Yes, I’m in a rush to finish the 2018 blogging so I can get on to my “Best Of” posts. Will that Milton Keynes Ember Inn make the cut ?
Last beer of the year, from rural South Leicestershire. Bass lives here.
The Railway in Countesthorpe was closed at 3pm when the GBG said it would be open last month.
Under the pressure of my usual interrogation, the Landlady admitted the Friday opening time was now 3.30pm. “Normally“. Another 5 minutes and I’d have caught it.
On Saturday lunchtime I had the Railway all to myself at 1pm, which just shows Countesthorpe folk think there’s better things to do with their time. They’re wrong, of course.
Three pumps, two magical beers, a choice to have one R. Coldwell gnashing his teeth in hipster beer frustration.
I admire the way the spare pump, presumably reserved for Cloudwater Passionfruit Saison, has a Christmas hat on it.
And I admire those folks at Leicester CAMRA for adding another plain boozer to the Guide in 2018.
Plain is Perfect in this case.
The landlady is perfect, too, cheery without being nosey, and leaving me to my life on Beer Twitter while she watches the extended highlights of “I’m A Celebrity“.
I ask for a cheese and onion cob.
“I’ve got a cheese and onion mix“.
It says “c + o“. But it had chicken in it. I said nothing.
The exploration revealed an attractive games room just waiting for some oik from Cambridge to play skittles and hit the ceiling with the cheese. But not me. Not today.
More sedate pub games are available for the millennial.
Little concession to modernity here, with no WiFi or card machine.
I drained the Bass, a cool pint with tight foamy head close to a NBSS 3.5.
And said goodbye to 2018.
“Thank you darling”
And with that, I opened the door to the Old Boy in the “Masters of the Universe” T-shirt.
retiredmartin 
Looks delightful – apart from that dreadful pastel-painted bar front 😮
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Yes, that’s very Leicestershire. I can overlook it. Not as classic as the Plough in Bruntingthorpe though…
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It’s the future – Marston’s patent egg shell finish blue green. Like their beers, it is ubiquitous in crap pubs (and an odd decent one) across the UK. In fifty years time beer and pub commentators and compilers of historic pub inventories will be waxing lyrical about a cheap, tongue and groove panelled bar front painted in Farrow & Ball Blue Green and lamenting the sad loss of another rare and outstanding example. Plus ça change and what goes round comes around. No doubt people said the same about the vulgar mahogany and etched glass bar backs emerging in the late 19th century.
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I would rather have a pastel-painted bar front than a jazzy carpet trying to disguise the fact that there’s nothing of note above foot level.
And proper pub games there too.
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It’s those blackboards that bug me (on the right in the top pic – “Premium Gins” etc). I suppose they provide a living for the folk who draw them, but I wish they’d hurry up and go out of fashion.
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A Hawkwind T-shirt, now we’re talking !
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I confess, Paul, I thought “Masters of the Universe” was a 1987 Sci-Fi franchise featuring Skeletor. But you may be right !
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On reflection Martin, it is probably you who is right; although in my defence your photo is a little blurred.
Given the choice of T-shirt though, I’d go for a Hawkwind one, rather than a franchise I’ve never heard of.
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The chap walked past me as I was heading for the door, I clocked “Masters of the Universe” and just turned and snapped. I have no idea, looks random.
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That photo does look as if you had only a split second to take the shot before you’d have missed your chance. Given that, it’s remarkable how in-focus it actually is!
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Thank you, Mark. I was clicking as I left the pub !
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I love Parcheesi. I imagine it would be the ultimate with a Bass.
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Didn’t know it was called that. You Americans know EVERYTHING.
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It’s Parcheesi in the US. In Europe I think it’s Ludo. You can also see it as Sorry!, Aggravation or Trouble. 🙂
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Is Ludo the Scottish singing lass who got an MBE in the New Year honours ?
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I love that last pic -he looks a character !
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What do you think his jacket is all about ?
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If you’d snapped a photo of his QR code and then scanned it we’d all know by now. 😉
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In the future all humans will be stamped with a QR code at birth, Russ.
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No idea -his shoes/leg wear look intriguing too !
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> Will that Milton Keynes Ember Inn make the cut ?
I do hope that it doesn’t edge out Maidenhead Conservative Club.
> This is what Si will look like in 2050.
What letter of the alphabet will he have reached by then ?
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Sadly, I didn’t make it back to Maidenhead CC this year, Fred, so it’s not eligible for any reward. And Mrs RM turned down the chance of a job in Maidenhead that would have seen me living in the place (the Club, not Maidenhead).
Si will be on T (in England). The GBG will include Arkansas and Delhi by then though.
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I thought I had the copyright on bass lacings pictures!!! Looks terrific and a definite LE67 candidate…
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LAF,
There’s plenty of Bass like that in ST14.
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Excellent 👍 is that Stone?
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“A Proper Pub”
Is that a portable bowling alley against the back wall?
“Your only man”
Blimey. I see what you mean about lacings.
“It says “c + o“. But it had chicken in it.”
The ‘c’ could stand for chicken. 😉
“just waiting for some oik from Cambridge to play skittles”
Skittles, bowling… I was close. 🙂
“This is what Si will look like in 2050.”
Complete with a QR code to link directly to his website. 🙂
Cheers
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Well, Russ. Four days in and you solve the mysteries (never mind Masters) of the universe. “C” stands for chicken. What does “O” stand for that isn’t onion ?
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…offal…?
😉
PS – Happy New Year to you 🙂
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Definitely something fancy like Okra or Oregano.
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