August 2025. Atherstone.
The itinerary for the 3rd pub on the Atherstone Ancients Alldayer saw a group conflict over directions.
Inexplicably, Will took the Leicester & Marple contingent on a detour down the canal path, the sort of thing I do to annoy Kentish Paul, while I decided to go with t’other Paul down Long Lane.
It’s very long, but we got to the Blue Boar (technically in Mancetter, I think) fifteen (15) minutes before the canal tourists.
Not that it helped much, as that quarter of an hour was frittered away taking photos of signs,
waiting for the barman to fix the TV to show Countdown rather than serve us,
and then head for the cellar as we decided the Doom Bar wasn’t, in fact, drinking well (stop laughing at the back).
I though the Blue Boar would have a lunchtime trade, but trade there was none to fill a room unspoilt by progress since Abigail’s Party was released.
No cask trade either, till we turned up to solemnly taste the Sperrin.
You’ve never heard of Sperrin, nor had I, it was actually pretty good, cool and chewy (3+).
And the company must have been good, as I took so few notes. It’s possible Shawn told a funny joke; you’ll never know.
retiredmartin 
“The itinerary for the 3rd pub on the Atherstone Ancients Alldayer”
You did it again! (“B” on map for pub #3)
Or is it that A and B are the only pubs with cask?
“saw a group conflict over directions.”
Blimey. I think it would’ve been better to use ChatGPT.
“but we got to the Blue Boar (technically in Mancetter, I think)”
Google Maps says… yes.
“waiting for the barman to fix the TV to show Countdown rather than serve us,”
Cheeky sod!
“and then head for the cellar as we decided the Doom Bar wasn’t, in fact, drinking well (stop laughing at the back).:
I’d have plumped for the Band of Brothers, just for the name. 😉
“a room unspoilt by progress since Abigail’s Party was released.”
That ceiling fixture in the pic below pretty sums up the sheet of directions you had to get there!
“You’ve never heard of Sperrin, nor had I, it was actually pretty good, cool and chewy (3+).”
I take it some had the Third Party and others the Band of Brothers?
(on looking closer, I would have had the Third Party as it’s a bitter)
“as I took so notes.”
No… not so.
(I think that 0% Heineken snuck up on you) 🙂
Cheers
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I don’t recall expressing any annoyance over deviatons from the planned route, on these jaunts/jollies. I shall have to get my legal team looking over such spurious allegations, including where was my invite to this one!
(Spoiler alert, I doubt I would have come, anyway!)
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Only when lunch was promised and not delivered, perhaps 😉
I hear Tonbridge lawyers are very expensive.
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Was a lunch stop arranged? Or was it liquid refreshment only?
Like all lawyers (attorneys for your American readers), those based in Tonbridge are expensive!
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Watch out for significant Tonbridge GBG news, Paul.
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The open invite was on the Beer and Pubs forum (and CAMRA Discourse) but I know you don’t read that!
We’re back in Atherstone on Thursday 25th September by the way.
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All joking aside, it’s a long way to go for a town I’ve never heard of, and there are some more prominent places I’m planning to visit, before the year is out.
There’s a CAMRA jolly to Thanet, this coming weekend, which promises to be an interesting day out.
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It is a long way, though towns you’ve never explored before (Battle, for one) are sometimes the most interesting.
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Paul, “a town I’ve never heard of” is a wonderful ‘best kept secret’ oft revisited by those who want well known cask beers and canine company. You’ve heard of it now so put Atherstone in your diary for early 2026.
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It would be good to get a crawl organised closer to Bailey Towers.
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