Yes, Ushers. You don’t see that heading a post much these days, d’ya ?*
A hefty walk along Offa’s Dyke, for once not too muddy, takes you towards the Skirrid Inn, supposedly even older than the debate about baps v cobs.
Rather like the Royal Standard in Bucks or the Fighting Cocks, this is actually quite a convincing effort at unspoilt “Ye Olde Worlde” pubbiness, even if there’s condiments on every table.
The Trip Advisor reviews are always wonderfully instructive for tourist pubs like this, with folk disappointed the ghosts aren’t real;
“If anyone is planning to stay there because they think it’s haunted, please think again as you will be disappointed.” says Tracy G
I’m delighted to see just two beers on, one of them the enigmatic Box Steam (why ?).
Luckily I’d returned to my senses after my microbrew aberration; the Butty was cool, rich, better than NBSS 3.
And there were as many drinkers as foodies, though the debate about the exact form of the chocolate cake (er, chocolate and cake) persisted long into the night.
Two Boyos at the bar realised they’d just become Tour de France experts and argued about the relevance of the ceremonial stage.
Sadly, they did this to the strains of “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons, a crime against nature, never mind music.
Outside, a group of Londoners (probably) stood by their car, staring at each other, debating who would say “Goodbye” first. They could tell I wanted a photo, but they just stood there.
Perhaps they were ghosts.
*Because it was rubbish
retiredmartin 
“A hefty walk along Offa’s Dyke”
You’re not planning on walking back to Bar 236 in Prestatyn are you?
“The oldest pub in Wales”
I can tell by the size of the weeds. 😉
“Note beer list on parchment on walls”
Or, in your current heat, it could be a list of beers that have died in the cask. (a bit like Asgard or Valhalla).
“Just for Mudgie…”
That’s actually quite cosy.
“Just like it was in 1372 except for the beermats”
Understandable; BBM’s not THAT old! (LOL)
“Perhaps they were ghosts.”
They’re pale enough. 🙂
Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Weeds growing on pubs – a good thing ?
Actually, I always did have a full Offa’s Dyke walk planned. Some day.
LikeLike
I did it in six days from Prestatyn to Chepstow but that was nearly thirty years ago when I was young.
The Ushers sign will be because nobody locally has a step ladder high enough to reach it.
LikeLike
I’d always got the impression that the Skirrid Inn was a very upmarket, foody place, but maybe I’m confusing it with the Walnut Tree, which is in Llanddewi Skirrid.
Never mind the scatter cushions, why have they put a pair of plaques in that nice alcove of bench seating in the window?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t mind the scatter cushions although they could do with a couple on that alcove instead of silly plaques. What I really object to is the reserved sign.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree, but a tricky one in a “destination” village pub that visitors would travel especially to eat at (though the food’s not posh).
LikeLike
A compromise which one of my local pubs in Bristol uses is “Reserved from such and such a time”. If said time is say three hours hence, you know you can sit there with impunity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree – that’sOK
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t mind *some* reserved tables; I do mind *all* reserved tables.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s the Walnut that’s the perennial favourite in the Good Pub Guide.
I’m sure I also had them down as one and the same.
LikeLike
Perhaps the bottles of vinegar on every table are there to offer a more palatable option to the poor quality cask you had to endure recently?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve used that joke in Peebles this year (oddly, in the Spoons rather than the free house).
LikeLike
Usher’s and Box Stream? The Skirrid is probably the oldest pub in Trowbridge.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely old pub, Martin. Shame about Ushers though, especially after they regained their independence from Watney Mann.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ushers – nice sign, shame about the beer.
LikeLike
I can tell the boyos now… Darts is more of a sport than cycling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Where’s the skill and tactics in cycling ? You don’t even need to be able to count like darts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed – Baron Pierre de Coubertain was clearly very middle class otherwise how do you explain cycling (drug cheats) running (Drug cheats) and sports such as shooting (!!!!) and archery (!!!!) getting in ahead of darts…cycling, like running, is a pastime
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not that I do either now but I would have thought that both darts and cycling are sports.
What isn’t sport is where something else provides the effort, such as horse racing or motor racing.
LikeLike