Lots of variety now, as I spend a day ticking Bristol pubs on the way to the glory that is completing Gloucestershire for the very first time. One day, BRAPA will know how this feels.
Some questions for me to answer;
- Would I be the only afternoon customer ? (not quite)
- Would the beer raise my NBSS average for the county of 3.07? (no)
- Would I see something quintessentially Bristolian ? (oh, yes)
- Would I see succumb to the Mexican Burrito ? (sadly, no)
The OS extract is a tale of two halves.
First stop, Shirehampton, a place I’ve only ever seen from the other shore at Pill before. No-one else alighted on the 11.37 stop; I assume they were all on their way to Avonmouth and certain oblivion. Or the Sewage Works Nature Reserve.
Shirehampton is a dull village within a gorgeous frame.
The Lamplighters is a destination pub, of sorts, surrounded by giant play areas and views of the docks. 20 years ago Mrs RM worked for a spell across the Avon at Easton in Gordano, but I doubt she swam the river to tick the pub before me.
It’s stately rather than quirky, more De Beauvoir Town than Bedminster, and I assume it gets a lot of lunchtime trade from Mums and Grandmums.
I can say that with confidence; they were playing T’Pau’s “China in your hand” when I walked in, and not in an ironic way either.
A solid and probably excessive range of beers awaited.
The cash machine wasn’t working (if only they’d let Brunel design it) and I couldn’t pay, despite having worked out it was £1.80 in 0.3 seconds.
“I’m sorry”
So I had the slight embarrassment of having to pretend to sip a beer I clearly wasn’t going to finish (NBSS 2), unable to leave the premised for fear of a Peel-like incident.
Finally the till clicked and whirred and flashed up £1.80. I handed over £2. It wouldn’t give me change.
“Oh sorry, so so sorry” Older readers will recall these as the lyrics to a Nick Clegg song.
Finally, we had power, or internet. And I had my 20p. The outside plants had £1.33 worth of beer.
retiredmartin 
“One day, BRAPA will know how this feels” –I suspect it took great restraint for you to write “One day” instead of “In 2053.” 😉
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Don’t be cruel, Mark. 2051. And BRAPA is immortal.
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Don’t you mean immoral?
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That as well.
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Over on the ferry from the other side…I’ll be better by far in The Duke or The Star. Pill Pill, fine song by Adge.
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Ah, can never have enough Wurzels on here.
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I think the local branch may feel obliged to put it in after the campaign to save it from closure. It doesn’t really feel it was that worthwhile an enterprise considering how many pubs of far greater character have closed.The Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout I had in there a couple of years ago was pretty good though.
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i had that Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout a couple of times in the Euston Tap – that’s until I started using the Somers Town Coffee House instead.
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Never heard of it, but it seems to have burnt down recently. BBF beers I’ve had were mainly decent; in fact most brewers around that part of the world seem to be better than average.
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Thought Somers was burnt down ?
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Scott,
No, a massive fire that destroyed the roof and top floor but thankfully the ground floor, with its inter war features, and cellar weren’t really affected so the pub reopened within about a month.
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“One day, BRAPA will know how this feels.”
He probably would already know how it feels if not for his wonky knee. (LOL)
“Would I see something quintessentially Bristolian ? (oh, yes)”
Hopefully we’re talking the Cockney type of Bristolian? 🙂
“The OS extract is a tale of two halves.”
I like Ham Green (just southeast of The Lamplighters). All that’s missing is the Eggs. 😉
“but I doubt she swam the river to tick the pub before me.”
Too bad. That would be right up there with Hero and Leander.*
* – ooh! Maybe that’s why it’s called The Lamplighters. 🙂
“So I had the slight embarrassment of having to pretend to sip a beer I clearly wasn’t going to finish ”
Ouch. Talk about adding insult to injury. 😦
“Older readers will recall these as the lyrics to a Nick Clegg song.”
Older readers in the UK maybe. 😉
Cheers
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Al tell thee what, tha can keep thi GBG pub ticking game for me if all tha gets is shite ale!
Mind say, when i lived darn theer in t’ 80’s it were all pretty shite. Ar used to sup in t’pub cross rooad from t’brewery and it wa still shite in theer!
I understand that things have moved on now, at least they had last time I visited, perhaps not in the pubs you are undertaking to tick off your list. I would stick to the ‘trendy’ ones in the centre where you are guaranteed a tasty drink – may be keg.
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Nice Duran Duran song title in the intro there….
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