Friday 8 February 2019

The Westgate Scandal...

I believe once upon a time, there was a similarly named scandal in the United States - but it was something to do with water rather than beer...

Anyhow, having left the pensioner’s paradise of the Crown and Anchor, I continued my wander passed the Victorian gothic styled Guildhall...

Gothic splendour...

I came across the Overdraft micro-pub and I thought about going in - but as I had been in the Southampton one - I decided against it - bad choice as it turned out...


The Great Hall...

...as I walked past the impressive forecourt to the Great Hall, I opted to try The Westgate instead...

Busy junction/quiet pub...

It has quite an impressive facade on it’s street corner location and until recently bore the title ‘The Westgate Hotel' above it’s frontage, but now just has ‘The Westgate’.  Instead of a hotel it now seems to call itself ‘a prestigious pub with rooms’.

Again it took a while to win the battle against Winchester’s Friday afternoon traffic and get across the road to the pub,  but looking at the interesting array of beers on the bar as I entered, I was beginning to think it was a battle worth fighting/winning...

Cracking winter line up....

...plenty of winter beer options too, so no problem in continuing the winter beer theme for the day.

With the wisdom of a wise old wizard (or seasoned pub blogger)  I thought I’d better avoid an early January sampling of Flack Manor ’s Cracker, as Christmas beers are often past their best by this time.  So I had a half of Russian Winter, the Russian Imperial Stout from Itchen Valley Brewery....

....it looked great, as the equally stout, tattooed barmaid poured it out and placed it on the bar...


Anticipation reaches fever pitch...

The Westgate is a strange pub comprising a wrap-around bar and a narrow single room curving right around the front, with a few perching tables and chairs along the front wall...

Corridor style pub...

There were only a couple of customers and nothing much was happening, except for a bearded guy chatting to the bar staff who was trying to get a job, and one member of staff proceeded to give him an impromptu interview at the bar.

I picked up a copy of the ‘Wintonian’ from the window sill and flicked through all the adverts for expensive items only Winchester residents can afford...

Ooh-er - Winchester evening wear...?

I know you’re waiting for me to extoll the virtues of the Russian Winter stout...

...well all I can say is it was very poor and very similar to Sarson's Malt Vinegar, probably not how Itchen Valley intended it to taste.

As usual I did the wrong thing, and didn’t take it back. 

Deep Purple’s Black Night was playing in the background, which seemed appropriate somehow as I held my nose (metaphorically), finished my vinegar and headed for the station and home...

...another day, another 'cask ale unfit for sale' scandal...

...so I’ll leave you to enjoy Deep Purple  from the days when proper heavy rock bands were invited  on to Top of the Pops to mime to their song...prize if you can spot a heavy rocker in the TOTP audience... :)






7 comments:

  1. "but it was something to do with water rather than beer."

    I believe you're thinking of the 'water'gate scandal that involved the 'west' wing. ;)

    "and get across the road to the pub, "

    Mayhap "Busy junction/quiet pub..." isn't the best combo.

    "So I had a half of Russian Winter,"

    Love how they try to cyrillicise* the lettering.
    *(not an actual word)

    "as the equally stout, tattooed barmaid poured it out"

    (slow golf clap)

    "Ooh-er - Winchester evening wear...?"

    All I can say it would be quite the evening wearing something like that!

    "As usual I did the wrong thing, and didn’t take it back. "

    Ugh... and also, silly boy. ;)

    "prize if you can spot a heavy rocker in the TOTP audience... :)"

    Was it you? ;)


    Cheers

    PS - "impressive facade on it’s street corner location "

    Apostrophe alert. :)

    "above it’s frontage"

    See above.


    Also, apologies for my tardiness. Crap weather, car trouble and catering the past few days have left me with no proper time to read and post. I finally managed to get my annual Valentine's poem for my beloved down about an hour ago. And on Wednesday I get to travel out of town all day in order to count cars at a dealership that has had close to 75cm of snow the past three days!

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    1. No worries about tardiness Russ - I specialise in that myself :)

      Sorry to hear that you've been 'under the weather' (to misappropriate a common phrase) and hope you can find those cars under the snow - never mind count them.

      "I believe you're thinking of the 'water'gate scandal that involved the 'west' wing. ;)"

      That was it - probably should have called mine 'Beergate'...

      "Ugh... and also, silly boy. ;)"

      I know , I know - will I ever learn...

      "Was it you? ;)"
      Nope - I don't think there were any at all - just guys in smart shirts and trousers and girls in pretty dresses = but I loved the - contrast with Deep Purple rocking away on stage while they all danced in a kind of delicate way (note - no head shaking and air guitaring)

      Apostrophes - where did they come...? Just when you think it's safe....
      :)

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    2. "Sorry to hear that you've been 'under the weather' (to misappropriate a common phrase) and hope you can find those cars under the snow - never mind count them."

      Blimey. It took me a second to get that. But then I have a good excuse:

      https://photos.app.goo.gl/rHvHzUVKnk7kyMBh6

      We officially became grandparents yesterday. :)

      Cheers

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  2. Russ isn't the only one struggling to keep up with the Top Pub Blogs. Perhaps the Government should ration blogs like they will essential food stuffs like champagne soon.

    I was on tenterhooks to see what you thought of the Westgate, scene of this atrocity last year,
    https://retiredmartin.com/2018/04/14/stuff-your-wedding-winchester-i-need-a-pub-tick/
    https://retiredmartin.com/2018/04/17/on-chesil-beach/
    As you say, utter rubbish. Overdraught was great !

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    1. Perhaps we can sneak pub blog rationing in through the back door and deflect the blame onto Brexit.

      I remember your wedding fiasco blog - must have been some wedding if they were toasting with Sarsons Malt Vinegar. Nice day for a sour wedding (to misquote Billy Idol)

      On reflection you were no doubt fortunate that The Westgate was otherwise engaged...
      ;)

      I’ll definitely make the correct decision to visit Overdraft next time...

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  3. Pint of Sarsons is never good! Looks like a good boozer and deep purple in the background is always a winner...had one of my best ever stag dos with that as theme tune!

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    1. Funny how the music can lend itself to different pub experiences though. Glad yours was more upbeat than mine! :)

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