retiredmartin

January 2024. Accrington.

For the benefit of our less culturally aware US readers, here’s the reference.

Never gets old.

Stanley have thrived since that cruel 1989 advert, but at the time of of my first visit years later still languishing in the Northern League.

Back in 1995, we rejected a night in a £33 Blackburn Guest House allegedly used by Rovers skipper Tim Sherwood in favour of a £45 night in Accrington’s premier (only) hotel.

I’m fairly sure the Castle was the one, it’s the only place with the word “bedroom” dangling outside, and with 20 minutes till the hourly train

OK, I could have nipped in the Spoons (dull),

or bought samosas in the market (unexpectedly closed at a quarter to four),

or brought you a review of an artisanal £2.99 kebab meal (already eaten).

or just wandered aimlessly admiring Lancashire mill town cobbles,

and wobbly wisdom.

But I know you want to read about pubs, and I wanted to see what a rare cask outlet outside the GBG looked like. And I knew Stafford Paul would like the brewery mirror.

Well, what a joy.

Heaving with life of all ages, fuelled by naff late ’80s pop and WKD,

though with the almost upmarket cask pick on the bar.

I waited to see if there were any takers for the Bowland. And the very next chap in front of me went for the Boxer Blonde !

And by the time I’d left another four pints of cask sold, a cool, creamy 3+ which I must score on What Pub NOW. 

Half-time scores, future Luke Littlers on the oche, toddlers and grannies.

It’s the sort of Proper community Pub that has been peppering the GBG this year, and I was delight to make a reacquaintance with it 29 years on.

I mean, you don’t often find toilets this good;

But already, I felt a little tipsy.