“Your favourite pubs in which to have a pint of Bass”
Another request from Dave; those Yanks are so demanding, aren’t they ?
Here’s seven, one a day. Quite a celestial bunch in many ways;
The Star, Bath
It’s two years since my Big Day Out in Bath, and not many days have bettered it since (the Craft Union in Dereham excepted).
A blissful combination of bench seating, banter and Bass from the jug (if you ask nicely at the bar), we stayed for a couple but it should have been more.
The Sun, Stockton-on-Tees
The Bass pub you’ll be least familiar with, even if you live in Stockton, as the Sun rarely troubles the GBG these days.
And the banked Bass, half-poured pints kept in the fridge then topped up when served, isn’t to everyone’s taste.
But in a world of genteel beer sipping, the Sun is a reminder of a time when pubs were loud and ale (mostly Carling, to be honest) was sunk quickly, aided by that foam.
One of the famous Cornish Bass pubs, along with the Dolphin and the New Inn, and perhaps not the easiest pub to “get” if you’re a lone female under the age of 60. Certainly my sister was a bit intimidated by the frosted windows and outside smokers when she spent a year in Falmouth.
And on my trip this year the talk was all of Tommy Trinder and I fell in love all over again with the twinkling lights and flat Bass. You must go, too.
Definitely the best Bass next to a football ground (not much use in these times of games behind closed doors), and probably my favourite pub in London.
A stunning all-rounder, only spoilt by en-masse visits from neighbouring CAMRA branches drinking Harvey’s.
Remarkably, you may find some folk NOT drinking Bass in this wonderfully social pub on the edge of the Tyneside coast.
If Tyne & Wear escapes the harshest tiers next week I’ll be very tempted to join that snowman over the winter.
You thought I’d forgotten ?
The Bass here isn’t to everyone tastes, but then some people are philistines.
Of course, this is a trick. The ONLY place to drink the Bass from the Coopers is in the curry house next door.
And finally, a pub I’ve always loved but never got round to blogging about.
Dead Poets Inn, Holbrook
An adult pub, which rather scuppered family visits, but flat Bass (or Pedi) from the jug by the scary fire in this rustic looking Everards gem is one of life’s pleasures.
Oh no I’ve forgot the Dolphin and the Black Lion and the St John. But I’ve managed to get a decent geographical spread; perhaps you could get your designated driver to do all seven in a day, Dave ?
retiredmartin 
The Coopers is now a great example of the entente cordiale that brewers are of course famous for. A Joules house selling the Bass. If they can set aside centuries of rankle and rivalry, the Good Friday agreement is surely safe…
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See also : Harvey’s being sold by Fullers in the Lewes Arms, and Doom Bar sold by all Mikkeller pubs (to be confirmed).
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Alas the Joules agreement may be scuppered after their offer of head of PR position to Dominic Cummings.
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Of the seven I have only ever been in The Star and Express Tavern, although I have never (and never will) jumped on the Bass Waggon, there is no doubting those to pubs are most excellent as I’m sure the others are to find their way to these pages.
The question I have for you Martin is…..
Bass or Doom Bar?
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Bass actually IS Doom Bar. You heard it here first.
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This explains much.
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I know four of the seven, all lovely pubs, but I’m astonished that you’ve omitted the Vaults in Uttoxeter.
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It’s 20+ years since I visited, Paul, having missed the trip last year (sob).
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I will guess you haven’t been to the Sun in Stockton !
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Martin,
I’ve not been to the Sun, the Tynemouth Lodge ( I was mistaking it for another pub ), the Dead Poets or the Express Tavern.
I was in the Coopers Tavern nine months ago, the Star last year and the Seven Stars two years ago and have known those three since the 1970s or 1980s.
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I have only ever been to the same three as Paul, although the Dead Poets is more achievable than the other three.
As well as the Vaults in Uttoxeter I might add the Cross Foxes in Shrewsbury, the Railway in Stafford and the two Dolphins in Derby and Plymouth.
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I think I’ve enough material for a second week/day of Bass pubs !
Yes, Cross Foxes as a pub as good as anything in Salop. Shamefully I’ve never been to the Railway; I hear the locals are a bit scary ;-0
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Looks like I’ll need to a Part 2 to include the Dyffryn in Pontfaen, the Ship in Portishead and several others, as no-one will tell me what needs to drop out of that seven !
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Good to see Black Lion getting a footnote. Bass in this locality, Beds/Bucks/Herts borderlands, as rare as sincere apologies from politicians.
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I’ve got five I need to do to be a completist on that list. Those all look really great. Your comment “but it should have been more” makes me want to do a full day in each one…
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Only five ? Good going.
I can’t wait for you to do the Sun in Stockton.
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You really just want to say every pub that sells Bass, don’t you?
Is Plum Porter Bass as well?
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“A blissful combination of bench seating, banter and Bass from the jug”
In the photo below is that particular bench in case there’s a rush on getting a pint?
“And the banked Bass, half-poured pints kept in the fridge then topped up when served, isn’t to everyone’s taste.”
Since it’s (somewhat) 2 different Bass beers (temp wise), the discussion with regards to everyone’s taste should be called ‘2B or not 2B’. đŸ˜‰
“One of the famous Cornish Bass pubs,”
Do they still ban cell phones? And Pete Brown agrees with going. He says “it’s a space in which you should simply order a drink, then sit and have a quiet think in the fairy-lit dusk.”
“A stunning all-rounder, only spoilt by en-masse visits from neighbouring CAMRA branches drinking Harvey’s.”
You’re talking Bristol Cream here are you? đŸ˜‰
“Remarkably, you may find some folk NOT drinking Bass in this wonderfully social pub on the edge of the Tyneside coast.”
It takes all kinds. đŸ™‚
“If Tyne & Wear escapes the harshest tiers next week I’ll be very tempted to join that snowman over the winter.”
(slow golf clap)
“You thought I’d forgotten ?”
Blimey. Even I remember that one!
“but flat Bass (or Pedi) from the jug by the scary fire in this rustic looking Everards gem is one of life’s pleasures.”
Life’s (simple) pleasures are the best.
Cheers
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You’re right, Russ!
The Seven Stars bans mobile phones. Nails them to the wall.
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Blimey!
I’ll keep that in mind should I ever get there!
Cheers
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Fine selection….I just have to mention the Swan in (other) Milton as it really is sensational on a consistent basis!! Waggon and Horses in Ibstock and Black Swan in Shepshed were both terrific albeit on a one-off basis…
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I do curse myself for having spent an afternoon in Bath in 1993 but utterly failing to visit The Star. If I only could go back and do that afternoon a second time, groundhog day style! đŸ˜‰
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I very much doubt it was a wasted afternoon though, Mark !
I didn’t make the Star on my first visit at about the same time; it took me several more years. There is always still time.
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Some beauties there.
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