subsidised drinking
Recently I was meeting a friend who works in the Houses of Parliament.
I asked what pub we should meet at, but instead he told me to meet him at Westminster station. I did that, after accidentally going to Waterloo.
It was the first time I have been to Westminster station, it is quite different to the other stations, a bit like how a german film director would have made a sci-fi version of what the London underground in the 30s.
It is a welcome change, except that in many places it smells like piss.
I was still waiting to be taken to a pub when I was dragged into the house of commons, had to take out off all my bomb related materials, was patted down and had my photo taken.
Eventually I asked just the hell we were drinking, it turns out we were drinking at one of many pubs inside the houses of parliament.
It wasn’t the prettiest pub i’ve ever drunk in, the service was a bit shabby, their weren’t many beers to choose from, but it had one advantage, the beer was cheap.
That is someone’s taxes hard at work.
From memory, and it is a little shady, the price was about 2.10 a pot, which for inner London is robbery.
If you are an actual politician it is less they tell me.
So here i was in inner London, drinking with a view of Westminster Abbey, and drinking beer at 1972 prices on the taxpayers dime.
Seems fair.
I have given so much to the world, not sure the politicians can claim the same.
I wonder if this system stops at drinks though, surely there is a brothel, a shoemaker, and a post office all subsidised in those hallow walls.
Thinking of politicians having to pay full price for something makes me sad.
My new Ashes book.
I have a problem
My local bar is a comfortable drunken waddle from my front door.
They have good food (although they changed their menu for summer and took off the steak), play good music, have two screens for sport, and have an outdoor area, is a little scummy without being a shit hole and has comfy couches.
I know it sounds like heaven, and it almost is, all except for one small detail.
The beer.
It is shit.
I have tried almost every beer they have on tap, which is like ten, and you’d think they have one good one, but no.
They have lagers: Staropramen (which i like to call star of penis, go on laugh, i dare ya), carling, becks and stella.
They aren’t the worst four lagers of all time, but I don’t find any of them that drinkable in a long session.
Their bitters are: john smith’s and black sheep, they do have another one, i just can’t remember what the fuck it is called.
Yet again neither are horse piss, but I couldn’t stay on either all day in a session.
Then they have Guiness, strongbow, a couple of others I can’t remember.
These really aren’t my thing.
So here is my conundrum, should i change bars?
There is a bar 10 minutes further walk away, and it has way better beers, but the ambience of a mortuary.
The chairs are not comfy, the main barman is to eager to be part of your life, and the place has an air of pretension that I don’t need.
So I have two choices, I can continue to drink at the pub with the beers i don’t like, or sit in a dentist’s reception room with a good beer.
I could always looks for other pubs within walking distance, but even if I find one with beer i like, and the ambience i desire, it wont be as close as my local.
-
Recent Comments
lynsey on It aint no raptor claw, it… Pat on It aint no raptor claw, it… lynsey on It aint no raptor claw, it… Pat on It aint no raptor claw, it… lynsey on It aint no raptor claw, it…
my latest book
-
My Photos
More Photos
