retiredmartin

February 2024. Rotherham.

We’d done “tourist Rotherham”, time for lunch.

Google wasn’t very encouraging;

virtually all those places marked in red are takeaways.

“Spoons will do me” says Mrs RM.

I thought this was a long overdue return to a GBG stalwart,

but apparently I was here just before Covid drinking a classic Elland (RIP) 1872 Porter for £1.97 (without a CAMRA discount).

4 years later, they seem to have caught that queueing bug here. I look forward to the political party manifestos to see where they stand on this modern curse.

Mrs RM had gone to find a free table, and failed. It’s a rambling place, and was completely full, just like most of the JDWs I pop in around the country.

Except for two high tables tucked by the first floor wall that the gentlefolk were wise to avoid.

We pounced.

Now, it’s a Spoons, so I’m not gonna pretend it’s one to add to your Sheffield crawl, but isn’t it a joy to see a full pub.

“Oh, no, not THAT sort of pub” says CAMRA Discourse, “we want to see the pubs we like full, the ones that don’t open and have ever-changing beers and folk like us“.

Well. the Bluecoat sells beer from Bradfield and Lord’s of Huddersfield, whose Pale is cool and chewy (3.5+) and £2.13.

Mrs RM had one of those Mediterranean quinoa-based salads you didn’t think anyone ever ordered, and wrote the contents on a list of vegetables consumed that week. I had the pizza.

Mrs RM notes different sorts of gentlefolk, the ones who dress up with pearl necklaces and sip wine, the more casual diner with the afternoon fish and chips and a cup of tea, Mums with toddlers, the younger work colleagues discussing Strategic Action Plans (ugh), and the blokes on high stools with their Friday San Miguel’s, bewildered by the queues.

All human life was here, and while it heads to Spoons from Rotherham to Reading the demise of the nation’s favourite pub chain will continue to be greatly exaggerated.