That Was The Weekend That Was and Pub Review Type Post
Friday
Train up to that fancy London, to see Yngwie Malmsteen (or Mingly Old Steine as he'd be called if he was from Brighton). Jolly good guitar widdliness in a 80s-tastic mullet and satin bomber jacket styley. Won't mention that if we'd been 24 or 48 hours late in woulda been The Nef we were watching. Sniff. Got back in time for a quick beer in the new venture from smogo
smogo and
blonde_venus, think they're on to another winner there.
Saturday
Up to The Piltdown Man Pub near Uckfield for the Annwn's Custom Bike Show where I won Best American for the Harley - I was well chuffed as there were some smart bikes there. The venue was shared between the 50 or so bikers and the 30 'straight's having an Anniversary party, we got given the cake at the end.
smogo and
blonde_venusshould really consider buying a country pub with a field out back next. We can then arrange mini-festivals all summer long. People will drink more if they only have to stagger 100 yards to a tent!
Sunday
Drop the bike off at home, get in car for Anniversary lunch at the Georgian Restaurant in Harrods. It's a posh Sunday roast eat-all-you-like buffet for £33 quid! The starters buffet is fantastic as is the roast beef!
Monday
Anniversay day off work and bimble round London. Start off at the Wallace Collection, which Yola loves cos it has inspired much of Vivienne Westwood's clothing. Beautiful building and classic art with a lovely new atrium and restaurant a la British Museum but on a more initimate scale.
Would have eaten there had we not already been booked into No5 Cavendish Square, which offered a two-course set menu for £17.50. We both have the duck with a strawberry jus (yum) followed by guinea fowl (yummier). The food was simply but perfectly cooked, portions veering towards +2 on the hearty side my soon-to-be-patented Poncy Hearty Scale. The staff attentive but not in your face. Overall a superb dining experience.
Next we started off on our Northern Line Goth and Rock Pub Crawl.
First off was the Crobar, friendly and scruffy, no 'real' beer, but a fantastic selection of whiskies, bourbon and rum.
Up to Camden for The Dev, the only discernable difference since the Hobgoblin akeover being the really quite good Wychwood Left Back ale. Lightish and hoppy. Toilets worse than the Engine Room.
Next off at Mornington Crescent to the Purple Turtle, poor selection of beer, youngish metal band from Leeds were actually quite good. Won't ever make it though cos the singer was a bit tubby - harsh, but that's the music industry for ya.
Intrepid Fox; next, moody punk barmaid didn't say please or thank you. I know you're a punk love, but if you really don't people, just f*ck off out of the people business. Shit beer too. Toilets OK.
So we went back to The Crobar for a last beer before not getting a train back and staying in Ealing with the in-laws instead.
Brighton people, enjoy "The CasBar", it's better than any of the alternative pubs in London, better staff, better decor, better toilets, better drink - although they could get a light hoppy ale on. *
* It is now an old tradition or charter or something that everytime I mention or talk about beer in reference to the Caroline, I have to mention that they "could get a light hoppy ale on". ;-)
Train up to that fancy London, to see Yngwie Malmsteen (or Mingly Old Steine as he'd be called if he was from Brighton). Jolly good guitar widdliness in a 80s-tastic mullet and satin bomber jacket styley. Won't mention that if we'd been 24 or 48 hours late in woulda been The Nef we were watching. Sniff. Got back in time for a quick beer in the new venture from smogo
smogo and
blonde_venus, think they're on to another winner there.
Saturday
Up to The Piltdown Man Pub near Uckfield for the Annwn's Custom Bike Show where I won Best American for the Harley - I was well chuffed as there were some smart bikes there. The venue was shared between the 50 or so bikers and the 30 'straight's having an Anniversary party, we got given the cake at the end.
smogo and
blonde_venusshould really consider buying a country pub with a field out back next. We can then arrange mini-festivals all summer long. People will drink more if they only have to stagger 100 yards to a tent!
Sunday
Drop the bike off at home, get in car for Anniversary lunch at the Georgian Restaurant in Harrods. It's a posh Sunday roast eat-all-you-like buffet for £33 quid! The starters buffet is fantastic as is the roast beef!
Monday
Anniversay day off work and bimble round London. Start off at the Wallace Collection, which Yola loves cos it has inspired much of Vivienne Westwood's clothing. Beautiful building and classic art with a lovely new atrium and restaurant a la British Museum but on a more initimate scale.
Would have eaten there had we not already been booked into No5 Cavendish Square, which offered a two-course set menu for £17.50. We both have the duck with a strawberry jus (yum) followed by guinea fowl (yummier). The food was simply but perfectly cooked, portions veering towards +2 on the hearty side my soon-to-be-patented Poncy Hearty Scale. The staff attentive but not in your face. Overall a superb dining experience.
Next we started off on our Northern Line Goth and Rock Pub Crawl.
First off was the Crobar, friendly and scruffy, no 'real' beer, but a fantastic selection of whiskies, bourbon and rum.
Up to Camden for The Dev, the only discernable difference since the Hobgoblin akeover being the really quite good Wychwood Left Back ale. Lightish and hoppy. Toilets worse than the Engine Room.
Next off at Mornington Crescent to the Purple Turtle, poor selection of beer, youngish metal band from Leeds were actually quite good. Won't ever make it though cos the singer was a bit tubby - harsh, but that's the music industry for ya.
Intrepid Fox; next, moody punk barmaid didn't say please or thank you. I know you're a punk love, but if you really don't people, just f*ck off out of the people business. Shit beer too. Toilets OK.
So we went back to The Crobar for a last beer before not getting a train back and staying in Ealing with the in-laws instead.
Brighton people, enjoy "The CasBar", it's better than any of the alternative pubs in London, better staff, better decor, better toilets, better drink - although they could get a light hoppy ale on. *
* It is now an old tradition or charter or something that everytime I mention or talk about beer in reference to the Caroline, I have to mention that they "could get a light hoppy ale on". ;-)