THE DRAYMAN’S SON GETS THE CASK RIGHT

January 2025. Ely.

The paper trail gets relentless now; driving from Sheffield to a Cambridge funeral director to deliver a green slip of paper because (“that’s how it works“), then a train to Ely to spend two hours with banks and building societies being asked to fill out forms in pen. Death is a paper driven business in 2025.

I needed a pint. Ely has pints.

As well as boats.

And knitted post boxes.

There’s a couple of micropubs, the Drayman’s Son the best known.

It’s not my favourite, but you can’t do the Prince Albert every time, and is hardly changed in the 8 years since Kentish Paul visited.

Still dominated by the UK’s biggest charity pub dog,

comfortable but not quite lived-in enough 10 years on to be cosy.

But if local craftsters Three Blind Mice haven’t changed much inside the beer has gone up a notch; What Pub show three (3) of those golden pint pots;

“Great real ale” ?

Well, it wasn’t quite last year, but today the same Old Brown Mouse was a chewy, foamy, NBSS 3.5+.

The music (Piano Man) is too quiet, turn up or turn off, and the games look too complex for me.

It’s a polite place. There’s table service, and everyone else is two years older than me and drinking polite halves.

But that’s just what Ely needed. Along with the “Lounge” and the imminent Gail’s Bakery.

I nearly popped back to the West End House to steal their electricity. But that’s not polite.

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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.

9 thoughts on “THE DRAYMAN’S SON GETS THE CASK RIGHT”

  1. If Gail’s is the Fenland version of Greggs, I approve!
    Your comments on the ups and downs of dealing with family bereavement are welcome Martin. Many of us are likely to be heading for a similar place in the near future and it’s always worth hearing other peoples experiences, it never seems to get any easier.
    (The Real) Mark

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    1. I’m sure everyone copes with it differently Mark, depending on the unexpectedness, the length of the demise, reaction of others, and your own personal beliefs.

      The most obvious thing I’ll say is your head will be a fug, and you’ll need to take some time out for fresh air and a walk as the funeral process is incredibly based on sitting down.

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      1. Wow, amazed to read that my visit to the excellent Drayman’s Son was eight years ago. Doesn’t time fly? It was also the first time I had the pleasure of meeting you and Mrs RM. I followed the link back to your 2017 post, and saw that we also went in the equally fine, Prince Albert. That was probably the last time I drank Greene King XX Mild, and at £3.40 a pint, an absolute bargain.

        As you point out, I was on my way to visit my late father, in Norfolk. The beer in Stretham’s Red Lion might have been OK, but the standard of my room left much to be desired. I left an “appropriate” review with Booking.com, but as I’d already decided I wouldn’t be returning, I don’t suppose the pub took any notice. Quite a nice village, though.

        It’s getting on for two years since my last visit to Norfolk, and with no family now living in the county, there’s little to draw me back – apart from nostalgia, of course!

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      3. Paul,
        I couldn’t fault the Prince Albert five months ago, the Abbot drinking very well.
        Another time I’ll stay for another pint rather than going to the Lamb.

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  2. “Turn up or turn off” will be my slogan from now on. Although I prefer my pubs music-free (think Kelham Island Tavern, Fat Cat, Wellington and Blake) I don’t mind well-chosen music if it’s played at an appropriate volume, and not as just something to make the pub feel like it’s not empty. But I want to be able to have a conversation, too. It’s tricky, so turn up or turn off.

    But please, not Uptown Girl, American Pie or Mr Blue Sky; or anything by Frank Sinatra. I have been known to walk out.

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      1. “Mr Uptown Pie”

        Is that the title of a compilation album of the most played songs in pubs for the last 30 years? Targeted at those former pub-goers who are sitting on their sofas drinking supermarket discount lager, obviously.

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