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CAMRA - North Hampshire Branch This Page:           North Hampshire CAMRA Branch: West London Pub Crawl with the Surrey Hampshire Borders branch Published: March 2009   West London Pub Crawl with the Surrey Hampshire Borders branch Saturday 7 March 2009 ... written by Phil M - North Hampshire CAMRA   “Whatever you do, don’t get the last train home, if there’s a chance you might fall asleep”. This is good advice and advice that I was grateful of as the train pulled out of Winchester station on the way home to Basingstoke from the SHB West London pub crawl.   9:41am Platform one, Basingstoke, a fast train to Clapham Junction and a meeting with Phil & Tim from SHB who would be my guides to the Falcon Battersea. The rendezvous for the starting point and 14 beer choice, including Morrisey Fox Blonde and Harvey’s Sussex.   Back to Clapham Junction and a short train ride to Putney and the Bricklayers just in time for its 12 o’clock opening. Timothy Taylor’s full range was on offer, but from the amount of dark beer around the room I think Mild and Ram Tam were the favoured choice.   A walk back along the river and High Street, onto a train to Brentford and the Magpie & Crown. This is a proper drinkers pub hosting Real Ales and continental draught beers. Here I had a lovely pint of Saltaire Hazelnut Coffee Porter and quick half of Cottage Blower Bentley before moving on to an extra stop at O’Briens on the way to the next bus stop. I couldn’t make my mind up whether to have Brains Dark or Scattor Rock Devonian, so I had a half of each.   On to the bus with clinical timing and off to the Red Lion, Isleworth where I managed a Twickenham Winter Cheer and Archers Porters Pint from the excellent choice. William was doing a fantastic job of keeping us in check and walked us through the streets and straight onto the bus to St Margarets and the Ailsa Tavern and a TT Landlord. Some of the members, including myself were starting to show signs of weariness now, but we still had Richmond and the Roebuck to get to.   This was a bus, train, bus and walk that was worth it just for the picturesque view as the sun went down across the river in the valley opposite the pub. Once inside I was drawn to the Mauldons Mid Winter Gold, where others went for the Smiles Red Ember or Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted. Now in darkness we walked down the hill into Richmond town centre and the Waterman Arms, a Young’s pub with a Thai food menu from which I refuelled on a spicy fried rice.   I’d reached my beer limit, so it was time to head for home and the start of another adventure, thanks to a helpful Gent in the street who kindly sent me the wrong direction and a very long walk to the rail station to catch the train to Clapham. A quick change of platforms and off to Basingstoke via Eastleigh.   Thank you William and SHB for a great day out, Phil M.   If you are interested in future events with North Hampshire CAMRA, subscribe to our mailing list to be kept informed.   << BACK TO ARTICLES ^ BACK TO TOP ^

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