March 2025. Loughborough.
A surprising number of candidates for the CAMRA National Executive are currently setting out their pitch for the lucrative roles on Discourse. I’ll ask Paul Mudge who to vote for once I get to Torquay.
A reminder that, like US Presidential elections, you can “write in” your preferred candidate if “none of the above” appeals to you, and I would be delighted to serve if the role only involves drinking in pubs.
Quinno has taken on the arduous role of Keeper of the King’s Bass Register, and having done our 20 minutes of Loughborough culture,
we headed to the Generous Briton, a pub in the hinterland betwixt student and wizened local.
Just to prove this wasn’t a tour of the “best pubs” to raise the NBSS average, the Briton is long out of the Guide, but seemed a sure bet for the Red Triangle.
Nope.
“It’s our biggest seller, but we’re waiting for a delivery“.
OK, Bateman XXB will do.
Just about. Lacking a bit of crispness but drinking its strength (NBSS 3).
Rather modernised since my visit 20 years ago, but pleasant and unfussy and with Cyndi Lauper soundtrack.
And beef Pipers.
Shame I’d only had breakfast an hour ago.
retiredmartin 
“but seemed a sure bet for the Red Triangle” – like three of my five Atherstone pubs on Sunday, three of my five Uttoxeter pubs on Wednesday and three of my five Uttoxeter pubs today, so that’s Bass in nine of my sixteen pubs this week.
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Last time I attempted to drink in there it was with colleague and his dogs, but dogs not allowed. Looking at the bar now I don’t think we missed much.
My favourite Bass stop was across the road at the Old English Gentleman, a truly great pub that was also modernised after the landlady retired and is now long-term closed.
Castle Rock have recently offloaded the venerable Swan in the Rushes, Loughborough seems to be sliding back from being a very good pub town of late.
(The Real) Mark
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