I spent Bonfire Night at the Travelodge in the picture postcard location of the M18/M180 motorway services, because I’m worth it.
Not only was it £33, and gave me 20% over the overpriced confectionery at WH Smith, but it allowed me to walk to my final South Yorkshire tick for GBG 20.
Look closely at the OS extract and you’ll see the footpath from the Travelodge to Jack Hawley at the Grange*.
I nearly turned back. Good job I didn’t as a day later the area looked like this;
Again, my sympathy to the residents of Fishlake and around. At least they got a visit from Mr de Pfeffel Johnson out of it.
2 miles from Fishlake, Hatfield (not this one) got a rare visit from me, and splendid we both looked too.
It took all my effort to stick to the one true path of GBG entries with possible John Smiths at hand.
You could easily miss the Jack Hawley, set at the back of a posh looking courtyard, and I know who probably will.
If you get this far, there’s another obstacle for the toper on his sixth pint…
It’s a thin narrow room, the sort of place Scarfolk Council meet on Thursday nights.
Clearly folk come in groups, which is nice, but I can see I’m going to have to sit on my own at the end of the row of tables and feel left out of conversations about mincemeat.
I attempt conversation with the Landlord, who may be called Jack.
“Which one goes quickest here ?** ”
“I don’t know, I only work here”.
Oh, OK. I stare blankly, see the Tim Taylors livery and plump for the Boltmakers.
From the comfort of my seat I can see that virtually EVERYONE is drinking Moretti.
The Boltmaker is well presented and a clear NBSS 3, but no award winner.
More importantly, how do you join in a conversation in a micro filled with mates ?
“Hello I’m doing all the pubs in this book, can you mark it with my green pen please ?”
Perhaps not.
In fairness, the room was filled with laughter; it was one of the happiest places I’ve visited in the Guide.
“Hilary just died”
“You’re not having another one !”
“I’m 72 I don’t care”
There was also a joke about an Irishman on board the Titanic I’ll share with the crew in Shifnal, but wokeness prevents me printing here.
“Oh no that’s awful”
“It made ME laugh” I said. Heads turned to appraise the stranger.
I stayed for another half of Patriot (NBSS 3.5) decanted beautifully into my pint glass.
I even had the change ready. “Luvly !” said the Landlord, perking up.
There’s a fine line between pubs you enjoy and detest, especially in microland.
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*What is it with these convoluted South Yorkshire pub names. First Jemmy Hirst at the Rose & Crown…
** What’s wrong with that question, Beew Twatter. Why shouldn’t I get the freshest pint. Have you never asked what’s the most popular dish in a restaurant ?
retiredmartin 
I’d never heard of Fishlake until a few days ago, when it made the news for all the wrong reasons. I see from your map that.the village is quite close to Thorne; the town that was once home to Darley’s Brewery.
Back in my brewery-ticking days, I stopped off there briefly, to take a few photos of the brewery and to sample a pint or two on its home turf. Nothing special, from what I remember, although it was 37 or so years ago.
The previous Mrs Bailey and I were en route to visit one of her friends, who lived just outside Leeds. We also ticked off Batemans on that trip and attempted to find Selby Brewery – although that might have been on the return journey.
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Thorne is a pleasant pub town that the smoking ban (I know I know) hasn’t quite killed. The micro served me one of the best beers last year.
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Paul,
I think Selby might have been the first British brewery to do ‘intentionally hazy’ beer.
And I remember cycling – nothing wrong with my knees in 1974 – to the Board Inn at Howden which I understood to be just about the only pub that regularly sold it.
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Now they will never know what an honor it is to mark the guide.
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