retiredmartin

Just “Central” will do, surely ? Who names a county after a lake ? Apart from Rutland, obvs.

I mean, look at it…

How would you describe that big empty blob above Gartmore ?

I ticked much of this chapter during Scotland’s extended COVID nightmare,

so the pubs weren’t in ideal shape, but there was also quite a lot of “plant pot pours”.

Even if the beer was rubbish, pubs always give the little joy of life drama played out for your entertainment, as in Aberfoyle, where a family group were perusing the cheaper food options.

“What’s…..Ceeabatter ?”

“Cheebatter, Brian, is an Italian bread. You wouldn’t like it” mansplained the wife.

Lovely hills and all that, but my picks start in Falkirk.

—–

Falkirk – Wheatsheaf

I had a perfect pint of Deuchars (what ?) here pre-blog, and BRAPA loved it, and they offered BRAPA’s dad some paper to wipe his steamed-up specs with, which is the mark of a great pub.

—–

Dunbane – Tappit Hen

I had no image of Dunblane at all pre-visit; lots of tennis courts ?

It’s a lovely little town, akin to a Suffolk wool town,

right down to the smart Greene King pub in the GBG.

But the Tappit Hen has a turn-of-century (20th, I think) magnificence that brings out the Old Boys in pullovers at 5pm, eschewing the gorgeous seating,

for their seat at the bar. Not many takers for the Jarl, mind.

—–

Helensburgh – Ashton

Close to Tandleman’s home town of Dumbarton, whose own Spoons just missed my list, Helensburgh is as smart a town as you’ll get on that west coast. It really does have lots of tennis courts.

Not a particularly stunning exterior at the Ashton, one of very few cask strongholds out west,

and not even the crispest pint of Jarl,

but because I felt at home and the charity boxes were the best since the Isle of Man. And sometimes that’s all that matters.

—–

Sauchie – Mansfield Arms

I’d have loved a pick in Alloa, but the Spoons was rubbish,

so you’ll have to make do with another pre-blog pick in nearby Sauchie,

whose Google entry is full of pics of macaroni cheese (great from memory) and cocktails and blokes in kilts,

so best go to Untappd for a reminder they brew their own beers.

And you won’t believe me, but the Devon Dark was the best beer I had in all Scotland.

—–

Kilcreggan – The Creggans

This one gets on my list because it was ticked on my birthday (22/12), takes in a ferry across the Clyde,

on an actual boat, and was in the presence of Pub Man royalty in Duncan and Brian (not shown below),

but also because it was an unexpectedly boisterous little cafe bar in a remote village near the secret nuclear missile site at Faslane, with Proper Pub food.

Oh, and beer with a scummy head.

You don’t see enough scummy heads on a pint.

Over to you for a sixth. I suspect it might be this one;