Interesting to read BRAPA last night welcoming the 4 week break as a chance to catch up with the blog.
“There’s a silver lining to every cloud, and that is I’ve been shamefully behind on my blogs. Still stuck at 9th Oct at the time of writing. “
Ah, 9th October. We were so young, so young.
I’m up to 31/10, and still have 17 pubs to tell you about. And lots of pinking. And the results of the Favourite Counties Competition, which has gone to a 3rd recount in west Chittering.
Let’s start with a return to Stowmarket.
Back in May when I toured the town’s closed pubs,
Bill commented
There’s something about the Walnut Tree that’s drawing me to it, more than the others, don’t know what, but you’re right, I want to be there RIGHT NOW.
and Stono (Jnr) confirmed The Walnut was the local Pub of the Year, and now here it is allowing me to complete Suffolk’s GBG entries before October is out.
Not sure what happened to the tree; I can see the leaves on the floor.
So, how has it made it in the Guide for the first time since Duncan was in shorts ?
TEN keg ! In Stowmarket !
Looks a bit trad backstreet for a beer exhibition, doesn’t it ?
But, here you go.
It was mid-afternoon. Two in, the tension of a Lockdown announcement the only sound.
I sat next to the dog and the laptop.
A nice barman brought a pint of Mauldons, a bellwether pint. It was flat nectar (NBSS 4.5). How is this possible ?
Superb beer, but oh so quiet. Not a sound from the bar, the other customers, the dog. Even the laptop was silent.
Should I sing ? (no). Would someone put “Hits of the ’80s” on (no).
I was a bit torn. Wonderful beer, simple pub pleasures, but oh for some chat. I had another beer, the Flanders Red from the wonderful Little Earth.
The bloke on the laptop spoke up.
“Have you had it before ?”. Ah, he’s the guvnor.
“No, but I expect it’s weird like the other Little Earth beers“.
It tasted JUST like this;
But better. Honest. We chatted Duchesse, and beer, and Stowmarket, and Lockdown.
If this was in Stockport, it would be the Magnet. With John Inman reference rather than Prog Rock albums in the loos, but you get the idea.
Honest, it was the best beer of the year. And if you want a quiet pint, it might be the pub of the year, too.
But can pubs be too quiet ?
Plain and perfect from the outside. It has the look of the Olde Tavern in Kington.
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Run by the couple (and dog) behind Beerhouse, my local in Market Harborough, so no surprise the beer was good. Even the blackboard design is the same, though tbh the Walnut edges it by several yards for looks. I would like to visit myself, but ‘way’ too far in the wrong direction.
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Pubs can be awkwardly quiet. I find it can make you a bit self conscious when you walk in.
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Yes, if you’re the only customer, or there’s just one bloke sitting at the end of the bar, it draws attention to you.
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T’other Mudgie,
Start a discussion on politics.
That’s always a good way of livening things up a bit.
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From the interior photo, that isn’t remotely “trad backstreet”. Far too pastel, for a start.
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T’other Mudgie,
Yes, the dog looks to be about the only “trad backstreet”.thing about that pub.
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the area of Stowmarket it is in certainly is trad backstreet,its definitely not a pub youll find walking around the town by chance & Suffolk CAMRA have found records theres been a beer house there since 1881, and was owned by Greene King for over 100 years. The interior has been updated of course over the years, so its alot more open plan & modern in feel than it was, probably due to Greene King, though I recall it had what I assume was still the original fire place & hearth in situ.
Id put the quietness down to the Covid situation, or it being the middle of the afternoon 🙂
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Yes, and of course not everyone can visit pubs on a Friday and Saturday night (when I hear the Walnut was turning folk away). Few pubs can survive purely on weekend takings.
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If I’m honest, the interior’s a bit of a disappointment, apart from the dog. But you can’t argue with NBSS 4.5.
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“I’m up to 31/10, and still have 17 pubs to tell you about. ”
You sir, are a legend.
“and now here it is allowing me to complete Suffolk’s GBG entries before October is out.”
It’s… Kismet!
“Not sure what happened to the tree”
It’s in the basement. And forced to provide walnuts on a daily basis.
“So, how has it made it in the Guide for the first time since Duncan was in shorts ?”
Doesn’t he do that every summer when he come south for pub ticking?
“Looks a bit trad backstreet for a beer exhibition, doesn’t it ?”
Hang on; I’m making notes for my Man Pub/Shed.
“But, here you go.”
Their 10 and 6 boast is obviously a lie.
“I sat next to the dog and the laptop.”
I can see why?
“How is this possible ?”
Everything tastes better when you know it’s your final one. 😉
“It tasted JUST like this;”
Blimey! Oh, and… cultural appropriation!
(did I do that right?)
“but you get the idea.”
Love the Hans Solo carbonite door. 🙂
“But can pubs be too quiet ?”
You ask that, as a married man*? Blimey!
Cheers
* – i.e. the quiet after a Denby dish is broken. 😉
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You’re right about the weekly exodus of Duncan from Scotland in his shorts; as soon as the temperature rises above freezing on they go.
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