Simon was on the platform to greet us, for once I was not The Hector
The Three Mariners was the first port of call. Simon, Brother-in-Law of the absent Jonathan, was insistent that we appreciate the Kultur of Lancaster. The Castle, and until recently the Prison of those maintained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, was en route. We arrived at Pub six minutes before 12.00, the door was locked.
By the time we assembled Doris#1 had opened the door. Titanic’s 4.1% (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire) Iceberg was the Ale of choice. Hector felt safe ordering this fine cool, crispy Ale outwith any references to boats and sinking. Simon, Robin, and many more had this lovely Starter to the day. Doris was happy to see us, I assured her that she was seeing us at our best, the day would evolve.
A Tale of No Curry
Simon, we like Simon, lead us to The Sun and announced it was lunchtime, so Hector left The Company and went off in search of a Curry-Heute. Sadly after many phone-calls, a traipse around Lancaster, and a Takeaway that suggested I sit somewhere, the floor. I attempted to rejoin the Mob. Last time in Lancaster I found a lovely place open mid afternoon that sold me a wonderful Curry. Today the Canal where I am sure it is/was located felt too long a distance to meander to. I made at least five phone-calls, no joy so I went back to The Sun and nobody was there.
Simon said they were now at The Market. Having familiarised myself with the entire Lancaster scene (except Canal) I joined The Mob in the open air market where there was a Curry Stall. And another. This would explain why the Curry I sought was not available.
We marched in to the Penny Bank, and back out. The promise of fourteen Ales on Tap at the White Cross was enough to tempt us forward. On the Canal Bank this was a fine location. It is a pity that here we are in late May and it is so cold one cannot sit outside.
The White Cross was a converted Warehouse, it was fine. The Taps were many, the Choice was superficial. The Northumberland Brewery’s Gold Rush at 5.2% looked as if it had potential. Robin and Hector took the plunge. Sadly its colour was fine, the taste was minimal. We moved on to Thoroughgood at a lesser 5.1%. These of course are regarded as session Ales for our company. Thoroughgood by name only, a local Ale from the Burscough Brewery, Lancashire.
By now the conversation was taking strange directions. I have never been so insulted in all my life – and by Yvonne. ‘Nice to be Nice’ as Craig says. Simon announced we were to be joined by Kirsty, his Dear Lady. Jonathan had to be phoned just to ensure he knew what he was missing. Others Must Suffer.
We had all tried the Gold Rush and the Thoroughgood. Jonathan (in absentia) had suggested a Pub at the Station that sold Hawkshead Ales, I phoned, they didn’t. Well, not today.
We walked along the Canal Bank and reached the Waterwitch, behold Kirsty! The day really began here, we like Kirsty too.
She and Yvonne caught up, some Trip that Hector was not on – they do exist, such is my tolerance level. The Company was now complete and we found the Ale of the day: Hound of the Basketballs! The Ale was Hoppy, Craig was Happy. This wonderful 5% job from Elgoods (Wisbech, Cambridgeshire) was not only Gold and Hoppy, it tasted that way! We finished the Cask. We may have had help from other Punters. Cross Bay (Morecambe, Lancashire) at 4.2% was the Tweeny whilst we all finished what was in front of us. Although in the same style it was tame after the very good Hound of the Basketballs. Who makes these names up?
The score from Hampden Park kept arriving during the afternoon. It was unremarkable to begin with, then it became funny. How many Hibbees have crawled out of the Woodwork in the last few weeks? Hopefully they will now crawl back in…
The afternoon had gone, it was time to bid Farewell to the couple from Morecambe and get back to Glasgow. We could get to The Laurieston for a Nightcap and the second half of the Champions League Final. On entering The Laurieston there were two surprises, or was it three? Mr Boyd and Mr Holden resplendent in their Vanquished Fitba’ Tops were taking it on the chin.
The other surprise was the score from Munchen, it was still 0 v 0, but then it wasn’t. The Laurieston has two Taps and always stocks Fyne Ales (Cairndow, Argyll and Bute). Last night it was the excellent Daavar, tonight the more common but punching above its weight Jarl at 3.8%. In our favoured style, even Craig comes down from his mountaintop to drink this wonderful Ale many points below his preferred abv. I had to buy Mr Holden a Bier, that was the promise to commiserate.
The penalties were scored and Chelsea had beaten FC Bayern on their home patch. Hector used to be a big fan of FC Bayern until Schumacher took out Michael Mols. I was glad to see the team in blue win. Blue is the colour…
It was a Saturday night, Marg appeared, the end of The Weekend was nigh.
The Pubs visited today:
The Three Mariners – Bridge Street, Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 1EE
The White Cross – Quarry Road, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ
The Sun Inn – 63 Church Street, Lancaster, LA1 1ET
Waterwitch – Tow Path, Aldcliffe Road, Lancaster, LA1 1SU
The Laurieston – 58 Bridge St, Glasgow, G5 9HU