retiredmartin

November 2023. Attenborough. Nottingham.

That’s a pathetic play on David Attenborough (geddit, geddit ?), who would no doubt approve of the nature reserve here on the edge of Nottingham.

but my only interest in a Bird Hide was the micropub I needed to complete Notts,

but the real joy was the two mile walk from my pineapple, pizza and porter stop in Long Eaton, over the county border, to a place I knew NOTHING about.

In truth, it’s a damp squib of a walk along a dual carriageway populated by McDonalds billboards (over the A52),

and a trio of Greene King diners. Flaming Grill, Eating Inn, probably a Hungry Horse.

I’m sure Alan Winfield loved visiting these pubs near his hometown, and rejoiced in the saving of Kimberley boozers by Greene King as much as the local CAMRA branch*.

I don’t know what Alan thought of micros like the Bird Hide,

but the Midlands versions always seem welcoming and cosy enough, just smaller than “real” pubs. And the jumper game is very strong here.

Good mix of seating, too, far from that high table round the wall nonsense of Kent.

There’s a board with X and Y axis representing strength and colour which defeats me as someone who doesn’t know east from west, but I can see 6% and that’s an easy choice.

Oh look, a beer list for the day, how classy. The Old Boy who comes in after me is greeted with “Duchess, Jim ?” (it’s bound to be a Jim) and Jim replies in the affirmative. 8% pints, wow.

Your soundtrack is “Altogether Now” by the Farm, and local laughter. I bet these people want power tools for Christmas when they meet Santa next Sunday.

The young barman is efficient to the point of efficiency, swooping to collect my empty pint glass before I can return it to the bar, wishing me a “good rest of my day” on the way out.

In truth, I’m buzzing by now after a second great pint in an hour, the Lenton Lane cool, rich and (yes) chewy (NBSS 4), just as it was last year in that wonderful Partizan place.

All this great beer; I’ll bet you’re longing for a plant pour post now, aren’t you ?

*Duck (as in duck !).