I wasn't intending to do a survey this week but I was reading Retired Martin's excellent blog this morning and he had a link to the National Bass Directory web site which includes a list of pubs serving Bass. I was startled to find there a pub in Hoylake which I'd never even heard of. Time for a trip to Wirral.
And so, in to Twelve Sixty:
This pleasant shop conversion is a very well done spacious bar. Research on streetview reveals that this has been a number of different shops and before that was in my database as Tides, noted closed by 2017 and never visited. I presume it is connected to the (also excellent) place with the same name in Liscard.
Six handpumps on the counter, no Bass on this occasion so I had something pale and good, Hen Harrier from Bowland. It came in a Bass conic.
No one in except me and the barman, which is a shame at two on a sunny Thursday. Just as I was finishing some more customers arrived.
Now I'm here, a few places not visited since 2021, starting with Black Toad:
This place always seems a bit ramshackle and chaotic inside to me, but no less pleasant or comfortable for that.
My Higsons Oatmeal Stout was superb, it has a hint of coffee in the taste I think. I had some Honey Porter from Conway - oops, that should be Conwy - yesterday in the Huyton Wetherspoon, also very good but more honey flavour would have improved it.
Ticking over gently, most of the other customers were regulars who spent more time chatting with the barman than drinking. That's not a criticism, it is a sign of a great pub. Strangers also came in for a drink.
Where next? How about the wonderful Plasterers Arms? Hang on though, what's this? Right next to the Wetherspoon which I was intending to visit later on, I see Bank Cafe and Bar:
Bonus!! Another new one for me, definitely more of a cafe type of place, but offering a number of keg brews. I had Bank Lager which was rather good. And only £2.95.
Presumably a former bank, it has a rather good interior with wood panelling. If it was a bank it was a very small branch!
Quite a few customers in here, all except me were on coffee I think. The staff (two of them) were poised for a booking at three, a big table had a 60 balloon flying above it.
Now what? There are three ticks from 2021 around here, but I won't do them all today, so maybe I should save the Plasterers for a future jolly boys outing and just finish with the Ship? Or the spoons?
But wait! There used to be a Belgian bar here. I ticked it in 2021 and I had promised myself a whole day visit trying various Belgian brews but I never got around to it before the place closed. But now it's called Mr Smith's Parlour:
The physical layout looks the same as I remember from the Trappist House, but the decor is different, and very well done. There is a limit to what you can do with a shop unit but this one is really attractive.
Four keg taps on the counter, all offering Titanic brews. I tried the Mr Smith's Pilsner which was very good.
Sadly, I was the only customer at half three, I hope they get more later. There seemed to be at least three staff, I don't think my pint would cover their wages .
There is a rule that you should always leave them wanting more, so you can come back. So I think I'll head home now and leave a few ticks for next time. On the other hand, the local trains seem to be disrupted so perhaps another pint is called for. Let's visit the 'spoons:
Nothing new for me to record in here, of course. They had a number of Peerless brews on tap including Ten Gallon Hat which I'd never seen before - It was gorgeous, pale and fruity. If I had to say something negative about Peerless it would be that they keep coming up with new beers which are all pale and fruity. And wonderful, so not really a criticism! Of course, they also produce the fantastic Oatmeal Stout, so it's not like all their beers are the same.
A conversation in a pub yesterday touched on breweries where I always assume I'll like the beer, such as Peerless, and breweries where I assume I won't. Warrington's Coach House is an example of the latter, I'm probably being unfair but, offered two ales I will always choose the one that isn't theirs.
So, time for a train home, the disruption is over and all is normal on the ride back to Liverpool. More new (to me) ones today, I keep finding them!
Beer of the day: Higson's Oatmeal Stout
Miles walked: 1
Maybe coming soon: No idea.
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