March 2020
You’ve missed the Billy Idol tribute. I’m really sorry.
In fact, you might struggle to get to the Kings Arms in Newent if the lockdown comes. I’ll have something to say about that when I can face it.
Newent was very cheery, presumbly still celebrating only a second GBG entry since 1875.
4 things characterise Newent;
Black and white timber.
Ancient fish and chip shops (a Gloucestershire speciality)
Stilts.
and Daffodils.
It’s also famous for onions, but only in September. Outside September they eat shallots.
The Kings Arms is neither micro or gastropub, so you wonder what prompts its GBG debut.
Perhaps 2020 is the year that ordinary pubs with 1980s tribute acts dominate the Guide. Let’s hope so.
WhatPub threatens local home-brew, but luckily the beer choice, like the tribute act, is old favourites;
As I never tire of telling you, the welcome in pubs rarely disappoints, and a lovely lady brought me back a 5p I’d overpaid in my failed attempt to guess the cost of a half of the Rev. which was rich and full-bodied (3/3.5).
One bloke was silently drinking coke, rapt by the 2.20 Arkell Chllenge (I assume all the races at Cheltenham were named after the Swindon brewer) and two lady gentlefolk were sharing a bottle of wine to give them the fortitude to refuse pudding, something I sensed they regretted deeply afterwards.
Pool, racing and darts in the same pic, and a separate skittles alley. One for the (real) Mark.
My notes say “typical Forest of Dean“, and I know what I mean by that; unpretentious pubs with weird accents but friendly locals.
My prize for being nosey (no-one seemed to mind) was the astonishing hot drinks selection,
cigarette cards showing all the players watched by Duncan in March 1932,
and a tribute to Joe Meek, whose duet with Billy Idol sadly never saw the light of day.
My GBG year may be coming to a premature end, but if it is it’s full of mellow pleasure.
retiredmartin 
Re-photo I imagine hundreds of boxes marked ‘Beer Mats’ in a certain ticker’s house.
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I didn’t see them (all) play. Very friendly pub, being well lunched on our visit but nothing fancy. You didn’t do the micro in Newent then (really)?
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It’s closed, and if it’s linked to the one in Cinderford that’s no surprise I’m afraid.
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Didn’t Joe Meek’s ghost chase BRAPA out of the Holloway Road Spoons in February 2019? Or is that just wishful thinking?
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Are the stilts a safeguard against rats or floods ? Or both ?
And is the “Mid week Roast Beef Lunch” the leftovers from Sunday that in a high street ‘barn’ would be the “Manager’s Special”?
“brought me back a 5p I’d overpaid” but when I was in short trousers a shilling would buy a school dinner.
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The stilts are purely a design feature.
That shilling becomes oddly relevant in a future post.
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Oh, no, you’ve taken the Queen’s shilling and that’s why “My GBG year may be coming to a premature end”?
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Gah, all these one-dimensional beer ranges with nothing but malty brown bitters 🙁
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What happened to craft?
As I’ve mentioned in posts , there’s a lot more traditional beer, and next to no craft keg, in many new GBG entries this year.
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Meanwhile, on Discourse they’re getting worried about the spread of NEIPA…
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Haysi Fantayzee, weren’t they the ones who did “Simey BRAPA is big peepee”?
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