retiredmartin

May 2023.

A decent number of new entries in Worcestershire in GBG23, and an ultra-rare newbie in Droitwich Spa.

I was convinced I’d been to the Talbot before, but apparently not, and it’s a pleasant enough town of 25,000 souls to spend an hour if you like your black and white buildings. This one from 1550 is even older than Pubmeister.

It’s always interesting to see how towns have emerged from Covid, and Droitwich seems particularly slow to return to good health,

with few folk under 50 on the streets,

and some flagship hotels like the Raven still looking forlorn.

It feels a bit like Hampshire’s Romsey, all faded grandeur waiting for some youthful investment. No Black Country Ales (let alone a Spoons) pub yet, but nearby Craddocks have taken a punt on the Talbot so good for them.

Like their Worcester pub, the Talbot is a lovely building in need of drinkers.

And like a mini-BCA, there appears to be far too many handpumps because Proper Pubs have lots of pumps.

But, even if my Craddocks Gold was the only one pulled that lunchtime, and it might have been, it was good, rising from NBSS 3+ to 3.5 for no apparent reason. I must put my beer scores in.

A few couples, a few gentlefolk in the bar, one of the latter ladies in need of a lift home. I much admired the landlady’s determination to make contact with a mystery “friend” who’d promised to come and pick our elder up from outside the pub, a contact only established when she’s sent the lady out on to the cobbles where the WiFi finally whirred into life.

Treat your gentlefolk with respect or wither and die.