retiredmartin

September 2024. Stamford.

Unlike “up all-night BRAPA“, I take my time cross-checking the old to new GBG, colouring in maps,

and compiling a long (long) list of pubs to be visited in GBG25 TY (ticking year).

So I’d initially missed the fact we had a bran’ new entry in stunning Stamford, a great town with nothing to excite the Pub Man for many years, and with Sam Smiths flagship still waiting for the right “couple”.

A great town to wander,

and I was convinced we’d been to the Millstone on the night we stuck the motorhome in town and enjoyed Sunday Is Karaoke Night in Stamford. But that was the Golden Fleece of Jason and the Argonauts fame, and the Millstone just looks familiar because, well, I must have walked past 38 times.

But previous visits don’t count unless you log them, score the beer, and are able to recall whether the landlord called you “M’duck” or “mate”.

A solid looking exterior betrays little, but inside finds a bustling dark beamed local with good Monday lunchtime trade, four (4) cask beers you’ve heard of,

and the happiest landlord/landlady combo this year.

Mrs RM asks for “Frazzles”.

The frazzled landlady forgets to add the Frazzles to the Broadside/Citra order.

“Terrible standard of service you’re getting here, so sorry“.

And the gives Mrs RM bacon fries. Hence her face.

Do Frazzles even exist ?

Never mind, it’s the best Broadside in years, rich and chewy, and the Oakham isn’t far behind.

As so often in Stamford, a classy place with minimum fuss.

Ah, yes, 1976 and all that…

I think the ’63 Studebaker film was better quality than mid-70s football footage.

Historic art and breweriana in the bar,

(very) soft porn in the Gents (it’s a Belvoir thing).

A drinkers pub,

and a reminder that in 2024 the Good Beer Guide does what it says on the (Emmerdale) cover.