Disappointment of the week

[Tris39]

Amazing how unlucky everyone is, eh?

Yes. Just the sort of bad luck I had in Reading's Nag's Head.

It's on the list for a revisit in late November ,so I will keep an eye on the reviews just in case I need a plan B.

I'll speed things up by going tomorrow or Sunday as it'll be rammed tonight.

[Mobyduck]

Yes. Just the sort of bad luck I had in Reading's Nag's Head.

You must have been very unlucky.

[trainman]

It's on the list for a revisit in late November ,so I will keep an eye on the reviews just in case I need a plan B.

Now that is forward planning!

[Gann]

You must have been very unlucky.

Tris is very unlucky, don’t you read his reviews?

[Mobyduck]

Tris is very unlucky, don’t you read his reviews?

Of course , it was a loaded answer.

[Tris39]

How about below-par cask, £6+ pints...

You’re right, though it seems prices locally are comparable.

I popped into The Wenlock Arms on Saturday (usually quieter than Thursdays and Fridays) and there were two ales for £6.00 and £6.50.

Their 10-pump lineup ranged from £5.00 to £6.50 with an ABV of 3.4% to 6.2%, an average price per pint of £5.53, average ABV 4.2%.
The service was fine as was the quality, but what has changed here is that it’s full of very exuberant people who love the sound of their own voices, as you say, a bit monoculture; I found it too noisy to stay.

I then popped into the Old Fountain and their typical four-pump lineup were all £5.70 (Lacons Norfolk Gem £5.70 a pint compared to £5.00 at the Wenlock), with ABV ranging from 3.6% to just 4.2%, average ABV 3.9%; there was a cider at 3.4% for £6.00.
The place was unusually quiet for a Saturday evening and was about 75% empty.

I thought I’d also make a comparison to the nearby Earl of Essex last night, with their enormous board displaying too many exotic cask offering to list, then four cask options ranging from £5.90 to £6.20 (Iron Pier – Joined at the Hop 3.8% and £6.20 compared to £5.70 at the Old Fountain) with strengths varying from 3.8% to 4.6%, average price per pint £6.00, average ABV 4.1%.

Less central, a visit to The Cock Tavern on Sunday, where there’s no price list and I’m sure not working through 10 pumps, but I had Arbor – Mosaic, 4% and £2.44 a half then Wimbledon – Wilberforce Blended Ale (50:50 Best bitter and barley wine), 5% and £2.65 a half. I found this place to have the best pub experience/ambience and the prices are far lower than at the other three, along with a very engaging manager. And there are 10 cider pumps as well as 10 keg lines. And there are seven varieties of pickled eggs. And Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart on the piano.

[Mobyduck]

You’re right, though it seems prices locally are comparable.

I popped into The Wenlock Arms on Saturday (usually quieter than Thursdays and Fridays) and there were two ales for £6.00 and £6.50.

Their 10-pump lineup ranged from £5.00 to £6.50 with an ABV of 3.4% to 6.2%, an average price per pint of £5.53, average ABV 4.2%.
The service was fine as was the quality, but what has changed here is that it’s full of very exuberant people who love the sound of their own voices, as you say, a bit monoculture; I found it too noisy to stay.

I then popped into the Old Fountain and their typical four-pump lineup were all £5.70 (Lacons Norfolk Gem £5.70 a pint compared to £5.00 at the Wenlock), with ABV ranging from 3.6% to just 4.2%, average ABV 3.9%; there was a cider at 3.4% for £6.00.
The place was unusually quiet for a Saturday evening and was about 75% empty.

I thought I’d also make a comparison to the nearby Earl of Essex last night, with their enormous board displaying too many exotic cask offering to list, then four cask options ranging from £5.90 to £6.20 (Iron Pier – Joined at the Hop 3.8% and £6.20 compared to £5.70 at the Old Fountain) with strengths varying from 3.8% to 4.6%, average price per pint £6.00, average ABV 4.1%.

Less central, a visit to The Cock Tavern on Sunday, where there’s no price list and I’m sure not working through 10 pumps, but I had Arbor – Mosaic, 4% and £2.44 a half then Wimbledon – Wilberforce Blended Ale (50:50 Best bitter and barley wine), 5% and £2.65 a half. I found this place to have the best pub experience/ambience and the prices are far lower than at the other three, along with a very engaging manager. And there are 10 cider pumps as well as 10 keg lines. And there are seven varieties of pickled eggs. And Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart on the piano.

Good work Tris, It's a dirty job but someone has to do it.

[Tris39]

Good work Tris, It's a dirty job but someone has to do it.

Amazing how things can turn on a coin: I popped into the Wenlock two nights ago and it was a sea of tranquility but the Old Fountain was now just too noisy for me; it seems some of these 'quiet' traditional pubs get invaded by very boisterous people. I think these pubs are a bit pot luck as far as the ambience goes, but the Earl of Essex can be deafening - a recent first visit with a friend who asked if we could leave due to the din - and the prices there are bang out of order.

[Bucking Fastard]

Wellington,Birmingham

Sad to say that my last two visits were well below the very high standards of previous visits. There is still a long list of real ales but nothing too exciting and I'm not keen on the house Black Country ale range. Seemingly the days of showcasing the very best in real ale from around the country in excellent condition are long gone and it now seems to have settled for safe but uninspiring ale options.I do hope I'm wrong,but I will keep an eye on new reviews to see if I was just unlucky,....twice.