STUDLEY – HIGHGATE – HEREFORD WEEKEND...
STUDLEY – HIGHGATE – HEREFORD WEEKEND 10.5.07
We took the caravan down to Elmdale, Studley, a lovely site just south of the village. After setting up the caravan and porch awning we walked up the road to the Jubilee where we were to catch the minibus taking us to Highgate brewery. Just had time for a quick one while waiting, and found Holdens Saints and Sinners May Becknott was on.
When we got to Highgate brewery, we were given complimentary drinks and I chose Davenports Export IPA, a recent addition to their range. It was a lovely beer and I stuck with that one all night. The tour was fantastic and it is a very interesting brewery with a lot of old equipment still in good working order. Back to the bar for more beer and there was a superb buffet laid on. We spent a couple of hours chatting here before going back on the bus for a stop at the Bartons Arms in Aston, Birmingham.
This is an old pub with many special features like snob screens, and the tiling has to be seen to be believed. I chose Cains Creamy Stout, Ossett Black Bull Bitter and Fyne Vital Spark to drink. The group was given a treat of a tour round the massive cellar area and the beautiful upstairs function rooms. It was a late night by the time the bus got us back to Studley but what an enjoyable day it had been.
Friday I spent a quiet day in the caravan while Ray was at work, and when he got back and cleaned up we had a walk to the Jubilee for a meal and Olde Swan something for the weekend.
Saturday we had to take the caravan back to storage as we were off to a Silver Wedding Anniversary do in Hereford. When we got to our garden room in the Three Counties, we decided to explore the Good Beer Guide pubs in Hereford, as we did not expect to get real ale in the hotel that night. First we called at the Barrels, which stocks Wye Valley beers. It was full and seemed very popular and I walked round the rooms linked to the central bar. The football was on in one room and a pool table in another. It will be interesting to visit after the smoking ban, as it was very smoky. We had Great Oakley Harpers and Wye Valley Tippling Philosopher. A short walk took us to the Victory, home of Spinning Dog Brewery and I had their Mutleys Revenge and Top Dog. This pub was very quiet, almost empty. I was able to look round the bar shaped like a galleon and the long room with skittle alley also has a nautical theme. The brewery can be seen from the bottom of this room. Next we went to the local Wetherspoons, Kings Fee, a non smoking venue. Titanic Steerage had past its best and was returned, but the other two beers Rhymni General Picton and Rhymni Bitter were fine.
Back to the hotel to get ready for the party and a bus took us into town to TGS Function Room. We were right, no real ale. I had a couple of red wines and Ray was on Guinness, but when we got back to our hotel, we found the bar had Brains Rev James on so we had one before retiring for the night.
Sunday the party went to a restaurant for a carvery before leaving for home, and again there were no real ales on so we settled for water with the meal.
It had been a rather long hectic weekend, but a very enjoyable one.
