13/07/19 - The Lamp Tavern, Birmingham

Good Beer Guide Tick - 399

What to do in Birmingham, before the pubs open?   Shoppings not really our thing, so we head to Hurst Street and take part in the Birmingham Back to Back House tour, presented by the National Trust.

Its a really well thought out way to spread visiting 5 houses across a two hour living museum tour.   Each house is set in a different time period - from when they were built in the 1840s to their final use as shops at the turn of the 2nd millennium.

Mrs M having a cultural monring out

Once over, its a question of where's the nearest unvisited Good Beer Guide Tick?

Lamp Tavern, Barford Street, Goffs Brewery Cheltenham Gold

It's a short walk from the Centre - showing just how many brownfield sites are close to City.  Increasing levels of destitution before we reach the Lamp.

Mrs M's day is going to get better and better

You know you are going to be in good hands when the Bible lists the landlord's name.   You can say "Hello Eddie", pre-armed with the knowledge that he is friendly.

He busied himself with the pub jobs of the day - sorting out motor racing on the pull down screen, pulling through a Hobsons Mild for all of twenty minutes and explaining to us how he imports genuine Tayto crisps from Ireland.

It was at this point my 21 year old lad perked up.   Apparently, these are Liam Gallagher's favourites.

With Rock Star endorsed snack of the day sorted, it was just a case of which beer to go for.   Somehow, Goffs Brewery from the Cotswolds have two of their ales on - and the Cheltenham Gold was superb condition.

Sometimes, you can pay to get into museums.   Others are included in the price of a round of drinks.

You can't think its going to last forever and it was an honour to have experienced it.

Way a pub should be - 5 hand pulls, two Guinness and no wine in the chiller