retiredmartin

“Multum in Parvo” – roughly translates as “one new Guide entry per year”.

The UK’s smallest county, famous for keeping Corby off the top of the Covid charts in those halcyon days of Lockdown 2021.

And a few other worthwhile features.

There ARE good pubs here, but I wanted to stick to those I’d blogged about (since 2015), so I’ll leave you to recommend the Grainstore Brewery Tap or Don Paddy’s or the gastro with the daft loos in North Luffenham or whatever,

Off to a great start with a Bass pub;

Great Casterton – Crown

Apart from that draw, the Crown is also on the edge of Stamford so you can get your posh cheeses and pashminas before your pint.

It was unexpectedly pubby on my visit.

“I’d better have the Bass since you’ve gone to the trouble to get it !” I said, overexcitedly, as if they’d swam through Rutland Water with a barrel strapped to their back or something.

“The locals eyed me suspiciously as I started to drink their Bass supply, so I cowered in the corner.”

A dozen gentlefolk drinking beer (mainly Bass) on a Thursday lunchtime. There IS hope, though perhaps the Crown will lose out on the coveted “Woke in Rutland” award when the judges visit the Gents. I’ve heavily edited this exhibit from the loos.

I could have picked 3 from Uppingham, adding the Exeter Arms and Crown to this unexpected wet-led boozer in Rutland’s loveliest (if not only) town.

Uppingham – The Vaults

“We are a drinks only pub” says the website, and it’s a quite a shock to enter a smart Rutland pub without a greeter and a menu on the table.”

“The young staff wear starched uniforms and have to fix the till before they take my money, and the smart customers watch greyhound racing on the telly. It’s all rather quaint.”

Next up is THE best pub in Rutland, but also one I failed to get photos of in 2021. My recollection is there was a power cut or something, and the pub was lit by candlelight.

Ketton – Railway

Luckily there are some recent shots of the Railway on t’web.

That’s Mark Shirley in his bike on the left.

I remember it was incredibly jolly, the beer was superb,

and everyone was older than me.

I’ll have to stop off the A1 one of these days and do it properly.

Pubs like the Railway comprise a key part of our pub heritage, but so do those new build Marston’s pubs on housing estates serving ping food to OAPs and mums and toddlers.

Oakham – Old Buttercross

“The Buttercross was doing very well on a warm midweek lunchtime, with grandparents wearing out their toddlers on the sort of play area I wish I’d had at the age of four.“

Go now; it might be your last chance to sample Pedigree made in a Burton Union. Everyone should be in a union.

Or a club.

Empingham – Empingham Cricket Club

Tickers love a challenge, and Empingham presented a challenge when it debuted in the Guide 5 years ago.

Three (3) Old Boys joined me in standing at the bar at 1pm, staring at turned-round pump clips.

It was very exciting. For about a minute. Then the substitute barman urgently sought explanations from afar on how to work beer engines.

“Ten minutes of vigorous pulling (stop, Russ) produced only water.  It’s bad enough to have unpredictable opening, but unpredictable pumps is torture.”

“I’ll drink the bucket of slops from last night”  I may have squeaked.

“I explained I was from Cambridge and that seemed to explain things.“

And then the Guvnor turned up and produced pints of Old Dambusters and crises were averted.

But no, it wasn’t Bass.

Over to you for a 6th pub, Mark. Votes for the Ram Jam WILL be accepted.