Five of Frome's best pubs - or the ones I managed to visit, last weekend!

Before we start, I promise there is no AI involved in the drafting of this post, just good old-fashioned, hard slog on the keyboard. That is apart from me using the CAMRA pub website, for useful and relevant facts, figures and other relevant information, intended to convey a visual images) of the pubs concerned. I therefore trust that readers will find, what is in effect, a guide to five of Frome’s best, and most interesting pubs. There were others, of course, but my late arrival meant there was a handful of public houses I didn’t get to experience.

Our first port of call, and the source of a much-needed pint was the Three Swans. A 17^thcentury, grade II listed, two bar pub in the centre of Frome, that is both quirky and traditional at the same time.  Extensively refurbished between April 2013 and January 2014, the pub has an eccentric, but very comfortable and inviting feel to it. The back door leads out to a secluded courtyard, and there is also a spacious function room upstairs, that is ideal for meetings or small celebrations.

The two regular beers are supplemented by a single guest, which can be sourced from all over the country. The Three Swans is one of the oldest pubs in Frome, small in size but big in character which makes it customers feel right at home. The majority of Pub Forum members on this particular visit, were just making ready to go when Martin and I arrived, but one person happy to stay for another pint was Stafford Paul. 

 It was especially good to see him again, after what must be a period of over 18 months. The Butcombe Original, one of two cask beers on sale that day, was in fine form, and just the thing after a long, and frustrating train journey!

The next port of call was Just Ales, Frome's first micro pub, but to reach it we first had to navigate the historic and picturesque narrow lane, known as Cheap Street. Characterised by a fast flowing, tiny stream, which flows along a narrow stone gulley known as a “leat”, Cheap Street has certainly retained its historic medieval character. With plenty of independent shops and cafés to choose from, this area of Frome was bustling with people, drawn by the aforementioned shops and businesses. 

Unfortunately, the photos I took, don’t really do Cheap Street justice, although with luck they do convey part of the feel of the place. Prior to reaching Just Ales, we passed the relatively small, but attractive George Hotel, a Wadworth establishment, which was the pub I was originally aiming for, had my train not been delayed, earlier, by those pesky sheep.

Opening in March 2018, in what was previously a small café, Just Ales seemed a good place to linger, and enjoy one of the two cask ales on sale at the pub. It also afforded an opportunity of catching up with rest of the party; several of whom I knew from previous “Proper Days Out”. Jon & Tracey, Mick, and Will were amongst this group, but where was Stafford Paul? I do recall him saying earlier that it wasn’t his intention to complete the entire Frome crawl, and in mitigation he had started off on the previous evening, with a stop-over in nearby Bath. He and Martin had gone for the obligatory jug of gravity-served, Bass, at the town’s legendary Star Inn, so whether this put him off his stride remains unknown, but it would have been nice to have spent a bit more time with him.

Instead, I enjoyed a catch-up with Jon, Tracey and Martin, as well as a brief chat with the pub’s landlord. Simply furnished, Just Ales is in the heart of Frome's vibrant St Catherine's district, and with seating for 30+ people, plus Frome Brewing Co. Devil’s Backbone Porter on tap, plus a fruity pale ale (Summer Breeze) from Milestone Brewing, this bright, breezy and vibrant micro-pub was a good place to while away a summer’s afternoon – at least I would have been, if we hadn’t needed to move on!

What followed was another walk up a
steep hill – this time St Catherine’s Hill, a thoroughfare once again furnished with more quirky and eclectic shops. We were heading for the Lamb & Fountain, a stone-built pub close to the top of the hill. The Lamb is a small and friendly unspoilt gem of a pub with fantastic views over the town, from its spacious lounge room, at the rear of the building. 

It is a grad e II listed building, on the CAMRA register as "An historic pub interior of regional importance", as evidenced by the passage running to the rear of the building, and the old-fashioned off-sales hatch with a sliding glazed window and a display case above. The door at the front leads to a very small public bar with a Victorian counter, which has a c.1960 Formica top. The bar back shelves are mainly original, and there is an interwar tiled and wood surround fireplace with a gas fire in front. This information comes from CAMRA, rather than AI!

Known locally as "Mothers” and run for over 50 years by Freda Searl, this late 17^th or early 18^th century pub is now run by Freda’s daughter, Sue. Freda made no major changes to the pub during her time at the helm but sadly passed away in November 2021. Sue has followed her mother’s wishes and left the pub just as it was. Our party took over the lounge, leaving the mainly cider-drinking locals, to the rather more basic front room of the pub. As with many Frome pubs, cider is the main tipple of the locals, with London Pride often, but not always, available on hand-pump.

Just a short hop away is the Griffin, an attractive, stone-built pub that was formerly the brewery tap for Milk Street (now Frome) Brewery, which has moved to the outskirts of the town. Up to three Frome ales and guests, as well as a range of craft beers and ciders. The main bar retains some original features such as etched windows and wooden floor. We made ourselves at home in the large room at the front of the pub, as you can see in the attached photo. My tipple of choice was Funky Monkey, a 4.0% Session Bitter, from Frome Brewery.

The Griffin is listed in this year’s CAMRA Good Beer Guide, as is what, for me was the final pub of the day. The Royal Oak was quite a hike from the Griffin on a road that was heading in the wrong direction. By that I mean the pub was on the fringes of Frome, and in the opposite direction to the station. So, despite the hike, and the far longer trudge back to the centre of Frome, I followed the others into the pub and purchased a glass of St Austell Proper Job.

Like the previous pub, the Royal Oak had several drinking areas as well as an outside patio garden, but we gravitated to the large room at the front of the pub. Given the distance back into town, I knocked my beer back quite quickly. I was thirsty, of course, but being unsure of the route back to the station, I decided I’d better get going. First I had ascertain the best way into town. This was to follow the main A362 Broadway Road all the way down into Frome, passing Christchurch and Portway on the way, a distance of just over 1.5 miles.

I called in at a petrol station on the way, to ask if they had a toilet – I was "breaking my neck for a slash", as they say, but whilst there were no toilets there, Rye Bakery & Pizzeria in station approach did, thankfully have “facilities”! They also had some much-needed solid sustenance – I hadn’t eaten since mid-morning at Castle Cary, so I bought a Cornish pasty to eat on the train. Shortly before my train pulled in at the station, several other members of the group turned up. They would be heading off in the opposite direction towards Westbury and Bristol, and I think they were as surprise to see me as I was to see them!

We said our goodbyes, as their train departed ahead of mine, although only by a few minutes. Not long after, the Castle Cary train pulled into the station, and I headed off on the start of my journey back to Kent. There was no livestock on the line this time – although not locally, but according to the indicator board, the train was running 17 minutes behind schedule due to, you’ve guessed it - animals on the line!  These West Country farm boys and girls, really need to be more careful with their critters!

A day trip to the Somerset town of Frome

I mentioned in the previous post, that I was off to Frome, the following weekend. It was for a one-day visit to this pleasant, Somerset town, on a visit that would be the first for me. The trip had been a long time in the planning, involving several changes of dates between inception, and the event actually changing place, but the one constant was we would be visiting a number of pubs in the town that had been carefully chosen by Jon Benger – a beer and pub enthusiast who I first met on a visit to Bath, a couple of years ago.

Jon lives in Frome, with his wife Tracey, who was also on the Bath trip, and from memory, I remember  the couple telling me that they met, whilst at university (“uni” as the kids say), in Bath. Sometime in between the then and now, the pair moved the short distance across to Frome, where property prices were more reasonable, and the town wasn’t over-run with tourists. Before launching into the narrative, it’s worth noting that I used AI creativity tool, Copilot, to write some of this post, but the parts I am referring to are mainly a few descriptive sections about Frome, and what it has to offer the casual visitor. See if you can spot these “AI - written” paragraphs, starting off with the introduction.

There's something special about discovering a place that feels both vibrant and timeless, and that's exactly how I felt during my recent trip to Frome in Somerset. Nestled among rolling countryside and historic architecture, Frome is a town that effortlessly blends creativity, heritage, and community spirit. From the moment I arrived, I could see why it has become one of the South West's most talked-about destinations.

I travelled to Frome, by train from my home in Tonbridge, beginning my journey with a train to London Bridge. This was followed by a convenient cross-London transfer using the Thameslink and Elizabeth line services to Paddington Station. The journey showcased the excellent rail connections which now exist, between Kent, London and the Southwest, with the Elizabeth line making the transfer across London easy and efficient.

The rail journey from Paddington was a pleasant one, albeit rather boisterous, as I shared the carriage with a lively group of ladies on their way to enjoy a day out in the West Country. Several bottles of chilled prosecco were cracked open, almost from the moment that the train pulled out of Paddington, on its journey to the south-west. The ladies were bound for Totnes, whereas I would be leaving the train at Castle Cary to catch a connecting service across to Frome. 

The train was making good progress, as we headed away from the capital, but unfortunately, we hit a delay sometime after leaving Westbury. I later discovered this was due to a flock of sheep on the line, but the slow, stop-start progress of the train meant we were 30 minutes’ late in arriving at Castle Cary.

The delay meant me missing my connection and facing a wait of an hour and a half for the next train to Frome. Fortunately, there was a pleasant café and “creamery” on the opposite platform, where I enjoyed a sausage bap and a pot of tea. It was a mile or so’s walk into the small town of Castle Cary and with hindsight I perhaps should have made the effort to visit the settlement. According to Google, there are several pubs in the town, that appear worthy of a visit, but after my late breakfast it would have been a rather rushed affair, and as I’ve grown older, I try to avoid rushing, wherever possible. Instead, I enjoyed a pleasant and relaxing interlude at Castle Cary station, which is an attractive looking station, that is well maintained and decorated in a style that evokes the 1920s and 1930s.

Whilst waiting for the connection, I contacted Jon Benger who, as the local resident in charge of our day out, would be able to tell me where to meet up in Frome. Jon suggested phoning for an update, once I’d arrived in the town, which I did, and was kindly met at the station by none other, than Retired Martin – memories here of Alton and Farnham! With the pace of two people gagging for a pint after a two-hour delay, – that was me rather than Martin, we walked towards the centre of Frome. There I found myself being struck by both the character and slight quirkiness of the town, where the narrow-cobbled streets, independent shops, and the well-preserved buildings, constructed mainly from locally quarried stone, create an atmosphere that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of larger towns and cities.

One particular highlight is Catherine Hill, a steep and picturesque street lined with quirky boutiques, galleries, and cafés. It's the kind of  thoroughfare where every doorway seems to reveal another hidden gem.  As well as shops, the town is packed with independent cafés, bars and eateries, each with its own unique charm. What stood out most was the passion local business owners have for their craft. Whether it was a barista explaining their coffee beans or a shop owner sharing the story behind a handmade product, there was a genuine sense of pride throughout the town.

Frome has built a reputation as a creative hub, and it's easy to see why. Art galleries, workshops, and independent retailers are woven into the fabric of the town. Every corner seems to celebrate creativity in one form or another. The town has a welcoming atmosphere that encourages visitors to slow down, explore, and appreciate the details, so much so that I was able to explore its blend of attractive independent shops, historic streets and distinctive character, which make Frome one of Somerset's most interesting and popular towns to visit.

Beyond its creative appeal, Frome is rich in history, and as we wandered through the older parts of town, I couldn't help but admire the centuries-old buildings and fascinating architecture. The town's industrial past is still visible today, providing a glimpse into its evolution over time. The combination of history and modern culture gives Frome a unique identity that's difficult to find elsewhere.

My visit to Frome was a reminder that some of the best travel experiences come from exploring places that aren't necessarily on every tourist itinerary. Its blend of independent spirit, historic charm, and thriving creative community makes it a destination well worth visiting. Whether you're looking for a relaxing day out, a weekend getaway, or simply somewhere new to explore, Frome offers an experience that's both inspiring and memorable.

OK, that’s the tourist plug over, and the end of this post as well, but in the next one you’ll be able to learn more about the five, historic, interesting, and quite quirky pubs that we visited, in what was quite a breathless and whistle-stop tour of Frome.

 

A few bits and pieces, followed by a pint in the Star

It's been quite a hectic week at least by my standards, whatever they're measured against these days, where I accomplished quite a lot both on the home front, and the work front. It seems that the never-ending heat wave is exactly what it says, “Never ending,” and last Sunday weather wise was pretty much the same as it is today another, Sunday, and one where the sun is beating down making the heat it's just too intense to do much in the way of outdoor activities. Furthermore, with a lawn that consists of nothing but scorched grass, there is precious little to do on that score, anyway.

The previous Sunday, I had to drive over to Tunbridge Wells's North Farm estate, which although originally an industrial area, is now much more of a trading estate. I picked up a pair of new shorts from George at Asda, before driving along to Screwfix, a store Where I am spending more time that I would wish. I purchased the drill bit I needed for the fencing repairs I’ve been working on, but after finishing my shopping, I decided that a pint was in order – it was a sweltering day, after all!

I took the long way home and made a detour out into the parched looking, Kent countryside, heading out along the invariably busy A21, before turning off towards Matfield. This attractive village has one of the largest village greens I know of in Kent, as well as being one of the most attractive as well. 

I was aiming for the Star, at the far end of the green, but on the way, I passed the sadly closed Wheelwrights Arms, an establishment that hasn’t traded for many a long year. Once a particularly good free house, the Wheelwrights seemed to go downhill once Shepherd Neame took control of the place. I’d have to look back to check when exactly it closed, but this former excellent free house is sadly no more, and even the exterior has been altered out of all recognition. The Wheelwrights is now a private residence, having pulled its last pints, a decade or more ago.

Fortunately, the same fate hasn’t befallen the Star, a large, and attractive red-brick property at the other end of the green. I made an abortive visit earlier in the year, when I was unable to find space in the car park, but there were no such problems this time around. With several empty spaces, I was beginning to wonder whether the heat had kept people indoors. If it had their loss was my gain, and after strolling into the pub I was greeted by a handful of people occupying sections of all three rooms, including the designated dining area. I ordered myself a pint of Harvey’s Best, (Tonbridge plus an offering from Gun Brewery, were the other beers available), before making my way outside, to the small and secluded courtyard garden, at the side of the pub. Despite its proximity to the main road, this was a quiet and peaceful area, with sunshine and shade available in equal quantities. In other words, it was the perfect space to sit in and enjoy a pint.

In spite of the high temperatures, the Sussex Best was in good form, and the packet of Piper’s crisps, the perfect accompaniment.  I sat there for around 20 minutes, enjoying my pint, whilst indulging in a spot of people watching, before picking up my empty glass and returning it, like a good boy, to the girl behind the bar. I returned to the car, and drove back to sunny Tunny (Tonbridge), after turning off the B2160 at the bottom of Gedges’ Hill, opposite Mascall’s school. 

I almost forgot to mention that on my way out of Matfield, I drove past the Poet, which is the village’s other pub. Older readers will probably remember the pub by its original name of Standings Cross. I didn't go in this time, although I've visited the pub on a number of previous occasions. It’s pleasant enough, despite bordering on being more of a gastro establishment, than an actual pub. At least it remains open, and probably doing OK, judging by the number of cars parked outside, as I drove by.  

There were more adventures to come over the following weekend, when I took the train down to the West Country, in order to visit the town of Frome. You can read all about that trip, next time, along with details of the “interesting” journey I had, in order to get there.

Wrexham Lager's comeback

Wrexham Lager’s name and brewery have been revived, and the story is a rather fascinating one. The revival began in 2011, when the Roberts family brought the historic brand back to life after its original brewery closed in 2000 and production ceased entirely in 2002. The historic Wrexham Lager name was rescued, the brewery rebuilt, and production restarted using original recipes. But what about the history of the original Wrexham Lager Brewery, and its pioneering beer?

Wrexham Lager isn’t just a local beer; it’s a piece of British brewing history. It was founded in 1881, by German immigrants Ivan Levinstein and Otto Isler, and was Britain’s first lager brewery. In the beginning, the pair attempted traditional cold‑fermentation techniques, using ice banks, but early batches suffered because temperatures couldn’t be kept low enough. Then a chance partnership with German engineer Robert Graesser, introduced mechanical refrigeration, solving the temperature problem and enabling consistent lager production.

Graesser was a German‑born industrialist living in North Wales in the late 19th century. He owned a chemical works in Acrefair, Denbighshire, and was known for his engineering expertise — particularly mechanical refrigeration, which was cutting‑edge technology at the time. His background made him uniquely positioned to solve the technical problems that plagued early lager brewing in Britain. He was not one of the original founders, but without him, Wrexham Lager would almost certainly have disappeared in the 1880's. Graesser met Levinstein by chance, reportedly on a train from Liverpool, and realised his industrial refrigeration system could fix the problems being experienced by Levinstein and Isler

Graesser’s innovations enabled Wrexham Lager to be brewed properly for the first time and led to Wrexham Lager becoming the first commercially successful lager brewery in Britain. He later took a major share in the company in exchange for the technology and gained full ownership after the original company collapsed in 1886–1892. At the time Wrexham was home to around nineteen breweries, but the Ace of Clubs brand, with its distinctive symbol became the most famous, and was recognised far beyond Wales. The beer was exported across the British Empire and was reportedly the only lager served on the Titanic. There are accounts of Wrexham Lager being consumed by British troops overseas, including during the Siege of Khartoum (1884–85). These stories highlight how the beer travelled with soldiers across imperial postings.

The brand's exports decreased during World War II, leading to its purchase by Ind Coope, and later Carlsberg-Tetley, after a series of convoluted mergers and takeovers. In 2000, the original brewery was closed by Carlsberg – a brewery that definitely doesn’t brew the best beer in the world! Then in 2011, former MP Martyn Jones, once a microbiologist at the brewery, acquired the rights to the brand, for just £1, a sum that shows how little the Danes regarded the heritage of Wrexham Lager. The brand itself was revived by the Roberts family, using a recipe from the Wrexham archives.

Local businessmen Mark and Vaughan Roberts rebuilt the brewery, using older recipes and original ingredients to recreate the classic lager. As part of this exercise, they consulted former Wrexham brewing staff and used archival brewing notes to ensure authenticity.  The revival restored a brand with deep cultural ties to Wrexham AFC, local pubs, and Welsh brewing heritage. The revived brewery is located in Bangor-on-Dee, near Wrexham, and not at the original Central Road site, which was demolished and replaced by a retail park. However, the original brewhouse survives as a Grade II listed building.

Wrexham Lager is historically significant because it is:

Britain’s first lager brewery

A pioneering user of mechanical refrigeration

A major Victorian export brand

A cultural symbol of Wrexham and Welsh brewing heritage

A rare example of a historic beer brand successfully revived after total closure.

The other week I picked up a 4-pack of Wrexham Lager cans, at our local branch of Home Bargains. Regrettably, despite all the history, the pedigree and the kudos associated with the relaunched brand, I found the beer lacking in bitterness, and at just 4.0% ABV, the beer was rather weak for my tastes.

However, seeing as the revived brand is based on a recipe that is over half a century old, it might well be that Wrexham Lager 2026 is very much the authentic taste, of the cold-fermented beers that were being brewed in the UK, at the end of the last century, so do give the beer a try and let me know what you think. Finally, whilst AI played a role in the research for this post, the narrative is very much my own!

Looking back on a traditional Fenland brewery, Pt. Two

You left our party departing the GBG-listed Rose and heading along to Elgoods brewery for the commencement of the tour. Elgood’s brewery overlooks the river Nene and has an imposing Georgian façade. The building started life as a granary and a mill before being converted into a brewery in the late 1700s. The brewery was acquired by the Elgood family in 1878, and the company is still controlled by the same family today. We assembled in the courtyard at the rear of the brewery where we met by our host for the visit, Belinda Elgood, daughter of then chairman, Nigel Elgood.

We we're led to a recently constructed, purpose-built visitor centre, equipped with its own bar and decorated with numerous exhibits connected with the company and it's 120 years of existence. After a brief run through of the history of the brewery, we were conducted around the plant by the Head Brewer, who we met earlier. Amongst objects of particular interest were a cast iron mash tun – most are constructed from wood, and copper, plus a very rare open cooler, known as a “cool ship”.

This in effect is a large, flat, open, copper tray, which creates a large surface area to allow the hot wort to cool as quickly as possible. In the days before modern, “counter-flow” chillers, cool ships were a common feature of Victorian breweries, but despite being a fairly common sight in Belgium (Flanders, in particular), the one at Elgoods, remains as the only example I have witnessed in the UK.  It is situated at the very top level of the brewery where a number of vertical wooden slats can be opened, when necessary, allowing the cold easterly winds that have blown straight across the Fens, all the way from Siberia, to cool the wort. Such open coolers were once commonplace, certainly in the days before refrigeration and heat exchangers.

Most breweries have long abandoned this method, owing to the risk of exposing the cooling wort to airborne contamination, but the sight of the wort gushing out of a row of brightly polished copper pipes, and into the cool ship, - a process that also helps aerate the wort, was certainly one well worth seeing. The clouds of steam rising from the surface of the cooling worked completed the picture, and I was left wishing that I’d brought my camera with me. Don’t forget though, this was in the days before mobile phones, and digital cameras! We were then shown the recently installed microbrewery which enabled Elgoods to produce a series of seasonal and one-off, special brews, including low-volume beers, such as Black Dog Mild, Golden Newt,  and Pageant. At the end of the tour, we were ushered back to the visitor centre where we were able to try the company’s strong GSB Bitter, their Pageant Ale as well as  more Cambridge Bitter.

It was a hot day, so I decided to take my pint outside, and at the far end of the yard were some steps leading down to a large and well laid out garden. It seemed so peaceful and cool there, with plenty of mature trees and shrubs providing some welcome shade. I soon became totally divorced from the fact that I was actually visiting a brewery. The entire garden was an oasis of calm that seemed light years away from the 20^th century, indeed the whole affair was in complete contrast to the bleak and somewhat windswept scene at the front of the brewery. On that hot and sultry July day, the garden seemed just the right place to enjoy a refreshing glass of beer whilst wandering around admiring the plants.

Whilst ambling around the garden, I bumped into someone who turned out to be the head gardener.  I explained I was visiting the brewery and asked if he minded me looking around. Seeing that I was interested in plants and gardens, this fine fellow offered to show me around himself, explaining that the garden was originally laid out in Georgian times, as part of the house that was the home, initially of the mill owner, and later the Elgood family. After being neglected for many years, the garden was slowly being restored.

 It had taken several years of hard work to get the garden into its present pristine condition, and the ultimate aim was to restore the grounds as closely as possible to their original Georgian layout. He claimed this would involve several more years of hard work, but on the plus side the glass houses had already been restored, as had an ornamental pond. In addition, many of the trees planted a century and a half ago were only now starting to show their full glory, including a spectacular and rare Tulip tree. Also being planted was a series of hedges that would constitute a maze, when fully grown.

As we wandered back towards the house at the rear of the brewery, we were joined by several members of our party who, like me, had wandered out for some fresh air before falling under the garden's spell. Realising that the gardener had other duties to attend to, I thanked him for his time, and for making my brief visit to these gardens, so memorable. Three decades on, the gardens at Elgoods have been restored to something resembling their former glory, I say that because all gardens are, in effect, works in progress. They are open to the public, as certain times of the year, so check on the website for further details, including dates and times.

It was soon time to depart, and we boarded our minibus for the ride back to Kent. Our, driver made a brief stop in Ely, primarily to allow many of us to syphon off the excess beer!  We ended up visiting the Prince of Wales, a Ridley's pub, situated just off the M25, at Mountnessing. There we enjoyed a glass or two of Ridley’s PA and ESX. We also partook of a meal, although no record of what we ate exists. The pub made a welcome break in our journey, even if it did mean almost missing the last train back from Maidstone to Tonbridge!

Looking back on a traditional Fenland brewery, Pt. One

I mentioned in the previous post about unearthing a “treasure trove” of pub and brewery-related material, which I was sure would prove of interest to blog readers - once I’d knocked it into some sort of shape.  I added that much these writings was out of date, and thus no longer relevant to a modern audience, but I’m pleased to report that with a bit of tweaking quite a chunk of these ancient “scriptures” can still tell a tale, as well as forming a link back to simpler times. A world without personal computers (desktops or laptops), digital cameras and the most modern contrivance of all the mobile phone.

What I’m about to reveal now is a rather lengthy account of a visit I made to Elgood’s Brewery, a classic, country brewery, deep in the heart of the Cambridgeshire Fens. The trip was one of the best and most memorable brewery visits I've been on, as I’m about to impart. First though, a quick look back at the final sentence in the previous paragraph, because back in the pre-digital world, the taking of spontaneous photos, or indeed of any photos, was quite rare, given the performance around getting one’s snaps developed and printed. Consequently, there aren’t that many photos, or indeed other material to illustrate this post.

I'd noticed a trip to Elgood's at Wisbech, advertised in the CAMRA newspaper, “What's Brewing”. It was organised by Maidstone & mid-Kent CAMRA, a branch that I’d formerly been a member of. This was before I moved to Tonbridge.  I was still in touch with one or two members of the branch, so without further ado I booked my place, paid my deposit for the mini-bus and waited for the day of the trip to arrive.

It promised to be a glorious July day, as I set off by train from Tonbridge to Maidstone. The weather, in fact, had been hot for several weeks, and the sun was already beating down as the train rumbled along the picturesque Medway Valley Line between the two towns. The river Medway itself was looking very attractive as it glinted in the early morning sun, and before long my train was pulling into Maidstone. I alighted at the Barracks station and walked across high-level Medway Bridge towards the rendezvous point for the trip outside Maidstone East station. As I crossed the river I was surprised at some of the changes that had taken place since I moved away from the town.

Most of my fellow travellers were already waiting when I arrived at the pickup point, and after a brief wait the that would transport us to Wisbech and back. It turned out I wasn't the only CAMRA member to come from a different branch because on the way we stopped to collect members from various other CAMRA branches. After that we crossed the Thames at Dartford before joining the M25 and M11 motorways, as we headed towards Cambridgeshire.

We stopped for a short break at the Bishop Stortford services, before continuing our journey, arriving in Wisbech with the sun shining out brightly across mile after mile of dead flat Fens. Our hired transport took us into the centre of town and then along the north bank of the river Nene, known locally as the North Brink. This is where Elgoods Brewery is located. This was not my first visit to Wisbech, because I’d stopped off in the town in the spring of 1983, whilst on a journey from Suffolk to Leeds. I’d stopped in Wisbech to have a look at Elgoods brewery – externally, and enjoy a pint of the brewery’s beer, in one of several pubs tied to the brewery.  This was the King’s Head, in the town’s Old Market Place. My memories of that trip enabled me to direct our driver to the brewery.

We were deposited just outside Elgoods, but with a couple of hours before commencement of the tour, it was time for some much-needed liquid refreshment. We walked back along the North Brink, where two options presented themselves. First was the Rose, a pleasant free house, whilst a bit further on, was the Red Lion, an Elgoods tied house. Both pubs were listed in the Good Beer Guide, at the time, but I opted for the latter, as after all, we were there to enjoy the products of the local brewery. I made a good choice, and after a long and hot journey up from Kent, that first pint of the Cambridge Bitter hardly touched the sides! Whilst at the pub, we pumped into the Elgoods' Head Brewer, and his assistant who were enjoying a spot of lunch. We introduced ourselves and mentioned that we were due to visit the brewery, later on.

We made our way back towards Elgoods, calling in briefly at the Rose, on the way. We met up there we met up with the other members of our group and found an excellent range of beers on sale. These included Cains F.A. plus the well-hopped, straw-coloured Geoffrey Hudson Bitter, from Oakham Brewery. That definitely was find of the day, as far as I was concerned, but stay tuned, as there’s more to come in the next instalment.