Sunday the 6th September, and Summer still in full swing in the English Riviera, its coastal railway unusually intact.
I parked up along the Prom at Teignmouth, another free night putting back a saving of at least £40 into my complex DCF calculation that justifies the campervan.
Baa Baa Toure felt the view was a 9/10, though you can’t actually see the sea from the parking bay as the wall keeps out the water.
It’s 22 years since I came to Cockwood. On a steamy Saturday in August 1998 I took a train from Swindon (why ?) to Torquay to see Cambridge start their promotion season with a Martin Butler penalty winner at Plainmoor.
That year it was the touristy Anchor, this year the touristy Ship, and in 2042 I’ll no doubt be back for a micropub called The Stranded Boat.
Rather gorgeous, it is.
I thought the Anchor looked packed, but the Ship had so many people I had to drink on the layered garden with the pretend cyclists in Helly Hansens and Raybans, so here’s the snatched photo of the interior from the serving hatch.
Actually, those prices aren’t TOO bad for a honeypot village in Devon; and the Tribute was comfortably above NBSS 3.
Something I’ve noticed about Devon and Dorset this last month;
NO CRAFT !
Anyway, uneventful, bar the risk of blokes spilling their San Miguel on the steps up the garden, and the delightful sight of the train rumbling on towards Dawlish.
Which is where I headed next, and where I finally was allowed INSIDE a pub.
retiredmartin 
Something I’ve noticed about Devon and Dorset this last month;
NO CRAFT !
Traditional beer strongholds, they will catch up one day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
NO CRAFT ! And they won’t let drinkers in the pubs. I can see why folk love the South-West. Give me a trad pub like the Cronx, eh !
LikeLike
Now you’re talking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tell us the truth, Citra, did YOU find Cronx first time round. Seems Simon and me spent ages negotiating the bouncers and security inside.
LikeLike
Yes straight away, turned the corner and it was there, like magic.
LikeLike
#Pro
LikeLike
Two observations;
South West operators have been scared stiff of visitors bringing COVID to areas where the intensive care facilities are limited.
Cornwall has 15 intensive care beds. Tourists have refused to wear masks because “you don’t have COVID down here” and “I’ve come here to get away from all that.”
More important, as an industry operator I cannot understand why anyone has beer prices ending in 5p.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, I read Mumsnet. The South West really didn’t want any visitors till after Covid is “over” and would have been happier living off the state without the fear of limited health facilities and shops being overwhelmed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The state is going to run out of money, sooner rather than later, and that’s without Boris blowing £100 billion on some pie in the sky “pregnancy-type”, “moon shot” Corona- test kits!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You cannot understand why anyone has beer prices ending in 5p and I cannot understand why Tim has beer prices ending in 9p.
I expect Martin was tempted by the 20p saving from buying a four pint pitcher of Tribute.
LikeLike
Lucky man. Seven degrees and rain here today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Martin Butler! Great blast from the past
LikeLike
Top lad Cambridge got from Walsall and got them promoted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good player at that level 👍 scored and created plenty…I reckon would have liked a half of Doom Bar too 😀
LikeLike
Stourbridge lad, would be a Batham’s boy ;-0
LikeLike
Good point well made 👍
LikeLike
Surely Proper Job is quite pale and hoppy enough for them. And Avocet is described as a pale, modern-style ale.
LikeLike
But people need murk !
LikeLike
Proper Job a bit middle of the road nowadays. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Possibly in cask, but still good in bottles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Proper Job a bit middle of the road nowadays” probably explains how I can drink it.
But I prefer Tribute.
LikeLike
“THE ENGLISH RIVIERA”
The photo below is a bloody work of art. Well done!
“as I wall keeps out the water.”
“I” don’t understand that bit. 😉
“It’s 22 years since I came to Cockwood. ”
*cough* No comment.
“Rather gorgeous, it is.”
Not as good as your first photo.
“so here’s the snatched photo of the interior from the serving hatch.”
Sigh. Takes all the mystery away, dunnit.
“Actually, those prices aren’t TOO bad for a honeypot village in Devon;”
If you say so.
And, wow! A whole 5p per pint saved on a 4 pint pitcher. Sheesh!
“NO CRAFT !”
Crafty buggers!
“and where I finally was allowed INSIDE a pub.”
To use the loo? 🙂
Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person