A TRIP TO THE WATERWORKS

June 2023. Rye.

A year ago I was in manic mode, in a mad dash to finish the Beer Guide before events (dear boy) made completion far more tricky.

In 2023 I’m in more leisurely mode, basing ourselves in Rye for most of June so we can tick attend to octogenarian parents and do the sort of exploration normal people do i.e. churches and pubs that aren’t in the GBG.

Rye has turned out to be an inspired choice (by Mrs RM) to buy a caravan, still only an hour or two to the parents but offering lots to explore and superb crispy squid in independent places like Hoof.

The jury is still out on that “coleslaw in a seashell” vibe, mind.

Weekends see Rye packed with other countries, including France, Italy and London.

But half a mile north you can escape the crowds on Military Road and get lost looking for the footpath back to the A268.

Luckily there were German tourists to point the way to the Playden Oasts,

and they followed us, at a safe distance, to an actual pre-emptive tick at the new Waterworks Brewery Tap.

I guess these are the vehicles they use to deliver beer to their award-winning micropub in central Rye.

I used to drive my Dad’s Kubota when I was 13. Badly.

The tap only opens Friday to Sunday, which will guarantee a Guide place even if the beer doesn’t,

and it should do because the I Pee Alot was superbly cool and tasty (NBSS 4). Beer festivals used to operate entirely with beers with punny names like that before they went woke.

OK, it’s in a farm shed, but there’s a bit of character,

and getting 3 dozen locals to walk a mile out of town along a verge is quite some going, which is why they show the bus times on the bar. We missed the bus by 10 minutes, obviously.

8 thoughts on “A TRIP TO THE WATERWORKS

  1. The only pub I’ve been to which had the bus timetable on display was the Clachnaharry Inn on the outskirts of Inverness. Of course, I misread the timetable and missed the bus.
    On the other hand, the pub in Bressay and some of the Lerwick pubs have ferry timetables on display.

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  2. I have a degree of sympathy for you, finding yourself forced to go to brewery taps like the Waterworks, and to drink beers called I Pee Alot and Uryenal, even though you’re not ticking the GBG this year.

    I presume you left your highlighter pen at home?

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  3. I am quite envious of your caravan -we thought about it (briefly ) but as I refused to rent it out ,the idea never got off the ground ! Been to Rye Waterworks -just at the end of covid -it was bouncing -hot & fuggy -I was certain we would come home infected.We were ok though.This new place looks interesting-bus could be problematic though as Mr S generally refuses to use them

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    1. I know what you mean about not wanting to let it out, but the park handle the between let cleaning and I can’t get too personal about it (yet !).

      The original micro is incredibly busy at weekends.

      I’m with Mr S.

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