September 2024. Swaffham Prior.
I always get my Bulbecks and Priors mixed up,
two similarly charming Cambs villages just north of Anglesey Abbey, only 5 miles east of Waterbeach as the crow flies. But I’m not (spoiler) a crow.
Swaffham Prior is a surprise new entry in GBG25, and one in all conscience I didn’t actually need to visit as I’m certain I’d been in, possibly just before that sheep rammed me up the **** on Devil’s Dyke (ask Mrs RM).
But the Red Lion isn’t on my spreadsheet of c.13,788 GBG pubs so it deserves a revisit. My gaff, my rules.
It looks gorgeous, supports the “KEEP CASH ALIVE” campaign,
and is your Bateman stronghold in Cambridgeshire.
Quite a decent village pub, darts board in the dining room,
Blondie on the radio, front page of the CAMRA mag.
Definitely the most improved pub I’ve seen in a while, though the fish on the wall may beg to differ.
The Bateman Mild is sensational. Cool, chewy, packed with flavour at 3.4%.
All it lacks is a bit of Saturday lunchtime trade, just one other couple surveying the attractive menu.
Use it or lose it, Swaffham Prior.
retiredmartin 
This post was compiled in the 11 minutes I waited between ordering my McDonald’s and it being ready.
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Good to see you supporting pubs.
Oh, wait. McDonald’s is a fast food joint. Why did it take 11 minutes?
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Brexit.
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I had to wait 10 mins after it was announced as ready for collection. That’s Matlock for you.
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Excellent.
Where is Swaffham Afterwards though?
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Maidenhead.
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“though the fish on the wall may beg to differ”. At least some regional traditions survive. It’s more likely to be a pig on the wall in the Black Country.
Mild hasn’t been on in the three Batemans pubs I’ve used this year, in York and Norwich. Am I the only one to notice that the pumpclip has changed colour and moved two places ?
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Was that sheep a Herdwick by any chance?
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I’d sharpen their teeth with a file.
It’d make One Man And His Dog worlds more fun.
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I didn’t ask it. It had horns and was in our way.
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Thank you for your visit to our pub Martin and all your kind words, John & Lana @ The Red Lion Swaffham Prior.
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Best wishes. Lovely pub.
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It’s our local – excellent new landlord Simon – very nice, relaxed atmosphere – lovely beer and Irish whiskeys.
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Good to hear. Lovely villages, gorgeous pub.
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