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 !!







Wednesday, 11 June 2014

The Whippet Inn

The Whippet Inn (a pub that gets its name from a double entendre in a Carry On film) is a new addition to the Lichfield pub scene, and what an addition it is. The pub, which opened in early 2014, is a former clothes shop that has been converted into a micropub. It is only small, it claims to be able to seat twenty five though I reckon it would be one hell of a squeeze if the twenty five were the same size as rotund Blues fan Barry Austin !!



There is a sign above the bar that states 'small pub, big welcome' and this is absolutely the case, owners Deb and Paul were friendly and happy to advise us on beer choices. Shelley and Maria went for a half of Newton Court Autumn Harvest cider which was a cheeky 7.1% ABV, I commented that it would put hairs on their chests as I passed them their drinks, owner Paul quipped that given its strength it'd probably take them off !!

Craig and I chose Peak Ales Bakewell Best Bitter, 'good choice' said the man next to me, he was right, it was arguably one of the best pints that I've had all year.

My bladder seal was broken in this pub which was a bit early as I was only on pint number three, especially as a bladder is like a tube of Pringles, once you pop you can't stop !! I would point out that the toilets in The Whippet Inn size wise are in keeping with the rest of the pub, they are tiny. It's a single toilet for us boys made more bizarre by the fact that the loo contained a step ladder !! Maybe there are a lot of vertically challenged male drinkers in Lichfield who are in need to assistance when reaching the toilet !!

We bumped into one of our friends in this pub. Jelly is a real ale drinker who lives not too far from the Whippet Inn so maybe it wasn't a real surprise. The fact that we stopped for another was also unsurprising. I heartily recommend this pub.

I decided on a precautionary 'pitstop' before making the journey to the next pub, and there was someone in the gents. Sorry girls, I did the unthinkable, not only did I use the ladies toilet, I left the seat up !!

UPDATE 8th November

I really do like this pub, and, with its' seating capacity of just twenty five, it is living proof that good things really do come in small packages. We were in Lichfield with our friends Gray and Jule and we'd moved to The Whippet Inn from previous pub The Crown. Gray and I had not heard of any of the ales that were on offer so tried a sample of one that didn't really do it for us so we both opted instead for a pint of mild. Yes I know its' an old man's drink but neither of us are getting any younger !! At 3.7% ABV Bird's Mild High Club (a beer brewed not far from where Gray and Jule live) was quite strong for a mild but it was very drinkable and would be a great session beer.

The girls were on the real cider then again there's no option for anything other than real beer in this pub, no keg beer, no alcopops, no spirits with the only food that is served being pork pies and scotch eggs so it may be a place for Kosher diners to avoid !! I didn't see any Fruit Shoots behind the bar and that can only mean one thing...no kids !! Halleujah !!

Don't expect too many frills in this pub, the décor is basic to say the least though the description in one review that it reminded someone of an under decorated pensioner's flat is a bit harsh to say the least. Check out the modern unisex hand washing facilities..



Our friends Val and Paul showed up around 5.30 but, as we had been out for around three hours at that stage and the drinking pace was fairly rapid, I'm not sure what they walked into !!

I had to stand a good way back to get a group snap, a physical impossibility in The Whippet Inn, but I just about managed before we moved on..



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