Pubs of 2014

Right, here we go...... The purpose of this blog is to log all the pubs that I have visited and consumed an alcoholic beverage in during 2014. The rules are quite simple, the establishment needs to be a public house, it sounds straightforward but it may get complicated for example things that wouldn't count are a visit to the bar at the cricket, a pre gig drink in a concert venue, a drink at the Birmingham German market etc. As judge and jury my decision is final, and if I'm in any doubt I won't count it.



My prediction as at the start of the year is that the final number will be somewhere around the 200 mark though I won't go to pubs just to get the numbers up, it will be a true reflection of my pub visting year.



My posts will include information about the pub, the ambience of the surroundings, the choice and quality of the beer, any interesting or amusing anecdotes about my visit and, where possible, photographic evidence.



I will try and keep the information as accurate as possible noting that alcohol consumption means that at times this may prove difficult !!



The format of the posts is simple, the first visit to the pub will be the blog entry and that post will be updated for any subsequent visit.



Hope you enjoy it...



Cheers

UPDATE January 2015

Right, that's it, it's finally finished, some 259 pubs later !! It's been hard work but it's nice being able to look back and relive the drinking experiences of 2014.

I am pleased with the final result and whilst I've been reviewing it, I have actually laughed a few times at my own jokes !!

A word of warning, it does start off a bit slow (some of my posts from Bath are a bit dull) but stick with it. In hindsight the format of posting repeat visits to a pub on the original post at times doesn't work very well when reading the blog in its' entirety but on the whole I'm pleased with it and I hope that you enjoy it.

I have stated this in the blog but I will say it again, thanks to anyone that I have had a beer with in 2014 and special thanks to Shelley for her patience !!







Monday, 10 February 2014

The Old Joint Stock

Dating back to 1864 the grade two listed Old Joint Stock is a magnificent looking pub. The pub used to be a branch of Lloyds Bank, in fact my Dad worked there for a while, but it was turned into a pub by Fullers in 1997 and they have kept most of the original features, the centrepiece of which is a huge glass domed ceiling.

After our romantic meal at San Carlos we dodged the Brum showers and made the short journey to The Old Joint Stock. The place is known for it's fine selection of beers (recognised by it's annual listing in CAMRA's good beer guide) so I was almost spoilt for choice but eventually went for a pint of Fullers Smithwick bitter and Shelley had a cheeky glass of chardonnay.

We stood at the bottom of the pubs magnificent staircase. Please note my new tee shirt which was getting its' first outing that day..



We were pleasantly surprised when we were joined by our mate and my fellow Black Sabbath and real ale fan Tony who was out for the afternoon before being brave enough to join a few of Shelley's chums at The Yenton !!

My mood, which was already good, improved further when I checked my phone and discovered that Blues had won 2 0 away at Charlton and v*lla had lost at home to West Ham so it was time to follow the words of that famous proverb, win or lose drink some booze, and make our way in the rain to the next pub...

UPDATE 28th February

Now I'm not known for holding sexist views but what I would say is if you're looking for a pub to meet in do not leave the decision to a woman. Me and my mate Kap had arranged to meet our friend Lindsey for a post work drink and she chose The Old Joint Stock based on the fact that it was next to the hairdressers as she was having her hair done. The pub is in the heart of Birmingham's Central Business District and very popular with the local office workers, so what could be a better venue to meet up at 5.30 on a Friday night than probably the busiest pub in the city centre?! This was made worse by the fact that it was my round and the pricing tariff at The Old Joint Stock is presumably aimed at bankers spending their fat cat bonuses!!

We stopped for one (a Fullers Chiswick Bitter in my case) and moved on sternly rebuking her for her decision making !!

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