retiredmartin

September 2023. End of the Road Festival, Cranborne Chase.

One of the annual traditions at End of the Road, along with watching Mrs RM put the day tent up while we watch and spilling curry down our new T-shirts, is a half hour walk along the narrow lanes to the Museum for a pint of Sixpenny’s 6d Best in a proper glass.

The now traditional start to #EndOfTheRoad Festival.

Miss last food orders at the @MuseumInn in Farnham, so two pints @sixpennybrewery 6d matched expertly with Pipers crisps. pic.twitter.com/tjci8pDNOP

— retiredmartin (@NHS_Martin) August 29, 2019

It’s worth it for the thatch.

and the veg display,

and the tremendous number of signs.

The door is open, but we can’t come in, even for expensive coffee, because breakfast ended at 11 and lunch doesn’t start till noon. Pubs don’t help themselves do they ?

So James and I have 45 minutes to kill exploring hedges and wondering if my “theft” of the Bill Bryson book, from the swap shop last year,

is the reason for the passive aggressive note.

Talking of spoiling things, I’m mildly horrified to find Butcombe have taken over the Museum and kicked out the Sixpenny Best from up the road. I doubt either the pub or the brewery are richer for that decision.

And these folk don’t look like they’ll be hitting the Butcombe Original hard, do they ?

That Original is decent (3), the Gold a little less so, the beef stew and burger beautiful if not bargain. In fact, the food at the festival is far cheaper than our two pub meals.

But then I see a rush on the Adam Henson Rare Breed (well, 2 pints pulled), and although a bit chilled that turns out to be good, and the young barman is a gem as well.

Butcombe seem to have gone upmarket (see : Petworth recently) and they do it very well, even without the fork handles !

I’m so pleased, I take home a little souvenir (only the mayo) from the Museum for my own museum.

James was horrified.