Simon reported his Sainsbury delivery van was on the way, so once he’d unpacked the Scandinavian avocado and Grimsby quinoa he’d be ready for a pint at somewhere new and exciting over the river.
Simon lives in the hipster quarter (over-40 section) of course and would normally have been found in the Forty-Five Vinyl Cafe playing his Oi Polloi 10″ singles.
I wondered why I’d taken that photo; then realised the pashmina ladies were knitting. We need more vinyl knitting cafes in the Guide, and not just in Bradford.
More traditional keg outlets are also available on Micklegate.
At Micklegate Bar the walk to the walls gives you the best sunset of the year.
Not even needing the loo, I still popped in the Punchbowl to see how Britain’s scruffiest Spoons was doing.
Then I spotted the delivery van heading for Si’s mansions.
Once he’d given his instructions to his butler Si met me at his “local”, which just happened to be a Sam Smiths. Some people have all the luck, don’t they ?
Bit of a minor classic, I thought. Unfussy multi-roomer, top guvnor who had to intervene to settle a dispute about who got to buy the round here (it being about a fiver cheaper than at the next pub) and the Monday dominoes in full flow.
Perhaps not the most sparkling OBB of all time, but lovely to soak in the atmosphere and compare pubbing news.
If the Good Beer Guide was a Proper Pub Guide, this would be a shoe-in, you know.
Read BRAPA’s alternate take here.
retiredmartin 
I love the Traf. One of my all time favourites.
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I’d never heard of it!
Glad Simon took me there.
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Trafalgar Bay is a great Proper Pub. But you knew I would say that. Surely the Green Dragon in Weston-super-Mare is even scruffier than the Punchbowl.
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I assumed they’d have flogged off the Green Dragon and kept the Cabot!
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You’re almost talking us all into having a Proper Day Out in York soon.
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> £4 for 2
But they’re short measure !
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Sam Smiths under-pour. All their pub managers are performance managed to achieve a 5% surplus on all draught sales, including the fee flow soft drinks. Hence you will never get a full pint, unless you ask for a top up. Asking for a top up usually results in the ‘serves you right for asking’ weak pull, that just kills the pint.
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If we’re talking about scruffy ‘Spoons branches, the Crystal Palace behind Glasgow Central railway station must be a front-runner.
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Good call 👍
Mrs RM and I had an 11pm pint in there last July after a gig near the Laurieston. Dreadful in all respects.
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Shame that Tim has disposed of some of the very worst branches. What is now the “Rose & Crown”, Rigton Drive, Burmantofts, Leeds, and was simply the eponymous “Wetherspoons” previously, comes to mind.
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Those photos are inspired. My Sainsbury delivery van obviously my fave, but scruffy ‘Spoons, vinyl knitters and Traf Bay, you’ve done us proud! Can’t wait til you get onto the Crescent.
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Oooh, a comment here on Martin’s blog from Si himself! Don’t think I’ve seen that before? Yes I agree, Martin’s photos have always been great, but they seem to be getting even better in recent months– he’s well on his way to publishing a coffee-table book, mark my words. 🙂
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Si has posted a few times, just to prove he exists.
But I believe he has a hobby at a bank or something as well as his ticking job so he’s a bit short of time.
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With those rolled-up sleeves he could be Staffs Mudgie’s unknown love-child conceived after a particular vigorous GBBF trade session.
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I’ve just copied your post on the Crescent. Was woozy by then hence the knocking over of Lager.
Great pubs both.
NB I attempted to superimpose that pic of the Sainsbury van in front of Castle Howard but mucked it up.
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“so once he’d unpacked the Scandinavian avocado and Grimsby quinoa he’d be ready for a pint at somewhere new and exciting over the river.”
Who’s the bloke mentioned above? It sure as bloody ‘eck isn’t our BRAPA!
“Simon lives in the hipster quarter (over-40 section)”
He must have moved recently. 🙂
“and would normally have been found in the Forty-Five Vinyl Cafe playing his Oi Polloi 10″ singles.”
I think he normally walks around asking the women folk if he can wow them with his 10 inches. 😉
“No “Live” Dead beer”
You mean the Dead Pony? (quite liked that when I had it – in cans – in France – bought in Belgium)
“Bet there’s handpumps there in a year”
That shield needs straightening at the bottom.
“Wow”
What we call ‘picture postcard perfect’.
“Not well”
Either their staff is crap or they’re overly busy.
“Much classier than Tesco”
I take it Tesco choose for price and not freshness?
“Some people have all the luck, don’t they ?”
Those of us named Smith would have to agree. 🙂
“Imagine living 2 minutes skip from a Sam’s like Trafalgar Bay”
Hang on; I thought your local (The Sun) wasn’t too shabby.
“£4 for 2”
Definitely not Waterbeach then. 😉
“If the Good Beer Guide was a Proper Pub Guide, this would be a shoe-in, you know.”
No argument here.
Cheers
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Love the Sam Smith pubs. The beer often leaves me unimpressed (not to mention the food), but prices and atmosphere makes up for it.
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What a great looking boozer…a real shortage of Sam Smith’s pubs our way, but always look impressive
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