THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (POSSIBLY)

I’m staying well clear of lockdown/ease-up (?) debate. My scientific knowledge stretches to a Grade 4 GCSE Physics, which means I know H20 is a Hall & Oates album.

So I’ll leave it to the experts, and hope we know more than we did a year ago about transmission risk. During the summer I managed 300 pubs, blissfully unaware that Covid can travel 20 feet round corners and all that 2 metres/15 minute stuff was made up.

Now I’ve had my first jab I’ll be fine for pub wine gardens as we approach the countdown to the 12th, anyway. Though I’m a little concerned that I’ve experienced no post-vaccination symptoms at all and do worry I had the placebo. The WiFi is better though.

So, who will open on April 12th ?

As always, well done Sheffield CAMRA, for your great work keeping this map of April re-openings up-to-date.

The big news is that Blind Monkey (denoted as home on my maps) and The Raven, the two pubs closest to me, are now giving outdoor openings a go.

But there’s plenty of Sheffield legends that aren’t (yet).

As Mudgie notes, despite the usual media hysteria about West Londoners booking restaurants 5 months ahead of their annual trip to Padstow, outdoor opening is a risk for publicans as well as punters.

When pubs re-opened (almost properly) on 4 July 2020 there was much talk of “chaotic scenes“, but in truth it was a damp squib, with most folk either too worried about infection or “waiting till the opening week carnage is over“.

The only fights were over the validity of Spoons vouchers.

As in 2020, I’ll probably be starting the Glorious 12th in a Spoons, with the Hillsborough Timbo’s offering some scenic views from the garden as well as 50p off a Doom Bar.

After that, I’ll head to the Valley of Beer. The best garden is at the Gardeners Arms, mistakenly called the Gardeners Rest on their website and the rest of the internet.

On my latest stroll I took a pre-emptive look at some of the trad Kelham boozers all set for the 12th.

The Parrot Club and Yellow Arch don’t even look like they have gardens, but they’re essential visits if I’m to bring you a flavour of the rebirth of Sheffield after the 12th.

Mrs RM has some exciting root canal surgery that afternoon, but hopefully she’ll be able to join me in outside the Riverside (top) for a pint of Warsteiner and a letch at the Wards windows.

Blimey, can’t wait.

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

16 thoughts on “THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (POSSIBLY)”

    1. “Beer” is clearly the carrier of the plague once you pass Gretna or Berwick. But does it contain more plague than wine ?

      NB If you haven’t seen it, I recommend reading the Stirling University report on the risks of pubs that seems to underpin this anti-alcohol hysteria.

      Like

      Reply

      1. I haven’t read it Martin, I’ve been waiting for a pithy powerpoint style resume on this blog, the safest science is always second-hand in my view.

        My understanding (from not reading it) is that sweeter malty beers (such as… say… Doom Bar) are like delicious petri dishes for this vaccine. Hence I’ve been following advice and sticking to beers that taste of Flash floor cleaner. Canned product apparently come with a failsafe, exploding when infected with COVID. Or Mango…

        Liked by 2 people

  2. For clarity and to ensure timing is noted, Mrs RM’s root canal treatment is at 9am in Central Sheffield, just in case you want to plan your pub ticking around that! Will be needing a drink after that once I stop dribbling!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  3. “The only fights were over the validity of Spoons vouchers”.
    In my local newspaper today it’s reported that on 12th April Tim will keep his Stone venue shut but open both his Stafford ones.
    That’s not quite enough to tempt me to get my sixty 50p vouchers out of their envelope.
    And there’ll probably be another sixty on the way this month.
    Many more vouchers than in ‘normal’ years must be getting burnt / shredded / donated to charity shops.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. “which means I know H20 is a Hall & Oates album.”

    (slow golf clap)
    Also, ‘water’ you talking about? 😉

    “blissfully unaware that Covid can travel 20 feet round corners and all that 2 metres/15 minute stuff was made up.”

    Not forgetting that it’s worse after dark and, if you forget to pull your mask up upon leaving the toilet in a restaurant, by running very very quickly you can reach your seat and sit down, you’ll be safe without having to pull your mask up! 🙂

    “The WiFi is better though.”

    Is that Bill Gates whispering in your head from the chip they put under your skin with the jab? 😉

    “The big news is that Blind Monkey (denoted as home on my maps) and The Raven, the two pubs closest to me, are now giving outdoor openings a go.”

    Huzzah! Also, some nice clumpings around Kelham Island the the Slug and Lettuce down south.

    “outdoor opening is a risk for publicans as well as punters.”

    Yep.

    “but in truth it was a damp squib, with most folk either too worried about infection or “waiting till the opening week carnage is over“.”

    At least with the vaccine that worry should be over. 😉

    “with the Hillsborough Timbo’s offering some scenic views from the garden as well as 50p off a Doom Bar.”

    Blimey. Starting at the top of the map and working your way down?

    “After that, I’ll head to the Valley of Beer.”

    Good idea. Leave the ones close to home until you stagger back there.

    “Mrs RM has some exciting root canal surgery that afternoon, but hopefully she’ll be able to join me in outside the Riverside (top) for a pint of Warsteiner and a letch at the Wards windows.”

    Brave man. Having a pint while the missus is undergoing root canal?
    (doffs hat)

    “Blimey, can’t wait.”

    It looks exciting!

    Cheers

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment