Scores on the doors!

It was perhaps always going to be a rather futile bid, to get anywhere near visiting as many pubs over the course of the year, as experienced pub tickers, such as Retired Martin, Simon Everitt and Stafford Paul. However, there’s no harm in trying, and with this aim in mind, I’d been keeping score on the number of pubs I’ve been in, over the past 12 months. In the end, I topped out at 106, after plans for a final few hostelries fell into disarray, right at the last hurdle. This was evidenced by my drive back from a visit to the local Waste Transfer Station on New Year’s Eve, when I found the Poet at Matfield and the George & Dragon at Tudeley both firmly closed.

The latter at least had a note on the door, advising the pub would be closed for two weeks, due to family holidays. I was also thwarted by a completely full car park at the Star, also at Matfield. Talk about no room at the inn! I suppose it make sense for some pubs to close following the hectic Christmas – New Year period, and with trade traditionally quiet, or even dead, at the start of January, why not shut up shop for a few weeks, and allow both licensees and staff to head off for a well-earned holiday, providing there’s money in the till to pay for it.

That total of one hundred & six different pubs, some of which I visited on several occasions, pales into insignificance compared to the totals of some dedicated pub men. My total for 2025 is considerably up on the previous year’s score of 74 pubs, which strangely was down on 2023’s total of 84. 

It still represents the highest number of pubs visited since I began keeping proper records of my pub going activities. Of course, I only counting each pub once, even if multiple visits are made over the course of the year, but starting from 1^st January, I shall be indicating repeat visits, which is something I haven’t done before. I shall also be setting certain ground rules, going forward in order to avoid any duplication or waste of effort.  

Looking back on 2025, I eventually reached a situation where I was running out of the more local hostelries, which meant having to journey farther afield to “tick” pubs in towns and villages that weren’t exactly on the doorstep. I don’t mind this, as I always enjoy visiting different locations, and whilst most of these ticks won’t have been totally new ones, at least for that year, they were still as far as the current count is concerned.

Even better, is visiting an unfamiliar location for the first time, where every pub or bar is a new one, and should the visit be extended over a number of days – a mini-break, if you like, then this is a golden opportunity to dramatically increase one’s pub scores. But even returning to a previously visited town or city, can have the same benefit, especially as this little competition seems to be a yearly occurrence, amongst pub men.

I’m off to a reasonable start so far this year, having ticked five pubs to date, and it’s worth noting that two of these outlets were places I wouldn’t normally have set foot in. And there’s the rub, because by risking replacing familiar, and by association, pubs one feels comfortable in, with the unfamiliar, where one feels edgy, and definitely out of one’s comfort zone, is the obvious key to success in the pub ticking game.  Who knows, you may stumble upon a hitherto unknown gem.

It's back to my part time job tomorrow morning and, apart from a potentially icy commute into work, I’m looking forward to a dose of reality, and an escape from the temptation of all those mince pies! Happy New Year to one and all.

The Year in Beer - a beery look back at 2025

It’s that time of the year again, when bloggers take a look-back at the past 12 months, with particular reference to all things beery, and in my case with a little travel and personal stuff thrown in for good measure. In previous years, I’ve written reviews, either under the banner of “The Year in Beer,” or that of “Golden Pints”. For several years I’ve considered the latter as rather naff and even sparked off a brief discussion on Ed Wray’s site, about the origin of the term. (For the record, does anyone know who Andy Mogg is?)  

The Year in Beer it is then, and we kick off with:

Best beer on home turf

A difficult one, as it would be far too easy to say Harvey’s Best Bitter – an excellent beer by any stretch of the imagination, and one that is a must stock brand in the vast majority of local pubs. So, primarily because it’s so widely available, I’m opting for something different, and nowhere near as easy to come by.

Instead, I’m going to say Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild, which was a guest beer at the Nelson Arms in Tonbridge, and one which brought back fond memories of a visit I’d made the previous year, to the beer’s home - Sedgley’s Beacon Hotel. 

The latter establishment is where Dark Ruby Mild is brewed, and back in 2023, I made a flying visit to the pub with Stafford Paul and Retired Martin. I’m not sure how the beer managed to make an appearance at the Nelson, but regardless of the means, it was well received by the me and the pub’s regulars. 

  Best beers abroad  

An easy one here. A perfectly poured pint of Murphy’s Irish Stout, enjoyed in the packed, and characterful surroundings of the Mauretania Bar. This traditional Irish bar is located close to the waterfront at Cobh, the port for nearby Cork, and this deep-water anchorage was where our cruise ship berthed on what was the final port on last year’s Round Britain Cruise. 

 

Even Mrs PBT’s enjoyed this lively bar, despite having to scale the steep and narrow staircase, leading to the Ladies. As for the beer,  Murphy's knocked the heavily-hyped and over-promoted Guinness into the proverbial cocked hat.

 

Speersort Hofbräu – despite being housed in a rather anonymous looking building, in central Hamburg, this typical Bavarian beer hall would not have looked out of place in central Munich. Matthew and I enjoyed half litres each of both Hofbräu Original plus the strong, seasonal Maibock. It was certainly a most welcome find on a cold and rain-swept Sunday in Hamburg, a day when the majority of shops and bars in central Hamburg were closed for religious reasons.

 

Best Locations to Enjoy a Beer (UK) 

There are several contenders here, but the Starbank Inn, at Newhaven, overlooking the Firth of Forth, a few miles to the west of Edinburgh, tops the list. The pub had that immediate “wow” factor, that screamed out this place is going to be a good, a feeling that was enhanced by the friendly greeting I received from the landlady. A pint of Lost in Mosaic, from Loch Lomond Brewery, plus a chicken and bacon ciabatta, from the “lite bites” selection, made the perfect lunchtime stop on the aforementioned Round Britain cruise.

The Bridge Tavern, a classic waterside pub, situated at Portsmouth’s Camber Dock, on the opposite quayside to the Isle of Wight car ferry terminal. The nautical theme of this characterful Fuller's house extended into the pub’s interior, with an impressive bar counter, set towards rear of the building and a number of alcoves leading off either side. With Stafford Paul and Dave Southworth for company, the three of us sat, putting the world to rights, close to the window, from where we had an excellent view of the nautical scene outside.

Best Locations to Enjoy a Beer Abroad

Funchal, Madeira. With lunchtime visits on two consecutive days, and two quite different restaurants/bars in which to enjoy a local beer, with a meal, the Madeiran capital ticked al the right boxes. But then, how could this bustling and charming town, with its vistas out towards the Atlantic, fail to charm visitors like us. Local brew Coral provided the beers on both occasions – Coral White (lager) and Coral Stout being the perfect accompaniment for two completely different but well satisfying al fresco lunches.

Best pub finds

There are two, contrasting entries here. First, the strangely named Sonder, a modern shop conversion in Broadstairs. The name apparently comes from a word meaning "the acknowledging of others and having feelings of empathy for them". I’m not a massive fan of modern pubs, especially those repurposed from something else, but everything clicked with this spacious and welcoming corner pub.

 Fitted out in the style of the arts and crafts movement, with a wood panelled ceiling and friendly staff, Sonder had a bright, and airy seaside feel about it. In my view, it was the best pub of a day spent with a couple CAMRA pals, whilst on a pub crawl around the lovely old seaside town of Broadstairs.

Bridge Inn, Topsham. A legendary pub that I had been wanting to visit, ever since reading about it in,  “A Pub For All Seasons”, by veteran beer writer Adrian Tierney-Jones. Topsham, which occupies a coastal location near Exeter, was a long way to travel for a pint, but I picked the perfect day weather-wise. Despite having to abandon my homeward bound train at Taunton (due to engine failure), I still made it back to Tonbridge before midnight. 

This historic and cosy 16^th century inn overlooks the nearby River Clyst and has been run by five generations of the same family since 1897. There are several different rooms in which to sit and enjoy the gravity dispensed beers, plus the more solid fayre of homemade pasties, soup and crusty bread. Topsham itself also has a good selection of pubs, even if the town is all “pashminas and posh pooches” in places.

Best Beer City  

This would be Portsmouth & Southsea, although it’s difficult to know where the boundary between the two towns lies. Back in February, I spent a day with Stafford Paul and Dave Southworth, wandering around a selection of the local pubs. I’ve already mentioned the Fuller’s owned, Bridge Tavern, and whilst we missed out on the famous Sally Port Inn, due to its late opening, the nearby Pembroke came up trumps with some excellent Draught Bass and cheese cobs, for those still hungry!

Beer festivals

I’d been planning to attend the Great British Beer Festival at Birmingham’s NEC but left planning my trip until the last minute. Consequently, I missed out on any cut-price rail tickets. As things turned out, I’m glad that I didn’t, as the event wasn’t a success and ended up losing CAMRA a staggering amount of money. Sadly, there almost certainly won’t be another UK event of this magnitude, for a very long time, if ever!

Instead, I attended the laid-back beer festival held in the expansive pub garden, of the Halfway House at Brenchley. Now in its 22^nd year, and offering an impressive lineup of 60, gravity served beers, racked up in the outside barn, plus an additional 10 in the pub. Cask drinkers are certainly spoiled for choice at this event, which for many, including myself, provides an ideal conclusion to summer.

Best days out

A “curated pub crawl” of the Hampshire towns of Alton & Farnham, involving a dozen or so participants, including Citra Mick, Nick C, plus Retired Martin. The majority of the group were local CAMRA members, most of whom were described to me as members of "CAMRA Discourse".  They seemed a decent enough crowd, and our full-on itinerary allowed us to visit a good selection of pubs, within the two towns.

A saunter around Chichester, with Stafford Paul + Dave & Joan Southworth. An enjoyable day spent exploring a selection of Chichester’s finest pubs, including a number that I’d visited the previous year, with son Matthew.

Best beer book 

A pub book, rather than a beer book, but none the worse for that. A Pub for All Seasons, is a yearlong journey in search of the perfect British local. Researched and written by Adrian Tierney Jones, this highly personal reflection on a selection of some of his favourite pubs, is the sort of book you can dip in and out of, without losing the thread.

Adrian states that during a lifetime of dedicated pub going, he’s come to believe there is a pub for every season, and it is this seasonal effect that is the main theme of the book.   There’s a reasonable percentage of pubs in this book that I have visited, just as there are quite a few others that I would like to set foot in, given half the chance. One of these pubs is the Bridge Inn at Topsham, mentioned above, and I have Adrian to thank for first inspiring me to visit it.

Much missed Pub Man & Blogger

Dedicated pub-man, and fellow blogger, Peter Edwardson, sadly and quite unexpectedly, passed away in early December. Writing under the name of Pub Curmudgeon, both on his own well-informed blog, and also as a long-standing contributor to various CAMRA magazines and newsletters, Peter could be particularly scathing of the big brewers and Pubco’s. He was also equally critical of those “left of centre” politicians who he regarded as responsible for the “nanny state,” the smoking ban and any other legislation brought in to control the population and stop them from having “fun.”

I had the pleasure of meeting Peter a few times, including the fleeting visit he made to Tunbridge Wells, 10 or so years ago, but more recently on the various pub crawls I joined him on. These events included visits to Burton, Shifnal, Stockport and Macclesfield. He came across as a rather private individual, who was often. very matter of fact, but under the right circumstances -invariably in a decent pub, with equally decent beer, he would be good company. The last time I saw him was just prior to Christmas 2023, on a pub crawl of Macclesfield which, I believe, he had a hand in organising. Like on the other occasions, he was excellent company, which makes it all the more sadder that we won’t be seeing him again.

Photo of Peter Edwardson - courtesy of Retired Martin 

Farewell to 2025 - a gentle look back

It’s New Years’ Eve, and I’m painfully aware that I haven’t published an end of year review. I have been working on one, but it’s been slow progress, and at times like this, I’m easily distracted, and not just by trivia. One distraction was to book a trip to the local tip – sorry, "Waste Transfer Station" as Deform UK controlled, Kent County Council like to call them these days, although to be fair, it was the previous Tory administration that came up with this euphemism.

We have quite a lot of items to dispose of, and most of these were already bagged or boxed up in the shed, awaiting their fate. Well, that moment came earlier this afternoon when these pre-backed items were unceremoniously loaded into the back of the car, ready to be driven over to North Farm (it’s the industrial and wholesale area of Tunbridge Wells). I’d managed to book one of the two available slots for New Year’s Eve, so all I need do now, is drive over to the WTS, unload, dump the stuff (carefully unload each type of junk).

With luck there will be time for a pint on the way back, although as I shall be driving, it will strictly be a single pint of low to medium strength beer. There will then be the tallying up of number of different pubs visited over the past 12 months, even though I already know the score. Prior to my visit, I shall be calling in at my workplace to check the progress of a major revamp taking place to our staff canteen and kitchen area. 

Somewhere along the line, my official title of Safety Advisor, has morphed into that of Site Manager, which does mean I ought to be checking up on the project. Like HS2, and all manner of similar projects, this one isn’t running to time. I know this as the contractors sent me some photos earlier, but it is what it is, and at the end of the day if the job isn’t fully complete by the time the bulk of the workforce (me included), return to work next Monday, it won’t be the end of the world.

Looking back, it’s been quite a restful break that has allowed me to catch up on, or even complete, a number of different projects. There is one thing that has suffered, or rather has been neglected, and has been the absence of country walks. This unfortunately followed on from the pattern of the previous year, as since completing the North Downs Way in 2022, and then the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk, the following year, there have been no set hikes or rambles for me to follow. And no pub walks either. I don’t know whether this is a sign of growing older, or whether general apathy has set in, but this worrying trend is one that needs fixing.

There used to be a WhatsApp group called the Weekend Walking Group, that was linked to the local CAMRA WhatsApp group, but that became moribund several years ago. The absence of these organised groups shouldn’t be seen as a barrier, because whilst my walk along the North Downs Way started out as part of an organised group, because I came in at the tail end of a friend’s completion of this Long-Distance Footpath, I was quite content to carry on from where this individual had finished off.  The Three River Valley Walks would be good series of rambles to look at in 2026. I already have a guidebook for this, and in case you’re wondering, the three walks are, the Darent Valley Path, the Eden Valley Walk, and the Medway Valley Walk.

As all three of these rambles primarily follow river courses, there is little, if anything in the way of gradients, and the majority of each ramble is potentially flat. So, these trails are easy going in most respects, although accessing the start of the Eden Valley Walk, takes a bit of detective work on the ground – clue, the source of the Eden, is in the middle of a field, and isn’t easily accessible by public transport. There’s another hurdle to overcome, because as the years go by, Mrs PBT’s has become a little over-protective, especially when it concerns me walking alone.

I like walking on my own, as I can set my own pace, but even I have to admit, it’s good to have company on such walks as well. Walking with companions isn’t always a guarantee of safety though, as I remember a colleague who went into cardiac arrest, whilst on a walk with his wife and daughter. Despite his wife being trained in first aid, the CPR she administered proved ineffective, and the wooded terrain the group was walking through, meant the air ambulance was unable to land either. Barry was younger than me, by several years, and as a cross-country runner, was considerably fitter, as well.

That’s enough doom and gloom for the time being, but it’s a timely reminder that none of use know how long we’ve got on this earth, and we owe it to ourselves and others, to keep ourselves fit and healthy, so we can live our best lives. Moving onto more cheerful things, Eileen and I booked ourselves on a circular navigation of the British Isles, cruising in an anticlockwise direction right around Britain, on Cunard’s newest cruise ship, Queen Anne. We made a return visit to Hamburg, a voyage on which we were joined by son Matthew, for his first cruise, and towards the end of the year, we visited the Azores plus the lovely island of Madeira. That, for me, was a long overdue return visit to those particular Atlantic islands, having first visited them on an “educational” school cruise, at the tender age of 16.

There wasn’t as much travel within the British Isles, as I would have liked – something I intend to rectify this coming year, but I managed visits to St Albans, Portsmouth, Topsham – a trip that touched briefly on Exeter as well plus I also made a return visit to Farnham, scene of my NDW completion, three years ago. The sea voyage took us to Newhaven (Edinburgh), Invergordon, Stornoway, Greenock, Liverpool, and Cobh (ROI). 

 On the home-front, we had a new kitchen installed, a job which also included fitting a new window, plus a complete re-plastering of the kitchen area.  We made the sensible decision of having this work carried out, whilst we were away on the Round Britain Cruise, which meant we missed the bulk of the disruption and virtually all of the mess. We were also able to have a good clear-out of the kitchen and cookery utensils that we’d accumulated over 40+ years of living together.

That’s probably it for the time being, apart from saying that I finished off the mini cask of Harvey’s XXXX Old Ale. I cracked it open on Christmas Eve, which was the day I finished work. I’m please to report that this dark, luscious and full-bodied beer remained bright, lively and well-conditioned, right down to the last drop. And now, after sharing that little pearl with you, I shall sign off and wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Every pub in Tonbridge - No. 13 out of 15 - the George & Dragon

As part of my ongoing quest to visit 100+ pubs during the course of a calendar year, I realised I was inching close to another goal, not quite as impressive, or in the same league as the main one, but by an objective that was both achievable and relatively easy to complete.  The goal was also a simple one, as well as a logical one. The idea was to visit every pub in Tonbridge, but at the time of embarking on this quest, I had no idea how many public houses there are in the town. The answer to that question is there are a lot less public houses in Tonbridge than you might think, and if I told you there were only 15, then I’m sure you would have been as surprised as I was, when I totalled them all up.

I’ve spent the past five decades living in this pleasant, West Kent, market town, a period that is far longer than all the other places put together, that I’ve resided in. It’s also worth considering that there were five years preceding those 50, when I was employed in the town at a company that has long since vanished. Leaving aside all the other things that have occurred during that extended period, re-marrying, three house moves, the birth of a son and heir, saying a sad, but fond farewell to both my parents, running my own business, and then working for five separate companies – all in the private sector, then it’s not surprising that I’ve seen a lot of changes.

Some of those changes involve the continuing loss of pubs within Tonbridge and its immediate environs, and whilst some of those losses involved places that weren’t exactly National Inventory “Gems”, or places you'd wish to spend much time in, there were others that are sorely missed, even to this day. I haven’t got the time, or the patience at present, to rake through old records or revisit some of my own memories, but I might be persuaded to, one of these days.

Instead, I want to describe, briefly, a visit to pub No. 13 on the Tonbridge list, and pub No. 106 on my total list, so far, for 2025. The pub in question is amongst the oldest buildings in the town, and is a survivor, as well. The reason I have left it so late in the day are it’s awkward opening hours, and its position at the far end of the High Street, a location that makes it almost, but not quite, the most northerly public house in Tonbridge. I finally managed to set foot in the place yesterday, as being a Saturday the pub in question opened at the far more useful time of midday, rather than the usual weekday time of 4pm. The George & Dragon has, for as long as I can remember, been a sports-oriented pub with a large area to the left of the bar, dedicate to pool and darts. There are a number of televisions showing all major sporting events, spaced around the pub.  

Of more interest to me was the comfortable seating area, set around a substantial log-burning stove, to the right of the main bar. There is also and a large patio and garden to the rear of the building, although given the freezing temperatures we’ve been experiencing lately, this attraction is obviously reserved for warmer times of the year. There are regular quizzes and live music evenings and burgers and pizzas are served Wednesday to Friday evenings and weekends.  

In short, the George & Dragon is a no-nonsense pub, with decent, well-maintained furnishings. It is set up to work effectively for everyone, whether that’s families looking for a garden, groups wanting good pub grub or just a couple of blokes calling in for a pint. Beer wise, I was pleased to notice that Harvey’s XXXX Old Ale was available, alongside regular stalwarts, Harvey’s Best and Tonbridge Coppernob. Normally I would have jumped at the Harvey’s Old, but with a 5-litre mini cask of the beer at home, and still only half drunk, I opted for the Best instead.

Summing up, Tonbridge pub No. 13 proved well worth visiting, my only gripe being the lack of weekday, lunchtime opening. The G&D management obviously have their reasons for this and given the pub’s location on the northern edge of the town centre, I suspect there is insufficient trade to warrant opening. Things were different 40+ years ago when Mrs PBT’s and I worked on the nearby industrial estate, and the pub was sufficiently close for a quick pint, plus ham, egg and chips. Lunchtime drinking, especially on a Friday, was an accepted and relatively common practice, back then, but times change as does the work environment itself.

We’ll leave things here, although I am not expecting such a positive story from either of the two remaining Tonbridge pubs. For a start, both are “fizzers”, a term used by an old, and now sadly departed friend from my days with Maidstone CAMRA, who used the word to describe a keg-only establishment. One, is a back-street local, which once majored on cask, but is now just another rather, cliquey “sports bar”. The other is  the type of establishment that needs to employ “door men” or “bouncers” on Friday and Saturday nights. I shall have to pick a quiet time for visiting that one!

So this is Christmas, or rather this was Christmas

It’s Christmas Eve, evening if that makes sense, and I’m relaxing in front of my computer which, after the issue I reported earlier in the week, seems to be working alright. I’ll qualify that statement by saying working “at the moment”. For what it was worth, I went into the factory this morning, and by turning up for just a half day, the company granted us the whole day off, gratis. The six-mile drive was one of the quietest and easiest I’ve experienced in a long time, being virtually traffic free, pointing to the fact that for many people, the Christmas holiday had already began. If I’m brutally honest, I didn’t do a great deal, although I did box up and clear some old financial records away, to make room for the contractors who will be installing a new kitchen, in our staff dining area, over the Christmas period.

We shut up shop at 12.30pm, and I enjoyed the same, traffic free drive back to Tonbridge, although there was perhaps a few more vehicles on the road. The sun was shining, but with a cold easterly wind taking the edge of the temperatures, it did feel a little more like Christmas, than the mild conditions we’ve been experiencing lately. After a spot of lunch, I spent much of the afternoon assisting Mrs PBT’s with a number of domestic matters, all connected with preparations for the so-called “Big Day”, taking place the following morning.

All a little subdued then, and nothing like the Christmases of 30-40 years ago. We’ve witnessed some significant changes in drinking habits over the intervening four decades or so, especially when it comes to visiting the pub at lunchtime.  An activity that was once common practice, has virtually dried out, particularly within the workplace, with many employers proscribing lunchtime drinking for their workforce, altogether.  I can certainly remember long boozy lunch times, either on Christmas Eve, or the last working day prior to the festive break. The company would close around midday, and whilst some workers would head home to their families, others would head to the pub- myself included.

In the days before all-day opening, there would have been a rush to get in as may pints as possible, before “last orders” and then, “time” was called. At that stage it might have been either be time for farewells, or possibly off to someone’s house, where further drink might be taken. Such occasions were the preserve not just of hardened drinkers, but of workmates with understanding spouses who weren’t averse to having their domesticity disturbed by increasingly noisy and boisterous colleagues.

I remember staggering home from one such impromptu celebration, back when I was living in Maidstone, but working in Tonbridge. I’m still not sure how I got home, although I suspect a colleague, who’d been restricting his alcohol consumption, gave me a lift. I also remember turning the key in the front door lock, and then almost falling in across the threshold, as the latch suddenly released. My wife, at the time, was not amused and neither I think was the elderly neighbour from next door, who’d called round to offer her yuletide greetings!

Times change, as do people and places, and as increased responsibilities come along, so does the pressure to behave oneself, and conform.  There is pressure now on companies and businesses to encourage more responsible behaviour, amongst their employees, as are the increased responsibilities around duty of care. This is a field I am increasingly aware of through my position of Company Safety Advisor. Also, working in a rural location does mean the majority of employees drive to work, although a reasonable number commute in by train.

Returning, for a moment to those boozy Christmas Eve, pre-festive sessions, I can’t honestly remember the last time I attended one, apart from the time when over a period of two or three hours, I felt a bout on influenza taking hold. That was at the Man of Kent in Tonbridge, and despite my best attempts to try and drown the infection, it had me well in its grasp by the time I reached home. A day or so later, Mrs PBT’s went down with the same, so that wasn’t exactly the ideal Christmas present for my nearest and dearest. I think that since that incident, the pair of us have tended to avoid packed pubs in the run-up to Christmas. A touch of paranoia perhaps, but probably not a bad strategy overall.

Back to the present, with Christmas Day dawning early, it was all hands to the pump, or Eileen’s hands and mine. Matthew, very sensibly stayed in bed, whilst us oldies got up and started getting things ready. So, turkey plus ham joint in the oven, vegetables prepped, garden chairs retrieved from the shed and given a brush down and wipe over before being brought indoors. Then, after Matthew had surfaced, it was time for opening the presents – a tradition that has been seriously toned down over the years, and for good reason. As we grow older, we start to realise that there is less and less that we actually NEED, and the same applies to things that we really want.

I’m talking here about STUFF, physical things, objects, trinkets, if you like, items that might be nice to have, are things none of us really need. Eileen and I both reached the conclusion that if there is something we want, then we’ll just go out and buy it, or order it online. So, whilst we have continued with the present giving part of Christmas, it is primarily for the sake of our off spring. To be fair, Matthew has never been that demanding when it comes to birthdays or Christmases, and as long as he has certain, mainly food and drink, items, he’s a happy bunny.

Lecture over, if that’s the right word, and after unwrapping the presents, it was a question of a few nibbles, assisting Mrs PBT’s with a few final preparations, before Matthew’s girlfriend Charlotte and her pet pooch turned up. Food on the table, with plenty of decent beer for those that wanted it, and good conversation. This was followed by a lazy afternoon and evening, with more food consumed - Christmas pudding, mince pies, brandy sauce etc. I had a reasonable amount to drink - a couple of glasses of Harvey’s XXXX Old Ale, from the 5-litre mini-keg I bought the previous week. A glass of Pilsner Urquell – because the fridge was far more accessible from where I was sitting, and then, later on in the evening, I cracked open the bottle of Fuller’s Vintage Ale that I bought last year.

Brewed in small batches, to a strength of 8.5%, and released on a yearly basis, the bottle I bought n Waitrose last year was a 2023 vintage. I’d chilled it slightly before opening, by leaving the bottle out on the back step. My tasting notes from Untappd, describe the beer as, "Full-bodied, packed full of juicy malt, and with more than a hint of spiciness. Definitely a beer to be sipped and savoured". I resisted the temptation to crack open the bottle of port I bought for last year’s Christmas, although I expect it will get opened, this time around, and that, gentle readers, was Christmas 2025, in a nutshell.