December 2023. Crouch Hill. London.
And that’s the problem with London pub “curated self-explorations“. So many steps, so much beer, so few (no) public toilets on trains.
I actually thought the Overground (the orange one) might have loos. How daft can you be.
So 10 minutes later I found myself at Crouch Hill station, searching What Pub for the closest pub.
Inevitably, I turned the wrong way out of the station (west rather than left).
No GBG pubs, but the first one looked familiar.
Except, when I came for the tick in 2021 it was called the Brave Sir Robin*. Look ! There’s Sir Robin on the wall ! With the G on his chest !
And despite being only 2 years ago, I couldn’t remember it at all. Probably because it was under Stroud Green back then, and looked COMPLETELY different,
and has changed from a burger bar with craft to something more upmarket entirely.
I was heading for that loo in the back, but inevitably made eye contact with the lovely barman and had a half of Cloudwater Mild,
which (post-wee) was sensational, albeit in a handled jug (NBSS 4).
The bloke who used to work at the Southampton Arms runs it (says What Pub), and it shows.
Sample “banter” – “He tried to kiss Charlie in the store room“.
Right, time for my actual tick. As early as 2016 on this blog I wrote “Now I don’t know my Crouch End from my Crouch Hill“, and that still holds.
I followed the bloke with the portable pink micropub a few yards,
and then remembered that Crouch End was a mile up the hill.
*And improbably, an early Spoons called Marler’s and a Tap & Spile before that
retiredmartin 
“I actually thought the Overground (the orange one) might have loos.”
Until about a century ago very few trains did, but if it was a long distance route that meant the bonus every couple of hours of a half hour stop for a piss, a pint in the nearest pub and maybe something to eat. i wouldn’t mind that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would certainly work for me, Paul. On recent Sheffield-Manchester trips all the loos have been out of order, and there’s been announcements “DO NOT get off the train for a wee at Hope, you will not be allowed back on the train”.
LikeLike