Beers, Boats and Boozers, No.74.

We has a little longer in March so were able to explore the place, and the pubs. a little more.

From Broad Street Bridge we look back to where we left the boat for about half an hour. The service block is on the opposite side. This mooring is under trees, and as we saw a boat move off from the Town moorings we went back and moved her up into the sun.

The Hippodrome (now the Wetherspoons) was not the only cinema in March. In fact the first one was this, the Palace, that opened in 1912. Apparently it is still quite well preserved inside despite it accommodating various businesses. I would have thought that this could be restored to an Edwardian splendour (actually opened when George V was on the throne). It closed in 1930's maybe because it couldn't afford to update to the 'talkies', or maybe due to the competition of the Hippodrome that opened in 1928.

At the top of Broad Street is this ornate fountain that is dedicated to the Coronation of George V in 1911. I don't think there is any water there now, but it does make an attractive statement at the busy junction. I do like the street light on the top too.

At the other end of the square is the war memorial. This is a very pleasing Grade II Listed memorial that is made of Cornish Granite and the soldier at rest, leaning on his Lee Enfield rifle is of Scicilian Marble. It was designed by W.G. Stoor-Barber of Leominster who had been a private in the Marines in WWI and was unveiled in 1921. Plaques for the names of those lost in WWII  were added, and interestingly in 2009 a further nineteen names were added to the WWI plaques.

Just by the Town Moorings is the Ship Inn. This pub reopened in 2010 as a freehouse. The building dates from the 1500 and 1600's with the dormers been added in the 1900's. The thatch means it stands out. The downstairs ceilings are particularly and the pub is Grade II Listed. There is a small games room to the rear. It is a cosy place and had several real ales on hand pull when we were there.

I tried one from Church End Brewery which is now near Nuneaton. It started in 1994 in an old coffin works in Shustoke behind the Griffin Inn with a 4 bl plant. They moved to their present site and upgraded to a 10 bl plant, the old one going to Slaughterhouse Brewery. They had to upscale once again in 2008 and this time to a 20 bbl set up. They obviously trying out different brews as they have got around 200 on their lists.

I tried their seasonal summer beer Sunshine at 4.6% It has a lovely pale gold colour with a nice thick white head. It is brewed using Mount Hood and Cascade hops and a great citrus aroma and taste. Then comes the clean tangy bitterness that makes it so refreshing on a warm summers day. Perfect for the beer garden.