August 2026. Frome.
The pub blogging community is very tight knit and supportive.
Oxford Nick aka Prop Up The Bar has been receiving our counselling support since posting this photo on Tuesday;
I shall be stealing that Olivia Rodrigo reference for future blog titles (see also : Bad Idea, Right).
Kentish Paul had encountered some “sheep on the line” drama on his own heroic trip from Tonbridge (read here), so I left the group at Pub 4 on the big communal table to meet him at the station. “No marine will be left behind” said someone, enigmatically, perhaps a 4th pint talking.
I’m not sure he really needed me as pacesetter up the hill back into town, but I needed the walk,
and the sign seemed to be encouraging us as we arrived back at the Three Swans.
Back in 2017 I described this as “that rarity, a slightly upmarket boozer“.
all “tasteful” paintings,
solid features,
and troughs for urinals.
After that mammoth rail journey Paul’s first pint of Butcombe must have gone down as quickly as those Carlsbergs in Ice Cold in Alex.
Quite why I had a half is a mystery,
But I was glad of the self-restraint later.
retiredmartin 