What happened in July ?
Oh yes.
It was great. Wasn’t it ?
Going to the pub with your mates, with only the hassle of writing “M. Mouse Tel. Pennsylvania 6-500” on a grubby slip of paper, discussing plans to knock down 5G masts.
Hmmm. CAMRA members took a look at the new pubs, moaned about Covid restrictions, and decided they’d rather stay at home sipping from cans in their underpants, thank you. Pub Curmudgeon noted that, too (here).
Certainly the days of popping in for a quick half had long gone.
And “Alcohol” had replaced Baylis & Harding as the hand lotion of choice.
Beer quality was stunning for a week or two, helped by Saint Rishi, the Saviour of Cask (or something).
Spoons, loathe them or lick them (if you’re CAMRA), were the unexpected stars of the Return of Pubs, with CAMRA discounts honoured, detritus cleared, and exemplary Doom Bar.
Talking of cheap beer, the most enjoyable pint was £2.40 worth of Theakston Best enjoyed in the sun outside the still wonderful (if no longer GBG) Three Horse Shoes in Boroughbridge.
Of course, not ALL beer was dirt cheap. The Landlord price differential remained in Dereham.
Cheap prices brought back the young, who were apparently immune from Covid. In Dereham Spoons, hitherto an informal care facility for the over-70s, the average customer age dropped by 37 years overnight.
It would take more than clean, safe pubs and cheap pints to bring back the gentlefolk. Luckily, Rishi had a cunning plan…
Young people took over whole pubs in mining villages like Hawthorn, to the delight of jaded locals.
My Mrs RM’s campervan took me on a tour of the beautiful North-East, taking in sunsets in Seaham, brutalism in Peterlee, and cliff faces at gorgeous Nose’s Point, accompanied by my new travelling companion.
Plus some equally gorgeous Shropshire with Mrs RM in Ellesmere and Ironbridge;
Closer to home, we paid a few trips to local villages. Witcham won the “Best Phone Box ” award.
And I discovered the ultra-messy Tandoori burger at Brew Dog, Cambridge.
Unfortunately I’d just started a diet and had the broccoli salad. It was my worst decision of the month.
retiredmartin 
It’s funny how we can now look back on the unmitigated horror of having to sign in and sit on your own for a pint in July as one of the ‘golden era’ moments of 2020, given the genuine horror of the tier 2 substantial meal nonsense.
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Absolutely !
I was looking at those pics of blokes in Durham and Cambs sharing a (spotlessly scrubbed) table this morning and thinking “WTF ! Where’s the distancing, the food, the misery ?”.
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For those of us who actually don’t mind too much sitting with a pint on our own, the atmosphere that prevailed in July did have its attractions 😀
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Hoping by next summer we can be fully unleashed (not holding breath).
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That photo with the beautiful girl touching her hair makes me think it should be one of those Coldwar Steve type pictures
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I can see what you mean !
What was really striking was all the teen girls out in what might look like an Old Man’s pub in a mining village, rather than the big Spoons down the road (this was when you could go to a pub for a drink).
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It’s a beaut’ that, one of the best I’ve seen on here. ‘Grey haired bloke with pint admiring beautiful girl with fish bowl of gin’ is the Dutch Golden Age Genre Painting of our time.
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I thought I’d get flak for that one at the time, but obviously it’s the old guy I’m objectifying in an entirely sympathetic way.
You won’t get shots like that on BRAPA now Simon has gone woke.
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Martin,
I’m not sure if many of your readers / viewers noticed the grey haired bloke.
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I did, Paul, my blog is the world’s leading source of “Old boy at pub” photography. ;-0
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Yes indeed, and they don’t even need a mobility scooter to get your attention.
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“What happened in July ?”
We finally got to drive 1,400km to see our grandson! (ok, and our two sons as well)
“with only the hassle of writing “M. Mouse Tel. Pennsylvania 6-500” on a grubby slip of paper”
I didn’t know you were a Glenn Miller fan.
(I am by osmosis; my Dad would blast his songs every Saturday from our basement. Mainly, I think, to get my brother and me out of bed) 😉
“CAMRA members took a look at the new pubs, moaned about Covid restrictions, and decided they’d rather stay at home sipping from cans in their underpants, thank you.”
I will have you know that not all of us who stay at home sipping from cans in our underpants are CAMRA members… thank you. 😉
“Certainly the days of popping in for a quick half had long gone.”‘
Ok, agreed… that totally sucked. (grrr)
“And “Alcohol” had replaced Baylis & Harding as the hand lotion of choice.”‘
Good way to get that quick half in maybe? 😉
“the Saviour of Cask (or something).”
Fug that!
“The Landlord price differential remained in Dereham.”
Blimey! It would have to agree to waking me up and dressing me at those prices!
“Cheap prices brought back the young, who were apparently immune from Covid.”
*cough*, check the stats; they are. 🙂
“Young people took over whole pubs in mining villages like Hawthorn, to the delight of jaded locals.”
I see what you did there. 🙂
“accompanied by my new travelling companion.”
I’m beginning to thing that’s Rudolph’s twin that failed the cloning test.
(or, thinking about your distaste for all things Christmas… he passed?) 😉
“with Mrs RM in Ellesmere and Ironbridge;”
Blimey! At the same time?
” Witcham won the “Best Phone Box ” award.”
Obviously they needed to shake up some jaded locals.
“Unfortunately I’d just started a diet and had the broccoli salad. It was my worst decision of the month.”
Not to worry. I’m sure you’ll make many a poor decision in the years to come. 😉
Cheers
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1,400 km ? Well done you.
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It’s a lovely drive thru the Rocky Mountains… if the weather behaves! 🙂
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