Travelling a few miles south of Blackpool, I called in to the coastal town of St Annes, with a plan to visit the two current Beer Guide entries.
St Annes was designed as a new town in the late 1800's. It was once home to the prize-selecting computer ERNIE, which picked Premium Bonds winners. My dad was always hoping that the 'man from ERNIE' would come knocking on the door, but instead they just occasionally popped to the post office (now a micropub, of course) to send us a cheque for £10.
St Annes was designed as a new town in the late 1800's. It was once home to the prize-selecting computer ERNIE, which picked Premium Bonds winners. My dad was always hoping that the 'man from ERNIE' would come knocking on the door, but instead they just occasionally popped to the post office (now a micropub, of course) to send us a cheque for £10.
Arriving early and hungry, as my guest house offered no breakfast, I made a beeline for the local Wetherspoon, tucked in the wide, leafy side-streets.
The Trawl Boat (36-38 Wood Street, St Annes, FY8 5DH - web)
I don't think I need worry too much that I've got nothing exciting to say about this particular branch of the chain.
WhatPub is unusually brief in their description:
"A Wetherspoon pub. Offers a variety of guest ales".
It was here that I twigged there were two pricing tiers for 'Spoons and that I'd been frivolously paying an extra 70p for my breakfast in the Velvet Coaster in Blackpool.
Just a couple of cups of coffee and my morning fare here - as I sensibly declared it too early for beer.
That would have to wait until, oof...just gone eleven, as I strode into the early opening Number Fifteen...
WhatPub is unusually brief in their description:
"A Wetherspoon pub. Offers a variety of guest ales".
Just a couple of cups of coffee and my morning fare here - as I sensibly declared it too early for beer.
That would have to wait until, oof...just gone eleven, as I strode into the early opening Number Fifteen...
Not another pub with a numerical name?! Hadn't I had enough of those in Blackpool?
But this one's a good'un, and a regular local award winner.
Despite a frontage that looks like someone's cut out a rectangular portion of a church and stuck it on a high street building, it actually turns out to have once been a branch of Lloyds Bank.
It's quite a stunning place inside, comfy and nicely decorated, tall stylish ceiling and balcony in the front section, Urban Cookie Collective playing in the background.
Longest trek of the weekend to the toilets; best beer range of the weekend.
I was spoilt for choice with plenty of tempting ales at budget friendly prices.
£3.20 for my Moorhouse's 'Crossed Arrows' - a good pint in good condition, and a nice change from Pendle Witches Brew, which is usually the only beer I see from the Burnley brewery.
We'd reached midday, which meant the craft beer place I'd passed on a corner a little earlier would now be open. So I figured I'd go and check it out...
Longest trek of the weekend to the toilets; best beer range of the weekend.
I was spoilt for choice with plenty of tempting ales at budget friendly prices.
We'd reached midday, which meant the craft beer place I'd passed on a corner a little earlier would now be open. So I figured I'd go and check it out...
Previously something called the Jazz Emporium, this opened as the Hop Shoppe in 2021.
I'm not sure why the queens head appears in the window on the corner, but other than that the decoration lives up to the name - hops painted on the glass and liberally strung across the ceiling.
More decision-making here, with an enticing beer range including Vocation, Twisted Wheel and Beartown on cask, and the keg selection pictured below.
Resisting the Madagascan Infusion double chocolate imperial stout, I instead settled on a precarious high stool near the door with a Marble/Rivington Cold IPA.
Resisting the Madagascan Infusion double chocolate imperial stout, I instead settled on a precarious high stool near the door with a Marble/Rivington Cold IPA.
What's a Cold IPA?
Finishing my beer, I aimed to do a little sightseeing, strolling down to the front at St Annes to walk along the lovely traditional pier and the expansive sandy beach, where the tide was well and truly out.
One last Beer Guide entry in St Annes to report on - I called into this one a little later in the day after a trip down to Lytham, being as the Keg N Cask didn't open until 3pm.
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| I can see the sea.......oh, hang on, no I can't. |
This is another relatively new micro, having converted a one-time post office and opened it's doors in February 2020 (not ideal timing as it turned out).
There were five casks along the bar, two beers from Bradfield, two from Conwy Brewery and a Saltaire 'Blonde'.
I picked the 'Clogwyn Gold', good value at £3.10, then cursed picking the wrong Conwy beer as several locals raved about how good the 'Welsh Pride' was.
Maybe the Keg N Cask would be better appreciated with a crowd inside, but my visit was a bit unremarkable, sat on a high table in an empty room whilst everyone else opted to sun themselves on the outdoor tables.
With that, I declared St Annes 'done' and headed back to Blackpool on the bus.
More punk awaited at Rebellion, more home-brew in the 1887 Brew Room, another long day and late, late night.
How was your holiday? Exhausting!
With that, I declared St Annes 'done' and headed back to Blackpool on the bus.
More punk awaited at Rebellion, more home-brew in the 1887 Brew Room, another long day and late, late night.
How was your holiday? Exhausting!
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