Weather: Cold & Snowing
Still Absent: +Jason Brown and +Chris Sheppard among others....
This week saw us journey into Cheltenham on the bus - other than Reeser, who joined us a little later and left a lot earlier. The Number 10 from Gloucester has recently been upgraded to a Blue & Gold affair with faux leather seating, CCTV and free WiFi. All very nice and a very sociable way to travel. The snow was relentless, but not settling and throughout the evening there was much debate as to whether it would.
Our first stop was "The Suffolk" and the shout from Claude at the bar was "Can I have some Butt Cum"... Strange boy.
The plan was to Quiz and eat, but due to it's popularity we had to huddle round a very small table, and evidently dinner was not going to be on the menu. Still we managed to get two pints in and once Rocket arrived, the Quiz ensued. This weeks questions were set by Jugs with the theme being Golfy (based on his recent Birthday which he missed - see earlier posts).
Now you'd think, being the subject of the quiz would be an advantage - but not a bit of it. A poor performance, but thanks to Rocket's cheating ("I saw you look at Sniffers answers and Golfy's" said Jugs) his score went from 23 (I think) to zero, and Stan snuck in and stole the glory with 20 and a half points - Well done all round.
The Suffolk is a warm little boozer with ideas well above it's station - and judging by the number of people eating - realising some of those ideas. A Cheerful barmaid - who lent me some Sellotape to stick my 20 pound note back together - and a skittle alley out the back. I'd say it's the heart of Suffolk Road.
From here we marched the short journey down to "The Tivoli" which is really a gastropub. This place does proper sit-down food, and while it has a very nice bar and comfortable stylishly posh feel to it - it's not really a drinkers bar. Obviously we were after food - and the two courses for 11 quid deal suited me just fine. It's not for everyone though - and to be honest I only wanted a main course. Stan had my soup starter and he wasn't impressed. The main was stonking though - and Jugs appeared to thoroughly enjoy his sardines and sea bass.
It's reputation for food is well deserved - although it's service can be a little ropey at times. They're youngish staff - and may not have grasped the idea of servitude very well - as is the way with many of their generation - not all, but many. All the same, it remains recommended - especially if you're looking for some good dinner. A couple of Posher beers later and some hearty discussion on the financial situation facing the nation and indeed all of us, and it was time to move on.
Final stop of the evening was "The Royal Union". We've been here a couple of times, and each time it seems to provide us with something to moan about. A great shame. It's got the potential to be a cracker as it really is a "real pub". Warm and cosy, with shabby-chic decor and an open fire - but it's let down by the Landlord. He started off well enough - and offered us a 10 minute warning of his closure, but added that "There's no rush Lads, take your time" - all very pleasant.
And so taking him at his word - we didn't rush. We did pull next week's venue out of the hat - and sadly it's to be "The Nelson" - which previously was a truly awful boozer - but let's reserve judgement until then.
11 minutes later the hobbity boss was back and practically kicking us out of his shabby little pub (rathre less chic to be fair) with a right load of attitude to boot. There was no "Come along then, haven't you lot got homes to go to?" for him. More like "Get out. I'm closed!" No banter, No "Thankyou for your custom", not even a "Goodnight". Even the "Speccy-Beardy-Nerdy-Greebo Locals" (They're behind you Jugs) commented on what a miserable git he is - and so as a result we are in no rush whatsoever to give him anymore of our custom in the future. It's off the list and romping away with final place in the league table to date.
We cleared off round the corner and in the general direction of the Taxi rank in the Montpellier area of Cheltenham - only to be greeted by the heart warming sight of the Golden number 10 pulling up into the bus stop. Hopping on board we reflected on the good quiz, good food and horrendous Landlord having had - yet again - a bloody good night out full of banter and beer.
Until next time....
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