Since it was a Sunday and potentially quite, we took the opportunity to visit a classic must visit Leeds pub, Whitelocks’.
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| More excellent tiles |
I’d say for the interior if nothing else, but the beer selection is also great. At this point I was beyond beer logging!
And then finishing at the Mary Walloper’s gig, with an overpriced Guinness of course.
Foregoing a 20 minute walk to the Garden Gate, we made the short journey to The Grove.
An ex-John Smiths pub, very similar to the Golden Ball in York. With four rooms, one being centred around the bar, it provides plenty of seating options.
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| Middle room |
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| Front room (Lounge?) |
And a decent selection of real ales, without adding craft keg…yet?
The Small World and Wensleydale were both in fine form.
Oh and the tiles.
We’re sure these are the same ones as in the Golden Ball.
I think the Grove is on my list of favourites.
What better way to celebrate Leeds’ brewing history, than Leeds’ current biggest* brewery to operate a bar (pub) in the old Tetley offices.
A magnificent building, inside and out. The food looked good, especially the Sunday lunch. Maybe another time of us.
But the Kirkstall Dissolution was glorious, stiff competition for Jaipur. Cask Tetley is also available.
*Kirkstall are possibly the largest brewer in Leeds. Not fact checked, just my assumption.
After the aborted holiday in Rye and a busy month of work, we finally made it out.
A St Patrick’s day gig by the Mary Wallopers in Leeds, provided a good excuse for some pre-drinks in a few new and old pubs.
First up, an excellent pint of Jaipur in The Adelphi.
A fairly standard selection.
I’m a sucker for pub tiles.
Loaded with ibuprofen and smelling of tiger balm, it was time for a dose of the best pain relief, real ale.
First up, an earthy Long Man Best at The Ship Inn. An attractive food led pub, but at 4pm it was just a handful of drinkers.
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| Long Man Best in a Tribute glass |
Moving on to The Standard for a disappointing ESB by Three Legs, either it was on the turn or I wasn’t keen on the finishing hops.
A cosy place that went from empty to full within the 40 minutes we were there. Clearly popular for the food.
A quick half of Romney Best made up for the ESB.
Further up The Mint was Old Bell, the oldest pub in Rye for a pint of Harvey’s Sussex Best, which drank very well.
Simultaneously reaching in a campervan cupboard and coughing, pulled something in my back.
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| Unfortunately closed on Tuesday |
Not exactly sliding in my DMs*, we geared up and walked (slowly) around the sites of Rye, had a late lunch in the van and then hit the pubs…
*a millennial/gen z reference.
Leaving our group to a 6 hour drive back up north, we drove the 30 minutes from Hastings to Rye.
£2.50 for 24 hour parking in the Rope Walk car park, we nestled the van in a nice corner and made the short walk to Rye Waterworks micropub, one of two GBG24 entries in Rye.
A micro with natural and added character, not just an old shop with added paraphernalia.
There’s plenty to keep your eyes busy in the Waterworks, whether it’s watching the busy comings and goings at 5pm on a Monday!
Or looking at junk treasure for sale. The table we sat at was sold, but thankfully they didn’t collect.
Or hiding under tables.
Or pulling your own. Just like at St. James’ Gate.
But most importantly, working your way through this.
Truly a must visit micro.
But we were brought back to reality when we called into Cinque Ports, a Shepherd Neame pub.
Doubling the numbers when we entered, we witnessed what Monday evening’s are really like in pubs.
Passable Spitfire and Masterbrew.
A 3-minute pint of Guinness by the next customer, which he claimed was not his record.
A woman having an argument over a video call, where she repeatedly told the recipient to “go away”, why she couldn’t hang up, I don’t know?
And a few memorial seats, which prompted a conversation which pubs we’d like ours.
But it did have a fire.
