June 2025. West Haddon. Northamptonshire.
Edging towards at least completing the Midlands and East (my old NHS region) in the GBG, and a rare new entry in what can only be described as “Northamptonshire – Posh“.
Close to the county’s top attractions; Althorp Hall, Watford Gap Services and the freight terminals of the A5.
With 3 pubs, West Haddon (pop. 1,718) has survived the gradual erosion of the UK pub stock surprisingly well,
The Sheaf adding a GBG place after 2018 re-opening.
“Strongly food led” says What Pub CAMRA Experience, but on Tuesday nights it’s not the Maom,
it’s the cheese and biscuits that bring in a healthy crowd. And £3 port.
“Is it for anyone ?” I ask, before tucking in.
It is, but it’s £3. I guess it’s all your fancy cheeses, not Davidstow and the one in silver foil with a cow on it. Although it feels like I’ve turned up for the dregs, I get my three quid worth, in crisps if nothing else. In fact, I’m sure I’m silently judged as I make a return visit to mop up the Perl Wen.
The Church End Goat’s Milk is a cool and chewy 3.5+.
the Sheaf has a Brunning & Price touch about the cushions, and it feels like a 40-something dinner party played out in the village pub, all talk of “”cocktails in Harvey Nichs” and “”holidays in Ayia Napa” and farewells to beloved neighbours.
I loved it.
And the outside Gents.
retiredmartin 
And an acceptable rate of hanging baskets per metre. Greater than 2 baskets per metre = go for keg or wine.
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I’d extend that to handpumps per metre on the bar too.
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Oh, the Church End Goat’s Milk is a beer not a cheese.
Right…
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Yes Etu, but I can’t remember the outcome of the lengthy discussion on Discourse as to whether it’s “Goat’s Milk” or “Goats Milk”.
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It’s Goats’s Milk, as with Banks’s.
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Look at how the Perl Wen wedge has been cut, straight across rather from nose to rind! Was this covered in the CNN article about British pub etiquette?
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I’ve avoided that article. BRAPA is my guide to pub etiquette.
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