Contactless and seamless at the Nelson

Things must be looking up as I managed to use a Contact-Tracing App for the first time on Sunday. I'd called in, on a whim, to the Nelson Arms in Tonbridge, in the full knowledge that whilst that the pub encourages pre-booking and table reservations, I might still be able to squeeze in a cheeky pint.

I fully understand the requirement for groups to pre-book, given the restraints on space and the necessity of “social distancing” (boy do I hate that phrase),  but as someone who has spent the past 47 years just popping into a pub when I fancy a beer, this really goes against the grain. With this in mind I decided to try my luck and see whether fortune smiled on me or not.

Fortunately, lady luck was on my side that day, although by the time anyone appeared to greet me upon entering the pub, I’d already scanned the QR Code and registered my details, all online. What’s more the App seamlessly connected me to the Nelson’s Wi-Fi, meaning I could surf the net, as well as check in on Untappd.

It was pub landlord Matt who greeted me, on what was my first visit since the pub re-opened. I’d called in on several occasions during lockdown, to buy the odd takeaway container of cask, but Matt and his team had made a few alterations since then. Whilst waiting for someone to appear I sanitised my hands and perused the short list of Covid-complaint rules, pinned up for all to see. Foolishly I didn’t take any photos, but I’m sure you know the score by now.

I informed Matt I only wanted a quick pint. This was fine by him and he showed me to a vacant high table, immediately opposite the bar. This was even better as I could see what beers were available from the row of hand-pumps lined up on the bar. I opted for a pint of Yankee from Rooster’s Brewery and Matt brought it over to me, on a tray. Contactless card payment followed and at just £3.60, I enjoyed my cheapest post-lockdown pint, and the only one so far at below the four-pound price mark!

Being close to the bar I was able to chat to Matt without breaking any rules, so it was almost like old times. There weren’t that many people int the pub, although there was a group of six occupying the alcove, just along from me. There were possibly several others sitting around the corner, but I thought I ought to remain seated rather than going for a look.

This also meant I didn’t get to see the garden, which I understand had been a great hit with the regulars, especially during the recent spells of sunny weather. I will have to drag my son down there later in the week, so we can see for ourselves. If I’m honest, the Yankee wasn’t the best pint I’ve had since re-opening, and this might be due to there being six cask ales on sale.

This small grip aside, I was good to sit inside a pub for only the second time since March, as on all other post-lockdown pub visits, I’ve sat in the garden. Long may this trend continue!

 

On the buses - a return to public transport

Exactly a  week ago I took my first tentative steps back towards using public transport. I did it in style, as the day involved two bus journeys and one by rail. The purpose behind these journeys was to deposit me at the starting point of my North Downs Walk, and then return me home from the end point. They were my first forays into the world of bus and train travel since early March, and represented a welcome return to some semblance of normality.

Except it wasn’t completely normal due to the fact that, in common with my fellow passengers, I had to wear a mask. Now on both bus journeys there was only one other passenger apart from me, and with the driver tucked safely away behind a plastic screen, where was the danger? The other passenger was sat several rows behind me as well, but rules are rules, I suppose, even if they are nothing more than pandering to the Mumsnet brigade.

My rail journey was somewhat different, as the train was more crowded that I expected. Even so there was plenty of room for “social distancing.” Not all passengers were wearing masks though, and it is in situations such as this that covering one’s face might have made a difference. The majority of the culprits were in the under twenty age bracket, with a group of young girls wearing not much more than a combination of cropped top and  skimpy shorts, the worst offenders. (Why do I keep running into females with a minimalist sense of dress?)

The law is quite clear that face-masks MUST be worn at all times whilst on the train, but with no-one present to enforce this  ruling, it is little wonder that travellers are ignoring it. The other concern of course, is that with no rail staff on hand to check on mask compliance, ticket checks and/or sales are not taking place.  

I personally don’t blame rail staff for this, especially given guidelines on social distancing etc. Also, having witnessed past encounters between fare dodgers and revenue staff, I know that these situations can become quite confrontational. You can imagine, some pimply yoof, barely able to string a sentence together, threatening to cough or, worse, spit at a hapless guard or ticket inspector, so in the meantime the railways are missing out on even more revenue.

Passenger numbers are running at a fraction of what they were pre-lockdown and whilst the government’s “magic money tree” has come to the rescue, it is an unsustainable situation, even medium term. As part of their “scare the public into staying at home” campaign, the UK government actively discouraging travel on public transport. Anyone attempting to buy a ticket, even online, was faced with a series of question’s asking if their journey was really necessary and telling them to stay at home. The travelling public were encouraged to use their own, private cars instead; something that goes against the stated policy of all political parties.

Returning to happier times, the last time  I used public transport was on 6^th March, when I travelled up to Burton-on-Trent, to join members of the Beer and Pubs Forum on a pub-crawl of Britain’s premier brewing town. Both outward and return journeys involved two changes of train, and a cross London trip by Underground.

Looking back, I was a little wary at the time, as Coronavirus had already started spreading within the UK. At one point, I even considered avoiding the Underground and walking between Charing Cross and Marylebone stations, as I would be travelling at the start of the morning rush-hour.  

Because I had pre-booked tickets, timed to specific trains, there wasn't sufficient time to do this and, as it happened the tube wasn’t too crowded, but I did change carriages on the outward journey from Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street. This was due to a person sitting a few seats behind me, coughing his lungs up.

Summing up, I enjoyed last Friday’s bus and train journeys and the sense of freedom that went with them. Any lingering doubts as to the safety of this were soon dispelled and I was able to assuage the fears of Mrs PBT’s  that I was risking my own health as well as that of the rest of the family.

The bus journey was particularly enjoyable, as the bus followed a different route to that which I would normally have taken. There was a bonus too, at Sevenoaks bus station, in the presence of a café that wasn’t just open, but one where customers were allowed to sit inside and enjoy a coffee! The breakfast options also looked tempting, as well as being very keenly priced. With my bus pass due next April, I envisage making a lot more bus journeys, especially if I can combine them with the odd pub visit!

 

Hey, Hey, LBJ.............

Oaky, not the opening line of a 1960’s anti-Vietnam war chant, but a brief report on a quick pint, enjoyed in the garden of the nearest pub to my place of work. The Little Brown Jug (LBJ), is less than 10 minutes’ walk from our factory. The pub re-opened for business shortly after the Corona-virus restrictions were relaxed on 4^th July.

I walk past the LBJ most days, on my lunchtime walk, and had watched the preparations the staff were making, in advance of re-opening, with interest. Sometimes one or two of them would wave, or even shout hello, whilst working on the extensive garden at the side of the pub, including a rather attractive young lady wearing the skimpiest of bikinis. This happened on more than one occasion!

If you’ve got it, why not flaunt it, I suppose; I certainly wasn’t complaining, even though I will probably fall foul of the PC brigade for saying so.  I mentioned what I’d seen to one of the girls at work, who happens to live in the village. I’m treading on very dangerous ground here, but women can sometimes be quite catty about other women, so my colleague's remark that “she’s always exposing her flesh” didn’t come as a huge surprise.

What did, was the knowledge that this attractive and very pretty girl used to be in the Channel Four soap opera Hollyoaks. Now that means virtually nothing to me as, hand on heart, I can honestly say I’ve never seen even a glimpse of Hollyoaks, but I did wonder what had brought this former actress to be working a pub, in a small Kentish village.

That’s quite enough of soaps and scantily clad young ladies, even though I know no-one is going to believe that she wasn’t my reason for calling in at the LBJ this lunchtime. For the record, I didn’t set eyes on her, so perhaps it was her day off, but getting back on subject the pub appears to be doing well and I enjoyed an excellent pint of beer.

Having walked past the pub on several occasions since it re-opened, I sort of knew the score. Queue up outside to the left, if you’ve made a prior booking, or is you’re a casual visitor, like me, queue up to the right. I did as instructed, making sure that the barman had noticed me.  I was then approached by one of the waiting staff and asked to fill in my contact details.

My offer of a business card was declined – silly really as it contains all my details. The pub would soon know that I work just down the road for the largest employer in Chiddingstone Causeway, but perhaps it was me just being lazy. Details duly handed over, the waitress led me inside the pub, explained the one-way system and then, as I’d indicated I wanted to sit outside, showed me to a table in the garden.

On our way through the bar, I clocked the presence of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, alongside local stalwart, Larkin’s Traditional. Once seated I ordered a pint of Landlord, which another waitress brought out to me on a tray, along with a hand-held card-machine. Being outside the latter had difficulty connecting to the Wi-Fi, but eventually it accepted my payment of £4.90 – ouch!

The LBJ has a reputation for being pricey, so perhaps I should have expected a five-pound pint, but I have to say the Landlord was in tip-top condition, and definitely worthy of a 3.5 NBSS. The only thing I will say is that possibly the beer is not quite the benchmark pint is used to me, but nevertheless full marks to the pub for looking after it so well.

It wasn’t quite the “quick pint” I referred to at the beginning of this piece; instead I savoured it whilst enjoying sitting out in the garden, under the shade of an overhanging tree.  There were plenty of diners and “ladies that lunch” sitting outside as well and with car park that was almost full, I concluded the pub must be doing something right.

It deserves to be a success; especially given the work the staff have put into getting the place compliant with the new guidelines.  I include our bikini-clad actress amongst the others, of course. Perhaps she might be there waiting to serve me, next time I call in!