retiredmartin

A Friday in St Helens. Is this Woollybackland ? Let’s assume it is and offend someone.

The folk heading back to Merseyside from Victoria were upset enough on Friday lunchtime, the toothy messiah having announced his departure from Anfield this summer.

At Wigan, I had to run faster than Jurgen encroaching on the pitch to celebrate a Reds corner in order to connect with the St. Helens train.

12:51:08 Train arrives at Wallgate.

Run up steps to Wallgate barriers, fumble with phone trying to load mobile ticket (there you go, Dave), run across road with a fleeting glance at the Swan and Railway,

enter Wigan North Western, run up steps to Platform 2, leap on at 12:52:25 just before the doors closed.

Remain out of breath till arriving at St Helens Central 18 minutes later.

Bit space age, isn’t it ?

My first visit since late 2018, the days of the Connoisseur Tasting Rooms, the brewery tap open 11 Saturdays a year.

I miss such eccentricities (I don’t), the new GBG full of Proper Pubs with windows like this,

and frontages like the “open all hours” George,

It’s almost like the Beer Guide has gone “Back to Basics”, although there was a spell a decade ago when St Helens had a few single room boozers in the book.

Perhaps it’s in the Guide because of the microbrews from Wigan.

Perhaps it’s the discount (“Got a CAMRA card ?”) I’m offered but reject, and it’s still only £3.10.

I’d like to think it’s because the Pale is superbly cool and crispy. Perhaps too cool ?

No. Just right (NBSS 3.5).

The pub is very simple, but very loveable.

Rugby League photos on the wall, students playing pool, a soundtrack taking this route;

Were the students (all drinking cans of coke, I note) picking those tunes ? Well done them.

Reminiscent of the Lower Angel in Warrington, or the Railway in Portwood, or any GBG entry ever in Castleford, I absolutely loved it.