retiredmartin

October 2023. Novi Sad. Serbia.

We only had time for one “pub” in Novi Sad, and Mrs RM’s legs were about to go on strike, so I picked Skripa, tucked away between cathedral and synagogue in the heart of town.

Google maps said Škripa was “as busy as it gets” at 2pm on Tuesday, but the main challenge was finding it among the row of second hand clothes.

Sorry, “vintage” clothes, says Mrs RM. Oooh, love a courtyard pub; hope it’s not going to be a telling off like in Riga.

The European Bar Guide recommends Skripa, with words like “bohemian”, “twee”, “grand old” and “colourful” being both perfect words to describe the pub and Mrs RM.

I really loved the place, the sort lone females drop in on to read Kierkegaard or do their blog about visits to Maidenhead pubs.

I have NO idea what the board is telling me, despite the translation, and that’s OK.

They have four crafty beers, some of them their own, which is great because there’s two of us so we try them all and get the barmaid (or whatever they call them in Serbia) say “A BIG one ?“.

If this is really, as Google claims, as busy as it gets then I fear for it a bit. There’s eight of us, the only other bloke using the pub for its proper purpose in 2023.

Or perhaps this is the proper purpose for a pub;

One thing to be said about Serbia is it’s definitely “Team Cat” rather than “Team Dog”. How lovely to be able to stroke a pub cat over your craft beer and not be charged a fiver for the privilege.

The beers were good, and more importantly strong.

Again, the only downside is the fag smoke. It’s no wonder Charlie Bronson is a national hero here.

Almost as big a hero as Robert Smith.

They probably, almost certainly played The Cure, but the music was otherwise really great,

and the Gents maintained the high standards of the Balkans.

Actually, this place could have been imported from Pristina, and that’s all you need know.

And if you recognise this niche musical reference on the wall you really do win a prize…