Greyhound back on track

It was somewhat predictable that the second post-lockdown pub visit I should make turned out to be the Greyhound, at Charcott. This charming rural local is just over 10 minutes’ walk from my workplace, and I often stroll near the pub on my regular lunchtime walks.

Tempting though it is, I don’t often call in for the simple reason that I find I hard to stay awake at the best of times, and even a single pint could see me dozing off in front of my computer screen. This Friday was an exception, as not only did I fancy a pint of locally brewed Larkin’s, but I was also keen to see what measures licensees Richard and Fran, had put in place to comply with government guidelines.

The Greyhound reopened on Wednesday, but I thought I’d leave visiting for a couple of days, to allow the pub’s owners sufficient time to make sure all their social distancing measures were working satisfactorily. Wednesday’s weather hadn’t been too good either, with wet and windy conditions prevailing for most of the day.

Although Thursday was marginally better, Friday was always going to be the most appropriate day for my visit. After a busy morning signing off numerous batches of product, I grabbed my jacket and set off on the short walk up Camp Hill towards the tiny hamlet of Charcott.

I had no real idea of what to expect, as I had deliberately avoided walking directly past the Greyhound during the lock-down.  Somehow it didn’t seem right and, if truth be known, I really didn’t want to see the pub all shut-up and empty. Until the start of the emergency situation, it had been thriving and doing a roaring trade, and that was how I wished to remember it.

I was pleasantly surprised as I turned the corner of the lane which lead to the pub, as the first thing I noticed was the re-vamped outdoor drinking area at the of the building. These were roped off from the roadway, with the ropes arranged in order to guide customers towards the entrance.

There a handwritten sign asks visitors to kindly wait for a member of staff to meet them. In my case it was landlady Fran, and it was good to see her again after these past three months. I told her that I just wanted a pint and to sit outside to drink it. Given the warm sunny weather I would have sat outside anyway, but on this occasion, it felt appropriate, even though I could have sat inside, had I wished.

The cask ales on sale were Larkin’s Traditional, plus offerings from Brumaison and Whitstable. I opted for the Larkin’s and Fran brought my freshly pulled pint out for me on a tray. It tasted divine, cool, well-conditioned and at just 3.4% ABV, just the right strength for someone who’d had to return to work.

I sat there enjoying my pint and the moment. Richard, the landlord stopped by for a brief chat and told me he was pleased with how things had gone so far. The pub certainly looked busy enough, not heaving, but here were plenty of people sat out in the garden area to the side of the building.  The waitress was kept on her toes bringing out a selection of different food dishes for the hungry diners, but what was missing were the characters who seemed to be always present, propping up the bar whenever I visited on a Friday.

It’s still early days and I’m sure that over time, the majority of these “good old boys” will drift back. It is characters like them who really make a pub, and when they have returned and are in their rightful place, in front of the bar, we will then know that the worst of this crazy situation is over and things are returning to normal.

In the meantime, it was heartening to see the Greyhound open for business once more and trading quite well, after its enforced period of closure.

A few reflective, mid-week thoughts

These are certainly strange times that we’re living through; unprecedented – certainly in modern times and full of paradoxes.  The situation we’re in at present is also incredibly frustrating and whilst I’ve been saying to people, "be patient," my own patience has worn a little thin.

The news that the nation’s pubs are open at last, is of little use to those, like me, who are still working for a living and the fact that despite orders being down we’re still incredibly busy, is yet another example of a frustrating paradox.

I’ve only managed one pub visit since last weekend, and whilst I intend to make up for this tomorrow, I’m still mighty envious of those whose surfeit of leisure time allows them to go off galivanting around the country once more. So, after all that time spent twiddling my thumbs at the start of lock-down, I now find myself too busy to enjoy all that’s on offer, as the economy slowly opens back up.

Right, that’s enough wining, I’m lucky to still have a job, my health is fairly robust and money I would have spent in pubs and restaurants, or blown on trips abroad, is now safely sitting in the bank. In addition, I will hit state retirement age next April, so perhaps it will then be time to wave goodbye to the world of work – at least on a full-time basis.

There’s no getting away though that, like many others the world over, the current pandemic has knocked my travel plans for six this year, but there will still be time enough once all this is over. For tens of thousands of others, Corona has done far worse than disrupt holiday plans, and it’s important to remember all those who sadly, didn’t make it.

I’m certain that the pandemic and ensuing lock-down, has also caused large numbers of people to reflect upon what they’re doing with their lives, the type of lifestyle they are living and what plans they might have for the future.  The shutdown has also been good for the environment as well, and it’s been good to reconnect with nature, during this time.

That’s all I’ve got to say for the time being. If all goes to plan I’ll have another reopened pub to report on tomorrow, but until then, bye for now!

Ploughing the right socially-distanced furrow

I didn’t make it to the pub on Saturday, for the first day of opening since mid March, so I was determined to do so today. There aren’t many pubs in Tonbridge that have reopened yet; in fact, there aren’t that many pubs left in the town full stop. This left me slightly stumped as to where I ought to go.

The Nelson Arms, tucked away in the backstreets behind the station, seemed the obvious candidate. The Nelson picked up the prestigious Branch Pub of the Year award, from West Kent CAMRA, just a week or so prior to the start of lockdown, so that was a good enough reason on its own for a visit.

I’d been calling in at the Nelson these past three months, in order to collect containers of cask ale to drink at home, so had been taking a keen interest on how their plans for reopening were progressing. A visit there was high on my list, and it still is, but given the fine weather we’ve enjoyed today, I fancied something a little more taxing. A pub visit that included a walk fitted the bill, which is where the Plough at Leigh Powder Mills came in.

I’d already checked their website and liked what I saw regarding their Covid-19 response. To me it seemed sensible without being over the top. The fact that I fancied a pint in a pub garden, was another reason for choosing the Plough as it has one of the largest gardens in the area.

The Plough is surprisingly easy to get to from Tonbridge, as the footpath which leads across the Sportsground provides a far more direct route than going by road. It also proved much quicker than what I remembered. It must be five or six years since I last walked that way, but the route still seems just as popular with walkers and cyclists as it did back then.

The walk wasn’t quite as far as I thought. I clocked it at three miles, door to door, and the outward journey took just over an hour. Tonbridge Sportsground seemed as popular as ever, with people of all ages out enjoying the sunshine plus taking the opportunity to spread themselves out. I took a diagonal route across this large, flat grassy area towards the underpass beneath the main rail line to London. The path then continues through a wooded area, following the course of the River Medway.

It then splits, with the route to the left leading to Haysden Country Park, whilst the right-hand path heads off towards Leigh Power Mills. The suffix, "Powder Mills" refers to the manufacture of gun-powder, which was carried out there, on a substantial site, until the mid 1930’s. The site was chosen because of its proximity to the River Medway, plus the presence of several small streams. These were used to power the mills which processed the gun-powder, until the advent of steam power. 

In recent times, part of the Powder Mills site was home to pharmaceutical giant Glaxo Smith Kline. Around 300 people were employed there until the plant closed in 2010.  A development of mixed housing stock now occupies the site, but I’m pleased to report that the area of woodland to the right of the former works, has been retained, and the footpath running alongside it has been upgraded.

Upon reaching the road which runs along to Leigh village, I turned right and headed down a slight hill. The Plough is just a short distance ahead, but he first thing one notices is the substantial barn, next to the pub, which is used for weddings and other similar functions. I made my way towards the pub, approaching with more than a little trepidation.

I needn’t have been concerned, as I noticed, whilst passing the garden, that there were plenty of free tables. I stopped, as instructed, at the sign adjacent to the entrance and waited, again as instructed. A member of staff came out to greet me, and after taking a couple of contact details – name, plus mobile phone number, I was allowed inside.

It was explained to me that a one-way system operated inside the pub and that all food and drink could be ordered from the outside bar; apart from the real ale. Seeing as a pint of cask was what I wanted, I was informed I should order my drink from the bar, as normal and then either find a seat inside – there were quite a few vacant tables, or make my way through to the garden.  There was a large Perspex screen isolating staff behind the bar, apart from a cut-out to enable payment and receipt of one’s drink.

The cask choice was three offerings from Tonbridge Brewery, so I opted for the Golden Rule, a 3.5% light and refreshing, golden ale. I carefully carried my pint through the length of the pub and then down the steps into the substantial garden. I found a vacant table and sat down to enjoy my first pint of cask ale since the visit I made on 6^th March to Burton-on-Trent, with members of the Beer & Pub’s Forum.

Boy did it taste good, being cool, clear and well-conditioned. Had I been scoring I would have rated it as at least 3.5 NBSS. The beer was so good that I was tempted to have another; the only thing preventing me was my promise to pick up some food items from Waitrose on the way back. The store’s 4pm closing time would have meant a fast walk back, whereas I am someone who prefers strolling along at a much more leisurely pace.

The pub garden had a good sprinkling of customers without being packed. It was good to see families and groups of friends enjoying a few drinks along with each other’s company, after these long months of confinement. What’s more, it was being done in a safe and dare I use the term, socially distanced way. There was hand-sanitiser available at the entrance and also at the exit – which is now down the steps, next to the garden.

The Plough’s management team had obviously worked hard to achieve this, and I applaud their efforts. I felt relaxed and totally at ease, and I know I would have felt the same had I decided to enjoy my beer inside the pub instead. Upon my return, Mrs PBT’s was relieved when I described the set-up. Being familiar with the pub she should have known better, but she had been a little bit concerned when I set off on my visit.

I would like to send the same message to all the naysayers, doom-mongers and anyone else who predicted that pubs re-opening would mean the end of civilisation as we know it whilst the world is engulfed in a plague of biblical proportions.

Pub owners, licensees and their staff have pulled out all the stops to make this work. The least we can do is show them our appreciation by turning up and supporting their efforts. There is quite lot more I could write on this subject, but bloggers such as Pub Curmudgeon, Tandleman, retiredmartin and Beer Viking have already covered the seeming reluctance of many punters to return to the pub. Check out what they have to say on the subject, by clicking their links in the left-hand side bar.

This article is intended to make up for the shortcomings of the previous one, which was posted, in my excitement, from the pub garden, after having been hastily composed on my Smart Phone.