Jac’s keg

The cellarman at the Barons a couple of years ago confided his opinion that keg bitters are getting better. I thought nothing of this until yesterday when I had a pint of Banks in Liverpool’s Jacaranda that was…well… OK, acceptable, no bad.

What made it really special though was the £1 a pint price tag and the unique atmosphere of the bar.

If you’ve never been to the Jac, a former haunt of the Beatles on Liverpool’s Slater Street, it’s worth a visit.

Scruffy, full of characters and unique artworks and photos, some by members of the Fab Four, it’s a gem.

And you can get your cask fix by heading along the road to Duke Street where the newly gentrified Monroe offers splendid ales and food.

New gay bar opens in Southport tonight

There will be stilt walkers, fire breathers and cheapo drinks as Manchester’s AXM group open their newest gay club in Coronation Walk, Southport, tonight.

Could be the end of The Crown – surely there’s a place for an old fashioned gay pub and a bass pounding club?

Tell us what you think of AXM…

And before you ask, no real ale

Richmond’s a winner

Rednev recently recommended the Richmond on Richmond Street, Liverpool, between the Met Quarter and Playhouse.

I’ve just spent an obscene amount on a new suit, so popped in for refreshment and to steady myself.

Three local real ales on and single malts at £2.50 a double. Perfect afternoon.

Pictured below my new bezzie mates.

The gin and tonic challenge

Whenever I get the urge to visit my old pal Aggers, we usually end up in The Railway, Ainsdale, where something interesting always happens.

Tonight it was being charged £3.60 for a SINGLE gin and tonic, and not good stuff either.

Unlike whisky, gin is gin but I’ve been paying £1 for Gordons and Tonic at Wetherspoons and would expect to pay no more than £3 at any pub.

Is the Railway a rip off? Please, regular readers of this blog could you ask what your local charges for G&T and post here.

Hydes given a hiding

So-so Manchester brewer Hydes has posted a £1.3m loss. Could it have anything to do with them greedily asking their tenants for shedloads more money and forcing a load of licensees out of business?

Usually there’s no shortage of poor folk to take over bars but people are realising how hard it is selling mediocre beer in lousy Manchester pubs.

I Hoped for better

To Liverpool, where a rich old lady treated me to dinner at 60 Hope Street, a fashionable restaurant.

I was disappointed by the beer choices, but thought I’d be safe with Cains, who always do a good bottle.

Alas, the Cains came in a tinnie. A little out of place, I thought, at a joint that charges £30 for steak.

If only…

Sadly it’s water. The brewer is using its tankers to get supplies to thousands of people in Dublin hit by a water shortage crisis caused by burst mains.

Stonch gone

Being slow on the uptake, I’ve only just released that Stonch has retired his blog.

The pair of us had a couple of run-ins over the years, but it was his example that inspired me to start and may have given the spark to others, too.

It’s tempting to give up. I often have to work 12 hour days now just to keep the baliffs at bay. There’s little time for pubs and even less money, in these awful times.

So farewell then, Stonch (who reverted back to his original name at last). If I’m even near the Gunmakers, I’ll pop in and put my dirty working class boots on the table and roar for a Stella and Black.

Lion sleeps tonight

The Lion in Burscough, a half decent pub I seem to recall, has closed.

The new Hop Vine by the town centre bridge is looking good though.

Wetherspoons whisky – go figure

In Southport’s Lloyds no1-Wetherspoons today they are offering Gordons Gin AND tonic for 99p, a shot of 10 year old Talisker whisky for £1.49 and a shot of crappy Bells ’scotch’ for £2.49.

Answers on a postcard.