retiredmartin

Off to Aberdeen with Mrs RM, where I will slave away visiting pubs while she solves the University’s IT problems or something.

We’d booked the sleeper from Euston.

“Shall we go up early. Have a beer in the Tap ?” she said.

Now, as a mansplaining man, it never pays to be too enthusiastic about a woman’s pub choice, does it ? And her knowledge of good boozers in Kirkcaldy is a bit weak.

Even if it’s the best idea EVER now I’ve completed London GBG entries.

“OK” I said.

OK, we could have gone to one of three Fullers diners or a pub that used to be a Firkin in Mrs RM’s student days, but now the Bree Louise is no more, NOT doing the Euston Tap seems a bit weird.
The Tap often seems to be seen as less of a pub and more of a distress purchase when you’ve half an hour to your train.

But I’ve enjoyed leisurely lunchtime pints with work colleagues, quick post-gig halves of DIPA and a memorable vertical drinking session with Sunderland fans after the 2014 League Cup Final.

For me, though, it’s all about the upstairs. And it’s the staircase that puts people off exploring one of the best pub rooms in London.

So I did my usual urging to Mrs RM to run upstairs and nab a table.

We grabbed the corner space, underneath the Pabst Blue Ribbon sign.

“What do you want Mrs RM ?”

“Something strong”

Obviously I don’t really call her Mrs RM.

By 8pm the post-work crowd is thinning, so the service is fast and polite.

And the nice lady gives me plenty of time to read the blackboards and end up with a Five Points and a Mikkeller.

A pint of Pale, a half of Mikkeller and two packets of Pipers for £9. It’s not Sam Smiths but it’s not bad. And the pints were cool and beautiful.

If the Tap had any pretentiousness when it opened, it’s long lost it. You’ll have heard of most of the beers, and the upstairs room is a smorgasboard of foreign accents. Two Japanese lads share a strong beer and eat their own sandwiches, BRAPA-like.

We get Dexy’s “Don’t Stand Me Down” and “Eton Rifles” and “Regret“. It could be a student pub in Loughborough.

Mrs RM wants another pint. I brave the stairs again.

They had Mrs RM’s new favourite on !

Mrs RM’s second ever Champion Beer Of Britain, I helped her a bit with this one (NBSS 4), and a keg dark Moor beer that didn’t taste like keg.

A Proper Pub, one where couples on their anniversary feel obliged to leave their calling card in the loo.

Anyway, it’s been an hour. Suddenly we had 15 minutes till boarding. And you should never make Mr or Mrs RM run after we’ve had two pints.