retiredmartin

August 2024. Eastleigh.

We could have driven straight home from Beaulieu to Tunbridge Wells, saving £80 on two Travelodge rooms in Britain’s dullest town, but a) it would have meant another night sleeping in Mrs RM’s childhood bedroom in Southborough, b) I had that pub up the road in Upton to tick and c) it’s nice to give the parents in-law a night away and a chance to taste a bit of culture.

even if that culture is a Wetherspoons next to a modern Travelodge in a railway town.

Has Eastleigh changed since my last forensic exploration ?

Er, no, definitely not, and the museum has been cruelly shut by a council more concerned with injustice and social care than culture.

But I shall probably persevere with the place, if only because it’s £36 cheaper than the Southampton options, and my father-in-law fondly recalled a job he did at the railway as a Civil Engineer as we crossed the bridge for our tea.

It’s amazing how fast octogenarians walk when they’re hungry.

Only one pub in the GBG, and not only does it do that craft beer I’ve got Michael and Margaret addicted to, it also has all day food. And comfy seats.

None of your high tables and beer barrels at Steam Town, those are actual first class train seats in the (notional) restaurant area.

We’re in luck; most of the town in watching City win at Chelsea and that table is free for 90 minutes, so unless we take too long to decide on our burgers…

,,,we’ll be fine.

I’m made responsible for the beer order, so get a Helles for the 84 year old lager lout, an IPA for Mrs RM, a cider (bit too dry) for Michael,

and I decide to skip the cask in favour of cans. It’s what Blackpool Jane would do.

And if we’ve raised the average age inside Eastleigh’s only trendy pub by 43 years then no-one cares, in fact the young staff are lovely as young folk are, even though (according to the BBC) we’ve ruined their entire lives already.

Margaret and Michael aren’t sure they eat burgers, but then they said that about Eritrean food too,

“This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten !” says Michael, which cuts deep because I know I once made him a cheese and crisp sandwich.

Great food, decent beer, Francis Benali in the Gents.

Of course, someone had to insist on pudding in the Spoons, didn’t they ?

NB How do Spoons do it at that price ?