
The alternative title, proposed by my intern, was “Craft Cabbage“.
Not the beer; the beer in Conwy was fantastic. The first time I’ve had two consecutive NBSS 4 pints since I drank two glasses of Bass in the Star, which is cheating.

The refurbed and renamed Erskine Arms is a bit shy, tucked away in a side street and hiding yards from where Bing Maps says it is. All part of a grand plan to confuse BRAPA.

Look for the lane south of the famous statue of Llywelyn the Great, No.24 of 33 things to do on Trip Advisor. Hours of fun for all the family.

Yes, I’m waffling, ‘cos the Erskine is a bit dull, though pleasant in a B & P way. Nothing says upmarket dining pubs like a photo of the 1920 Conwy Lifeguards polo team.

But it’s heaving. Families, gentlefolk, Old Boys, lads in shorts. Great to see.
But what is this standing nonsense ? Surely if a pub is too busy to sit down you go to another one ?

I feel myself seething inside for no good reason as I approach the bar, ignoring the smell of artisan cabbage wafting down from the restaurant.

The service is cheerful, the Heavy Industry looks superb in the glass, it’s a class act.

But it’s not a place to linger with the threat of licking dogs and rugby talk, and the “Amber” IPA (?) slips down very quickly.
I can’t even remember what the music was, so we’ll get pretend it was “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”, shall we ? 50/50 chance I’m right.

I cannot abide men in shorts. Horrible.
The white trousers aren’t much better.
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Much preferred Men Without Hats to be fair.
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Once misnamed by a friend of mine as Men Without Heads.
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Or Men At Work Without Helmets?!
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Fortunately, there are no pictures to this:
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Yes, dress standards in some pubs nowadays are appalling.
I blame the weather, global warming.
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That counts me out, then. Been wearing shorts all weekend – something to do with the weather!
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Yes, but did your wife approve that before you left the house?
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I agree about standing -if we can’t sit down,we leave ! I have terrible “seat anxiety ” -goes back to the 70’s when pubs really were packed & I still think this may happen ,although it is rare these days particularly on Friday lunchtime when we tend to indulge
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I didn’t mind standing in the 1970s but then I had fully functioning knees and a proper balance.
And you could go out for the evening, get pissed and still have change out of £1.
Those were the days – and we’ll not see the like of them again.
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So do we leave!
Mrs RM really liked the look of Mr Thomas Chop House in Manchester but only standing and one high table so walked out. Loads of pubs in Conwy.
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Nobody, English or Welsh, bothers with “Conway” any more, do they? Just think of all the time and expense that would be saved, if we could agree on the rest of the place names too?
And why must IDS persist with that silly, unnecessary, second “i” in “Iain” one wonders?
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Because for him it’s all about “I” rather than society.
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> All part of a grand plan to confuse BRAPA.
Will he realistically ever make it to “W” ?
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It depends if “W” is suddenly promoted in the alphabet.
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So in 2026, the alphabet becomes :-
A, B, C, D, W, E etc.
Primary school teachers will love that. I remember 15 February 1971.
But what if he has gone past E ? Does he go back and do the new W, or keep going to Z and then pick W up as he works through the alphabet a second time ?
It sounds as haphazard as the GBG publication schedule. When is the 2020 Guide due to be published ? And when do you predict will it be published ?
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So many questions, so little answers.
I don’t think GBG 20 is being published until CAMRA resolve what “good beer is”.
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So that’s potentially 2033 ?
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The next local government re-organisation will interest BRAPA, particularly if some new counties are invented. We tend to get one of those about every twenty-odd years.
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Mudgeshire.
Bass Rock (protectorate).
The eastern Azores.
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Yes, I remember 15th February 1971 as when we lost proper money.
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What did the Erskine used to be called?
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Was it the Malt Loaf or Y Dorth Brag ?
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I was going to say that the pub in your photo didn’t match the one on WhatPub, but a bit of nosing around on StreetView reveals that it has acquired a more cottage-y side frontage.
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Yes, it’s a bit odd. The entrance was on Church St but it’s listed under Rosehill. Major change.
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I thought Heavy Industry 77 might be the least citrusy beer in Disley’s poky micropub.
It was not my Beer of the Day.
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Would have benefited frm some Black Sheep 😀
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Yes indeed.
And I understand that ovine beers are popular in Wales so the Black Sheep was probably drinking well. .
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It was sparkling in Conwy. Just shows, all about pubs.
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Loved the line about “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”– the very definition of a song that may or may not have been playing; too dull to affect the listener one way or the other!
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It’s a great song, for about 20 seconds….
Yes, ubiquitous. Wait till you hear what they played in New York.
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A pub so full people have to stand whatever next 😄 the 1920 polo team is synonymous with the town I’ll have you know 😉
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“Endless fun at this top tourist attraction”
Was he the first man brave enough to wear fuchsia?
“the 1920 Conwy Lifeguards polo team.”
Water polo hopefully. 🙂
“Mmm, embryonic lacings”
Even better when they’re fully formed (as in the final photo). 😉
Cheers
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No, just polo. On sheep.
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(guffaw)!
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