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 !!







Thursday, 26 June 2014

Bolehall Swifts Supporters & Social Club

It was England's final World Cup game so I'd arranged to meet neighbour Alan at the Bolehall Swifts Supporters Club. As England had already been eliminated it was hard to get motivated for the match against Costa Rica especially as manager Roy Hodgson was giving the squad players and the youngsters a run out but, if nothing else, it was an excuse for a few pints with a mate even though he's a v*lla fan !!

I left work early and was genuinely surprised how little atmosphere there was I as I walked down Broad St, this was in sharp contrast to before the Uruguay game when Broad St was buzzing and we were full of optimism. Bar Risa was trying its best with World in Motion blaring out of the clubs speakers but Messers Balotelli and Suarez had already pooped our World Cup party.

I arrived at the club in plenty of time for kick off so took the opportunity for some selfie action..





As the crow flies The Bolehall Swifts Supporters Club is the closest licensed premises to home. Bolehall Swifts are a non league football team that play in the Midlands Combination Premier Division, their ground has a 2,000 capacity and their floodlights were officially opened (I'm not sure how you officially open floodlights!!) by Mark Hughes then of Manchester United.

This blog is inadvertently turning into a football blog, I need to get it back on track !!

Granted I wasn't expecting the club to packed to the rafters given the fact that the match was effectively a 'dead rubber' however when I walked in I was greeted by the barman and one customer !! It is some considerable time since the Sold Out notices have been displayed at v*lla park so I knew that Alan would feel very much at home when he arrived !!

The club is a good one, it's a bit functional and too bright, but it's close, it sells alcohol, and best of all we can stagger home across the field when we leave. Actually sometimes it's more of a tiptoe than a stagger as naughty dog owners don't always clear up after their pooing pooch's.

There was a choice of two ales with me going for Wells Bombardier which was a really really nice pint.

I got us two seats at the front though I could have also got us seats down the sides or in the middle such was the apathy for this game. Had he been there it would surely have brought a tear to the eye of the mascot for the 1966 World Cup finals, World Cup Willie.

Alan arrived and we watched the match which in all honesty had the intensity of a pre season friendly. The heat in Brazil was almost matched in Tamworth so Alan and I made sure we took plenty of fluids on board and unsurprisingly getting served was never an issue.

It was hardly a shock when England ended their World Cup campaign with a whimper, a dull nil nil draw. There was plenty more bite in the other game in that group that was taking place at the same time as wayward Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez sunk his teeth into the shoulders of an Italian defender. Unbelievable Jeff !!

The barman was keen to close at full time but we persuaded (okay, we bribed him with beer) to stay open a bit longer before we wearily trudged our way home.

Roll on Russia 2018.....assuming we qualify !!









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