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13-07-2023, 21:10
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/speak-up-that-person-at-back.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6c78N_qW7nG72ZQLGEwbmLMjRCqtlTMC8joc4_OQgL oLPp3nxmvHv_2ciCeuaH1bFc5FyT_B8fVijYt68jdQVpiF824b wb1Wp4gPL3cScddKxftKpE7eF_TQpStyoR4LK8WFN0zg9prduz Me3cNuACs7Ao2zLBgpZ2-1uB2M1v41ip8teD4fcArhDOY/w240-h400/Sam%20pepys%20ext.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6c78N_qW7nG72ZQLGEwbmLMjRCqtlTMC8joc4_OQgL oLPp3nxmvHv_2ciCeuaH1bFc5FyT_B8fVijYt68jdQVpiF824b wb1Wp4gPL3cScddKxftKpE7eF_TQpStyoR4LK8WFN0zg9prduz Me3cNuACs7Ao2zLBgpZ2-1uB2M1v41ip8teD4fcArhDOY/s3562/Sam%20pepys%20ext.jpg)
I was up in that there London place on Tuesday evening, foran after-work event held at a rather unusual, but quite stunning pub that I'venever been to before. The occasion was the British Guild of Beer Writers AnnualGeneral Meeting, held this year at the Samuel Pepys, (https://www.samuelpepys.pub/) an impressive and stylishShepherd Neame house, tucked away at the end of a narrow alley leading down tothe River Thames.If my memory serves me right, this was the 3rd Guild AGMI've attended, but held in a room tucked away at the far end the Samuel Pepys,and not sufficiently far enough away from the rest of the pub, meant much ofthe proceedings were drowned out by the sound of customers who seemedespecially noisy that evening. A faulty PA system didn’t help either, whichmeant I didn’t really hear much of what was going on.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiqtOw_DNbbSRve6jNrNDR_UxqKhpW76rkY9kqIF2WW 2C9fIfkiurGcGDvEQ3M9_7fyaLClXEUBueE3cYOZQdHDvY-IYZt5k7hgzDJn9UO-5rso1pmDBGvOLZq7Rv7MCySJ4TXgpkYzcgi1rovByUJl8Js2Nu ghoj0DNTbqOX8dGa9C4EFr1xQJVn7zY/w400-h219/Sam%20Smiths%20bar.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiqtOw_DNbbSRve6jNrNDR_UxqKhpW76rkY9kqIF2WW 2C9fIfkiurGcGDvEQ3M9_7fyaLClXEUBueE3cYOZQdHDvY-IYZt5k7hgzDJn9UO-5rso1pmDBGvOLZq7Rv7MCySJ4TXgpkYzcgi1rovByUJl8Js2Nu ghoj0DNTbqOX8dGa9C4EFr1xQJVn7zY/s3900/Sam%20Smiths%20bar.jpg)
Some might say that was a good thing, but I couldn’tpossibly comment on that, although if you ask me in private, I might tell youwhy. Fortunately, acting chairman, Jonny Garrett mentioned that his theatricaltraining might assist, and many of us were grateful that he was able to projecthis voice to the back of the room. Jonny of course, is the author of a "Year in Beer",one of
the best books I’ve read about beer, its seasonality, along with guidelinesof how to experience the very best of what the UK has to offer, beer-wise,throughout the year.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxmNGtidyT0xBtGrqTP0drT_QKplbYlQCt9Bh6S2UzZ SK5K-oFb0e1TBbkSRw4mUncI9i77tvLLHZy8NU-VjlaC3YImHjnSETtBqi76x57PO2AKew_fE2_3f6vgNNBQdnDL9 gv2yL4Zj9V4wDOTK6MkZn6vx7pVFldcUt32gTyq6JSsKEiIPZU beEL8g/w400-h225/Bankside.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxmNGtidyT0xBtGrqTP0drT_QKplbYlQCt9Bh6S2UzZ SK5K-oFb0e1TBbkSRw4mUncI9i77tvLLHZy8NU-VjlaC3YImHjnSETtBqi76x57PO2AKew_fE2_3f6vgNNBQdnDL9 gv2yL4Zj9V4wDOTK6MkZn6vx7pVFldcUt32gTyq6JSsKEiIPZU beEL8g/s4000/Bankside.jpg)
The book was a present, the Christmas before last, and I wasthinking, should I perhaps have brought my copy along to the meeting and askedJonny to sign it? Possibly, or does that smack rather too much of unashamedfandom? But Jonny’s address, and the way he manged to keep the meeting going, inspite of the noise issue, helped save what was otherwise a rather un-edifyingexperience, with little of interest to report. So, let’s concentrate on the pub,instead.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUY6egbYRnXTRQiI2LO8zR87BeDvX_FxkSZjxQC2RPUG zzchKpjeTs_QKk816QwDdg1n1qtAsXuDCcxODioSrXvjo_bU2V spTWrYUdt04xjTzKSoBNfWX3huygYz1oEjPrJaG82j8ORj3jWF 7FvuT0PLFB5GdelvuBleTJe9s0B7wJLf1A3nfpFx_RIy4/w400-h213/Shard.%202023.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUY6egbYRnXTRQiI2LO8zR87BeDvX_FxkSZjxQC2RPUG zzchKpjeTs_QKk816QwDdg1n1qtAsXuDCcxODioSrXvjo_bU2V spTWrYUdt04xjTzKSoBNfWX3huygYz1oEjPrJaG82j8ORj3jWF 7FvuT0PLFB5GdelvuBleTJe9s0B7wJLf1A3nfpFx_RIy4/s3916/Shard.%202023.jpg)
As mentioned previously, the Samuel Pepys (https://www.samuelpepys.pub/) is tucked awaydown a narrow turning off busy Upper Thames Street. Known as Stew Lane, which onceafforded direct access to the Thames. “Stew” was a medieval term for a brothel,and from the nearby landing watermen would have ferried passengers across theriver to Bankside opposite, an area largely free of the rules and regulationsof the City itself. On Bankside there were theatres, bear-baiting pits, and alarge number of the aforementioned stews. As a man who frequently went inpursuit of pleasure Pepys, no doubt, often made the short journey across theriver.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzINOmG0D7g5lG74AuZooWR9VRU6bIT9aWayoAdNepkJ gFrD4WcuxBi9IBYtWhl383-vGekQc_ZX3-TC7vCpQUsSPqlS6Wys90TeLXHm_T2BEhBcKlM8SSldkUZY4XoO MWMC_8sBODGoLnqlvuVJ6ldwC9d4MFHCuCrHbP7gPU7WsmpcMd FyDBPpN5n7E/w231-h400/Sheps%20Double%20stout.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzINOmG0D7g5lG74AuZooWR9VRU6bIT9aWayoAdNepkJ gFrD4WcuxBi9IBYtWhl383-vGekQc_ZX3-TC7vCpQUsSPqlS6Wys90TeLXHm_T2BEhBcKlM8SSldkUZY4XoO MWMC_8sBODGoLnqlvuVJ6ldwC9d4MFHCuCrHbP7gPU7WsmpcMd FyDBPpN5n7E/s3664/Sheps%20Double%20stout.jpg)
The pub which carries his name, is housed in a 19th Centuryformer Thameside tea warehouse, and originally opened as a pub in the early1970s. Today’s pub appears much more recent in its construction, and after steppinginside from Stew Lane, a flight of steps takes the visitor up to a bright andairy, loft-style bar and restaurant, boasting many character features, such aswooden floorboards, full height windows and exposed brickwork. From a smallbalcony that overhangs the Thames, the Samuel Pepys offers spectacular viewsacross the river to Bankside, the re-constructed Globe Theatre, and the formerBankside Power Station, home of the Tate Modern Gallery for many years. Lookingto the left, the visitor will see Southwark Bridge and dominating the skyline,adjacent to London Bridge station, is the Shard. Completed in 2012, this is thetallest building in Britain.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqnj5ie4vvMOwpvGACUCm0myVcFDZMjl_tmQ-T_axSLuG8E5lBpBAuRdjyBluTzRpTWIfBDTyHP9IsptcFxuikb 3zq8nNKBmO1f_fb0bMsKxARGsgwRrV7fFHj_6IMGomm4Ku8xtp xoUyknkk84q6TAhvj9Ef4i-IJMVaZsuxH2q9g4YeKXj_zupQcPQ/w225-h400/Sam%20pepys%20sign.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqnj5ie4vvMOwpvGACUCm0myVcFDZMjl_tmQ-T_axSLuG8E5lBpBAuRdjyBluTzRpTWIfBDTyHP9IsptcFxuikb 3zq8nNKBmO1f_fb0bMsKxARGsgwRrV7fFHj_6IMGomm4Ku8xtp xoUyknkk84q6TAhvj9Ef4i-IJMVaZsuxH2q9g4YeKXj_zupQcPQ/s1044/Sam%20pepys%20sign.jpg)
My journey up from Kent took me by train to London Bridge, where I changedplatforms for a one stop ride, across the Thames, to Cannon Street station.It was then a five-minute walk to the Samuel Pepys. As already mentioned, the pub is owned by ShepherdNeame, but before ordering a drink, I headed to the section reserved for theGuild AGM, introduced myself and signed in. As far as beers were concerned theorganisers were running a tab, behind the bar, but slightly disappointed at discoveringthe Whitstable Bay Pale had run out, and not fancying Spitfire (the other caskoffering), I opted instead for a pint of Beavertown Neck Oil.Keg, of course, but quite quaffable and I followed it with apint of East Coast IPA, from Bear Island – the latter being Sheps’s “craft ale”brand. Again, drinkable and refreshing, although I’m not sure about the EastCoast tag. A little later on I bumped into BryanB who writes under the name of BeerViking. (http://blog.beerviking.net/) I noticed he was pouring a bottle of Shepherd Neame Double Stout, intoa glass, this full-bodied 5.2% abv stout, being one of Shep’s Heritage brews.Keen-eyed Bryan had spotted the bottles behind the bar and said the brewery’s bottledIndia Pale Ale was also available.
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At 6.1%, and with a busy day at work ahead of me, thefollowing morning, I gave that one a miss, and called it a day after the threepints, but where was the food? As someone who's always up for a free scoff, Iwas a little disappointed there was no buffet as I'm pretty sure previous AGMshave featured food of some description. I would have to wait until I got backto Cannon Street, but that moment came much sooner than I was expecting. Shortlyafter 9pm, the bar staff came around and informed us that the pub would soon beclosing, so could we all please drink up and vacate the premises. This seemedrather strange, but I suppose it was Tuesday, and in the heart of the City ofLondon, most drinking is associated with people meeting up with colleagues andfriends for a couple of beers after finishing work, before catching theirtrains home to rural suburbia.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQA3TNfc9vLwDHg1v5Ojg9ZajOVJSW1z4dq470obV-fPxA66e3g8sS_EURdcVE8Xt31YuYfy2wVoATuWvZB98VBF1QC_ vdSDcFlTGhddyUNi7be4CB-Fz__wCWT3P_5L10Puat-D-Rd7Ebxo7dQmQnV8J0xhVDVIjqZHVU-o0w5a04KCJ7FA7wcP6OB0Y/w400-h225/Bankside%20.1.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQA3TNfc9vLwDHg1v5Ojg9ZajOVJSW1z4dq470obV-fPxA66e3g8sS_EURdcVE8Xt31YuYfy2wVoATuWvZB98VBF1QC_ vdSDcFlTGhddyUNi7be4CB-Fz__wCWT3P_5L10Puat-D-Rd7Ebxo7dQmQnV8J0xhVDVIjqZHVU-o0w5a04KCJ7FA7wcP6OB0Y/s4000/Bankside%20.1.jpg)
Any thoughts too, of a final drink went out the window, butas it was a school night, and I needed a clear head the following morning, itwould not have been a good idea, anyway. Some of the attendees talked about going ontothe Pelt Trader, a modern looking dive bar below Cannon Street station, that Ipassed on my way to the meeting. I've heard of this pub before, and apparentlyit is a well-known craft beer bar. It sells cask as well as craft keg andtakes its name from the Skinner's Company Hall opposite.
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It looked much busier at 6:30pm than it did when I made my wayback to the station, some three hours later, but it was food I was after, muchmore than beer, and whilst salvation came in the form of a steak-bake slice from Greggs, atLondon Bridge, it was the portion of chips from Kebab Express, almost oppositeTonbridge station, that sustained me on my walk home. An interesting eveningout, with a new pub visited and another potential port of call bookmarked fornext time. In addition, there were some interesting and friendly people to chatwith after the meeting, but I shall probably give the AGM itself a miss, nextyear.
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https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6c78N_qW7nG72ZQLGEwbmLMjRCqtlTMC8joc4_OQgL oLPp3nxmvHv_2ciCeuaH1bFc5FyT_B8fVijYt68jdQVpiF824b wb1Wp4gPL3cScddKxftKpE7eF_TQpStyoR4LK8WFN0zg9prduz Me3cNuACs7Ao2zLBgpZ2-1uB2M1v41ip8teD4fcArhDOY/w240-h400/Sam%20pepys%20ext.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6c78N_qW7nG72ZQLGEwbmLMjRCqtlTMC8joc4_OQgL oLPp3nxmvHv_2ciCeuaH1bFc5FyT_B8fVijYt68jdQVpiF824b wb1Wp4gPL3cScddKxftKpE7eF_TQpStyoR4LK8WFN0zg9prduz Me3cNuACs7Ao2zLBgpZ2-1uB2M1v41ip8teD4fcArhDOY/s3562/Sam%20pepys%20ext.jpg)
I was up in that there London place on Tuesday evening, foran after-work event held at a rather unusual, but quite stunning pub that I'venever been to before. The occasion was the British Guild of Beer Writers AnnualGeneral Meeting, held this year at the Samuel Pepys, (https://www.samuelpepys.pub/) an impressive and stylishShepherd Neame house, tucked away at the end of a narrow alley leading down tothe River Thames.If my memory serves me right, this was the 3rd Guild AGMI've attended, but held in a room tucked away at the far end the Samuel Pepys,and not sufficiently far enough away from the rest of the pub, meant much ofthe proceedings were drowned out by the sound of customers who seemedespecially noisy that evening. A faulty PA system didn’t help either, whichmeant I didn’t really hear much of what was going on.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiqtOw_DNbbSRve6jNrNDR_UxqKhpW76rkY9kqIF2WW 2C9fIfkiurGcGDvEQ3M9_7fyaLClXEUBueE3cYOZQdHDvY-IYZt5k7hgzDJn9UO-5rso1pmDBGvOLZq7Rv7MCySJ4TXgpkYzcgi1rovByUJl8Js2Nu ghoj0DNTbqOX8dGa9C4EFr1xQJVn7zY/w400-h219/Sam%20Smiths%20bar.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiqtOw_DNbbSRve6jNrNDR_UxqKhpW76rkY9kqIF2WW 2C9fIfkiurGcGDvEQ3M9_7fyaLClXEUBueE3cYOZQdHDvY-IYZt5k7hgzDJn9UO-5rso1pmDBGvOLZq7Rv7MCySJ4TXgpkYzcgi1rovByUJl8Js2Nu ghoj0DNTbqOX8dGa9C4EFr1xQJVn7zY/s3900/Sam%20Smiths%20bar.jpg)
Some might say that was a good thing, but I couldn’tpossibly comment on that, although if you ask me in private, I might tell youwhy. Fortunately, acting chairman, Jonny Garrett mentioned that his theatricaltraining might assist, and many of us were grateful that he was able to projecthis voice to the back of the room. Jonny of course, is the author of a "Year in Beer",one of
the best books I’ve read about beer, its seasonality, along with guidelinesof how to experience the very best of what the UK has to offer, beer-wise,throughout the year.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxmNGtidyT0xBtGrqTP0drT_QKplbYlQCt9Bh6S2UzZ SK5K-oFb0e1TBbkSRw4mUncI9i77tvLLHZy8NU-VjlaC3YImHjnSETtBqi76x57PO2AKew_fE2_3f6vgNNBQdnDL9 gv2yL4Zj9V4wDOTK6MkZn6vx7pVFldcUt32gTyq6JSsKEiIPZU beEL8g/w400-h225/Bankside.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxmNGtidyT0xBtGrqTP0drT_QKplbYlQCt9Bh6S2UzZ SK5K-oFb0e1TBbkSRw4mUncI9i77tvLLHZy8NU-VjlaC3YImHjnSETtBqi76x57PO2AKew_fE2_3f6vgNNBQdnDL9 gv2yL4Zj9V4wDOTK6MkZn6vx7pVFldcUt32gTyq6JSsKEiIPZU beEL8g/s4000/Bankside.jpg)
The book was a present, the Christmas before last, and I wasthinking, should I perhaps have brought my copy along to the meeting and askedJonny to sign it? Possibly, or does that smack rather too much of unashamedfandom? But Jonny’s address, and the way he manged to keep the meeting going, inspite of the noise issue, helped save what was otherwise a rather un-edifyingexperience, with little of interest to report. So, let’s concentrate on the pub,instead.
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As mentioned previously, the Samuel Pepys (https://www.samuelpepys.pub/) is tucked awaydown a narrow turning off busy Upper Thames Street. Known as Stew Lane, which onceafforded direct access to the Thames. “Stew” was a medieval term for a brothel,and from the nearby landing watermen would have ferried passengers across theriver to Bankside opposite, an area largely free of the rules and regulationsof the City itself. On Bankside there were theatres, bear-baiting pits, and alarge number of the aforementioned stews. As a man who frequently went inpursuit of pleasure Pepys, no doubt, often made the short journey across theriver.
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The pub which carries his name, is housed in a 19th Centuryformer Thameside tea warehouse, and originally opened as a pub in the early1970s. Today’s pub appears much more recent in its construction, and after steppinginside from Stew Lane, a flight of steps takes the visitor up to a bright andairy, loft-style bar and restaurant, boasting many character features, such aswooden floorboards, full height windows and exposed brickwork. From a smallbalcony that overhangs the Thames, the Samuel Pepys offers spectacular viewsacross the river to Bankside, the re-constructed Globe Theatre, and the formerBankside Power Station, home of the Tate Modern Gallery for many years. Lookingto the left, the visitor will see Southwark Bridge and dominating the skyline,adjacent to London Bridge station, is the Shard. Completed in 2012, this is thetallest building in Britain.
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My journey up from Kent took me by train to London Bridge, where I changedplatforms for a one stop ride, across the Thames, to Cannon Street station.It was then a five-minute walk to the Samuel Pepys. As already mentioned, the pub is owned by ShepherdNeame, but before ordering a drink, I headed to the section reserved for theGuild AGM, introduced myself and signed in. As far as beers were concerned theorganisers were running a tab, behind the bar, but slightly disappointed at discoveringthe Whitstable Bay Pale had run out, and not fancying Spitfire (the other caskoffering), I opted instead for a pint of Beavertown Neck Oil.Keg, of course, but quite quaffable and I followed it with apint of East Coast IPA, from Bear Island – the latter being Sheps’s “craft ale”brand. Again, drinkable and refreshing, although I’m not sure about the EastCoast tag. A little later on I bumped into BryanB who writes under the name of BeerViking. (http://blog.beerviking.net/) I noticed he was pouring a bottle of Shepherd Neame Double Stout, intoa glass, this full-bodied 5.2% abv stout, being one of Shep’s Heritage brews.Keen-eyed Bryan had spotted the bottles behind the bar and said the brewery’s bottledIndia Pale Ale was also available.
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At 6.1%, and with a busy day at work ahead of me, thefollowing morning, I gave that one a miss, and called it a day after the threepints, but where was the food? As someone who's always up for a free scoff, Iwas a little disappointed there was no buffet as I'm pretty sure previous AGMshave featured food of some description. I would have to wait until I got backto Cannon Street, but that moment came much sooner than I was expecting. Shortlyafter 9pm, the bar staff came around and informed us that the pub would soon beclosing, so could we all please drink up and vacate the premises. This seemedrather strange, but I suppose it was Tuesday, and in the heart of the City ofLondon, most drinking is associated with people meeting up with colleagues andfriends for a couple of beers after finishing work, before catching theirtrains home to rural suburbia.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQA3TNfc9vLwDHg1v5Ojg9ZajOVJSW1z4dq470obV-fPxA66e3g8sS_EURdcVE8Xt31YuYfy2wVoATuWvZB98VBF1QC_ vdSDcFlTGhddyUNi7be4CB-Fz__wCWT3P_5L10Puat-D-Rd7Ebxo7dQmQnV8J0xhVDVIjqZHVU-o0w5a04KCJ7FA7wcP6OB0Y/w400-h225/Bankside%20.1.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQA3TNfc9vLwDHg1v5Ojg9ZajOVJSW1z4dq470obV-fPxA66e3g8sS_EURdcVE8Xt31YuYfy2wVoATuWvZB98VBF1QC_ vdSDcFlTGhddyUNi7be4CB-Fz__wCWT3P_5L10Puat-D-Rd7Ebxo7dQmQnV8J0xhVDVIjqZHVU-o0w5a04KCJ7FA7wcP6OB0Y/s4000/Bankside%20.1.jpg)
Any thoughts too, of a final drink went out the window, butas it was a school night, and I needed a clear head the following morning, itwould not have been a good idea, anyway. Some of the attendees talked about going ontothe Pelt Trader, a modern looking dive bar below Cannon Street station, that Ipassed on my way to the meeting. I've heard of this pub before, and apparentlyit is a well-known craft beer bar. It sells cask as well as craft keg andtakes its name from the Skinner's Company Hall opposite.
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It looked much busier at 6:30pm than it did when I made my wayback to the station, some three hours later, but it was food I was after, muchmore than beer, and whilst salvation came in the form of a steak-bake slice from Greggs, atLondon Bridge, it was the portion of chips from Kebab Express, almost oppositeTonbridge station, that sustained me on my walk home. An interesting eveningout, with a new pub visited and another potential port of call bookmarked fornext time. In addition, there were some interesting and friendly people to chatwith after the meeting, but I shall probably give the AGM itself a miss, nextyear.
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