Waterloo

On a beautiful sunny day I made my way to Waterloo.  I think I've exhausted the supply of "witty" remarks about Abba, Napoleon, Ray Davies and so on in previous blogs so we'll just get on to the pubs:  Multiple trips here over the last five years mean that many of the places are "not required" and the ones I want are those more likely to be closed on a Thursday, let's see how I do.

I started at Parnells but contrary to Google's times it wasn't open.

On to Flanagans, another one that's not open when it should be.

For my third attempt, the Lion & Unicorn is open:

This pleasant knocked through boozer has just three customers at half one on a Thursday, no wonder the others don't bother to open.

As I downed my lager more drinkers came in.

The penny only dropped when I was preparing for this survey:  I recently ticked another Waterloo Lion and Unicorn, but that is a Wetherspoon and it's at Waterloo station in London.  I wonder is it a coincidence or is there some connection with Waterloo?  Lion and unicorn appear on the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.  ChatGPT tells me the emblem was widely used during the Napoleonic wars, which seems a bit of a vague connection.  Wetherspoon named theirs after a pavilion at the Festival of Britain.  (Strictly, the spoons is called The Lion And The Unicorn)

All that fascinating (?) research extended my stay in this comfortable pub.

Next, a look at Bunratty's which I was expecting to find closed as it doesn't open on Thursdays, and it was:

Turning back from Bunratty's it occurred to me that I had walked past the Raven without noticing it, on the way back I discovered that that was because it is no longer there.

Back to Parnells which is now open:

This rather good sports themed bar has air conditioning which was very welcome today.  Just a handful of customers at half two.  The music was too loud for my taste but I bet it is even louder later when the multiple disco lights and the glitter ball are fired up.

My Carling was a remarkable £2.50.

Umpteen TVs are showing horse racing but I don't think anyone was watching.  At least they were silent.

Throughout my time in Waterloo so far the main street has had a steady flow of youngsters heading towards the beach.  Shouldn't they be at school?  Perhaps they get Corpus Christie day off?  Each arrival of a train from Liverpool produced another surge.

Well I never!  The mostly irritating music moved on to Jethro Tull's Witches Promise, I didn't expect that!  I saw him (Ian Anderson) play live in a field on Staten Island back in 2001.  He came on stage on crutches explaining that he'd fallen off the stage at the Cambridge folk festival;  then he threw the crutches away and gave us a great show.

Next, on to what was the Waterpudlian last time I saw it, but is now Shipwreck:

The name may have changed but this pub is basically the same, a pleasant corridor bar with a stage for live music on one side, offering some quality cask ales.  I had Salopian's Day in a Life which was very good.

Just four other drinkers at three o'clock, I know I've said it before but come on people, I can't save the pub industry on my own, where are you?

I scanned the display of pump clips.  Cains 2008, now that was a truly great beer, sadly missed.

Now I need to kill some time.  The next target should be closed at the moment but their Facebook and Google say they open at four.  Will they?  I drank my tasty ale slowly before heading for the Trap & Hatch.  At ten past four it wasn't open, although the shutters have moved so someone's in.

The great thing about this survey is that the distances are very small, so let's have another go at Flanagans:

Oh yes, the door is open and the friendly barmaid poured me a Guinness.  There was no one in except me at quarter past four, no wonder they don't open earlier.  She said people turn up at five and later.

The inside of this bar is really nicely done in a restrained Irish style, and they've still got a scull (Boat, not a head.) hanging from the ceiling.  It was remarkably cool in here, very pleasant.  The barmaid said it was also cold in the winter!

I'm tiring of walking up and down the main street but let's have one more go at Trap & Hatch:

Aha, it's now open.

Dog friendly, according to my book.  In fact the dog was a bit unfriendly until it found out I was just another customer.  After which I was its best pal until someone else came in.

Not my favourite micro pub but the gorgeous ale, I forget what it was, warmed me to it.

All the other customers knew each other and the barman and chatted.  I sat on my own (apart from the dog) and enjoyed my hazy IPA.

I scanned the beer board.  Oddly for a micro, two of the four keg beers on offer are Guinness and Caffrey's.  With one cider that only leaves Veltins Pilsner.  But I had a gorgeous cask ale so I don't care.

Now, a difficult (not really) decision:  I've spotted Green Room just across the road, it seems to be a pool room cum bar, new to my guide, so can I have number six and tick that as well?  The answer, of course, is yes.

This shop conversion has a beautifully decorated bar area at the front, with an equally nice pool room behind.  The counter runs through both.

Just four lads playing pool when I arrived, I hope they spent some money on drinks.

As I downed my Madri (I only spotted the Carling tap after I'd ordered) I looked around.  Someone has put a lot of effort into creating a really good stylish interior and I really hope they get the trade they deserve.

The music was a bit loud in here but I think it was being chosen by the pool lads so that's fair enough. Their taste doesn't align with mine, but why should it.

I checked the trains home.  Oh dear, everything has stopped, this could be problematical.  But wait, things are on the move again so I should be ok.  And I was.

Six required ticks, one of them brand new to the guide, is a great result for a Thursday.

Pub of the day: Shipwreck
Beer of the day: Day In A Life
Miles walked: 1.4
Maybe coming soon: Greasby