket and sent back to the pump, rather than being thrown away, “Recycling slops” is the less polite explanation. I’m all for it (genuinely).
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I’ve learned something there! Acceptable practice? Does it affect the beer?
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Well, obviously you contract the Black Death or something, but on the upside the beer is a bit creamier (I think). The pub I rate in the Top 5 in the world near Edinburgh apparently uses it.
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I can cope with black death for a creamy pint!!!
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Famous Last Words…
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Martin,
That old oval cast iron sign makes me realise that many people now might now realise that Dudgeons was the old name for Belhaven. I remember in 1973 or ’74 buying in a Stafford Allied Breweries pub a pint bottle of Guinness “Bottled by Dudgeons of Dunbar”.
Scotland’s a bit far for me but it was reassuring in Bradford yesterday to learn that Autovacs are alive and well in Yorkshire. I heard it said once that both Scotland and Yorkshire have something of a reputation for not being wasteful, be it of money, beer or probably anything else.
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Yes, both consistent with recycling mantra and somehow ensuring a creamy pint. Perhaps that’s where Tetley lost their way.
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