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, 6 November 2014

Bainsy's Bar

As pub welcome signs go this one does exactly what it says on the tin, states the name and gives a warm welcome to all. Well, when it says all I would necessarily recommend a visit if you are decked in claret and blue, this is bandit country !!



The pub (formerly known as the Hen and Chickens) is now named after owner Steve Bains and is a couple of blocks (as they say in America) from St Andrews, it is situated on the corner of Garrison Lane home to infamous Birmingham gang the Peaky Blinders.

Despite it's proximity to the Blues ground I can't honesty remember going into this pub under either name but I now feel like I've missed out, it is a decent pub, and a good choice by my drinking buddies Deb, Andy and Al.

We were in Bainsy's Bar trying to come to terms with witnessing the worst home defeat in Birmingham City's 140 year history. 0-8 to Bournemouth !!! AFC Bournemouth !! No disrespect but it wasn't like we were playing Real Madrid !! Unsurprisingly the mood in the bar resembled that of a wake, there wasn't even a hint of the usual gallows humour that follows these type of events. We were blue in more ways than one.

Lack of real ale in Bainsy's was compensated by the fact that Indian beer Cobra was available on draught, and I must admit it was a very nice pint. I can only assume it was to complement the curries that were being served up which looked very appetising. I daren't ask what was number eight on the menu !!

El Classico was being shown on the pub's tv's but in all honesty more football was the last thing I wanted even if Real Madrid were playing like AFC Bournemouth !! Instead I headed for some more Indian lager and a rather unflattering selfie. Well, what do you expect?!! I was traumatised !!



0-8 ?!! 0-8?!! I just couldn't get my head round the afternoon's shambles. Unsurprisingly this is only a brief pub write up. It was time to head home......okay maybe after one in The Crown !!
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