I met a couple of mates in the Elms Spoons pub Leigh on Sea yesterday and for the first time I used the app to get served, to avoid the people(women) ordering food at the bar and taking ages to decide what they wanted. Bar service was terrible but the app worked a treat.
Today, in another pub I forgot my credit card, so used the wallet on my phone to pay my round. Aren't I a clever boy? I actually prefer interacting with people and paying cash, but then I'm a dinosaur.

Unlike Robbie, I much prefer not to interact with people, either in a queue or at any check out scenario. The bad old days of standing in line halfway down a supermarket aisle are well behind me. Just grab what I want, scan, flash the phone and I'm out.

Even my local freehold pub now encourages us to run up a tab and ping the phone at the end of the night.

Now that I'm office bound and not working in the building trade these days, cash (and to a certain extent, people) just isn't something I deal with.

I have to say, it can be eye watering when you look at your account and see how many times a day £3/4 goes out. Although not as painful as explaing/hiding your spending to the accountant wife.

In late 80s I used to work in Park Street Mayfair and Architects and office staff used to regularly drink in the Audley, Mount Street. Occasionally, in summer time, we wandered over to Shepherd Market and visited Ye Grapes and sometimes the Kings Arms. I seem to remember that back then it was commonplace to see 'Ladies of the night' openly plying their trade in the Shepherd Market area.

Not exactly boozer talk, but I've bought some reasonable cask strength and non-chill filtered whiskies recently. Some interesting newer distilleries in Ireland i.e. Waterford and the even newer one, Blackwater. Like it was for a period in the 1990s, Springbank is now pretty much unavailable. Reputation now much higher than the Macallan. It was always my grandfather's favorite whisky. He knew his stuff.

Found a new whisky store by me. They have new part of the shop they call ''the vault'' with a jukebox and seriously aged and rare whiskies. If you'd invested in whiskies 15 years ago you'd be on a winner now. Back then you could still get Port Ellen, Dallas Dhu, St Magdalene and other moth balled distilleries for Euros 120-200. Now you're talking several thousands of Euros. Better that the stock market.

Powers John's Lane pot still is the one to go for.

Lots of new start up whiskies in Ireland selling products  bought in probably from Cooley. Existing whiskey companies are largely in foreign hands.

Sainsbury own label Irish whiskey was great stuff a few years back.

Springbank used to be easy to source a few years ago. Then it got hyped up

Last edited by Kingston1an (2023-03-21 06:11:26)

I cannot speak for the two you mention. However, many newer Irish distilleries are producing their own whiskey but it has not yet matured to a suitable age for sale.

In the meantime they source whiskey for immediate sale from elsewhere.

Definitely marketing spin and gimmick with Waterford. The wine approach isn't going to go down well with traditionalists. I was a bit hesitant, but I tried the Cuvee and it was good. So got the organic Gaia 1.1 today too. Haven't tried that yet. The problem they've all got is that the whiskey is very young. They have to find a way to get it out earlier then it should be when it should be aging in the cask. But they're non-chillfiltered, no colouring and they have put effort in the presentation and marketing. So they get a pass from me.

There's an interview on the German Irish Whiskeys channel on Youtube with Peter Mulryan, he comes across very well. Bought the Dirtgrain Manifesto box on the strength of that. Good book included too. Interesting on how Irish whiskey declined and became almost a monopoly compared to the Scottish industry.

Always rated Arran too. Used to really like the 10 year old.

Artwork and antiques are subject to the vagaries of collectors too. Including them all dying off. An accountant I know relayed the story of one his clients inheriting a modernist painting from his parents. He thought he was in for a good price as his parents had bought it for Euro 48,000. It was evaluated as 2 grand. Eventually, it sold on the internet for a 6,000. When he got it priced he was told all the collectors of this work had died. Supposed to be even worse for antiques.

I was recommended by a neighbour to try 0% Guinness at a local club. It didn't taste too bad but the barmaid said some of the regular session drinkers mix 0% Guinness with a regular Guinness in the same glass. Some day I will try that.

Was in the Corrie yesterday lunchtime. I am not a permanent fixture though. Just a pint or two while in the vicinity. Dark beers have been good recently.

I am not clad from head to toe in John Simon's merchandise either. I did have an Acquascutum raincoat with a poppy badge still in place but I took that off  once I was inside

A couple of pints in the old town, Leigh on Sea with the missus. The Peterboat for an expensive Guinness and the Mayflower for a Legra Pale ale local brew. I dressed as if straight off a cockle boat in a green parka, Lee 101s, basket weave Folk jumper and sand coloured Clarks rock boots. Tootal silk scarf and a dark green ball cap.

Stax- If that is in Main Road Gidea Park then I knew the area very well. The Micro-brewery came after my time though. I used to go regularly to the Ship pub opposite, get my car's serviced next door at the garage. Funny enough I was only talking to the missus today about the garage, pub etc. I was reminiscing about our time there. I twice made offers on houses nearby. I don't recognise your waiter haha the place must have gone downhill since I was there

FSC - Yes the guy on the right (obviously) in the picture does look like the guy I saw, although 6/7 years on he's greyer ( like all of us !), and I doubt he's trimmed his beard in that time so it's stragglier !
Robbie - Yep there's was a pub opposite, didn't clock it's name,
The beers in the micro were ok but very expensive, I started with a pint of porter which was around £7, it was served too cold, it should have been more room temperature, I followed with an IPA which was probably better, was very busy by the time we left around 6'ish, when we visit Romford my request is that we go to the ' Blue Orchid ' for dinner one night, excellent Chinese restaurant, the owners sons now run the restaurant, they went to school with our friends sons so we always get good service etc, plenty of ' geezerism ' going on in Romford , great !