June 2025. Scunthorpe.
I’d ticked the Scunny culture, bar waiting till midnight to see if the steelworks light up.
I’d ticked the Scunny GBG pubs years ago; they never change. The almost micro Honest Lawyer,
a genuine beery place a mile or two south in Ashby, an open/closed/open Sam Smiths by the football ground,
and a very old Spoons, 26 straight years in the Guide for the Blue Bell.
That’s the entire 21st century, fact fans.
Two mobility scooters tied up while I was inside.
There was one inside on the last visit, too.
No idea why I felt the need for a return visit. Nice carpet,
but a bit dull at 3pm on a Monday.
Oh, yes, cheap Jaipur.
My pint went from £2.29 to £2.09 (cos Monday) and then to £1.59 as the reward for being a CAMRA member who saved cask by asking for discounts on it.
Thornbridge are an interesting bunch, aren’t they ? Great beer, a lot of publicity for rescuing Pale Rider (barely seen it since), even more publicity for rescuing a little wooden barrel producing spectacular beers that are sold out before you get to the pub, and now a deal with Spoons that seems to value their flagship about the same as Doom Bar.
“Looks hazy to me” said Twitter.
It was gorgeous.
retiredmartin 
Because you’re now a mobilitty scooter ticker?
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You’ve reminded me how all went well yesterday until the 6.57pm train from Nuneaton to Stafford was cancelled.
An hour to kill taught me that Nuneaton is almost as bad as Tamworth for pubs. The Craft Union Silk Mill is keg only now, I got past the Blue Bear’s bouncer but gave up as it was three deep at the bar counter, and so it had to be the Tim’s Felix Holt which opened in February 2001. Not just tables were cluttered with cutlery and a mobility scooter on the carpet and a £2.49 pint unrecognisable as Abbot. I could get that and a further 81p back if I claimed for the cancellation and got my fare back.
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Yes, Nuneaton might be the Scunthorpe of the Midlands, if I believe the Midlands was a thing.
I did have a good night with Curry Charles nearly a decade ago.
The Lord Hop isn’t bad for a micro, and the Crown is no more. I recommend the Anker, 10 minutes north of the station.
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“nearly a decade ago” and so much can change since then. Maybe longer ago but I can remember the Crown being an excellent pub. Even nearer the station was the Railway Tavern where an old friend bought a pint of Pedigree which converted him to proper beer for the rest of his life.
Similarly in Tamworth, just a cockstride from the railway station both the Tweedale Arms and the Albert were excellent pubs.
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I’d missed your point about Tamworth, Paul, and that’s a more controversial view !
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Thinking about it, this was my Top Tamworth Tip;
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And we don’t want this site marred by controversial views.
I meant to use the Globe last October, returning from Lincoln, but somehow got in the Penny Black instead.
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Nothing controversial on this site, Paul. If you want to heatedly debate plastic newsletter dispensers, lateness of meeting minutes, or suitable attire for a pub crawl you’ll have to go over to The Other Side. And I don’t mean Crewe.
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