Thank you to all of you who answered my question;
“Should I go to the Great British Beer Festival ?”
100% of you who responded said “NO”
If only I’d known what I’d be missing today….
Looks fantastic, heh ?
Back to pubs, and the Big Find of the Trip, the Artillery Arms down by the Royal William Victualling Yard in the heart of naval Plymouth.
The western suburbs of Stonehouse and Devonport are where Plymouth gets a bit magical, and no-one had ever told me.
You’d expect to have proper boozers in the naval quarter of course, even if Pompey seems to be losing them at a rate of knots.
As usual, few words are needed to convince you that this is a cracker.
In Cambridge this would be the Champion of the Thames, in Manchester it’s be the City Arms. Civilised, boisterous drinking houses for all.
Popular with hockey teams, says What Pub, helpfully. The shorts look a bit virgin white for that to be true.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to take in. Oh yes, the “charity” monkey racing. Glad it’s for charity as otherwise it seems very un-woke.
I was a bit in awe, if honest. This was a BritishBeerMat of a pub.
Just then the bar appeared into view. Oh grief.
All the pretend hockeyists were standing in the front, leaving the local youth to mishit shots in the pool room.
I got in their way, so I headed up and out to the scruffiest beer garden in Devon.
“Foxy’s gonna cut the back out”
“Ya”
“Sending it from the 16 sends a message early on”
“Ya”
It was only the rugger stars of the Torpoint Todgers discussing tactics for their big clash with Bideford Bodgers.
Hope I haven’t let slip any game sensitive tactics.
Oh, the Bass was foamy and creamy, NBSS 3/3.5 and easily Derby standard. I’ll leave them to fight out with the Dolphin for the best Bass in town.
retiredmartin 
Plymouth has come across in an interesting way. The posts have not settled in my mind what the city looks like!
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It’s a city of contrasts, as they say. If you’ve never been, it has to be on your next itinerary.
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We do trust the two of you!
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That sounds about right.
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Looks like a top 50 Bass pub
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It has the rare accolade of being described as “cracking” on WhatPub 😀
It’s an interesting fact that both Stonehouse and Devonport were separate local authorities before being merged into Plymouth in 1914.
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Good spot. What Pub is rarely that effusive.
I think it’s a GBG regular so odd I missed it on earlier trip, but a fair walk out from centre.
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T’other Mudgie,
The descriptions on WhatPub are getting better.
For the Angel in Welshpool is says “Large number of tv screens(more than Dixons) showing sport, then music videos later at night” and that’s correct, although of course I can’t confirm the “later at night” bit.
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I’ve never visited Plymouth but I’ve been to Totnes four times. I must have my priorities wrong!
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Were you lost? 😉
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Haha, no. The Waterman’s Arms is a great hidden backstreet boozer, Only two ales on, both on gravity. The best pint of Jail Ale I’ve ever tasted. No food either.
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A boozer, you say?
No wonder that’s not in the GBG.
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I suspect Bob, the old school landlord doesn’t want to attract any CAMRA’s.
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Can’t blame him. Have you seen the pictures from GBBF?
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Curiosity has got the better of me – I’m booked to go to GBBF on Friday! Wish me luck.
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What time are you there, Paul?
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Aiming to be there shortly after opening time, but when the queue has died down – if that makes sense.
Send me a text or email me.
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I’m sorry, but I think Pink Floyd made a big mistake rejecting that album cover– would’ve been brilliant.
This is my first time hearing of Half Bore; is it any good?
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Had it twice in Devon, was superbly bitter in the Bere Ferrers place. A beer to drink in pints, bit like 6X or Otter.
Not that I take much notice of the beer 🍻
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What a pub! I’d happily spend a few hours in there…Bass too!!! Doesn’t look hugely like a hockey stronghold to me…
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