WELL, AT LEAST THE CHIPS WERE GOOD

July 2023. Uttoxeter.

The Wikipedia entry for Kingstone is the dullest in the UK.

But at least they have a “man of the people” as their Member of Parliament;

I’m sorry if that photo is more scary than my ring finger.

When you’ve walked four (4) miles out to a pub you really, really, want it to be open.

The Shrewsbury Arms is a community pub, often the key to Guide inclusion. But while the car park was packed with diners I’m never going to complain about a rural pub open all day from Wednesday onwards.

And you can always rely on Pedi, can’t you ?

Well, sadly not, it was undrinkable.

And on top of that, the food service had just finished, meaning no crispy squid.

“But I can do you some chips if you like, m’duck ?”.

Well, to be honest, no, I didn’t really want (fluffy but filling) chips, but it felt like a special request would be made to the kitchen so what could I do ? £8.40 for a pint and a bowl of chips seemed very steep, even in Michael Fabricant land.

When the helpful lady came back I raised the issue of the duff Pedi in hushed tones.

“Er, excuse me, the Pedigree doesn’t taste quite right…”

Well, that had the desired effect, a new barrel put on and at least three pints pulled through vigorously. I seem to be getting the beer at the end of the barrel a lot these days…

It still wasn’t brilliant (NBSS 3), a bit foamy and indistinct, and with all the gentlefolk (a contrast to Uttoxeters’s Ladies Day crowd) drinking G & Ts and young folk (under 59) on Jack Daniels I guess that isn’t a huge surprise.

Surprisingly cheery banter about “a slight disagreement with a Japanese officer” and a lengthy request for fresh basil as the pizza topping, all to a soundtrack of Whitney.

But, like the majority of community-revived pubs, it’s primarily a restaurant and was doing a great trade midweek and I’m never complaining about a busy pub, even if their advice on getting back to Uttoxeter was “Er, an Uber, m’duck ?“.

Unknown's avatar

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

18 thoughts on “WELL, AT LEAST THE CHIPS WERE GOOD”

  1. What an exceptionally disturbing photograph. And I’m not referring to the one with the bowl of chips. You know which one I mean. Did people really vote for him as their representative in the House of Commons? No wonder the Pedigree had turned.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Sure. Policies schmolicies.

        But wouldn’t that photo make you run away as fast as your legs could carry you? Or at least to cast your vote for the other guy.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh so very true, Martin, and yet we allowed the very same people to vote on an issue of supreme national importance, and something that would affect all of our futures, on the basis of a simple “yes” “no” answer.

        And that photo, by the way, is the stuff of nightmares!

        Liked by 3 people

      4. Well, every country to a degree has its head up its arse in its own way I guess, Paul.

        However, that vote showed – besides its being a matter of nature but also of degree – just how far our collective head had gone.

        And if we’re really trying to horrify ourselves

        And there are plenty more.

        Liked by 2 people

  2. Agreed, ETU, especially after witnessing the horror show that’s unfolding across the Atlantic. John Redwood, arch Euro-sceptic, and vintage one too. He looks like the personification of the living dead. Glad he’s not my constituency MP!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

Leave a comment