Two Wigan ticks in the bag, not bad for 40 minutes work. Let’s head back to the station and get some tea in Manchester.
Just as well the German Sausage stand is closed or I’d have been sorely tempted (possibly).
I can’t resist pubs down cobbled streets, either. “Just five minutes, enough for a half” I promise myself.
Ten minutes later I’m still in John Bull’s Chophouse listening to Cream covers (press play).
I’m not a classic rock fan, you’ll be surprised to hear, but it’s great seeing a pub rammed on a Friday music and the pumps flowing.
I must find out if the Hop House is actually a separate bar with its own GBG entry, like that Buxton/no.53 thing.
For now, I’ll just tell you the Thwaites Original is another great beer on a night of wonder in Wigan,
and let you wonder how I left without a pie.
retiredmartin 
Clever to have a separate craft room. Also how could you not have a second pint of a beer you scored 5!?
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I’ve never really understood the NBSS scale and what it is purported to mean. https://camra.org.uk/beer-and-cider/beer/national-beer-scoring-system/
“0 – No cask ale available. So why not have a craft keg instead?” is clear enough.
“1 – Poor. Beer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment. Why not have a reliable craft keg beer instead?” All very well, but some outlets struggle to keep Guinness in reasonable condition too.
“2 – Average.” In a 1 to 5 scale, 2 is clearly below average. Unless they mean neither mean nor median but mode, in other words the quality of beer most often seen. “So why not switch to craft keg?” OK, I get the hint.
“3 – Good. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again. But if you’re looking for a beer that’s this good in every pub, better to move away from cask to something that is brewed with consistency in mind.” Now you’re talking.
“4 – Very Good. Excellent beer in excellent condition. You want to drink this beer again and again. You demand that the licensee lock the doors and allow you to drink the rest of the barrel.”
“5 – Perfect. Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely. But experience shows that cask beer is never the same from pint to pint, so either move swiftly on or have a crafty keg beer instead.”
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Dick and Dave are the experts on this. All you need to know is that if they say it’s a 3.5, it’s a 3.5.
And it’s the pub, not the beer you’re scoring, which is why you get Doom Bar at 4 (or 2.5) and Harvey’s at 2 on occasion.
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Yes, that’s what’s always confused me about the scoring system: “3 …may seek out the beer again”. Not much point in that, unless it’s in the same pub.
I’ve had those occasional “Harvey’s at 2”, and even a 1 in Brighton a few years ago. And yes, we’ve talked about scoring the pub not the beer, but in the FAQs Camra advise that “bland, uninspiring beers score a 2”. If the brewery makes the beers like that, what is the cellarman supposed to do about it? That’s another reason why I’ve resisted taking up scoring.
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I agree.
Another point, beer tastes better in a pint glass. Fact. Actually a pint will always taste better than a half unless you decant it into 3 x 1/3 glasses.
And I can’t name many bland uninspiring beers, though the ones made in a microbrewery in Leicestershire today weren’t much.
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It’s all well and good, but only CAMRA members are allowed to submit NBSS scores, so the whole thing is rather a closed shop.
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If you tell me your scores for the Hungry Horse nearest you I’ll add them onto What Pub on your behalf, Paul.
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Dave is usually correct. I am always .5 off.
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Which way ?
I’ll take the average of the two.
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A pie? Why didn’t you have a chop?
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The girl with the Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival shirt, gets my vote as the most appreciative, and discerning audience member.
“Not a classic rock fan,” you don’t know what you are missing, Martin!
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I had to pause Dylan at Wembley 2000, courtesy of Dave, to listen to Cream.
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Your video of the Cream cover, that is.
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Martin, part of the area close to the Hungry Horse (Sherwood), was cordoned off today, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many PC’s on foot, or police vehicles for that matter. Matthew and I were just passing through, when we chanced on all this activity.
Turns out a murder took place in the vicinity, in the early hours, but it isn’t the nicest part of Tunbridge Wells. Matthew and I both have alibis, but somehow I won’t be calling in at the Hungry Horse, anytime soon. Those NBSS scores, will just have to wait.
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Blimey.
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