I left the Old Boys in the Smithfield to their talk of “interesting” beers and Francis Lee’s gold Mercedes and crowds of 7,000 at Stamford Bridge, and wobbled back towards the station.
Blimey, those cobbles look big.
The Alex and the Brunswick lie over those cobbles, but I was headed for a re-opened classic with a Carling sign.
The Station Inn is the Stockton Sun of the Midlands. A workingmen’s pub, with Bass a side draw rather than the reason visit.
It had just that month been re-opened by a great chatty couple who had seemingly managed to keep all the character of an unfussy boozer. An album by The Nolans on the wall is A Good Sign.
I’ll be honest. I feared for the Bass; no longer from the jug, four pumps on the bar, and served in a Pedigree glass in a pub that was too quiet.
But it was nectar, the Bass of the day (NBSS 3.5/4), and if it hadn’t been my fifth pint I’d have stayed for more. But it’s best to leave, wanting to come back.
retiredmartin 
Had an inebriated nutter latch on to me in this pub, the pain was lessend by the fact I’d just returned from a thirteen pub crawl in Nurton, I reckon he’d had more than me that day.
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Nurton? BURTON. 🙄
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Didn’t invite me !
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You would have been more than welcome Martin, and could have distracted the Idiot that sat next to me.
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You were sitting next to a mirror ? I do that.
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Harsh but not beyond the realms of possibility.
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I had a house in Long Eaton 1977-1992, nine miles from Derby.
I never once visited it in that time, always going to Nottingham – ten miles away – or elsewhere.
I wonder why now, with hindsight?
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Long Eaton and Sawley is a great area for beer and baps, though it’s the Horse & Jockey in Stapleford that continues to win the awards.
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I always treat relatives to the Sun when in town.
Bass or three at the Sun, Parmo at the Hope and Union.
And if they are very lucky, Vadah.
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You’re making me jealous now !
Sounds like I should do Vadah next time up.
I had Parmo in an Italian place last time.
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