Wither the blarney boozer?

Begorrah boozers opened up everywhere in the 80s and early 90s, with the big pub companies spending millions on making bars look authentically tatty.
But, as with all fads, the magic wore off. There’s only so many times a Polish barmaid can ask you about “the craic” before you lose the will to live.
The only Irish [...]

Short, dark night of the soul

To the St Teresa of Avila (my patron saint) social club in Birkdale yesterday and a free bar and buffet to celebrate the First Holy Communion of my wonderful nephew.
When there’s no cask beer, I normally make for the Bloody Mary’s, but as this was a kiddies party, getting hammered wouldn’t have gone down well, [...]

Paddy’s day for toffs

If you’re a traditionalist, then today is the only day that we celebrate that patron o’booze, St Patrick.
I’ve already offered you a recipe for the Everybody’s Irish cocktail, but the posher posers among you may prefer to splurge on a black velvet.
The drink was created by the head barman at Brooks’s Club of London in [...]

The three-day begora bender

There’s a week and a bit to go until the end of Lent and my long abstention from alcohol.
It’s been a frustrating time for someone who writes a drinks blog, but has satisfied my perfunctory approach to Roman Catholicism and given me the opportunity to reflect on the role that alcohol plays in my life [...]

African crisis

The Southport Drinker has been loving the Rugby World Cup and was thrilled by England and France’s against-the odds victories.
On Sunday South Africa will take on Fiji in what looks like being another classic game, but pity the poor Springboks fans in the townships, who are experiencing a shortage of beer .
Meanwhile, Ireland have been [...]