From XTC in the blog title last time round to Swindon-born Billie Piper this time.
Turning right out the station, a short walk takes you to the 'railway village', several streets of two-storey Victorian terraces built for the railway workers and arguably Swindon's nicest bit.
The development contained three pubs, only one of which is still in operation...
The unusual name comes from the glue pots which folk working on railway carriages would bring with them on their lunch-break, leaving them on a central stove to keep warm.
It's a fine grey stone corner building, with large windows letting the light in to a simple room with a handful of high-backed wooden benches.
The local Hop Back brewery feature here, alongside one beer from Downton. It's been a while since I've encountered Hop Back, so I was happy to relax with a well-kept pint of the 'Citra'.
We had a short walk from the Glue Pot into the pedestrianised shopping streets to get to our next destination.
Nope, not Power Lounge.
We were headed to it's next door neighbour, the Wyvern Tavern.
This seemed an odd choice for the Beer Guide - a lively modern town centre boozer. Even more surprisingly it was also in the guide when it was a Yates' wine lodge, so they must be doing something to impress the local CAMRA.
We were headed to it's next door neighbour, the Wyvern Tavern.
This seemed an odd choice for the Beer Guide - a lively modern town centre boozer. Even more surprisingly it was also in the guide when it was a Yates' wine lodge, so they must be doing something to impress the local CAMRA.
"Usually has a better-than-average interest in and sale of real ales and ciders", says the Guide.
And it was a limited but satisfying selection at the bar. Several boxed ciders, including the 8.4% oak-aged 'The General' which I tempted Mrs PropUptheBar into having, thereby being responsible for her Sunday morning headache.
On the ale front: an Otter, or Arbor 'Rocketman' - no lightweight itself at 6%.
The Arbor was delicious - a solid proper IPA, with piney smell and tropical flavours - thoroughly enjoyable and justifying the beer guide listing.
Top marks for the friendly bar staff who also knocked off a CAMRA discount despite me not having my vouchers with me, making the drinks here the bargain of the day.
There was a reasonable lunchtime crowd with lots of lager drinking and cricket watching going on.
Top marks for the friendly bar staff who also knocked off a CAMRA discount despite me not having my vouchers with me, making the drinks here the bargain of the day.
There was a reasonable lunchtime crowd with lots of lager drinking and cricket watching going on.
A bit of food was in order to soak up the strong beer/cider, so we made our way to the prettier of the two central Wetherspoon outlets...
I'm a sucker for a Spoons cinema conversion and this one is a cracker. A super-cinema, built in 1930, it would have once offered around 2,000 seats for Swindon movie-goers.
Entering into the old lobby area, you drop down a few steps with a montage of movie posters above, into the old stalls area. Pictures around the walls show the place in it's glory days.
We may be finding many pubs quiet these days, but The Savoy was doing a good trade with a very varied clientele and most tables taken.
The Flack Manor 'Catcher Pale Ale' seemed to be the most unusual beer on offer, so this is what I had accompanying lunch.
Fed and watered, we made the short uphill walk into the terraced streets to the south of the centre, doing a touristic loop thanks to my wholly inadequate scribbled map and directions.
When we did find the Beehive, it was in a wonderful location, straddling the intersection of two roads.
The Beehive (55 Prospect Hill, Swindon, SN1 3JS - web)
Being on a hill, the pub is spread out over several levels, with the bar itself at two heights.
Built in 1871 by Belle Vue Brewery, it went on to spend many years under the ownership of Oxford's Morrell's Brewery.
And it's got a Dr Who police box style doorway...
The Beehive is a popular spot for live music and my choice of beer, West Berkshire '5 Knuckle', was brewed specially for the Swindon Shuffle, a festival featuring bands playing at this and several nearby pubs (sadly not on the weekend we visited).
Whilst I probably wouldn't be overly keen at seeing the Wyvern Tavern at 9pm on a Saturday evening I would be happy to see the Beehive in full swing. Bet it's superb with a bit of live music playing and a good crowd in.
Whilst I probably wouldn't be overly keen at seeing the Wyvern Tavern at 9pm on a Saturday evening I would be happy to see the Beehive in full swing. Bet it's superb with a bit of live music playing and a good crowd in.
Little Hop (7 Devizes Old Town Road, Swindon, SN1 4BJ - web)
Puritanical local residents may have been happy to see the sex shop in this location close down, but instead they now have to put up with drunkards staggering out of the place (oh, that was just me).
This was the original Hop Inn micro, reopening in August 2019 as the Little Hop.
Puritanical local residents may have been happy to see the sex shop in this location close down, but instead they now have to put up with drunkards staggering out of the place (oh, that was just me).
This was the original Hop Inn micro, reopening in August 2019 as the Little Hop.
From a good choice of beer on cask and keg, I picked the GWB 'Old Higby' because it was billed as a 'modern bitter'. I'm still none-the-wiser what was modern about it.
With that we felt we'd completed all the central Swindon pubs we needed to for the time being. Although we did make a couple of slightly unwise revisits to the Tap & Brew and Tuppenny being as we were passing and it would have been rude not to.
For too long I judged Swindon on it's bus station and believed all those unkind things Oxford United fans said about the town.
Turns out it's not bad after all.
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