September 2025. Ely.
The weekly drives down to Waterbeach (and frequently) Tunbridge Wells to visit elderly parents (and house) have been getting increasingly wearisome; mentally as much as physically.
So I took the slow train home via Nottingham, £20 single with a couple of hours to kill in Ely.
Ely (pop. 20k) looks more modern by the year; they’ve even got a Gail’s bakery to compete (and lose) against the cathedral’s Almonry. But Spoons have been unable to find a site, which is good news for a heaving Piccolo Lounge.
Sis lives there, by the river, and recommended Griddle for its steaks and home-brewed craft beers.
Note the painting of Richard Harris of “Macarthur Park” fame overseeing Griddle’s genteel dining room.
The less formal front room has pics of the 1970s Ely I remember; here’s me waiting to see if Mum has got a 99 flake in my Mister Softee.
The “craft” keg beers are brewed on the premises, though all the reviews (and me) reckon they taste like 3 Blind Mice from up the road.
Brew a 10% Imperial Stout or a Tomato Gose and I might be impressed.
BUT…the burger and cauliflower cheese was worth the money,
and if you want to observe middle-class floral indecisive Ely in its natural habitat this is a great place to do it. Folk from St Albans compared house prices, tried to adapt orders and drank coke and rose lemondade. The Ely Examiner will probably describe it as a “Beloved backstreet boozer“.
Back home, Mrs RM had a “Beer Guide package” waiting for me.
retiredmartin 
“ELY GOES “CRAFT AND BURGERS””
(looks at pic below)
Blimey! That’s a bloody big micro-pub!
“The weekly drives down to Waterbeach (and frequently) Tunbridge Wells to visit elderly parents (and house) have been getting increasingly wearisome; mentally as much as physically.”
(sigh)
I can’t offer any words of encouragement (alas!), but I can commiserate immensely.
And, for what it’s worth, you’re getting worse that me! 😒
“So I took the slow train home via Nottingham, £20 single with a couple of hours to kill in Ely.”
(looks at map below)
Good lord man. It appears to be at least 5 hours one-way to get into London from Sheffield. That’s bloody awful. 😟
No wonder you seek out pubs while you’re there!
“But Spoons have been unable to find a site, which is good news for a heaving Piccolo Lounge.”
Getting a Spoons would definitely lower the property values there. 😉
“Note the painting of Richard Harris of “Macarthur Park” fame overseeing Griddle’s genteel dining room.”
(slow golf clap)
“here’s me waiting to see if Mum has got a 99 flake in my Mister Softee.”
Heh. I remember flake and soft ice cream even over here!
“The “craft” keg beers are brewed on the premises, though all the reviews (and me) reckon they taste like 3 Blind Mice from up the road.”
Are you sure they specified WHICH premises? 🙂
“Brew a 10% Imperial Stout or a Tomato Gose and I might be impressed.”
Is Tomato Gose a thing?
“The Ely Examiner will probably describe it as a “Beloved backstreet boozer“.”
Heh. 😊
“Back home, Mrs RM had a “Beer Guide package” waiting for me.:
Bless her.
Cheers
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