retiredmartin

April 2024. Newport Pagnell.

Without the pressure of completing the Beer Guide the weeks and months had rather lost their focus, at least until Mrs RM decided this was the year to complete ticking Europe.

So UK pubbing activity has been a bit random, nothing wrong with that, and focused on places we can park the campervan and save ourselves the £100+ a night the resurgent UK tourist industry is charging. If you want to have your CAMRA AGM papers signed by Paul Mudge in Dundee later this month it’ll cost you a whole week’s Doom Bar budget;

A few new GBG entries in the Home Counties to “enjoy”, including a couple in ever “beguiling” Bucks, where “beguiling” often means fussy gastropubs and tired beer,

Ah ! Another Newport, with added Pagnell. The Pagnells were, of course, responsible for the design classic that is the service station east of Milton Keynes. Look closely below (top right),

and you’ll see that Leicester Forest East Services have now been brought onto the site for financial reasons, which should certainly make trips up the M1 quicker.

Ousebank House claimed to be closing at 4pm on Sunday (and only opens at 7pm during the week), which seemed a bit unlikely, particularly with Man U v LiVARpool about to kick off and all attention on the TV screens.

Pagnell’s first new GBG entry in living memory (my memory’s not great) is the former Royal British Legion now open to all. An unlikely entry in some ways, but the beer is cheap(ish) and local(ish), but then last year we had the very similar Stony Stratford Conservative Club to enjoy.

And there’s lots of ducks.

“Why are there lots of ducks ?” I ask the guvnoress in a quiet moment before kick-off.

It’s the town duck race, starting at the bridge next to the pub. Of course.

The Ousebank is jolly, and full of laughter, and I reckon the Phipps is “OK” on first sip.

Mrs RM begs to differ, and since it’s her with the pint she has the advantage in the debate.

“There’s a certain sort of beer I’m not keen on…..and it’s this one”.

I’m stuck with a pint of lime and soda which will come back to haunt me later; don’t mix soda with beer, folks.

And Elton John doesn’t mix with Elton Welsby, or whoever was doing the commentary on the football.

The Ousebank hasn’t changed a lot in 2 decades, allowing us to enjoy this wonderful painting of Wells trilogy of cask from the late 90s.

If you visit, I’d come when there’s live music on. Flux Capacitor sound great.

20 minutes in the pub, 20 minutes to walk the town.

It’s very…”handsome”.

No, it really is. Not much traffic to scar the older buildings,

but enough shops to satisfy a population of 15k and rising as the town is dragged kicking and screaming into the expanse of Milton Keynes.

The Coachmakers looks the prettiest of the “village” pubs, but has ditched cask, one of four (4) High Street keg entries on What Pub.

But if you’re going to go keg, best do it at the Plough with its £30 all you can drink offer while karaoke is on.

I really want to hear Terry murder “Tiny Dancer” after £30 worth of Stella.