I must stop banging on about how far behind I am on this blog. But for context, I think they were still ducking witches when I made this trip to Clitheroe.
For evidence of the antiquity of this post, just see the spelling of “bollack” on the town’s official graffiti wall.
Clitheroe and the Forest of Bowland has long been a favourite destination, but this was my first visit since I started the blog two Premierships ago.
Sadly, the estimable Exchange Coffee Co. had closed especially for the Bank Holiday, so as to avoid the hordes of pashminas, pushchairs and poodles on the streets who would have contaminated the cafe with their custom.
The Bowland Brewery development has taken the town up a notch, but the pubs are still a bit earthy (see: New Inn).
So I was thrilled to see a classy new micro in the Guide with generous opening hours.
Obviously they weren’t opening till 3pm, it being a Bank Holiday and all. With an hour till the micro opened I did the walk to the top of the Castle.
My spirits lifted, I bounded into the Ale House and am delighted to tell you it’s a joy.
Even if the first thing I saw was a group dressed for a wake watching the snooker.
“What should I have ?” I asked the lovely barman.
“The Blackjack”. He did right. The local beer is Bobbins.
The Aces High was NBSS 4.5. That’s near perfect, folks.
I got chatting to a regular, who was bemused by my slightly withering assessment of the Bowland Tap, insisting that coachloads come from real ale deserts in East Lancs to drink them dry.
So I made a rare “return visit on the same day“.
This time, instead of wandering around the 41 pumps, I just picked the first one I saw.
A cool, crisp IPA I drank in about 4 minutes in the sunny garden and rated a 3.5.
A lovely pint, a startlingly smart place, and Bowland redeemed.
retiredmartin 
> just see the spelling of “bollack” on the town’s official graffiti wall.
Played for Chelsea, Michael, German ?
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Ah! So only 2000s, then?
Dropped a bollack there.
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Given that he left Chelsea in 2010, that means you are at least nine years behind ?
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At least.
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I did the Bowland Tap over a year ago when last in the town and was also astonished by the number of handpumps, though quite a few weren’t in use on a midweek visit. I assume they are served from small pins that enable rapid turnover. Bollacks to Brexit was a first draft of the Lib Dems manifesto trialled locally I believe. Will leave you to identify the correct identity of the Human Bollack.
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Ooh. A quiz.
Am a bit conscious that quite a few beers I rate NBSS 2 aren’t THAT bad, but the fact most folk are visiting a specialist ale House at a brewery and drinking imported lager must say quite a lot about first impressions.
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“I think they were still ducking witches when I made this trip to Clitheroe.”
I find it safe to duck witches as well, just to be safe (and by duck, I mean avoid; unless you meant dunk?).
“For evidence of the antiquity of this post”
On the map above, love the ‘Standen’ parts; Higher, Lower and, in the middle, Half?
(Crap. Just realised the Half is really Hall – sigh).
Oh and notice I didn’t try a different version of my Clitheroe joke. 🙂
“just see the spelling of “bollack” on the town’s official graffiti wall.”
Jack Trav and bollack… is that their version of Jack Sprat?
“of pashminas, pushchairs and poodles on the streets who would have contaminated the cafe with their custom.”
Slow golf clap for the double alliteration.
“I did the walk to the top of the Castle”
Right up to the top of the flagpole or spire I see in the photo above but one?
“Poignant”
Undertaker meeting?
“That was a joke up there you missed”
Yes, yes… but I decided to ignore it with my *cough* poker face. 😉
“So I made a rare “return visit on the same day“.”
Blimey.
“Stick to Peroni, like the locals.”
I’d rather stick it to the locals who drink Peroni. 😉
Cheers
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