retiredmartin

April (still !) 2024. Sheffield.

One of the great lines, from one of the great songs, from one of the great bands;

“And as her kissing got worse
oh, her paintings improved
but what does that prove?
It proves nothing“

Well, as my GBG ticking gets worse, so my pubbing improves, and back in Sheffield I decided I was overdue a visit to the Blake Hotel, Sheffield CAMRA’s northern pub of then year, Yes ! I’m really in the north.

Living in the UK’s top pub town and not occasionally visiting its top pubs seems a bit daft, but there’s been a few questions raised (no names) about the Blake due to changes in ownership and the like this last year, though on the face of it nothing’s changed.

They STILL haven’t fixed that big hill up from the centre, and never will.

Perhaps a bit quieter than usual, but the beer range still centres on Neepsend and the usual (excellent) suspects, and it’s still a cask-led pub.

The bloke in front of me has a half of the Big Trip pink beer, pouring it into his pint glass.

“Oh well done sir, beer tastes better in a pint glass !” I say.

This seems to put him off, and he spills most of it down his jacket, requiring a cloth from behind the bar to mop up the excess.

I have a half of the pink beer, too, knowing I’ll make less mess pouring it in my Shikla glass as am expert pourer.

We pass 5pm, and the place gets suddenly busier, and the trade suddenly seems younger than I remember, and the Blake is abuzz.

Which is fine, except of course you’ve been told that young folk (under-30, not under-59) don’t do pubs anymore.

Of course they do ! Where else would they go to discuss how to spell “pebble* ” and Tom Baker in “Poltergeist“. Aldi ?

The beer is good, cool and crisp (3.5+), if not quite Wellington standard. All is well with the world.

And the young barmaid has them on a string.

“You’re a good barmaid“

“You’re a better photographer“. No, it makes no sense NOW, but it did THEN.

And that’s all I’ve got to say. Pubs change, often subtly, often in giant leaps backwards or forwards. More informed commentators will give you their views on the Blake, or perhaps keep their counsel.

Life goes on.

*It’s “pebble”.