November 2025. Tonbridge.
Having spent the extravagant sum of £3.20 to park next to Tonbridge Castle (it was 6.43pm, they charge 8am till 8pm but kindly gave me a credit of those 43 minutes in the morning) we were going to get full value for our night out.
Supper in Spoons, which seems to be back in favour these days, with a host of new GBG entries in which you can enjoy the culinary hit of the year.
Yes, you thought it was Dubai chocolate, but the Spice Bag’s combo of salty chicken, salty chips and added salt is a winner, particularly washed down with a pint of Leffe.
I reckon my last Leffe was in a neighborhood bar in Brussels. Oh no, I had one at the Leffe bar in Georgia this year.
As you’ll see, a bit of a bargain;
Why get a pint of real ale with your meal when the continental beer saves you £1.66 more ?
In this instance, “continental” means near Preston. Isn’t Salmesbury the home of Bass.
Let it be said, I enjoyed it a lot. Inexplicably, Mrs RM had a half of Leffe with her chicken and onion rings. Can’t take her anywhere posh.
Because the night was young, and we weren’t working the next day, I had a half of Thistly Cross, as “Caution, line cleaning in progress” by Sureshot was off.
I’m sure that CAMRA will tell you that Thistly Cross is not real cider, but who needs reality ?
Not Mrs RM, who was on the Disaronno Amaretto by now.
retiredmartin 
“(it was 6.43pm, they charge 8am till 8pm but kindly gave me a credit of those 43 minutes in the morning)”
Lucky bugger!
“particularly washed down with a pint of Leffe.”
Leffe!
(looks down)
At least they had the right glass.
“I reckon my last Leffe was in a neighborhood bar in Brussels. ”
My brother has them all the time… in France.
“In this instance, “continental” means near Preston.”
You’re joking!
(checks Wiki)
Sigh. And they have the nerve to still call it Abbey beer? Sheesh.
“Let it be said, I enjoyed it a lot. ”
That’s the main thing. I have to stoop to ‘industrial beer’ over here at times.
“I had a half of Thistly Cross, ”
Blimey. Whiskey cask cider? I hope you had a paracetamol on hand.
(I think that’s what you lot call it over there)
“I’m sure that CAMRA will tell you that Thistly Cross is not real cider, but who needs reality ?”
Agreed; good food, good drink, good company is all that’s needed.
“Not Mrs RM, who was on the Disaronno Amaretto by now.”
Disaronno? Now THAT’S posh.
Cheers
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She had another flavoured liquor, too, but I can’t spell that one. Oddly fine the next morning.
I was surprised the Leffe was brewed near Preston, less so that it was brewed here. It was very good. Mrs RM had a half, that came in a goblet as well.
What beer DO you drink, Russ ?
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“What beer DO you drink, Russ ?”
I am a former Guinness fanatic (until 2012 or so). So much so that, when my wife was flying as the steward on government flights for ministers and heads of state, she would have a Guinness for me (and my Da) whenever they stopped in Shannon, Ireland overnight.
Guinness lost its appeal (due perhaps to Diageo taking it over and saving a penny on the recipe?) and I have since become a fan of pale ales and IPAs. Due to horrendous bar prices over here, I mainly drink at home (in my own pub). I stick to ‘craft’ ales from Vancouver Island and Vancouver city itself. The West Coast of Canada, like the West Coast of the US, has a plethora of great craft breweries.
Mind you, a pull of a proper cask ale wouldn’t go amiss. 😉
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Oh, and thanks for all the comments and reflections. It’s really great to have you back.
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Aww, shucks. 😊
Your, um, blogging ‘style’ appeals to my ‘weird’ way of replying.
Nothing against the other blokes but, coming back, I’ll reply to you first, then branch out to the others. 😎
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