On a very grey day a long bus journey under the river eventually dropped me in Pensby for an "exciting" stroll dodging cars along a country road with no footpath to my first objective, the Fox & Hounds:
Apparently unchanged since my visit six years ago, this is a very pleasant up market dining operation which welcomes drinkers as well, offering them quality cask ales.
I sat in the drinking part of the rambling interior enjoying a Trappers Hat, there was no one else in this part of the pub. I could see through the servery that there is a small wood-panelled snug with its own counter, presumably for the regulars.
This is a really nice place, if I were taking someone out for dinner in Wirral it would be high on my list. (Depending, of course, on the person involved; most of my friends would prefer a Wetherspoon. As would I.)
A group of four blokes about my age came in. Multiple tasters and discussions later they ended up with a cider, a Guinness and two craft.
The whole place was worryingly quiet for two on a Saturday, with waiters and waitresses hanging around waiting for something to do, I expect they'll get more custom this evening. Perhaps the grey weather has stopped some people going out.
Next, on to the Basset Hound:
Another dining place, perhaps not as posh as the Fox but still very nicely done.
I selected Old Golden Hen from the two handpumps, "it's Speckled" said the barman. I resisted a rude "why don't you change the clip then" and enjoyed a fine pint.
Once again, mostly empty on a Saturday afternoon, trade really is thin today or perhaps this is normal now.
I perused the menu of mostly standard pub fare, and fish and chips is fourteen quid. There's also a Specials menu, but since it is on a printed card it's not my idea of specials - something the chef picked up this morning. On there, fish pie is £21.49, ouch. It comes with peas and samphire, not sure I've ever eaten samphire which I think of as an East Anglian delicacy, but Google tells me it is also harvested in the Dee estuary.
As I enjoyed my pint more and more people came in, soon the pub was filled with chatter although there was still plenty of room for more custom. It was quarter to three now, and England were in deep trouble at Edgbaston.
Later, when I got home, I checked how to spell the pub name. I was amused to find that in my picture above it's Basset on the front of the pub, but Bassett on the A-board. I think I'm going with one T, and my dictionary concurs. Ooops, I see the picture caption in my book has it as Bassett, how embarrassing.
Next, somewhere I wasn't planning to visit. Regular readers of this blog may be aware that I made a decision that Toby Carveries were not pubs, based on their website only mentioning food. So I was intending to walk past the Toby Carvery Arrowe, but perhaps I ought to at least have a look:
In the beer garden at the front were a number of blokes of various ages enjoying drinks, so I wandered in and soon had a Carling. So, somewhat to my disappointment, I need to reinstate each Toby in my database. No, not a disappointment really, the more the merrier.
In or out questions aside, this is a very nice chain carvery where everyone else inside was eating, I think, and the food looked good, I could see plates piled up with meats, Yorkshire puddings and so on.
Just like the previous two places, there was plenty of space for a lot more customers, disappointing trade at half three on a Saturday.
Next, a short walk to the Arrowe Park:
Another nicely done food led pub, perhaps a little less up market than the previous ones, but still very good.
Once again, trade was a bit thin, they could do with at least fifty more customers, and the place still wouldn't be full.
No cask, so I had another Carling. A significant proportion of the drinkers here were sitting outside, I as usual stayed indoors.
The giant screen distracted me, is it the British Grand Prix this weekend? They seem to have a lot of closeups in the car nowadays. Where is it, I went to Silverstone and Brands Hatch in the 70s and 80s but I lost interest a long time ago. I'm sorry to say my strongest memory of Silverstone is being stuck in the mud in the car park afterwards.
The Toby has somewhat disrupted my plan for today, I think seven would be too many. So I could go home now, but why not tick one nearby pub and then finish? So, into the back streets to the Woodchurch:
What a contrast, this is a proper down market boozer, and there's nothing wrong with that. I headed in the bar side because it was nearer door, to find a dozen or so customers but no staff. I waited patiently, eventually giving up and heading towards the exit to try the lounge; there was no way between the two halves except via outside. As I went for the door one of the regulars called out "she's gone to change a barrel", and moments later the barmaid appeared and poured me a Carling.
Gentle music and lively chatter were the soundscape in this classic boozer and after doing a number of dining places it was pleasing to visit a true locals' pub.
The decor in the bar side was plain but very well done, wooden floor, matchboarding counter front, (fake) bare brick walls, it looks really good.
OK, I think that's enough; there are two more pubs on my list for today but I'm not sure I can cope with seven ticks so I think I'll head for home now. Five required ticks is good enough after all. So the Wirral Hundred, wonderful though it is, and the Swan can wait for another time.
Beer of the day: Trappers Hat
Miles walked: 4.2
Maybe coming soon: Undecided
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