Rugby Pub Tour

Tuesday 19th April 2011

A nearly full minibus set off for Rugby on warm, clear evening. The first stop, somewhat short of Rugby but well worth it, was the recently opened Wood Farm Brewery tap. This gave Alan, our driver, the chance to shoot back to Hinckley to try to find two members who had somehow been missed - he failed! There were 7 or 8 handpumps on the go, mostly Wood Farm's own beers with a couple of guests. The bar was busy with customers, mostly eating, so we concluded that the Wood Farm team were off to a good start and got back on the bus to head for Rugby.

The real aim of the evening was to visit the Merchant's Inn who were having one of their now famous beer festivals, this one called the 'On the Farm Festival'. So the bus dropped some off at the Merchant's while the remaining few elected to be taken slightly out of town to visit the Jolly Brewers. This had recently won a Rugby CAMRA award as the 'Most Improved Pub'. We obviously chose a bad night - the two or three locals were all intent on watching a football match on the several large screens. It was a pleasant evening so we adjourned outside to sample the 3 Warwickshire beers on offer.

On returning to the town centre we went first to the Raglan Arms, Rugby CAMRA's Pub of the Year - Guess what? football again.....but we found a nice quiet snug to sample the selection of beers.

We decided it was now time to show our faces at the Merchant's. Gary & Scott had gone to town as usual - the pub was painted outside to resemble a cow and inside the floor had been grassed over! There may have been other changes but quite honestly it was too crowded to see! A seemingly endless list of beers appeared to be on offer - I can remember having a very good pint of Purity Mad Goose.......There was a band playing called Duke's Jetty - they played 60's music, they were very good & very young - someone suggested that not only would they not remember the 60's, but neither would their parents!

As 11 o'clock loomed we all wandered back to the bus for the trip home at the end of an all round excellent evening.

Wood Farm Brewery tap	Jolly Brewers	Inside the Jolly Brewers	Raglan Arms
	Click for larger images
An old local gathering dust in the Raglan Arms Snug			Merchant's Inn disguised as a cow!

Words & photos by Alan