Bideford Town FC looked gorgeous as I arrived back at my campervan.
One last pint ? Steer clear of Spoons, till the last night at least.
Lacey’s Ale & Cider House sounds like a Beer Guide place, doesn’t it ? It even doesn’t sell Doom Bar, which is always popular.
“Pint of Old Appledore please”
“Can I just take your details ? Name ?, Postcode ?“
“Retired Martin CB25…“
“Oh, sorry, we only serve EX39 postcodes”
“Oh”
“But there is a Wetherspoons round the corner that’ll serve you”
“Oh” *
Yes, folk, to Devon and Cornwall we’re the plague bringers.
The publicans were friendly, but wary. Several wanted bookings, even to pop in for a quick half.
The arrows and tape and chairs blocking loiterers were overpowering at times. Plates were delivered on trays to the edge of the table by staff who scuttled away.
Perversely, with Covid rates a fraction of what they’ve been in London or Manchester or Birmingham, but fragile healthcare facilities, the Southwest seems a bit reluctant to open up in a hurry.
*It Lacey’s had been in the Guide I’d have worn a wig and gone back the next day with a Wurzels accent.
retiredmartin 
A local bar for local people- that is appalling ! We are going to Scotland next week- I am unsure of what sort of welcome we will get there -am really regarding the holiday with some trepidation
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Oooh, be careful out there.
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Can’t speak for the rest of Scotland, but Shetland is quite laid-back. No booking nonsense, your name and mobile number get written down on a bit of paper and off you go. However, some pubs have gone over to table service only in the last few days.
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To be fair that seems the norm, plus handwash and a sign telling you to sit down. I’m not opposed to table service, though I do like to look at the handpump(s).
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“Oh, sorry, we only serve EX39 postcodes”
So they’ll serve a foreigner from Lundy Island but not you.
Did you think to say that you’ve quarantined for quite a while in Northam and Appledore ?
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Perhaps they just didn’t like the look of me, and who can blame them ?
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Or maybe you shouted “PINT OF OLD APPLEDORE PLEASE”
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These people who shout in pubs should be banned and added to a list of rogues.
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They obviously regarded you as a “Grockle!” Quite happy to take the tourist pound under normal circumstances, but if they’re foolish enough to turn down trade, don’t start whining when the bailiffs come knocking at the door.
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Lacey’s was in the Guide at one time. It moved premises necessitating a revisit. Those floodlights are great- passed by a few times but never seen a game there. The EX39 postcode only thing seems a bit self-defeating if everywhere else is open to all.
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Exactly!!!
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Well I’m glad you didn’t miss out on an actual GBG tick because of it!
All seems a bit excessively unreasonable, from a place far removed from reality who probably have been wanting to say that even pre pandemic.
Only been asked for postcode once in Surrey out of 51 pubs and that just made me a mysterious cool foreigner for first time ever.
This is why am gonna stick to cities n big towns for now. God speed, Si
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I was going to ask if you’d come across anything like it. The feel is very different up north where you feel extra welcome.
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That’s bonkers. You can’t turn down trade like that!! Probably still sore after you nicked Alan Ball off them all those years ago…
I played at Bideford a lot on pre season tours…lovely ground along with Tiverton as well
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Those were the days when clubs used to play at non-league grounds. Did you ever visit the Isle of Man or were there “passport issues” ?
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Yes I was stopped at customs!!! Three of my four clubs all went to bloody Exeter uni for pre season which was s joyless slog and fixtures against likes of Bideford, Tiverton and Clevedon to boot 👍
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LAF,
“You can’t turn down trade like that” – but is it much different from dress restrictions or not opening on Mondays ?
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No difference from dress restrictions I guess but not opening is a different kettle of fish as that stops everyone from entering
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Heh.
I can see the ‘new normal’ turning into a version of “no one legged albinos”. 🙂
Cheers
PS – I think it’s time for me to go to bed! 😉
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Did you ever visit this place Paul? It closed its doors yesterday…
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2020/08/19/ditching-the-ditch-rip-the-rowditch/
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LAF,
No, sadly not.
Too many pubs, too little time.
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I thought you always wore a wig and used a Wurzels accent when pub visiting?
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You’re getting me mixed up with BeerMat again.
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“Bideford Town FC looked gorgeous as I arrived back at my campervan.”
In the photo above… I say! They’re treating beer drinkers like smokers! (or lepers even!). Oh, the humanity!
“I walked past the Spoons 17 times in 3 days”
I assume your OS map was shite then?
“Continental look”
Naw. You’d need a few rickety tables outside with a few gents smoking Gauloises of some such for that.
“Perspex”
The “new normal”. (sigh)
“Yes, folk, to Devon and Cornwall we’re the plague bringers.”
Good fookin Christ.
“VERY”
In the sign above, they spelled the last word wrong (i.e. ewe). 🙂
“Perversely, with Covid rates a fraction of what they’ve been in London or Manchester or Birmingham, but fragile healthcare facilities, the Southwest seems a bit reluctant to open up in a hurry.”
Sigh. We get that over here. All of the small communities are hyper vigilant about ‘outsiders’ coming in. I’d laugh at the irony but then they’d probably lock me up. 🙂
“*It Lacey’s had been in the Guide ”
If, not it, dear boy. And a wig wouldn’t be necessary. I doubt they’d remember you. 😉
Cheers
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“All of the small communities are hyper vigilant about ‘outsiders’ coming in. I’d laugh at the irony but then they’d probably lock me up. 🙂 ”
The less the risk, the more worried they are. There’s probably “Covid-carriers welcome here” signs in Aberdeen.
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