Category Archives: Pubs

A bad day

I’ve had a really bad day. Work was great, but it’s been a long day and I had (the usual) train issues. But, then, I disembarked from the bus (the bus decides how my evening should end; the X1 takes me home, while the 56 or 57 take me home) at my local drinking establishment. And they have Anarchy ‘Rough justice’ on tap. It has no fish, so I had to have one.

I’m now on my fourth. I have yet to eat and I have work tomorrow. However, I have made a new friend. His name is Keith. And he’s a really decent bloke. We’ve had good manly conversation.

I should go home now.

In town today

In town today:
– a car on fire (well, newly extinguished)
– two arrests (possibly a driving offence and, separately, a shoplifter)
– embarrassing bodies filming
– a photo shoot near the castle
– an ex-wife

And I’m sure I’ve forgotten something (possibly an ex or two).

Central Bar

I do love the Central Bar.

But.

The service was incredibly bad this afternoon. My second in command hadn’t been served after 15 minutes, even though the bar wasn’t busy. The staff were a bit weird when my second in command commented on the service. As an observer, I noticed weird bar discrimination, ie blokes were getting served first.

So we left.

Beery goodness

This very afternoon, we walked to town. While on our walk we had delicious chips from Visocchi’s. And then visited the beer festival, where we had beer and, mostly, cider. A picture or two.

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We then went to Dat Bar; our first visit. I have to recommend the place; as we walked in, they were playing ‘the white stripes’, then other cool stuff. Better still, they have an impressive beer menu, including Schneider Weiss on draught.

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And the toilets are pretty cool too.

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Carlisle

Had almost an hour to kill between trains in Carlisle, so went for a bit of a wander (and a pint in the Howard Arms). I know I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the gorgeous old Victorian market hall is now a Wilkinson’s store, on the ground floor. A new upper floor accommodates TK Maxx. It’s good that a stunning old building is still in use. And I mean that. But, I have fond memories of that market (from the 80s); there was a great little wholefoods shop, at a time when such things were scarce in the North.

Anyway, the Howard Arms does a respectable pint of Stella (the real ale all contained fish).

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Popolo

I’ve just learned, from Twitter, that Popolo in town has closed. Many people seem to be lamenting the loss of a venue for cocktails.

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I’ve spent some very nice afternoons there over the years, in the pink light through the windows. With overpriced, but delicious Erdinger.

At the opposite end of the beer price scale, I spent an enjoyable couple of hours yesterday evening in the Olde Blue Bell, in Preston. With cheap, but delicious Sam Smith’s extra stout (and bitter).

A couple of pictures from last night too. The second was taken in the somewhat unusual hotel car park.

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