Three years next month since I started this blog, and it’s pleasing to note that the post titles are getting even worse.
So are the pubs that enter the Beer Guide, by and large. But not always.
Pub No.2 on the Great Wiltshire Almost Completion (GWAC) of 2018 lies in Whitley, just outside lovely but lifeless Lacock. And the same difference outside marvellous Melksham, more evidence that small Wiltshire towns may be grim but they have the best pubs.
Sorry to those of you who were hoping for some National Trust medievality, but Lacock is a bit devoid of pubbiness.
I’m not sure the Pear Tree will meet your criteria for unspoilt boozer either.
I entered to a nu-folk soundtrack that made Mumford and Sons sound punk, and a giant letter P. P for Prosecco.
There’s a restaurant to the rear, but the pashmina brigade (one of them was called Emma, for heaven’s sake) had decided to clog up the bar, too.
The two chaps in the top photo came in and I wasn’t the only one to note the similarity with a certain Frenchman.
After what seemed an eternity but what probably only three minutes, they chose a beer. Probably the green one.
“That’s very popular” said the cheery barmaid. I made a note to order the same.
“I’m not very keen on craaaaft beers” Chap 1 said to the Marcel Marceau, “They’re too fizzy“.
It was £2.05 a half, and was (shock) unexceptional (NBSS 2.5). But the domestic dramas playing out to my left would have justified a much higher price, perhaps £2.25.
These gastro places aren’t really pubs, but they’re often a cheap way to see an unwritten Alan Ayckbourn play.
retiredmartin 
Go on, give up this drinking of rubbish beer and write a play based in a micro.
LikeLike
No-one ever wrote a play about what happened in a micro pub. “No lager, no music, no fun, just my mates”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is that a high bar or are they short chaps ?Now’t wrong with Emma as a name -my lads partner is one & she comes from Gravesend ! (by the way I rather like the look of this pub -sorry ! )
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s very Boughton Monchelsea, and you can like what you like. Viva la difference, as Marcel would say.
But Emma ? Sorry, not in a pub.
LikeLike
“but lifeless Lacock”
I’m guessing that’s French for limp. 😉
With regards to the OS map; I like how Ca(r)tridge Fm is close to Lacock, presumably to put lead in your pencil so to speak. 🙂
(yes, I read it incorrectly once again)
“had decided to clog up the bar, too.”
What? Had she done a ‘Si’ and also clogged the loo?
“and I wasn’t the only one to note the similarity with a certain Frenchman.”
Was thinking that myself. Either that or a poor imitation of Waldo.
“Probably the green one.”
Covert beer seems apropos for one named Marceau. 🙂
“These gastro places aren’t really pubs, but they’re often a cheap way to see an unwritten Alan Ayckbourn play.”
Either that or just tag along with Si. 🙂
Cheers
LikeLiked by 2 people
I had to look “Waldo” up, called Wally over here !
LikeLike
I feel like I might have a lot in common, actually, with the guy who said ““I’m not very keen on craaaaft beers.” Well, okay, it’s only the mega-hoppy IPAs that I’m heartily sick of.
I did laugh at this: “a nu-folk soundtrack that made Mumford and Sons sound punk.” I can tolerate a pub that looks like a coffee shop, but I have to draw the line at them playing anything that sounds worse than Mumford and Sons. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they were called the Cold Mumfords Play their worst B-sides.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wiltshire is one of my neighbouring counties – and after ‘dipping my toe in the water’ in Downton, clearly there’s still much to look forward to…..oh well….
:0
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, always remember I’m just visiting the “new entries” to the Beer guide, not the old favourites. There’s some corking Proper Pub in Salisbury, Calne, Warminster to enjoy. Good luck with Trowbridge 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person