tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post1161291455136425944..comments2024-03-29T08:01:51.705+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: Back to when pubs were pubsCurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-41654739661819935042015-05-25T18:47:37.079+01:002015-05-25T18:47:37.079+01:00I think the reference was to the limited choice of...I think the reference was to the limited choice of cask beer. But, on draught, Sam's pubs can serve:<br /><br />2 keg milds<br />2 keg bitters<br />1 cask bitter<br />4 lagers<br />1 stout<br />1 wheat beer<br />1 cider<br /><br />which I agree is probably a wider choice than most normal pubs offer. I've never actually seen the keg "Best Bitter", but I think the Boar's Head serves all the rest.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-10042118999255207222015-05-25T18:25:55.475+01:002015-05-25T18:25:55.475+01:00"Sam's ultra-conservative beer policy&quo..."Sam's ultra-conservative beer policy"<br /><br />in London, they serve 2 bitters, a wheat beer and about 4 different types of lager plus all the bottled stuff. That is better than most pubs I have been inGraemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11007306140530173428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-46059999772857920812015-05-20T19:43:46.072+01:002015-05-20T19:43:46.072+01:00The biggest risk to Sams pubs is that Ian Duncan S...The biggest risk to Sams pubs is that Ian Duncan Smith and his benefits changes and sanctions. Thank crikey for food banks.Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-43731663573114957692015-05-20T15:05:45.044+01:002015-05-20T15:05:45.044+01:00@Ben - this may be another example of how London d...@Ben - this may be another example of how London differs from the rest of the country. I go in quite a few Sam's pubs and in general I'd say they are conspicuously busier than most of the local competition.<br /><br />Clearly there is a risk that their current clientele may eventually die off, but in Northern towns and cities that "substantial sector of the drinking public" who may be alienated perhaps isn't that large. Most working-class people couldn't give a toss about craft beer.<br /><br />And there's probably a steady churn of people who decide to give up going in the Snooty Fox for the chance of a pull and resign themselves to the cheap beer and banter in the Sam's pub.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-55126728211478248062015-05-20T14:48:15.034+01:002015-05-20T14:48:15.034+01:00Unless it changes radically, Sam's ultra-conse...Unless it changes radically, Sam's ultra-conservative beer policy will permanently alienate a substantial sector of the drinking public. <br /><br />Given that this is probably the group that spends the most money on beer, it's hard to see their current model and attitude being indefinitely sustainable.Ben Viveurhttp://www.benviveur.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-30507787995545989502015-05-20T10:19:21.983+01:002015-05-20T10:19:21.983+01:00@ Peter S - Prince of Wales, just along from North...@ Peter S - Prince of Wales, just along from North Shields fish quay. electricpicsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-68735047452348525732015-05-20T00:45:35.493+01:002015-05-20T00:45:35.493+01:00electricpics.-
Which pub is that? Just to satisfy ...electricpics.-<br />Which pub is that? Just to satisfy an old Geordie thousands of miles from home...Peter Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-35448331612319038232015-05-19T13:04:17.815+01:002015-05-19T13:04:17.815+01:00I used to be a supervisor in the DSS and used to d...I used to be a supervisor in the DSS and used to drink in a pub popular with some benefit claimants. Far from clearing the place, I often ended being asked for benefit advice.Neville Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10923209266005338452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-73952590151899489102015-05-18T23:44:15.252+01:002015-05-18T23:44:15.252+01:00Yes, I'm sure I've said that in the past y...Yes, I'm sure I've said that in the past you would get the choice by moving between pubs rather than in the one pub. I wouldn't choose to go in Winters, though, as it's full of people too downmarket for the Sam's pubs.<br /><br />The robot tests are out of my control - but I know if I don't have them I get inundated by spam.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-29942383295802348242015-05-18T23:22:27.436+01:002015-05-18T23:22:27.436+01:00By the way Mudge, your tests to prove non-robot st...By the way Mudge, your tests to prove non-robot status (which of these dishes contain sushi !) are getting tougher, particularly after 4 pints.Martin, Cambridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-60130478544963023272015-05-18T23:20:11.616+01:002015-05-18T23:20:11.616+01:00CyberBeer - of course the Hand and Heart used to b...CyberBeer - of course the Hand and Heart used to be a John Smiths stronghold, and pre-ban there were a good number of wet-led John's pubs north of Peterborough in similar styles to Sams. Gone now.<br /><br />Re: Sams and limited choice, surely after a couple in the Boars you just move to Winters for Holts, Arden for Robbies and Spoons for greater choice. Why does a pub need to offer a range of bitters ? (do miss Museum though).Martin, Cambridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-10633180374379215192015-05-18T19:43:41.337+01:002015-05-18T19:43:41.337+01:00If you struggle to find a seat in a Sams pub, ment...If you struggle to find a seat in a Sams pub, mention you are an inspector from the DHSS tracking down benefit fraud. The gaff clears and you can sit where you like.Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-6506907442781229682015-05-18T16:21:50.825+01:002015-05-18T16:21:50.825+01:00The Haunch of Venison in Salisbury is a wonderful ...The Haunch of Venison in Salisbury is a wonderful old,tiny boozer that has managed to maintain its dignity downstairs with a bar catering for old-style drinking and chatting ( no TV,music etc ) while running a rather good restaurant upstairs.<br /><br />I am happy for pubs to break their no entertainment rules with Test Match Special on during the summer.Professor Pie-Tinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-43046812177243929592015-05-18T15:20:35.580+01:002015-05-18T15:20:35.580+01:00There's a couple of pubs like that in Peterbor...There's a couple of pubs like that in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.<br /><br />North of the city centre is The Hand And Heart. A traditional pub with an unspoilt 1920s interior. Its the last pub in Peterborough to do so.<br /><br />South of the city centre is Palmerston Arms.<br /><br />Both are quiet pubs during the day, a great place for conversation and good beer. <br /><br />On weekend evenings Hand And Heart does have live music.<br /><br />There are also two Sam Smiths pubs in Peterborough. One in the centre and one a short walk from Palmerson Arms.CyberBeerhttp://cyberbeer.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-87602652762944580042015-05-18T15:12:09.272+01:002015-05-18T15:12:09.272+01:00Curmudgian -"there are still plenty of pubs l...Curmudgian -"there are still plenty of pubs like this in the North-West"<br />Sadly I live in the deep SouthWest - both my locals are food led with one laying up every table ready for food. My nearest town, 10 miles away and a late night £40 taxi home, has a couple of reasonable pubs catering for Royal Navy types and tourists. There are far too many St Austell Brewery pubs with no life in their beer! <br />Wetherspoons are coming so there will be change for the better/worse (delete as appropriate at a future date).Xopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01387364739989208360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-65984564827320571472015-05-18T13:30:57.271+01:002015-05-18T13:30:57.271+01:00I'm lucky to have a Sams pub near me - the mos...I'm lucky to have a Sams pub near me - the most northerly in England. The Prince of Wales was saved from demolition in 1992 by Humphrey Smith who spent a large amount of money and time fighting the developer and the local authority. Sam Smiths then restored it to the 1927 design of famous pub architect FRN Haswell. The pub dates back to 1674 and was reputedly the local headquarters of the Royal Navy's press gangs. Humphrey Smith might run his empire with a feudal system but you can't knock him for supporting pubs.electricpicsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-321948916925247282015-05-18T07:23:22.944+01:002015-05-18T07:23:22.944+01:00Shouldn't the sisterhood be at home anyway coo...Shouldn't the sisterhood be at home anyway cooking up some tasty viitles for their menfolk ?<br />Or at least in the lounge on their own.<br />This is where I reckon the Muslims are bang on. Thurston McCrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-19433299145987204402015-05-17T22:37:42.828+01:002015-05-17T22:37:42.828+01:00@Xopher - there are still plenty of pubs like this...@Xopher - there are still plenty of pubs like this in the North-West, and by no means all Sam Smith's.<br /><br />@John - eventually the dam breaks ;-) But I really don't subscribe to the point that pubs like this are female-unfriendly. There were a couple of feisty women in who would give as good as they got.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-21634844809288531682015-05-17T22:19:43.188+01:002015-05-17T22:19:43.188+01:00Ditto for this (but perhaps not mention the sister...Ditto for this (but perhaps not mention the sisterhood). You're on a bit of s roll at the moment I think.John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-52963824629798547092015-05-17T20:04:46.569+01:002015-05-17T20:04:46.569+01:00Now, that's what dreams are made of!
Shame I m...Now, that's what dreams are made of!<br />Shame I may never experience this type of pub again.Xopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01387364739989208360noreply@blogger.com