retiredmartin

November 2023. Bermondsey.

Mrs RM dropped me off at Tonbridge Station, where I resisted the strong temptation to have a quick pint in Pub of the Year finalist the Nelson Arms, and half an hour later I was back failing to find the exit from London Bridge (the Birmingham New St of the south).

These ladies were clearly pre-loading on cans before heading to the Royal Oak for the Harvey’s Old,

and Borough is full of other distractions, but I remained focused on The Tick.

Bermondsey itself looks more interesting by the year; which country did we steal these relics from ?

Hard to believe it’s five years since Mrs RM and I took the Southworths kicking and screaming on a tour of the Bermondsey Beer Mile.

“It’s just like being in Minneapolis” said Dave of the railway arch brewers, in 2018, speaking as a man who’d rather be in Meltham or Maidstone drinking in real pubs.

Back then the Mile was devoid of a Guide pub, but Anspach & Hobday have changed that in GBG24.

Despite the “sort of” bench seating along the walls, I don’t think Stafford Paul will be diverting away from the Royal Oak (or King’s Arms, or Libertine) to the Arch House,

but here’s your proof the Good Beer Guide is about beer.

Two great staff (“Enjoy, my friend“), one cask beer, a 6% IPA that will be in my end of year awards. Cool, chewy, gorgeous (4.5).

Proof you only need one cask beer on, just as someone once said.

Bit quiet, but then it was 4pm and the mile only gets busy from late on Friday, but the rumble of trains above my head and the jazz soundtrack, at perfect volume, sealed the deal for me.