[Wanderer]

: Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:24 pm  

seuseuwho? wrote:

WANDERER wrote:

seuseuwho? wrote:

I enquired of the Chairman of Rotherham CAMRA at lunch as to why it had been excluded and he said "there's been a change of landlord". That would have been in the Spring then, since when I have been in on several occasions and the beer has always been spot on!

Please don't tell me it's the Golden Ball and the Sitwell

2008 guide - The Chequers and The Hind.

2009 guide - The Golden Ball and The Hind.

We visited The Hind the same night that we were sat outside The Chequers but were disappointed with it. It took ages to get served and they seemed more interested in food orders!

: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:02 am  

WANDERER wrote:

seuseuwho? wrote:

WANDERER wrote:

2008 guide - The Chequers and The Hind.

2009 guide - The Golden Ball and The Hind.

We visited The Hind the same night that we were sat outside The Chequers but were disappointed with it. It took ages to get served and they seemed more interested in food orders!

....and deplorably expensive, no doubt!

I was talking to one of the other bar-flies at my local and he alleged that the reason for one of the above's entry is that it is used on a regular basis for branch meetings.

Hmm. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

This is why I am often sceptical of the GBG as the real ale bible.

Too much self -interest

: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:54 am  

seuseuwho? wrote:

This is why I am often sceptical of the GBG as the real ale bible.

I've always regarded the GBG as a useful starting point when I'm exploring an unfamiliar area, but not as a definitive document. In areas I know well I am often surprised at the choices made, both omissions and inclusions. This sometimes reflects the prejudices of the local branch, but more often than not is due to chance - they happened to visit a pub on one of the rare days in the year when everything was perfect (or the only day the beer was dodgy). Still, I am in no position to criticise as I don't play an active role in my local CAMRA branch (I tried at one time, but found it too cliquey). The GBG is not perfect, but it is still the best guide around.

[Wanderer]

: Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:16 am  

I absolutely concur. In unfamiliar areas it can be a godsend. However, once I'm up to speed with an area, I'll just choose the pubs that suit me best. There are pubs in the guide that I've visited that I would never return to, just as I'm sure that I may have missed some decent boozers because they aren't in there. On the positive side I have definitely found some 'real' gems as a result of the guide.

On balance, I wouldn't be without it, as stated it remains the best guide around.

: Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:27 pm  

WANDERER wrote:

I absolutely concur. In unfamiliar areas it can be a godsend. However, once I'm up to speed with an area, I'll just choose the pubs that suit me best. There are pubs in the guide that I've visited that I would never return to, just as I'm sure that I may have missed some decent boozers because they aren't in there. On the positive side I have definitely found some 'real' gems as a result of the guide.

On balance, I wouldn't be without it, as stated it remains the best guide around.

I have to say , were it not for the fact that the pub is festooned with CAMRA banners, I would not have stopped off at the Arkwright Arms. I guess "Derbyshire Pub of the Year 2008" was the ringing endorsement I needed.

I don't tend to use the GBG, preferring to surf the net for my inspiration if I'm going further afield.

: Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:44 am  

seuseuwho? wrote:

I don't tend to use the GBG, preferring to surf the net for my inspiration if I'm going further afield.

While the GBG might not be perfect, a lot of the net merely proves that it was a big mistake to give those keyboards to a million monkeys.

: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:15 pm  

John Charnock wrote:

While the GBG might not be perfect, a lot of the net merely proves that it was a big mistake to give those keyboards to a million monkeys.

I tend to go on the say-so of the majority rather than the minority, in most cases. There are some trustworthy sites out there believe it or not, but, I admit, there are also some shysters.

I don't take their opinion as sacrosanct, I would rather find out for myself.
I don't see these sites as any less worthy a pointer than the GBG.

: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:26 pm  

seuseuwho? wrote:

I don't take their opinion as sacrosanct, I would rather find out for myself.
I don't see these sites as any less worthy a pointer than the GBG.

Well, it's always a good idea to get your information from a variety of sources, but at least you can guarantee that contributors to the GBG do know what Real Ale actually is. This is certainly not the case for a lot of contributors to beer-rating sites on the net. I think we can agree that whatever its source a recommendation is merely a good reason to visit an unfamiliar pub and make up our own minds whether to drink there.

[Wanderer]

: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:37 pm  

Enjoyed a pint of Batemans XXXB in the Salutation last night before venturing to the Dons Race Night.

[Wanderer]

: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:47 pm  

The second part of Yorkshire TV's Yorkshire's Perfect Pint due to be screened tonight at 10.40pm has been postponed until Monday 20.10.08, also at 10.40pm.

Hope I remember!