Another of Ted Ted’s legendary London Pub Crawls, Ted Ted takes up the story…
On Saturday 12th January 11 of us met at North Station to work out tickets and get the 10.30 train to Liverpool St, which took a few minutes longer than normal because of (you've guessed it) engineering works. A faultless trip by Circle and District took us to Chiswick Park and a short walk to the first pub, a Fullers flagship pub, The Old Pack Horse. Pam was reminiscing as she used to live in the area. Most started buying their beer from one of about 5 handpumps when the barmaid said there were more round the other side, so some of us went and found another few different beers. I noticed that there were some more round another side and went to look and was rewarded with getting a pint of Black Cab Stout. When I joined the others there were a few looks of envy as I had the dark beer.
We then did a short walk to an old Youngs pub which had 3 different beers and was very much food orientated. Most of us settled for the Sharps Winterberry Ale. Pam and then Keith succumbed and ordered a small snack here, whilst the very enthusiastic landlord chatted and talked to everyone. A quick nip across the road brought us to The Lamb Brewery pub, which was called The Barley Mow last time I went there. There is a micro brewery in the pub with a list of beers and brewing days. Most of us settled for Botanist Brewery Sixty Five, a really nice mild served in continental style tall glasses. On the blackboard was a menu which included a yard of sausage.
We then walked a bit further to another Fullers pub, The George IV, with a range of Fullers beers. It was here that we decided to have our main meal, so I had half of Chiswick Ale and half of Bengal Lancer. After we had eaten, we then walked down a side street to another Fullers Pub, The Duke Of York, which had a very pleasant interior. We were in one bar and nearly all ordered half pints which the barmaid had to walk to the other bar to get for us. I settled for Fullers ESB. There used to be another freehouse virtually opposite, but this was closed and all boarded up, so we made our way back to the main street.
We then called in The Roebuck, which was very busy with a few different ales. I had the Adnams Gunhill. Another short walk took us to The Raven, right opposite Stamford Brook station. A good selection of different beers was on offer. Keith and I settled for a Sambrooks beer which I can't read what I wrote ( no it wasn't to many beers) but when we sat down it tasted a bit funny and was as thick as Thames mud. It was then that the barman turned the pumpclip round so we took it back and got it replaced by Twickenham Vanguard, which was very good. Keith's halfpint turning into a full pint. Also here Pam, Robin and Keith decided to have their sweet. Pam and Robin having the apple crumble and custard, and Keith having the sticky toffee pudding.
We then got the District to Hammersmith and changed over to the H&C line calling in The Swan between the two. A good range of beers was on and I had Harviestoun Old Engine Oil. A large table was found with a young couple on who kindly moved up to allow a group of happy drinkers to join and chat with them. We then got the train to Liverpool Street. I did get a text from Dave Inskip who travelled in with us but then went to watch a football match, that there were major delays out of Liverpool Street manlig-halsa.se. We looked up at the departure board to find every train cancelled, when suddenly a voice over the tannoy said a train was to go to Norwich which we boarded and it left shortly after. When we stopped at Shenfield there were absolute crowds getting on, and some said it had taken them over four hours to get to Shenfield. The journey home for us only took a few minutes longer than normal. All in all another good day out.