05/02/2022 - Yeovil Pub Crawl

Pubs - 6

The first person to speak to me was a one legged man, wheeling himself along the main shopping street.  "Want some perfume mate?  Tenner each or two for Twenty".

I probably should have done my research before deciding on Yeovil as a location for a Beery Adventure.

One of many amusing TA reviews of a place visited tonight but whose identity will be protected.

Even the Daily Mirror is on the hate.... branding the JDW the ugliest pub in Britain.

Not too shabby at a certain angle, in a certain light.

The Good Beer Guide has a single entry - The Quicksilver Mail - an old inn on the outskirts of town.  I visited after my walk and found a massive coaching house, serving a reasonable Butcombe Original.  The view from the car park was unworthy of a photo and there was just the wrong amount of people inside for internal photos.

So, we move onto the evening crawl.

The Pall, Silver Street, Stella Artois

Closing stages of Scotland vs. England on the TV screens meant this was a hive of boisterous shouting about a game that I will never understand.

Beer, I do.   And it wasn't going to be a Speckled Hen.

Pall Tavern

Everyone on Guinness.. didn't look the place to trust Cask

Plus points.... a barn of an Indian Restaurant next door.   Negative Points..... where they charge 50p for each poppadom pickle tray.  Even the horrible one, that no-one touches. 

The next pub on the list was actually a rarity - one I walked on past.  The Westminster looked like a fun pub on the Magaluf strip.  Bright lights.  Loud Music.  Dancing.   At 8pm.

The Westminster.  A Fun Pub.

The Manor, Hendford, Cragganmore

The Manor

From my limited research, this was highlighted as the prettiest pub, externally.  Sure enough, it was a handsome hotel, with a large conservatory, drinking area and restaurant.  Free range toddlers causing me anxiety when they go walkabout.   At what point do you involve yourself?  When they leave the room?  When they get to the front door?

At least whisky doesn't last long.

Stay away from the IPA, said the Abbot

The Butchers Arms, Hendford, Butcombe Original

Easily the pick of the places, although not without it's idiosyncrasies.

A Proper Pub

There are a lot of signs telling you what not to do.  "Do not mess with the ornaments" - next to a window sill full of ornaments.  But they the one they fiercely protect is "Do not put logs on the fire".

After being unfazed by a cash only bar and taking a very good Butcombe Original to a table in front of the fire, the landlady comes out and demands to know who has placed a log on there.  I explain that I've only just arrived and it was like it when I got here.  She heads back through the door behind the bar.  I have the feeling she was not 100% convinced by my alibi.

A group of very drunk Scotland Rugby fans come in.  After a rousing and much appreciated rendition of Flower of Scotland (genuinely - they were very tuneful), one of them notices the fire is dying out.

Don't touch the logs - I very nearly shout.  But too late.   Two are placed on, and the fire picks up.

Now we've got entertainment!

Within ten minutes, the landlady is out and stares into the flames.  You can probably guess what happened and you'd be right, except you probably don't appreciate the size of her husband.  Summonsed as a peace keeper/enforcer, he explained that "this is a family pub and you leave the logs alone".

Amazing how quickly you can get through three pints, when there is a frisson of drama. 

Crown and Globe, South Street

I should have ended on a high, but this huge former coaching house was on the way back to Lenny's Purple Palace.

San Miguel the only option.

The old man, barking and shouting at himself showing me the Ghost of Mappiman Future.

I did not notice any ants