A team effort continues, as Mrs RM and I bravely tick the wine beer gardens of our local GBG pubs for your entertainment. Like Tavaré, I’m doing the Guide in singles, while BRAPA takes the De Villiers route.
Our Thirsty Thursday Target is Cusworth Hall in “nice” Doncaster, which is a real place.
Shamefully, I had to make a 12:15 booking for the 1086 Tap aka Old Brewhouse aka Cusworth Hall. I ask for other crimes against pub-going to be taken into account before sentencing. Americans whose country was invented in 1776 will want to know that 1086 is actually the Original Gravity of the average pint drunk by Mrs RM this month.
Arriving at 11:27 gave us just enough time to take arty photos of the park and a robin before arriving unfashionably early at the bar.
In Cambridge, this would be Wimpole Hall that charges you a fiver to park, a fiver for a sausage roll and a tenner to pat a sheep. In Doncaster, of course, it’s free.
The Hall itself, with its collection of inappropriate clothing worn by Donny damsels in the 1980s, is unfortunately closed, but the grounds sang with the sound of mums, squeaky buggies and gentlefolk shouting “Come HERE Ella !” (Ella is a pooch).
My, aren’t there a lots of signs to read ?
We were let under the tarpaulin 10 minutes early, pausing to admire the tiny bar and possibly brewery. Who cares if it isn’t ?
It’s all very jolly, and quite a few tickers had found unconventional seating to enjoy a pint and a soundtrack of 99 Red Balloons, Jump and Manic Monday in the sun.
A pint in the biggest glass of the decade so far, undeniably homebrew but well presented and all that.
Mrs RM finished mine, and a second half of something floral some 45 minutes before the food turned up.
“They’re still milking the Baba Ganoush” she said, wittily.
When it came, it was the best food we’d eaten in a “pub” in ages. Well, since that Clay Cross breakfast.
But please, just don’t come on the day Mrs RM starts to hum along to “Brilliant Disguise”, no-one deserve that.
retiredmartin 
Wow, if that glass on the left is a standard pint glass, the other one really is gigantic! I thought we Americans had cornered the market on making drinking vessels larger than they ought to be, but clearly we have competition. 😉
Always a pleasure to hear about the music that was playing. Was 99 Red Balloons a big hit over there? I reckon in America it’s the biggest hit a German band has ever had (which is to say still a sort of medium-sized hit).
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It was weird, like a medieval tankard. Never seen it in any shops.
99 Red Balloons was a one-off Number 1 here in mid 1982. Played at childrens’ parties rather than cutting-edge pubs though !
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Curiosity made me look to see how high it charted in the US, and turns out it was a no.2! So a more substantial hit than I recalled. You only very rarely hear it played anywhere these days, must be said.
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1086, the year when William I recorded to whom amongst his gang he’d handed out every square inch of England in the Domesday Book.
But Martin will keep giving these picture cues, so take it away guys…
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That looks like a pot of grout, with a pile of sticks to apply it. Can’t really eat with the eyes that much, can you?
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I’m still working on the “milking” line, Scott.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_ghanoush
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I fear Baa Baa Toure may be involved somewhere.
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Mmm, grout.
Mmm, haggis.
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Just catching up after a busy week…lovely read…you are quite good at this pub blogging lark aren’t you?
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Since I’m only 10 (?) behind, I shall make a gallant attempt to catch up by the end of the weekend.*
* – of course that all goes out the window come May 16th, just so you know.
“Like Tavaré, I’m doing the Guide in singles, while BRAPA takes the De Villiers route”
As the saying goes… I say! That’s not cricket!
(bear with me; between footy and cricket refs I spend half my posting time Googling things!)
“I ask for other crimes against pub-going to be taken into account before sentencing.”
Will the plant pot contributions go for or against you I wonder?
“Americans whose country was invented in 1776 will want to know that 1086 is actually the Original Gravity of the average pint drunk by Mrs RM this month.”
So, basically anywhere from 6% to 12.6% depending on Final Gravity then? 😉
“gave us just enough time to take arty photos of the park”
Are those considered weeds or flowers?
“In Doncaster, of course, it’s free.”
Location, location, location. 🙂
“and gentlefolk shouting “Come HERE Ella !” (Ella is a pooch).”
As opposed to a female dog misbehaving?
“My, aren’t there a lots of signs to read ?”
I’ve been to a few eateries over here with the (face mask if getting up from the table) lingo. I just get up but stay at seating height when going the to the loo. 😉
“Who cares if it isn’t ?”
After hearing about your camper van escapades, I wouldn’t be willing to drink from that milk bottle thingy in the photo.
“and quite a few tickers had found unconventional seating to enjoy a pint and a soundtrack of 99 Red Balloons, Jump and Manic Monday in the sun.”
They just don’t want to appear as ‘shady’ characters. 😉
“Mrs RM finished mine, and a second half of something floral some 45 minutes before the food turned up.”
No comment.
““They’re still milking the Baba Ganoush” she said, wittily.”
Heh. I’d always wondered where egg yolk came from. 🙂
“When it came, it was the best food we’d eaten in a “pub” in ages. ”
No offense but that’s not a high bar to beat given the circumstances.
“Well, since that Clay Cross breakfast.”
Ah. Doesn’t take long does it?
“But please, just don’t come on the day Mrs RM starts to hum along to “Brilliant Disguise”, no-one deserve that.”
LOL. I’ve heard Bruce’s version. I think we’d be ok. 😉
Cheers
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