That was our lot in Glasgow, but as you’ll see below the sun never sets on Glasgow at the end of June.
Iron and Wine come from the complex but delicate end of Americana; the Old Boys in the Laurieston would probably approve. Even if they wouldn’t recognise their most famous tune (PARENTAL ADVISORY: Contains Robert Pattinson).
But Iron & Wine are a Proper Group that don’t play their best known tunes anymore, so I am sorry Mrs RM chose to ask “Was that the one from Twilight ?” after every song.
To be honest, all I heard was “Sorry” as the seated venue succumbed to the problem of folk in the middle of the row wanting a pint or a wee half-way through. Just like at the Etihad. Seats should be banned.
The beer selection at the O2 was worse than sorry. Just your stock social club lagers (not Sam Smiths). You’d find better in the shell of the Sou’Wester.
In the toilets, which really were a toilet, a poor chap was standing at the basins attempting to sell Chupa Chups.
Let me tell you, a toilet is no place to attempt to see Chupa Chups.
Back at the Central Station, we seemed to have just enough time for a nightcap in the Crystal Palace, one of many, many Spoons.
And, (it’s a miracle !), the chap in front of me had the Spitfire Gold. I asked him, just to make sure.
Well, it was beyond undrinkable, even though it wasn’t vinegar. I’d paid full price too (last voucher used in Ayr),which made it even worse. Mrs RM was glad I got her some nice reliable craft keg, which was as good as the tap clip suggests.
Sorry to finish on a downer about Scottish cask, but the pubs were crackers.
Which reminds me. I asked you to guess the average NBSS across the 23 pubs on our Scottish tour. The answer was 2.73. Make what you will of that. If it hadn’t been for the pint in the Crystal Palace it would probably have been 4.11.
We arrived back in Ayr at 11.57pm. And Flames Tandoori still made us late-night pakoras. They are heroes.
NEXT UP – YORK
retiredmartin 
It’s not often you will get empathy from myself, but I am sincerely pleased to hear that you are leaving Scotland and returning to GOC. Not sure what it is about Scotland? I mean I really, really love Edinburgh, but the rest? Beautiful countryside, dour (their word) architecture and I could really like the people, but they don’t like me so we bounce around inside Boutari’s box. Message me and I’ll get a bus through to York (unless you’ve been already and these posts are nearly 3 months old?).
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1996. The Magnet is drinking we. Still ahead of BRAPA, mind you.
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?
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🍼
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Ever considered why the Scots don’t like you?
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I guess most of the reasons are historic ones. The operative word for me being ‘historic’ so please don’t take it out on me – I wasn’t there, I didn’t do it and I would have done things entirely differently If I had been there.
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I find the Scots as friendly and generous as anyone. Similarly, I’ve no idea why everyone assumes the English don’t get on with the Welsh, always found them and their country tops.
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O2 only puts in the seats for “appropriate” acts.
Do any music venues above bar/club size sell decent beer in the UK?
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Not that I’m aware. Brudenell and student union in Leeds sizeable and both great.
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The Sage, Gateshead always has a couple of decent local cask beers on, sometimes even having their own brewed by Wylam and others.
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Your mention of “the Old Boys in the Laurieston” reminds me that some of them are proper old as one of them in there five years ago was telling me about his service in the Second World War.
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The Second world war against craft beer, surely .
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Sadly your travels around Blighty reads like a lament for decent cask beer.
The word undrinkable seems to crop up almost as many times as you having to find a potted plant in which to dispose of more vinegar.
Great pubs serving great beer are about as rare as a Theresa May funny one-liner.
Say it ain’t so young Martin.
Prof ( your name facitlity has disappeared again.)
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It’s the Spanish, messing with your head, Prof. I’m just about to tip a half away in Wotton under Edge as I read your comment 😱
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Was in “The Crystal Palace” a few months ago. Seem to recall that it will be closing temporarily at some point as part of its conversion to a ‘Spoons hotel. That will comprise the extension being built to the side and some unused space upstairs.
I have always found the guest ales in “The Crystal Palace” to be OK. But if you will choose to drink ale brewed in Kent whilst in Scotland ! Or is Spitfire now brewed in Wolverhampton too ?
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Really enjoyed that Iron and Wine track; though I’ve heard a song or two by the band, I’d never heard that one. Which I gather reveals I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a Twilight movie!
I think the image of a fellow trying to sell Chupa Chups in a toilet could be used, quite successfully, in a scene by an up-and-coming independent filmmaker as a metaphor for capitalism. 😉
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Never seen Twilight either, sorry to say !
Simon would have taken footage of Chupa Chup Chap. But not me.
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