A PINT IN THE CARDIGAN

February 2024. Leeds.

Part 2 of our Big Monday Out in Leeds, and I decide to be unsociable at the first hurdle by letting Caroline, Andy and Will take the bus up Kirkstall Road while I leave them to walk the 1.6 miles.

Not only do I detest buses, I just can’t sit still all day. I’ll be unbearable if I ever reach middle age.

31 minutes says Bing, 37 said Google Maps. I did it in nineteen, just like Paul Hardcastle.

I’d been wanting to revisit the Cardigan Arms since 2018, when I only popped by for a half.

It really is a thing of beauty,

as Tetley Heritage pubs are wont to be,

but are there too many pumps on the bar ?

Well, not necessarily, but I hope it gets busier later in the day as our group doubled the trade.

A chap at the bar had a pint that looked perfect.

“What are you drinking ?“. Always find a way to drink the second beer pulled.

“Three Swords” he said, shuffling off to the room to escape my questions.

I took a seat, sipped the Three Swords (cool, crisp, NBSS 3+) and waited.

And waited. I think that bus took a detour via Headingley, as I’d near finished my pint before the Great and the Good (not saying which is which) joined me and insisted we move into the right-hand room, which is undeniably the best one.

Everyone else on halves, but several of them. How have I become a pint man ?

Caroline was clearly on a mission to outdrink the blokes, and I know when I’m beaten so I didn’t have a second.

Lovely place, enhanced by the company, and a soundtrack of Faye Webster and Julia Jacklin that I complimented the cheery barmaid on as I left. She seemed pleased, so if it was a playlist imposed on her by “management” and she’d have preferred Coldplay I apologise profusely.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

18 thoughts on “A PINT IN THE CARDIGAN”

    1. Andy,
      I was three days ahead of you but 2.40 pm on a Wednesday meant that I arrived ten minutes too late.
      And I was surprised that Holdens’s nearby Bulls Head also closed at 2.30pm.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. We were in the Bulls Head before moving on to the Beacon. Well, we were there to eat at Ann’s Thai, in the back room. A good food pub combination along with the nearby Aashiqs and the Britannia. Or, if you want to keep it pubby The Old Bulls Head and the Fountain Inn, Gornal. The Chapel House is OK too. Not a bad area.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Andy,
        Five days ago I drank in the Bull and Bladder, Old Swan, Britannia, Posada, Great Western and ( back in Stafford ) Railway.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Andy,
        Yes, the Vine, all four rooms nearly full three-quarters of an hour after opening at noon on a Wednesday.
        The Bathams Mild, £2.60 a pint, was drinking well in the Britannia.

        Liked by 1 person

      10. Yes.
        “The extension will be delivered in two phases with the first to Dudley town centre expected to open for passenger services in 2024. The second phase will see the route further extended to Brierley Hill at the earliest opportunity”.

        Liked by 1 person

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