I apologise for the gap in blog entries, pub guide research has taken a back seat behind Christmas get-togethers, trips away, and a nasty cold. Rest assured I haven't stopped visiting pubs: Highlights included a pint and a breakfast fry-up in the last pub around Smithfield meat market to still have early opening. Sadly, the Fox and Anchor is more aimed at tourists than market porters nowadays and at seven on a Monday morning I was the only customer.
Is it wise to head out on "black eye Friday" for a survey? We'll see. Merseyrail carried me to New Brighton and just across the road from the station is Sup:
This is a tiny shop conversion selling pictures, cards, candles, coffee and, most importantly, a couple of craft beers.
I selected a hazy pale from Pomona, which was sweet and fruity, very good.
A steady stream of customers came in for last minute Christmas presents and cards, but mostly for coffee I think.
I have to confess I had marked this place down as "not a pub" because the taps are not visible if you peer in from outside. But when I was last in New Brighton, some friends had a drink in here but I didn't have time to join them before we moved on. So it was high on my target list.
I moved on, in the rain, to Rockpoint Records:
Much larger than the previous tick, this is a conversion of multiple shops into a rather fine music themed bar. I selected one from Meantime (London) from the four or five kegs on offer and it was very good.
One group of mostly blokes were making all of the noise in the place, there were plenty of empty tables around the spacious front room.
The walls are covered in music posters ranging from historic ones with prices in shillings right through to gigs next year.
The rain had eased off as I headed on to the Ship:
Perhaps I shouldn't say this: Shop conversions are all very well but I was glad to find myself in a real boozer here.
This is a "proper" two sided pub, nicely decorated and perfectly maintained. I seem to remember not liking this place much last time I was here but, now, I don't know why; it really is a classic of its type; cheerful, friendly and comfortable.
All the other customers seemed to know each other, no one took any notice of the pub blogger in the corner making his notes.
Umpteen tellies around the room were showing a darts match, no one I could see was paying any attention.
Next, I headed to the Harbour, formerly the Commercial, which due to their opening hours I haven't ticked since 2012:
Well, bugger me, it's not open. At three on the last Friday before Christmas? Does this mean it is finished as a pub?
I've done all the other required ticks in New Brighton, unless I walk to the Pilot Boat, but I can't be bothered so I just went to the wonderful Bow Legged Beagle:
This was the original location, I think, of what is now a chain of four Wirral pubs. As always, four quality cask ales are on offer and after spending for a few moments dithering I selected a wonderful stout called Daylight Suspended from Salopian.
I looked around the walls. The down side of displaying hundreds of pump clips is that I might spot a personal favourite ale even better than the ones I'm drinking. Having said that, the stout was really good so while I might prefer a Titanic Plum Porter, Rat White Rat, Tiny Rebel Stay Puft, or even a Peerless Oatmeal Stout, I'm happy with what I've got.
I don't know what it is about this standard micro pub but I have always been a great fan, it really is great.
A number of customers called in with dogs, I was a bit worried about the Irish Wolf Hound that settled down for a kip right in the middle of the room. It was at risk of being trodden on when I head to the gents!
Later, another dog arrived and there was a chaos of barking and aggro, luckily all dogs were on leads.
So, on what could be the last research trip of the year I managed two new ticks, that's 52 new ones this year bringing my grand total to 1,518. Have a good holiday and I'll see you in 2025.
Beer of the day: Salopian Daylight Suspended
Miles walked: 1.1
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale
