October 2023. Sedgefield.
Another weekend, another trip down to Waterbeach (Covid and flu jabs this time) then straight back up the A1. Didn’t even get a Crispy Beef; the chicken kebab (“with all the trimmings“) seems the parents favourite now.
On brief stop on the way to Gateshead/Newcastle, an unexpected return to Sedgefield, meeting place of Blair/Bush when they discussed policy on return trays and the best chicken parmo 20 years ago.
That Sedgefield stop in Spring was notable only for Mrs RM expertly taking the beer back in the Hardwick Arms, and now the Hardwick is replaced with the Pickled Parson, which I never even noticed in February.
In fact, I distinctly recall looking at What Pub back then for somewhere to waste half an hour before the Hardwick became the first Sedgefield newbie in two decades, and not noticing the Parson. That Hopper House Brew Farm (open Fri-Sat) seems a much more likely entry, doesn’t it ?
Perhaps the Parson was hiding from me, in plain sight, at the top of the hill facing the church.
We couldn’t have eaten there if we wanted, it was fully booked and we were only allowed a drink as we said we’d hover (not a loo technique) until someone moved.
Blimey it’s posh, considering you’re in that triangle between Spennymoor, Stockton and Hartleepool.
Smart, but not irritating in that Brunning & Price way, and the staff were helpful to the extent of being overhelpful.
What a shame the beer was so dull. Yes, it’s Locale.
“Tastes watered down” I said to Mrs RM.
“I like it” said Mrs RM, drinking mine.
She really is incorrigible. Whatever that means.
retiredmartin 
You used the word correctly and on the right person.
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Might I point out, that Bill Roache is the longest-serving cast member of Coronation Street, with some four thousand, six hundred, and thirty-four episodes under his belt?
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Do they really have bread sauce and stuffing with the chicken kebab. Good on them.
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“Covid and flu jabs this time”
I had mine on Saturday 7th October.
On Saturday 14th I didn’t feel right – only one pint waiting two hours for the next bus, only one pint during over two hours in the Royal Oak, off my food.
Early the next morning I did a test for coronavirus which showed up positive.
I had a week without pubs to avoid spreading it but was feeling better by the Tuesday.
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The easiest place to catch COVID is at a COVID vaccination centre, apparently.
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I am not surprised. I had my jab at a local pharmacy and it was full of people. Some like me had appointments and some were walk ins. I was relieved I didn’t catch COVID.
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