December 2023. Snaith.
It was a already a joyous 59th birthday (I know, I don’t believe it either, but then I am an “old grump”), what with bench seats, jam roly poly and a sweaty Chris de Burgh in Beal, but things arguably got even better with a quick stop near Goole and Drax power station.
The landlady at Beal had eyed us suspiciously when I said we’d be spending Retired Martin Day in South Cave (“Do you have family there/a drugs deal/did your wife leave her coat in a pub ?”) and a search of Mumsnet finds no recommendations for a visit to Snaith, either.
Which, of course, is why you should.
Our reason to visit the Plough will be familiar to you,
but even without the joy of a pink marker pen on Beer Guide we’d wanted to see the sister pub to our own Blind Monkey.
Speakeasy (Don Valley Brewing, essentially) run four pubs and a market stall, and the family resemblance is immediately evident to Mrs RM, the more observant member of our family.
Furnishings, colour scheme,
comfy seating,
and THAT monkey,
all virtually identical to our lovely local.
A few less potential punters for the beers, perhaps,
and the ale range is a bit tighter than in S6, which might explain the Belgian Blue veering on “OK”.
Two other drinkers, though a couple our age (though they look older, obvs) pop their head round the door to check food is “on”, and it is.
It’s a warm, cosy, place, Simon liked it too,
and they’re playing all your favourite Christmas Number 1s.
No, really.
retiredmartin 
All their pubs look quite nice.
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The only Christmas song I can stand is Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas tree, and even that just once a day for preference. What a remarkable voice that young woman had at just 13 years old.
There must have been a CD made of “These Will Really Get the Goat of your Family Scrooge”, because there were some truly dire ones out there in the pubs of the Lake District this Christmastide. Dean Martin singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town had me saying out loud, “Dear God, how much longer?” like I was Joan of Arc suffering at the stake. (The pub I was in received a lower rating as a consequence. https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/60990/ )
Another really bad (and long) one is Boney M’s Hark Now Hear the Luton Sing, the Watford Ran Away, and We Will Fight for Evermore Because of Boxing Day, expecially as they get the words wrong. But it goes on for almost as long as it has been since Luton last lost at home to W*tford. It turns out that YouTube time their video at five minutes, whereas it’s nearly 18 years since we lost at Kenilworth Road to W*tford and I can remember that game like it was yesterday. I honestly wouldn’t mind losing to them once more if only it meant never having to hear Boney M again.
Sorry for dominating your blog, but you’ve been a bit light on material recently.
By the way, belated birthday greetings!
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Luton ? You mean “Premier League Luton”, surely.
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SH,
Yes there’s some dreadful Christmas music about this time of year.
Imagine my surprise a few weeks ago with going to my nearest pub for my weekly curry and hearing joyous Diwali music being played.
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