15th July 04
6th Beer Festival at the Swan Inn, Stone
[preceded by an ICE trip to the Anderton Boat lift near
Northwich, Cheshire, (for some of us) and Harrys Bar.]
Squarrites: Yuppers, Stubbie, D C’een, Keith (I’m on for
it), Rich, Ali Gee and Jay Cee.
(Beardie was in Llandudno enjoying his self.)
A luxurious coach had been laid on by the ICE to take
some of us to the Anderton Boat Lift near Northwich, returning just in time to
allow us to partake in the evening’s ale session at Stone. Coming from the city, it was pointed out to
us ‘Stoke-ites’ on the coach, that the animals standing in the fields to our
left were cows. Ali Gee swiftly
confirmed that the sheep on the right were women for the lone ‘Crewe-ite’ on
board.
It rained on the boatlift trip, but then I didn’t
organise it. Evidently Prince Charles
had previously opened the boatlift wearing a fox’s hat. Without much prompting from Moggee, we
managed to find a nearby pub serving a cracking pint of ‘Ye olde speckled
hen’. Ali Gee obviously drank too much
and was desperate for most of the journey back to Stoke, the agony aided by
impersonations of running water and final ignominy of having been passed a
small empty bottle (it only held 2litres). The agony finally ended after
borrowing a security card and making a run for the town hall bogs for much
needed relief before drinking more ale at Harrys. A quick text, or 2, to Beardie ‘We know you’re on holiday but……’
prompted no replies. (He was obviously
enjoying his self on holiday!).
(Northwich, incidentally, which we passed through on the
way, looked an ideal venue for a squarry night in the future. Who knows?)
Sharing burgers in Harrys we were joined by Rich, who
also went for it, before being picked up to join the rest of the gang at the Westbury
Tavern by a Supreme minibus. We were so
tempted to divert the minibus to Beardies, in case he’d changed his mind, and
was going to make the great escape to join his (how old are they!) mates. But reality and the iron hand of
Jackie prevailed.
Around 50 ales were advertised at the Swan, although
around 10 or so had previously sold out, mainly on the previous night when D
C’een had popped in for one or two with his dad.
Tokens were snapped up as the starters gun was fired and
we began guzzling. Rich used his for
the lager and the cider. What a
waste. As we stood against the patio
heater, which burnt Jaycee’s bonce, the Derwent brew, ‘Summer Rose’ went down
well, as did Jay Cee’s ‘Cucumber ale’.
The rain dispersed, cus I organised it, and we moved on to try several
others. Stubbie was desperate to try
the Joules’, which was available in the main bar, but bottled it despite
mentioning it once or twice throughout the evening. The sounds of a band sifted through playing renditions of pink
floyd and led zep and the air guitars came out.
Ali Gee signed himself up for the Prague trip, whilst in
a drunken stupor, and impersonated Keithee P declaring ‘I’m on for
it’. For once he actually was, or least
he was while the beer lasted. D
C’een finally managed the Old Humbug (Hexhamshire) before we went in search of
Al Shafiqs at the top of the high street.
Keith ‘I’m on for it’ admired the planting in Stone but never mentioned
the paving. No taste some folk. Stubby said it was o.k but he would send
Ali Gee a memo the following day with a list of snagging items.
Al Shieks was cheap and cheerful, as expected, and the
food wasn’t bad either. No complaints
as far as I can remember.
We returned to the bottom end of the town to get picked
up by the minibus. Stubbie carried his bottle of bud through the town centre, a
‘no drinking zone’, but luckily got away with it. Seemingly, if you introduce em you can then ignore em,
The ‘Supreme’ taxi was only 5 minutes late but at £30
return was a bargain. Drop offs were
made at Meir for K I O F I, followed by Rich at the Springfields, and Ali Gee
at Kidsgrove (at xtra cost)
Marvellous.
Yupmeister
Indian Ratings:
Service **
Quality of food ***
Cost ****
Size of nans ***
Cleanliness **