November 2024. Bath.
Bath is gorgeous, a bit underrated I reckon, though I can’t really vouch for the gig and curry scene, and the lovely little craft bar that Stafford Paul had enjoyed so much in 2018 hasn’t lasted.
But Paul set off at a fair lick as we reached the Paragon,
a row of houses underrated compared to the Crescent,
but with one of the world’s top destinations at the summit.
So good, they made a T-Shirt for the pub (and offered me one free, but RetiredMartin.Com can’t be bought.
“I’m getting the four pint jug of Bass” shouts Paul. Never argue with the Mudge.
Order four and get it served as nature intended (unless you’re a Banker),
and admire Paul’s stillness of hand as he decants into 3 pint glasses and a half (ugh). Paul wanted to see whether it was actually more than 4 pints, but as over serving is a criminal offence I can’t comment.
Now, let it said I always speak the truth. On first sip, this flat Bass wasn’t as softly stunning as 2 years ago, when I rated it in my Top 5 pints of all time (only 26 in that).
But the Star itself just felt otherworldly.
The owner of that lovely creature above joined our conversation and advised us to go for Bristol’s Avon Packet, which I will, but not tonight.
The symphony in brown and red played out around us.
Folks, there are people who profess to like pubs and beer who have never been here !
I made a case for staying for a second jug of Bass, which had mystically crept above NBSS 4 by now, but democracy rules. As we have seen in America, democracy is overrated.
retiredmartin 
Looks great. A destination pub.
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Avon Packet is a great pub and handy for Ashton Gate, although the Rose of Denmark under the Cumberland Basin has recently reopened under local licensee Sam Gregory of Bank Tavern fame. Draught Bass a regular now in Rose of Denmark, as it is in also recently reopened (by Sam) Crown Tavern near Old Market, where they have Bass Loyalty card scheme!
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I walked from Bedminster across Spike Island fairly recently but I think the cider-led Orchard is the pub I know best there.
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Orchard is a classic cider pub, but good beer too. Rose of Denmark is close to another GBG pub, the Merchants Arms.
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Decent beer in the Orchard. The landlord had contacts with old farmers in deepest Somerset who sold their cider at the farm gate. It was full of bits of beak and twig and dead rat but it was pretty good in small quantities.
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Dead rat sour DIPA is all the rage these days. Actually, it’s not, it’s Madri.
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I remember cider like that at the Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, in the 1980s, Bill. It was terrible in any quantity.
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The Nova Scotia is another pub worth visiting. It’s at the far western end of Spike Island.
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Yes the Nova Scotia is another pub now run by Sam Gregory, but I haven’t visited recently. Draught Bass here as well possibly?
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It was Bass in the Avon Packet and Courage Best in the Nova Scotia during my stay in Bristol eighteen months ago.
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Phew glad I was right 😀.
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You’re never wrong, Tony.
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The walk to the Star is one of the prettiest walks I’ve ever done. What a row of houses. And then you get that pub as a reward.
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Claim voter fraud and stay for another jug of bass?
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Not bad for a tourist trap.
For the real deal hop on a bus to Corsham and enjoy the Flemish Weaver.It’s a beer bloggers wet dream.
Their sister pub The Three Brewers is a little gem too – BRAPA endorsed and Bass on permanently.
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The Star is truly magnificent although being a philistine I tend to drink Bellringer in there.
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I’ll let you off. It’s a Bellringer stronghold, other people drink it, and it doesn’t seem to diminish sales of the Bass.
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“Paul wanted to see whether it was actually more than 4 pints”.
No, it was four pints, or rather marginally over the line gave slightly more than four pints.
And, despite the optical illusion, it was three pints to the three pint line.
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