SQUARRITES EXPEDITION TO ALSAGER FRIDAY
31-01-14
Up for it were:
Yuppy, Anytime Tone, Craigee, Granpop Bill, Dasher and 2 Pie Hard Dave Semi-Colon
An emergency alternative was set up to Alsager across the border into Cheshire on Friday 31st January 2014 as a result of not being able to see any stars at Keele Observatory. Taxis were arranged from the Westbury Tavern for the five hardy folk who attended; Yups, Anytime, Craigee, Bill and Dasher who braved the elements.
2 Pie Hard Dave was already in residence at the Lodge in Alsager waiting for the arrival of the merry crew. The Lodge in Alsager most Squarrites will already know of because it is in the National Real Ale guide and has a considerable range of real ales on including the landlords own brews from his brewery round the back. (Goodall’s brewery). Green Hop bitter proved to be a popular tipple for the night as we huddled in a corner in a very crowded pub, strangely full of people early evening of the same age range as ourselves.
A strange smell pervaded the premises as we tucked into pork pie bought
by Steve which unfortunately was one section short for the assembled party.
Cries of ‘’who ate all the pies’’ were heard on Crewe Road to which Bill had retired to look for the toilets!
The strange smell was getting more intense as we thought about the next pub. 2 Pies also started to think about taking notes and photos for the Squarrites blog.
As we got up to leave the Lodge the source of the strange smell was
determined! - it wasn’t Tone blowing trumps, it was Yuppy on fire!.
It was the smell of burning flesh cos he was sitting too close to the
fire. After throwing our precious
beer on him to douse the flames he was none the worse for wear and we headed off
to our next pub, all of 100 yards up the road, the Mere Inn.
In 2 Pies formative years this pub was renowned for the anti-student stance against inmates from Alsager Teacher Training College. It served Greenalls for years and became very run down with residents in recent times complaining about the shed like outside smoking area being noisy. It then closed down and was eventually bought by Joules formerly of Stone and now Market Drayton. The Glebe in Stoke is of the same family.
Joules IPA was the preferred brew and again the pub was heaving with the landed
gentry of Alsager. This hostelry
has been gutted and been completely rebuilt in a new layout with an extension to
the side where the smoking shed used to be and a patio area beer garden at the
rear. Very nice but it was remarked
that the interior was rather dark with the effect of the heavy Georgian brick.
We found a corner and also found the Somerset Levels in the loo.
Again the problem was there being not enough investment in flood defences
and the infrastructure to support those flood defences.
Blame the Government!!.
2 Pies was supposed to get up and do some photos in The Mere but declared that the scenarios were not arty farty enough.
Finally we trudged 20 yards next door to the Indian
Spice, a restaurant of some distinction in a town which had become saturated
with all manner of fast food joints mainly because planning permission was never
granted for any other use on the main road.
We found the food to be very good. Steve declared that his was the best
Indian he had ever had, the rest of the group was more muted on this topic.
The range of curries available and the prices were very reasonable. This
is a restaurant obviously worth a second visit
All in all a most enjoyable alternative to star gazing
although admittedly not as educational unless of course you consider the
learning value of the wall posters in the Mere.
Notes produced by 2 Pie Hard Dave Semi-colon, alias Nails.
Many thanks Dave