BASS IN BUZZARD AT THE BLACK LION

January 2025. Leighton Buzzard.

It’s hard writing these posts so close to Mum’s death, but the blog is a diary, and I’d be lying to the diary if I didn’t tell it I felt a strong need to maintain a sense of normality as chaos ensued all around. And Mrs RM, bless her, was dealing not just with this loss but the illness of her own parents in Kent.

All the more reason to snatch a bit of air while we could that night, both the chill of Leighton Buzzard’s High Street,

and the warm and cheery embrace of the Black Lion, packed on a Monday in Dryanuary.

10 years in the Beer Guide; in 2015 I compared the Bass to the Coopers in Burton, and the Black Lion has the same “rambling breweriana drinkers pub” vibe.

Bass on pump here, rather than the barrel, but the number of Bass glasses dotted about tells you this is a red triangle stronghold.

Mrs RM isn’t convinced by the red triangle; she goes for Goff’s Porter.

“Oh, good choice, my favourite !” says the barmaid, who invites Mrs RM to their dark beer festival next month.

“I like a woman who knows her beer” replies Mrs RM, who coincidentally has made an internet friend in Buzzard she wants to meet IRL as the kids say, so we might well be back for Stout Night or Craft Club.

You really are spoilt for Proper Pub seating in the Black Lion.

Mrs RM picks the window seat and starts to respond to the day’s messages of condolence and inquiry*.

What a wonderful pub. No music, just chat about semi-tropical gardens in Scotland, a bloke doing the Mrs Doyle “Ah go on go on go on” for no reason, and a trade almost entirely in cask pints.

OK, one (1) bloke was on Pravha, but he was also on a laptop so we can forgive him.

Mrs RM struggles a bit with her pint, having just realised that Blackcurrant Porter tastes of blackcurrant.

My Bass tastes of Bass, an immaculately presented pint so good (NBSS 3.5) I have a couple in rapid time,

not quite as good as the Star or the Vaults, or even the Black Lion a decade ago, but good enough.

And if someone had sat down at that piano and played a medley of Kajagoogoo hits it would have made my night,

but for musical entertainment we had to press on into the night.

* I have been very touched by the words of comfort from folk on here and my fellow pub tickers. Thank you.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

8 thoughts on “BASS IN BUZZARD AT THE BLACK LION”

  2. I hope this doesn’t sound trite but you were lucky to have both your parents for so long -I lost my Dad when I was 24 & my Mum when I was 31.Now I am regretting not asking them all the things I should have re family history etc.I was too wrapped up in myself -newly wed & then motherhood.I feel ashamed now that I paid them so little attention & now it’s too late.Hope your Dad is coping with this sad news .
    Pauline

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    2. “Too wrapped up in myself”, just like I was Pauline, when instead I could have gained so much wisdom if only I’d taken the time to talk properly with my parents when they were in their prime.

      I think that we must be born “preset” to behave just like this – for some reason or other…

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  3. Firstly commiserations on your loss. I lost my father very suddenly 4 years ago and my mother in law last month after a long period of decline, so know to an extent how it feels.
    On a blog note, those of a certain vintage may remember that Duke D’mond (of DD and the Barron Knights) was the landlord of the Black Lion. The Barron Knights were Leighton Buzzards greatest musical export until (and arguably after) Limahl of Kajagoogoo.

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