retiredmartin

July 2023. Cromer.

Although I’m (definitely) not completing GBG this year the sight of incomplete counties still distresses me as much as it did a decade ago, particularly when there’s just one (1) left to do.

In Norfolk, that loner was the White Horse. I did my weekly Facebook check on opening hours and saw this;

Blimey. Best get there soon and get that tick pay respects.

As I always bang on about, Cromer is considered a holiday destination for folk in Cambridge, even though it takes 3 days on the A47 by car. WHO KNEW you could get there by train in less ?

Aren’t trains wonderful ? (You may have to jump off a moving train to catch that connection at Norwich).

I arrive too late (or possibly early) for Bouncers, but it’s only 3 minutes walk to my pub, stopping but briefly to admire the Chesterfield Cottages.

Along Holt Road, a mile of traffic, each containing sad looking husband (driver) and wife (map reader), wondering why they hadn’t stayed in Dereham for a week instead.

Knowing that the staff in the White Horse are about to leave raises a few issues of decorum at the bar (I’m glad BRAPA went the month earlier).

Don’t say “How are you coping ?”, ask what they’re doing next or rant about the landlord.

Just smile and ask politely for a pint of Doom Bar (the famed Abbot is off, sadly) and go “Oooh, that looks lovely” as it does.

Look, it’s my sort of pub; simple, red bench seats, beery. But the ’80s pop (possibly Spandau Ballet ?) were played at miniscule volume and it was all just too quiet.

A couple of locals at the bar were bemoaning the smoking ban, and I bet this place was a riot before 2007.

One lone couple, let’s say they’re from Swaffham, sat staring at each other. Staring is a national sport in the Brecks.

They perked up when “The Winner Takes It All” came on, just as I was uprating my score for the foamy-headed Doom to a 3.5. If the White Horse loses its hard won Guide place it’s going out with a bang.

But what about the pub entertainment ? you ask.

Is Domino the same as Dominoes ? I think we should be told.

And you can buy 9 condoms for the price of a pint. What can it mean ?

Anyway, good luck White Horse folk. Here’s what you look like in the book.

Oh ! Sorry, you’re lost in the margin.