The Green Man Hotel (Mulberry Green, CM17 0ET, Harlow) does not appear in the Good Beer Guide. Only a Wetherspoons outlet does have an entry for Harlow. Time did not permit exploration: Lord Clive, Maggie and Hector had finished the main priority of the evening – the Curry at The Essence of India.
On receiving my key I was sent out the back and into an adjacent building. There was a lengthy walk to room 106. I put on the light, not a lot happened. I put on two side lights, still the gloom persisted. Having sorted out the bits I was ready to leave the room, it was now brightly illuminated. Ah, the joy of our new environmentally friendly light-bulbs. Determined not to repeat this ritual on my return, I left the lights on. So much for energy saving…
There were three hand-pumps. Only two were in operation. Sadly the two most common Ales in England were the ones on offer. Green King IPA does not cross the lips of Hector or his cohort, and so the choice of one was ordered: two pints of Fuller’s London pride. (Maggie was permitted a non-Ale.)
Go to bed!
Having arrived in the bar at 22.30 we knew time was limited. The Doris at check-in had told us that the bar closed at 23.00. The Barmaid, also called Doris, concurred. What about drinking up time? What about a residents’ licence? We were assured that Security would descend upon us at 23.00 sharp and send us on our way. A second round was obtained before the witching hour. Doris was still serving at 23.05. I noted this time precisely. At 23.25 a foreign chap appeared and told us our time was up.
What is it about the tourist industry in the UK?
We did not want a late night, our flight was at 07.15. However, others may well have wished to spend more money and fill the hotel coffers. Maybe this is why The Green Man is not in the GBG?