January 2025. Cambridge.
So, I failed to buy a funeral suit in Cambridge. Do I need one, anyway ? That Bass Star t-shirt is fine, surely ?
Instead, I drift to the market place and the Pint Shop,
drawn by the certainty that a post with a £17 pint is always a winner with my readers.
Normally someone will say “But you’d never actually drink a pint of that ABV“, but Verdant Putty is no better/worse than Sam Smiths Stingo, and we all know Paul Mudge drinks that in pints.
It’s not worth £8.50 a half, but it’s certainly tasty, and I don’t think I’d trust the Pint Shops weak beers these days.
Hardly any trade at the Golden Hour of 4pm, just a group of Japanese tourists drinking wine, a young couple perusing the artisanal (i.e. expensive) Scotch eggs, and a chap with a hat.
No afternoon food trade upstairs at all,
but it’s still a gorgeous 3 storey building with views across the rooftops, and I hope this original Pint Shop outlives the ones in povert-central Oxford and Brum.
I wander aimlessly back to the station, remembering when this burger bar opposite the Corn Exchange was the most average of average pubs as the Red Cow,
and almost make it past the back entrance of the Spoons, the smokers area in what was once the biggest JDW in THE WORLD.
Almost London prices, but at least I’ve remembered to pack my Spoons vouchers in my wallet this time.
“Er, I can’t take your voucher,”
What ?
“It’s cask ale Monday and everything is already discounted to £2.49”.
Honestly, what’s the point.
For the record, that pint of Swannay, left over from Kenny Burns night, is pretty good (NBSS 3), just not a patch on the stuff in Kirkwall on the best night of my life on 9 September 2022.
Please don’t tell Mrs RM that night before completing the GBG was the best night of my life. Thanks.
retiredmartin 
The Bass Star t-shirt is probably much more you, but it would be interesting to see you in a suit.
In the end you just have to go with what you feel most comfortable in, and disregard what others say/think.
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Mother’s love us no matter what we wear. Be her son.
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Sound advice, Paul. I confess I’ve given it no thought at all, yet.
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But surely Mrs RM was present on the night in question? How could any one of those be bettered?
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After the whisky at the end, I honestly couldn’t be sure, Scott.
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The Red Cow, first pub I ever visited in Cambridge and, in my working days at Benskins, one of our two managed houses in Cambridge ( the other being the Mitre).
When did the Cow close?
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At least 15 years ago, converted to a succession of fun diners.
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£17?
A pint?
Murky?
In a DIMPLED F*****G POT?
I hope that we can help.
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Craft, innit ?
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Not any more it ain’t. https://lardermag.co.uk/independent-brewers-drop-craft-beer-label-to-distinguish-from-global-brands/
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I’d lend you my Star Bass t-shirt but the cotton is so cheap and heavy you’d sweat like a P.Diddy freak-off.
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“Sam Smiths Stingo, and we all know Paul Mudge drinks that in pints”.
Yes, when I can. And that was five years ago as I didn’t know about it in time this winter.
Talking of Winters, how we miss Stockport’s.
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Yes, its reputation will match that of Manchester’s Tommy Ducks in 20 years time.
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But even Stopfordian Peter will admit that Winters’s closure has the diminished the diversity of Stockport’s pubs.
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