Frome Pub Explorations - Continued

Following on from the last post, we're in Frome, apparently one of the most difficult place names to pronounce properly in the UK
Hmmm... I struggle more with Leominster personally.  Let alone most place names in Wales.

We were on our way to see Half Man Half Biscuit, with a few pub visits beforehand.

As dusk fell, we walked along Whittox Lane - a street which leads you away from the lights and action of Catherine Hill, into the darkness, making you question if you're going the right way?  Then the illuminated sign on the side of the Griffin appears in the distance and all is well.

The Griffin (Milk Street, Frome, BA11 3DB - web)
The Griffin was formerly the brewery tap for the Milk Street Brewery - now renamed the Frome Brewing Company and located on the edge of town.
The pub has had a recent refurb and change of management, but it's still the local Frome ales on offer on the bar - 'Funky Monkey' or 'Sunny Y' when we arrived, with the Zig Zag stout that I really wanted being put on too late, just as we were leaving.

On the downside, the Griffin had a 'please wait to be seated' sign as you entered and all tables were reserved.  Fortunately we were early enough to be able to keep a spot in the corner warm for the folks for whom it was booked later.

As well as the cask ales there was an impressive run of craft taps.

Mrs PropUptheBar's eyes light up when she sees the crafty options, although she inevitably later complains that keg beers are too cold.
Here's the extreme measures taken to warm up the Boxcar 'Dark Mild'... 

First Aid Burns Kit to Table 5, please!

Nice bagatelle board at the end of the bar... 

And as we're not far from Bristol it's almost inevitable that Banksy has called by to leave his mark on the wall of the gents...

Walking back into the centre of town we made our way to the Three Swans on King Street.
My picture comes from when we passed earlier in daylight hours, just to confuse the continuity.

Three Swans (16-17 King Street, Frome, BA11 1BH - web)

This is a great little 17th century inn which was doing a good trade when we arrived.

The Christmas lights were being turned on in Frome on this Friday evening which I figured had made everywhere busier, although we later saw a lot of the pub customers in the gig, so Half Man Half Biscuit were also doing their bit for Frome's pub trade.

The guest ale was in the second room so I'll never know what I missed out on, whilst at our bit of bar was a Buttcombe 'Best' and my enjoyable Abbey 'Bellringer' at £3.70 a pint.

There's a fine cattle trough in the gents WC serving as the urinal.  No picture of this, which is probably for the best.

Moving on we poked our heads into Arcangel at the other end of King Street - great multi-roomed set-up, but very modernised and the beer on offer was nothing exciting.  Instead we made our way past the crowds around the Christmas light celebrations and headed to Brewed Boy.

Brewed Boy (4 Cork Street, Frome, BA11 - web)
This was our second crafty place of the day, although Brewed Boy was a very different beast to Palmer Street Bottle, with more of a brewery taproom vibe.
There's a few small tables, the odd bench and some barrels in the corner creating makeshift perches.  Eight taps offered up a good choice of beers from the likes of Lost & Grounded and Deya, whilst we also took advantage of Bakerman Dan and his sourdough pizza's in the back yard.

I was delighted to meet up here with Beer and Pubs forum member Jon, who'd been kind enough to provide me local knowledge and suggest which pubs we should visit in our limited time in town.

Brewed Boy was a thoroughly enjoyable spot where I was comfortably settled, but I had to finish off my milk stout and make a move toward the music venue.

The Cheese & Grain was originally an 1870-built agricultural market hall, which was transformed from derelict building to music venue in the early 00's. 
And it's a great venue in which to see a band - a spacious, high-roofed hall with a decent cafe/bar to one end.  What Pub suggested the possibility of real ale being available, but if there was, I missed it. 
Straight-in for the Thatchers Haze.

HMHB - great setlist incorporating almost all my favourites

It may seem I'm subjecting Mrs PropUptheBar to a bit of domestic cruelty by making her endure 90 minutes of aging blokes from the Wirral playing songs with a shedload of cultural references that mean nothing to her.
Don't worry - she's getting her own back next summer by making me watch Imagine Dragons.  Again!  And Imagine Dragons are woefully short of moments where the audience get to shout-along  "Fuckin 'ell, it's Fred Titmus!"

Cheers! 🍻