Thursdays Are The New Fridays

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

As per usual, the lads and I ended up in the pub last night after our weekly badminton game for the regular post-game pint. There’s something wonderfully English, I think, about engaging in two hours aerobic exercise and then just automatically going to the pub afterwards.

“You know what, I’m really proud of myself for doing more of this healthy living bollocks,” One of us will almost inevitably say, the others nodding in agreement whilst tucking into big fuck-off bags of Pork Scratchings, “chuck us a ciggy.”

For us, in a way, this regular post-sport session has come to replace the Friday Drink - not because we don’t go out on Fridays anymore (he adds quickly in case the Pub Police are listening) but simply because we rarely get the option of doing it together. As everyone knows, a core part of the proper Friday Drink is doing it with your regular crew - preferably your best mates. This is important because (despite what some people believe) the Friday Drink is as much, if not more, about having a fucking laugh and a chat with people you like than about getting drunk. The drink is there for its properties as a social lubricant as much as its intoxicating effects.

Plus, of course, if you don’t do it with the same gang of people on a regular basis then you don’t get to indulge fully in a lot of the other enjoyable rituals that form part of The Friday Drink.

You can’t properly engage in the Great Debate, for example and this is an absolutely crucial part of The Friday Drink. Sure, the question seems simple enough - “which pub we going to then?” - but its one that requires a carefully thought out answer, because it sets the tone for the whole night.

Do you go to the Tollington, which is conveniently located for transport links (meaning the more distant living drinkers can stay later) but looks like something out of a fucking Ikea catalogue since its refurbishment (so lacks atmosphere and comfy chairs)? Maybe the Quays (plenty of atmosphere and great beer but the music can be loud and kill conversation)? What about the Landseer or the Coronet?

This question is far more difficult to answer if you don’t all have at least a passing familiarity with the pubs in question or experiences from previous visits to pull on.

Similarly you can’t do The Catch-up if you’re not a regular crew. I mean, lets get this straight from the start - that’s not a gossip. Men do not gossip - women do.

We “catch-up” which, given that it covers things we’ve got up to that week and what’s happening with mutual mates who aren’t present, I’ll admit may superficially seem to be exactly the same thing but trust me, its not.

Couldn’t be more different, honest.

Anyway, my point is that it’s another thing that you can’t do properly if you’re not all regulars.

I could go on but I won’t - basically a lot of the fun parts of a true Friday Drink are missing for us these days because as we have (allegedly) matured, factors such as time, distance, other halves and work have conspired to broaden out our social requirements and keep us away from physical proximity on that sacred day. Now I don’t think any of us would say that’s a bad thing - if anything its great, because they’re all indicators that we’re all doing pretty damn well with our lives despite what certain Teachers, Lectures and (in some cases) family members may have thought.

I think all of us though, deep down, are secretly a bit happy to have The Friday Drink back again even if it has shifted temporally.

For us, Thursdays are most definitely the new Fridays.

2

I’ll never forget, in a James Herriott book, the statements issued by Tristan when trying to decide which pub to go to to celebrate the birth of James’ first child…and your discussions must sound similar when trying to decide which pub to go to.

Here, in my town, unfortunately, they are all the same…same crappy reheated food and limited drafts.

Now, an hour away is a pub which, I would love to link to but don’t know how, so website is madisonavenuepub dot com which serves nice draughts…and has a cozy atmosphere…food is not bad either.

But, in my town, no good locals. :frowning:

I envy you…and I agree, here at least, Thursday nights are the new Friday nights, everyone goes out on Thursdays now. Fridays are reserved for banking; dinners with SO; etc.

3

We get to have the same kind of conversations over the Friday get-together, although of course being an all-girl affair we’re allowed to gossip as much as we like. Although we prefer to consider it a full and frank exchange of information, rather than just gossip which is really rather tawdry…

So we could go to the Great Western which is a nice Holden’s pub. Bit of a spit-and-sawdust old man’s bar and largely frequented by the staff from the postal sorting office across the road, and also a bit off the beaten track.

Then there’s the Moon Under Water, right opposite the theatre and prone to drunks, fights, scenes of a domestic nature and general entertainment for the rest of us. But the beer’s cheap. That’s got to be a bonus.

Or maybe the Posada. Lovely pub, great atmosphere and always a good choice of beer…the barman’s a bit of a character though, and (as my friend describes him) camper than a row of pink tents in Millets. Always a favourite!

A bit further along is the Goose. Less said about that place, the better. No, wouldn’t go there if it was the last pub on earth.

What about the Gifford? It’s a goth/metal pub, the beer’s usually good but the staff are somewhat dismissive…maybe we just weren’t wearing enough black and looked too cheerful.

Yates’ Wine Lodge. Oh, please. Just don’t. It’s painful.

OK, decision made…we’re going to the Newhampton 'cos it’s just round the corner from my house!

4

I’ve always thought it kinda funny that every single Moon Under Water i’ve ever been to has been an absolute fucking dive given the mythical pub they’re all named after.

5

How true. The one in Leicester Square was a flea pit to be sure.
Nicely written Garius.
The decision about which pub to go to round here has been compounded by the fact that 7 of us got together and produced a book of Brightons Best Pubs recently. We have visited 300+ so far.
Tonight will be a leaving drink for someone at work down the Pitcher and Piano. A pub with little to offer. Followed by a trip to the Varsity, renamed from the Prodigal, a pub I listed in the book as “full of wankers.” Then hopefully downstairs to Ali Cats which is dark, dingy and full of young ladies (the first two points help me out no end).

6

Ah the Friday night piss up.

Kick off in The Stonemasons, trundle down the road to The Quarrybank pa using at the Hare and Hounds for a top up, well it is at least 200 yards from the SM to the QB and a man gets thirsty after long trudges.

A few in the Quarrybank and then back to the Stonies before embarking on our travels to the Rajdan for a ruby and a few more overpriced (vastly) gargles.

Life is good innit?

7

I belong to a group that has a monthly social night in the pub - despite the loveliness of the other hostelries in town, we chose the Moon because we wanted somewhere with a good selection of reasonably-priced real ales, food, no music, and close proximity to parking and public transport. The Moon ticked all our boxes…there are better pubs in town but they either didn’t serve food in the evenings or had loud music on all the time so you have to shout to hold a conversation.

The Moon is full of characters, our current favourite is the woman who has never been seen wearing anything other than a full-lenth overcoat and a pair of green wellies. She always has with her a couple of Wilko’s carrier bags, which we believe to be full of other carrier bags.

High point of our recent visit to the Moon was this - we were sitting there minding our own business, just having a chat (about eight of us as it was too early for the rest to turn up) and a bloke came over from the table next to ours to ask us if we knew anything about dogging.

He couldn’t understand why we found it so funny, it was just the kind of question you expect in the Moon!

8

My favourite kinda conversations: pubs.

What’s a ruby? And I wish I had the accent to carry off “trundle” !

My dream has always to visit the Dales and all the neat sounding pubs which are in it.

BadBadger - where can i get a copy of your book? If you send me one, I’ll send you a copy of “Notes on a Beer Mat” which are written about historic and some locals in the city.

Why we can’t seem to create something here encompassing fireplace; comfy chairs; good conversation; an interesting bartender; dogs; and homemade food?

9

I can normally be found in the Bath Arms or the Bush (i think its called) on Arundel Road (which is chavilicious but the only one within reasonable walking distance of the missus’ place) when i’m down that way.

10

Oh, and the Moon Under Water sounds like my kind of place!!!

11

Ruby Murray = Curry

12

See, that hasn’t taken off here…the curry that’s made here is kind of sweet, not spicy and hot like the Indian curry I like…here, pub food is (questionable?): jalapeno poppers (usually reheated from frozen, yuk!); deep friend anything, including cheese sticks; went out on a limb and ordered something with yorkshire pudding - big mistake: shouldn’t Yorkshire be heavy, crispy and bubbly, not light and smooshy?

Perhaps I’m incorrect with some English food?

13

One of the best “Legacies of Empire” that, the Anglicised Indian Curry.

14

[QUOTE=Canadiangirl]
My favourite kinda conversations: pubs.
BadBadger - where can i get a copy of your book? If you send me one, I’ll send you a copy of “Notes on a Beer Mat” which are written about historic and some locals in the city.

QUOTE]

Would be a pleasure me dear.

15

Would you believe I haven’t been out for a drink since I moved in August? No wonder I’m so bitter.

16

Um. Is this thread in English?

17

It aint curry if it aint hot, hot hot!

Vindaloo is about the hottest I can manage but my fave is a sodding great Rogan Josh with big fuck off chunks of chicken and pimientoes. Accompanied by Nan Bread, chutney, pickles and whatever else arrives at the table not forgetting Pilau rice o’ course.

Now then, Yorkshire puds should be light and crispy with a few bubbles, serve with rare roast beef and veggies and don’t forget the horseradish sauce.

18

Very!

19

In staggering distance I have the Somerset Arms, which I have not visited in over a year but was crap then, and the Wyvern, which does good food and good drink, but doesn’t have much of a crowd. A bit further afield there’s the Wigmore Arms down by Asda and is a bit downmarket. The other direction is the centre of Luton and has the likes of Yates - nuff said! There are also some pubs to the north, but I can’t remember their names.

20

I think they’re all spies communicating in some code language. So far I’ve been able to crack just one word. “Vindaloo” seems to mean “explosive diarrhea” :wink: