PUBS

The Pub

Pages

BEER & SKITTLES

P. A. BAXTER

ANYONE WHO HAS had the dubious pleasure of being a regular reader of this column over the years will have realised that I have a passion for pubs and pub games. Yes, one doesn't need to be a Sherlock Holmes to work that out! Ever since I visited our local pub in the early days of my boozing career, I was bemused by the trail of blokes in and out of the bar for beer, the cheery look on the faces of one set of them by the end of the evening, and the dour look on the other, and the subsequent ‘three cheers’ which I'm pleased to say is still part of the ritual. It was only one evening when I saw a chap I was apprenticed to that I found out they were playing this mysterious games called ‘skittles’. I looked, and I was hooked! Way back in those pre-internet days of a night out for half-a-quid and petrol at 35p a gallon, the only way to find out ‘stuff’ was a visit to the library.

Yes, I spent many a happy hour poring over various tomes searching out the history. Despite my fascination and the occasional casual game organised with my work colleagues, it was more than ten years before I joined a team to play in a league, and other than time off for injury and whilst I worked away (the perils of self-employment) play has continued. One would think, perhaps, that play (and scores) would have improved over the years, but sadly I think my peak was some thirty years ago! If you feel like dropping me a line about your experiences with the game, then please do so (via email address at end of this column).

As we related last month, we've lost a huge amount of pubs over the years and none more so than in the last two, for obvious reasons. Sadly, most have gone for good, although I have heard that ‘The Armoury’ which effectively was one of Yeovil's ‘newest’ pubs anyway, which closed not long ago, has now reopened. I wish the hosts the very good fortunes they deserve for taking on a pub in these times. However, I would hope that they get the phone numbers sorted very quickly as I was unable to contact them (both were ‘not recognised’) so unfortunately I cannot mention their names and their concept on the new direction that the pub will be taking (although a sneak report I have received from an informant is that the new direction is definitely the right one). Incidentally it has one of the shortest alleys in the Yeovil skittle league, and our results there in the past variable.

Another Yeovil pub I must mention is the Quicksilver Mail. I've known host Pete Lambden for some years and whilst we don't see each other very much, it's always good to carry on from where we left off and catch up. His beer is always in tip-top condition (and one always gets a full pint!) and his pub is a regular in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, deservedly so. I popped in for a pint on the way back from the Theatre the other week and he tells me it was exactly twenty years since he took the pub over. These days that is one hell of a record and it only comes from good management and looking after the customers, so I can confirm that the sign outside the pub saying ‘Warm beer, cold food and grumpy landlord’ is in fact not quite true! Congratulations Pete; I wonder what lies in store for the next twenty?

One of the significant changes to the pub scene over those last 20 years has been the advent of the ‘craft beer’. I believe there is still some discussion over the exact definition by the more pedantic, although I would simply say ‘keg beer with flavour’. Whilst I know that there are many now served in tins and bottles, the appearance on the bar of a font with a familiar name but unfamiliar beer is becoming more common. In case that sounds a little contradictory, the latest ‘big name’ to add to the ever increasing craft brewers is none other than Timothy Taylor’s of Keighley, West Yorkshire.

Whilst many might swoon in amazement (or disgust, even) this incredibly successful real ale brewer now produce ‘Hopical Storm’ their first-ever keg beer. It’s described as ‘a 4% ABV aromatic, dry-hopped, modern pale ale that is citrusy and sessionable with a pleasant fruity body’. Whilst there is the word

The Pub

Pages

BEER & SKITTLES

P. A. BAXTER

‘citrusy’ in the blurb, which is often more than enough to put me off, I feel I ought to give it a try, if only to reject it as ‘another like that’! Noting the outlets for the beer one would need to travel a considerable distance to find it, so for the time being at least, a report back to you good people will be some while. As Timothy Taylor’s have produced their ‘Landlord’ bitter for so long and so successfully (remember, it's Madonna's favourite beer; true, that) it does make me wonder why they've gone down this road, but clearly they would've done the market research and thought it worthwhile.

Who knows? There may be a time when even CAMRA accept that this is the way the trends are going and will have a special award for the style at the Great British Beer Festival. After all, ‘Landlord’ bitter has won ‘Champion Beer of Great Britain’ numerous times!

I'm always delighted to get details of leagues in other areas, and I recently received a brief on a skittle league central to the Visitor area, The Castle Cary Skittle League. The man behind it, secretary Toby Strang, has an incredible record of dedication to the game and has achieved somewhat of a record I'm sure you'll agree. He sent me a résumé as follows:

‘We are a mixed League playing 8-a-side teams and cover Shepton Mallet, Evercreech, Castle Cary, North Cadbury, Lydford, Keinton Mandeville, Somerton, East Pennard, but would love new teams entering for 2022/23 season to increase total team numbers, interested teams please contact me. (07783134498). Some teams are all female, some all male or

Vinny remains positive

mixed. Home teams/alley provide sticker-ups. The league HQ is the White Hart, Cary. I’m now in my 57th year as Secretary. I have an excellent committee to work with’.

I think you are doing a fantastic job Toby; keep up the great work. I do hope some of you from these towns and villages are inspired to form a team and take up the game. If you are stuck for a team name, do email me as I have compiled a massive list from which to draw, some probably more suitable than others!

As I write this British Summer Time looms. Hopefully it means what we are all wishing for, so are you and your local pub prepared for games in the pub garden, or indeed, something for the children to play in one's own garden?

We've mentioned Bat and Trap, that fine Kentish game which is one of my favourites, on many occasion, and is easily in the grasp of any amateur woodworker, or how about ‘bottle pins’ with your children filling old drink bottles with water or sand and making a version of skittles.

Both these are pictured but plenty of information is available either on-line or from the Baxter crew. How about the third picture though? Whilst playing games in the road is somewhat frowned upon with today's traffic, can anyone tell me what the activity is? Cheers!

Cheers! © P.A. Baxter 2022. skittlealley@hotmail.com

The Visitor CAN BE READ ONLINE: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

Solution to March Sudoku

That ex-Londoner Paddy Bayfield of Bradford Abbas now knows the thrill of a flopper! That landlord Pete Lambden has been celebrating 20 years of service to the public at the

Quicksilver Mail in Yeovil. That from their recent golfing trip to Trevose in Cornwall, the only thing the Castle Cary &

Cadbury Long Sutton Lancers brought back with them for their ‘significant others’ was dirty washing and Omicron. That Chiselborough’s Josie

Hayter's recent visit to Yeovil

Hospital, was just what she

Kneeded! That due to a late Christmas present, Jan Bennetts of Wells can now see the light. That Rob Penn of Shepton Mallet is the proud owner of a little piggy. That if you have been suffering with a nasty cough after Covid, or a common cold, try rubbing

Vicks Vaporub on the soles of your feet before going to bed we don’t know how or why it works - but it does, and it will give you a good nights sleep.

ANSWERS TO POP MUSIC QUIZ

on page 11

1) Rotterdam 2) Baby, you’re a rich man 3) 1974 4) Gareth Gates 5) Don Henley 6) Michael McDonald 7) Free 8) Depeche Mode 9) The Corrs 10) Simply Red

Anorak Bonus Question

The Undertones with ‘Here Comes The Summer’ at 1 minute 28 seconds, although some versions are longer.