So is there nothing you won’t write about, retiredmartin ?
Oh no, I know you all want to read about the beer selection at my latest funeral (I never get invited to weddings, oddly).
All roads have led to Peterborough this year; this one led to the Crematorium, for the second time in 3 years. Another relative lost far too soon.
I’ll spare you the details, but the only song at the servbody left to the strains of Phil Collins.
Quite what you’ve done to deserve a video of Phil I can’t guess.
Onto the Fitzwilliam Arms in Marholm, a Vintage Pub (Mitchells & Butler) that probably gets most of its business from mourners.
The sort of thatched “destination” pub that Peterborough does quite well (as you head towards Rutland, anyway).
Vintage arguably laid the groundwork for Brunning & Price, running some ancient pubs with relaxed but higher quality grazing than Whitbread ever managed.
I haven’t seen this sign for a while;
Now, if I’d been ticking this pub and was turned away from a wake, as in Gidea Park and Upminster recently, I’d be miffed.
But the Fitzwilliam can accommodate a large group of family and friends, and a warm buffet, without upsetting the Gentle Folk regulars who travel out from north Peterborough and Stamford for their Hunter’s Pie and Rose.
So what would our group drink ? Mainly coffee, of course, but a surprising number of the blokes went for the Doom Bar, obviously judging Pedigree a bit weird (Black Sheep was off). I didn’t as the mourners for NBSS scores, but it seemed to be going down well, being our No.1 real ale.
I took my Pedigree into the garden.
Now, there’s a few folk who comment on this blog who would have you believe that the glass makes no difference to the taste of a beer. THEY ARE HERETICS.
It was a decent Pedi, easily NBSS 3, but would have “breathed” outside the Ghost Ship glass, and wouldn’t have converted the Doom Bar drinker. It enjoyed the shade under this tree though.
Marholm is a tiny village, with a quite magnificent church approached past scary cows.
retiredmartin 
“THEY ARE HERETICS”. You are so right. They must burn. BURN THE HERETICS.
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I like you, Bill.
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At the start of this heat wave I had three pints of Pedigree in the garden of my nearest Marston’s pub, after walking down from Beacon Hill, and was reminded how, especially with a bit of a breeze, the fresh air can really bring out a hoppy aroma and enhance enjoyment of the beer.
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Mr Mudgie that may be the most poetic comment I have ever seen about hops and beer.
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He is a giant of pubs, isn’t he ? You must meet up.
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We had the pleasure in Burton and Bradford. Stafford someday…
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Of course. How could I forget (and Leeds)’
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Well, if there’s two things I’ve learnt during 47 years of drinking beer it’s
(a) that fresh air can really bring out a hoppy aroma and enhance enjoyment of the beer and so it’s best drinking outside unless the weather’s terrible and/or the pub’s on the National Inventory of Pub Interiors of Historic Interest and
(b) that our taste buds are far more active earlier in the day so it’s best using pubs in the morning rather than the afternoon, and evenings are most certainly best avoided
– yet try telling that to the hipster drinkers of today.
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To Dick & Dave – those pints of Batham outside the Old Waggon & Horses in Bewdley last year were certainly aided by fresh air and Outlaw banter !
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I believe that to be true.
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That was a good pint along with some hot air.
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👍
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Glad they had the little jars by the pumps. How else would you have known what colour Pedigree and Doom Bar were!
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What a quaint old “Proper village sign” with a tractor where we might expect to see a mobility scooter.
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Don’t you get mobility tractors for rural use?
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“Posh – more interesting than you think”
Wait, there’s a New England smack dab in the middle of Peterborough? Is that some (semi) secret American enclave?
“Bench seating”
I can’t decide whether that used to be some sort of snug or an old priest hole.
“A tree for my Pedigree”
I see with glee and agree with a oui. 🙂
“Run !!!!”
You have a thing about cows don’t you? 😉
“Rest In Peace”
My condolences. 😦
Cheers
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Cows have a thing about me.
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Is that the famous Leaning Angel Marker of Marholm?
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That’s it, used in the Doctor Who episode “Blink” of course.
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Nice to see you getting a drop of the good stuff albeit in darkly humorous fashion!!
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