retiredmartin

October 2023. Greater Grantham (or is it Super Sleaford ?). Lincolnshire.

Some blokes like to admire other bloke’s Panini sticker albums from the 1986 World Cup, some compare rare Radiohead vinyl, but pub tickers love, LOVE, looking at each others Beer Guides and going “Oooh, you’ve got all four new Grantham ticks to do”.

Yes, that new Deeping St James entry is calling me.

Four (4) new entries east of Grantham. Great Gonerby and Welby last month were both “ordinary” village pubs, except that all pubs are extraordinary.

The beer was very good in those two, and at Wilsford and Silk Willoughby, so (shock horror) Grantham and Fenland CAMRA respectively deserve all credit for finding rural gems this year.

The Plough at Wilsford sounds like virtually every other Kesteven village pub; “Traditional old two-bar village pub next to the church; wood beam ceiling and open fires”.

The charm of the exterior is a bit obscured by scaffolding,

but the Plough is all about the welcome.

They’re fully booked for lunch, but the landlady is thrilled we’re here for the beer,

even more so when it’s Mrs RM drinking the Black Sheep,

and brings us complimentary nuts into the other bar, a symphony in brown.

Her partner (ex-Stamford George) cooks the food, she looks after the beer, and is thrilled by GBG inclusion. Her Black Sheep is as good as you’ll get.

She tells us the Horseshoes in Silk Willoughby will feed us well, and to pass on her congratulations to Sarah there for getting in the Guide.

I don’t see Sarah, but Mrs RM’s pint of Landlord is also lovely, the Horseshoes chilli and fish and chips a joy, and gentlefolk in purple corduroy discussing “taking it up with the council” a joy.

But really, two pints of lime and soda at lunchtime is far too much.