28th December 2019
Now that Simon has gone woke I have to up my game and avoid any blog titles that might get folk offended on behalf of other folk.
But rest assured Mrs RM has the rights to “A Dizzy Blonde in Lytham” and if she ever finds a spare afternoon will incorporate it in her own nascent blog. I’ve always wanted to use the word “nascent“.
If Mrs RM does get her dream transfer to Preston we’ll be less than half an hour from Blackpool, and even closer to Lytham (St Annes).
One of life’s big mysteries is why it’s Lytham St Annes and not Lytham and St Annes. After all, they’re two very distinct seaside towns offering refuge from hen parties from Rotherham, and both have their own, distinct pub scene.
Wetherspoons, ale house, Greene King diner and micro in one.Wetherspoons, ale house, Greene King diner and micro in one in the other. Oh.
Lytham has the best station, unless Ansdell and Fairhaven fans know better.
Splendid
They may have taken the deccies down early in Manchester but they’re out till twelfth night (whenever that is) in Lytham.
Twinkle
“Are you taking me somewhere nice with food” said Mrs RM.
Looks oddly like a fish tank
“Do scratchings in a micropub count ?” They didn’t. “There’s a Spoons ?” “No !”
Beer is a meal, of sorts, isn’t it ?
Mine was better than Mrs RM’s, for a change.
So a very quick half in the Craft House, as much because there was no seating.
Note statutory dog about to trip short-s0ghted me up
Of course, having Mrs RM with me increases my chances of magically getting a seat by, ooh, 200%, and one magically appears.
Nice shoes
The Cross Bay Plum Porter was good, the company cheery, but I get claustrophic and I needed to get out. Mrs RM just needed chips.
Unfortunately, I then remembered The Taps did good food.
Ignore the sign
Unfortunately, I’d forgotten that I’ve never been in Taps when it’s less than heaving.
Actual people drinking
OK, it was a Saturday early evening, but this was post Christmas drinking crowd. No space, not even in the smoking den.
Man nervously noting he’s taking up a table for four as mates haven’t arrived
Space by the fire. Too hot. So Mrs RM found a bench by the loos and asked for crisps.
And beer.
Yes, of course
Now let me be provocative. Taps is like the Harp by the sea. It may have lost its independence a few years back but it sells a huge amount of cask. My Plum Porter was very good, but it was the Dizzy Blonde that was shifting, pint after pint.
So Mrs RM went back to the bar for a second pint, and probably 3rd bag of crisps.
“We need chips after this”
This was a “Wow” moment, a glorious rich pint. If you want to experience Robbies at its best, come here.
Mrs RM wandered over the road to the chippy, I unwisely went back for another Blonde. It was wrong, but it felt right.
retiredmartin 
“Are you taking me somewhere nice with food?” The question that alway precedes parking at a proper pub with Bass.
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“It was wrong but it felt right”; “If I don’t do it then somebody else will”
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That “Looks oddly like a fish tank” suggests that steamed up windows are as much a feature of such “poky” establishments as random furniture and Monday closing.
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They can’t do much about being “poky”, comes with the territory, and I’d rather see a full pub than an empty one.
That’s the problem. I don’t want empty pubs but I DO want a comfy seat.
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I rarely ignore the sign.
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Because it’s a sign.
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It’s the words Greene King that upset you, isn’t it 😉
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It didn’t help.
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A delightful account of your evening; I’ll bet that guy didn’t realize he’d have his shoes admired all over the globe (by way of your blog) when he slipped them on that morning.
Do you reckon the drinks in that “Man nervously noting he’s taking up a table for four” photo are champagne? Or is that how prosecco is served (with an ice bucket)?
I’ve got this theory that champagne in England is a more common choice of “everyday” drink in the UK than it is in the States, what do you think? Over here it is very much relegated to special celebratory occasions (in my experience at least, I may be wrong); but I remember reading in Michael Palin’s diary how he and his friends were having it at seemingly ordinary lunches and so forth. You’ve got to have a fair amount of cash to be able to afford it, I would think!
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I think it might have been Prosecco, Mark, not that I’d know the difference.
I don’t go in a lot of pubs where people drink Champagne, I expect Michael Palin does!
You can get a bottle of Champagne for £20 in Spoons I guess.
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Champagne, Prosecco – they’re both “fizz” ( but one’s “craft” and t’other’s “industrial” )
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Blackpool International Airport??
I gather it’s now closed – rather like Thanet’s Manston Airport.
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T’other Paul.
I remember that as RAF Manston.
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Great packed pubs with good mix! Great to see and more plum based porter!
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