Hereford & Chester Back to Back- Tick by Man in a Hat

We’re On Our Way

So here I am, sat on the bus perusing the leaflet detailing changes in the timetables that come into force later this month (mmm, the 324 service is being extended, perhaps I may be able to start boozing in Stockport Sunday evenings again?).

I’m wearing a collared shirt, tie (albeit a County one borrowed off Stafford) and even cufflinks - on a Saturday! Am I going to a wedding? No. Am I going to a funeral? No. Baptism? No. Up in Court again? Not on a Saturday, no.

Let me explain.

Stafford is coming on this trip and due to my dilly-dallying, by the time we came to book hospitality at Edgar Street, it was sold out, so we ended up having to get tickets to stand with the rest of the Blue Army. No offense, but not ideal.

However, following an email to the Club asking if there were some way for Stafford to help the Directors represent County (on account of everything he does as Club Historian), he was duly invited along. Unexpectedly, I was also invited as his Carer. So we’ll both have to be on best behaviour today.

There are loads of the Blue Army about when I reach the Train Station, happily mingling with City fans on their way to Wembley, and race-goers aplenty heading to the National at Aintree.

I see Steve Ridgway, the renowned Stockport County artist, but he doesn’t see me. Perhaps he doesn’t recognise me due to the fancy dress? 

We’re soon on board the 09:40 to Carmarthen and I set about finding someone to use the 2 match tickets we no longer need due to the Club’s kindness.

The train is packed with County, so it doesn’t take long. The “lucky” beneficiaries are a couple from Stockport who had planned a day out in Hereford sightseeing and shopping, on account of having no tickets. Hope I haven’t caused a domestic!

Rubbing Shoulders With Our Betters

After we check into our guesthouse, there’s time for a swift pint in the excellent Beer in Hand, superbly located for the away fan. Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout, very good indeed. Puzzling that this venue is no longer in the Good Beer Guide.

Some familiar faces had beaten us to it though. 

“Any predictions?” “I predict about twenty units and a curry.”

Once in the ground, we’re ushered past Jon Keighren and the rest of the media, into the Board Room. No press in here!

We’re first to arrive so have a nice long chat with the Hereford Chairman. I joke with him that Hereford should try to get into National League South next season as it would be easier to get promoted.

However, he correctly points out that National League North is far better preparation for the league above. The evidence over past seasons in respect of how teams promoted from North and South fair is pretty stark.

He then kidnaps Stafford for some sort of photo opportunity with some students from The Royal National College for the Blind who are also attending the game.

Whilst they’re gone, I manage a snap of the trophies on display in the Board Room. 

Pre-match was very enjoyable, and we were able to engage in the banter with Richard Park, Steve Bellis and Mark Lockyear, who was busy trying to sort out the situation regarding the Nuneaton tickets.

We’re treated to chicken curry, jelly and ice-cream, and at half-time, home made cake. All very civilised. They even fetch us some real ale.

During the game, Stafford is able to listen to Radio Hereford FC, so it’s just like being at Edgeley Park listening to Imagine FM. Apparently, Radio Hereford FC plays 24/7, and I thought we were spoiled! I keep Richard updated with the Chorley score.

Unfortunately, after the game, we’re thrown a bit of a dummy, and end up in the main bar watching The National, so we’re unable to thank Hereford for their hospitality or County for inviting us along to represent the Club.

After a short walk back to the Guesthouse and a change of clothes, we’re out and about exploring the delights of Hereford.

Let Down By Angry Bird!

First up, Good Beer Guide pub Firefly. An unusual venue this, the food menu is entirely vegan, and extremely popular, booking essential. No time for that though, as we’re still full of cake. I try a Salopian beer I haven’t seen before, Kangaroo Court. Perfectly drinkable, especially after a hard day rubbing shoulders with the well-heeled.

Then it’s off to what I regarded as one of the finds of the summer when I was visiting Hereford with my parents, namely the Black Lion. This is just a great, well run pub in every sense. Very busy and deservedly so. Great beer and food.

I score the Ludlow Gold as excellent (my CAMRA duties are never done).

Quite a few County fans are also in (of the hoi polloi variety), some staying over, some not.

There is no teletext at the guesthouse, so we manage to catch up with the other results with some helpful supporters, as we we’re sure how Chorley got on in the end. 

Getting a bit peckish now, so one more pub on the way to the Mary Gold, an Indian that has been recommended.

The Spread Eagle is handily placed on the corner next to the Cathedral, always a useful navigational point in Hereford. Wye Valley’s HPA is fine.

Regrettably, the Mary Gold isn’t fine. After waiting a very long time, the food was brought out pre-plated and I doubt we got what we ordered. Either that, or it all came out of the same trough.

I’d ordered the Lamb Tikka Angry Bird, presented as the Indian Railway when it arrived, and Stafford ordered the Chicken Tikka 1000 Indians, referred to as the Lemon House Curry by the waiter.

Obviously, we sent the food back, as it was not what we ordered. Imagine our surprise when the exact same 2 plates were returned, correctly described as the Angry Bird and the 1000 Indians.

Oh well, the names were good.

Blind Leading the Sighted

Stafford was under strict instructions to keep us busy long enough to ensure we lasted each day of our extended trip into the evening, i.e. to find us something to do that didn’t involve alcohol.

That usually means researching gaps in the Stockport County history he so lovingly tends. For the most part, this involves going to the local library, but I do remember one time he had us wandering around a graveyard in Stalybridge!

Anyway, we find the library, and whilst we don’t expect it to be open on a Sunday, we are disappointed to note that it doesn’t open Monday either.

As a result, we will now have to spend two and a half hours boozing in Hereford tomorrow before we set off for Chester.

Back to today. We’re off to another pub I visited a lot last summer, the Lichfield Vaults, current local CAMRA Pub-of-the-Season, and a bit of a hidden gem tucked away down a side street near the Cathedral.

Butcombe Original for me, scoring highly, accompanied by a lovely brunch.

The Non-League Paper says that our game at Nuneaton kicks off at 12:30, but Chorley is 3pm. Outrage! How is that fair?

Off we go to The Imperial to calm ourselves down. Wye Valley Wholesome Stout. This is my favourite type of beer. Used to be called Dorothy Goodbody’s Wholesome Stout.

Presumably the PC police strike again? No doubt Dorothy now shares a cell with Stockport’s Dizzy Blonde?

We pass Ferrous 2019, a demonstration of forging. Anvils aplenty and what a glorious sight - and smell. Many of the dozen or so forgers are really young. Now why didn’t I take a picture?

All this metalwork is creating a bit of a thirst, so we head for Gordon Bennetts, our third Good Beer Guide pub of the trip so far. Cwtch from Tiny Rebel, according to my records, the same beer I had here last summer, and excellent again.

We bump into Christine and Tony (last sighted in Lowestoft March 2015, call off the Police search). 

 

Time seems to be treating them well.

More stout in the Barrels, completing our tour of the three Hereford pubs in the Good Beer Guide. I’m relieved to find that the beer is excellent, as it wasn’t great over the summer. If you like Wye Valley ales, this is the place to supp ‘em.

We’ve had many an adventure in the Barrels over the years, my favourite being nearly missing our train back to Stockport one Sunday due to a brace of dead pheasants.

Another favourite Hereford boozer is the Victory, home of the Hereford Brewery. Rumour has it that the brewery is to resort to its former name, Spinning Dog.

“Sorry luv, you can’t come in here, we’re filming”.

“Filming what?” “Can’t we come in for a beer?”

“Look, you can’t come in, it’ll ruin continuity, clear orf!”

What a shame. No chance of sitting at the bar shaped like a galleon, no way of looking at the latest scores from the Hereford & District Invitation Skittle League, which should be in its final weeks of the season. 

So, it’s onto the Volunteer Inn, a pub that I have failed to locate on at least 3 occasions in previous years. However, with help from Stafford, we find it and enjoy a pint of Otter Bitter.

I say found with help from Stafford, but in reality, he leads us to it, drawing on what’s in his head from the days when he could see! Those of you who have witnessed this phenomenon, will understand why I have come to trust it ahead of my own sense of direction.

Time to eat again. We opt for the Jalsagor, which faces the Barrels.

We get chatting to some locals in there, who warn us against going to the Mary Gold. Doh! If only we’d bumped into you yesterday.

They also tell us that the Green Dragon is undergoing massive investment, with the intention of restoring it to it’s former glories. Good news, as I’ll be back in 2021 with my parents, and that’s where they like to stay.

We’ve eaten in Jalsagor many, many times over the years, usually after a session in the Barrels and/or Victory, and it is consistently excellent. Once again, it does not disappoint.

Just time to get back to the Beer in Hand to see if there is any Milk Stout left, but we find it closed, so end up in a really nice traditional pub a couple of doors down, called the Horse & Groom.

Another beer I’ve never seen before, Sadler’s Hoppers Hut. Top notch. There’s a video juke box, the type they used to have in the 80s. I opt for a mix of SKA and Pavarotti.

We are asked to leave.

One Last Ale in Hereford

My alarm goes off at the prescribed time, but unfortunately I’ve neglected to put the hour on on my travel clock thingy, so I’m an hour behind. All a bit of a rush, not my thing this.

Today, I am mostly be wearing my white “I’m going to County with Harry the Hatter” t-shirt, which I’m sure looks suitable on an 8 year-old County Junior, but probably looks rather disturbing when worn by a 56 year-old 95kg bearded slap-head with a beer-gut.

We’re out the door by 10:00, and our train to Chester isn’t until 12:27, so we have plenty of time to do the final leg of Hereford, the infamous Commercial Road.

Breakfast at the Kings Fee (Wetherspoons) with plenty of coffee.

I’ve discovered a nice little eye-opener over the years doing breakfast at various Wetherspoons across the UK. After getting your black (or white) coffee, leave your mug on the machine and then select an espresso. It fits in nicely, I promise.

Loads of people already on the ale, even Stella, on a Monday morning! What a disgrace.

I sample Wood’s Shropshire Lass, which is a little disappointing.

Stafford leads the way to the station, where we report in for the pre-booked travel assistance. A very useful service this, particularly if you have a suspect carer.

We discuss the game with the service team, who advise there was lots of trouble on Saturday. Looks like we were wise to avoid Commercial Road on match day.

Wrong Side of the Tracks

After checking in at the Queen Hotel, directly opposite the station, which has its own real ale bar, we decide to head the wrong side of the tracks to try out the ale-houses there, where I’ve never explored, despite lots of visits to Chester over the years.

The Deva Tap is on the way, but is closed, so we save that for later. First stop the Lodge Bar, which is in the Good Beer Guide, Abbeydale beer and whitebait. Very nice. Blue Cheese Mushrooms for Stafford. 

Then onto the Faulkner (Spitting Feathers’ Session Beer), the Bromfield (RedWillow Weightless), and the Royal Oak (Marston’s EPA). All excellent.

A really enjoyable trip around an area called Hoole (I think). Very different from the touristy Chester, we’re probably all more familiar with. Not that far either, very doable on foot.

Back over the tracks to our second Good Beer Guide venue, the Olde Cottage. We pass the Deva Tap again, which is still shut. More Spitting Feathers in the Cottage, which is excellent. What a lively venue this is. A pool match and a darts match are in full swing. Probably one of the busiest pubs I’ve been in on a Monday evening.

Supper at a sit-in Turkish Kebab House is very enjoyable, where Stafford blags the final piece of Baklava.

We (i.e. me) can’t find our final target, a Good Beer Guide pub called Cellar, resulting in a helpful local, who has definitely been out longer than we have, insisting on helping Stafford. 

Now look, I know where we are, it’s just that I want to find the Cellar.

Then, the Mrs of our new friend hangs out of a window nearby and tells him to stop bothering the tourists. As he tries to explain, we beat our retreat, finding refuge in the Old Harkers Arms, a familiar and favourite Chester venue, which also happens to be very close to where we are staying.

Yet another domestic caused by yours truly.

The Sambrook’s Junction Ale is superb.

Best Laid Plan Ruined by Austerity

Another library visit has been arranged to keep us sensible. We’re booked in for match-day hospitality again tonight, and don’t want to turn up half cut.

Splendid though Chester Library may appear, it’s shut and won’t be open until Thursday. After whiling away some time in a café, we head to the Pied Bull. It’s just about noon! 

The Pied Bull has its own brewery on-site, and the smell as we enter is fantastic. Brewing is underway. Stafford isn’t keen though, too hoppy for him. They do accommodation here as well, but despite many attempts, I’ve never managed to book a room.

I’m doing some sampling here. Red Bull, Dark Bull, and my favourite, TangiBull. The opportunity to do a tour of the brewery is politely declined. There are 6 pubs in the UK called the Pied Bull. What’s that about?

Anyway, this particular Pied Bull has been serving ale longer than anywhere else in Chester (since the 11^th Century) and is, of course, haunted. 

We walk in, and back out of the Red Lion next door, after finding just Doombar and Wainwright’s on. According to WhatPub? there should be 6 ales.

An attempt to find some of the Blue Army in the Bull & Stirrup, a right labyrinth of a Wetherspoons, leaves us disappointed, but the ale (Hop County - could be an omen?) is reasonably good.

We’ve been slowly working our way to a new (for me) micro-pub which has forced its way into the Good Beer Guide, no mean feat when you consider what Chester has to offer.

The Goat & Munch is well worth seeking out, and I’ve alerted Stockport CAMRA ahead of their day-trip to Chester on Saturday 22^nd June. Peerless Oatmeal Stout, one of the best beers of the trip so far. 

As we’re in the area, we (i.e. I) decide to pick off Telford’s Warehouse, which is a really interesting place on the Shropshire Union Canal. A bit pricy though.

After trying the Forza! ale by Heavy Industry, we’re in a taxi back to the hotel to get changed for the game, so to speak.

We’re meeting Phil (not Robinson, the other one) in the hotel bar, who’s giving us a lift to the ground. This will also give us an opportunity to claim our complimentary ale as residents.

I forget that it’s now 2019, so “free” beer, means that you actually have to pay for it. The beer we have chosen, the Weetwood Eastgate, doesn’t qualify somehow. How petty! Either provide guests with a complimentary beer, or don’t. Naturally, the beer isn’t very good either, or is that bad taste just in my head?

Blue Army Spotted At Last

As we drive past the Cornerhouse (in the Good Beer Guide) there are twenty-odd of the Blue Army enjoying a pre-match beer, waving County flags at passing motorists. Sorry I didn’t manage to get a picture, it really was quite a sight.

We are welcomed into the hospitality suite at the ground. Paul and Val will be looking after us, and very attentive they were too.

Paul takes us on a dry-run to where we will be sitting, just to make sure Stafford will be ok with the various obstacles en-route. He will be now, thanks to this valuable familiarisation.

Real ale is available. Spitting Feathers. Very drinkable. Guests are treated to a tour of the ground ahead of the game, which Phil embarks upon. Unfortunately I can’t seem to get Stafford’s mobile device hooked up to the wifi, so I stay back to try and sort that out, otherwise there will be no match commentary for him, which won’t be much fun.

I fail miserably, partly I suspect due to our earlier exertions, and partly due to my inability to cope with technology, not to mention my bad attitude towards it.

Phil returns from the tour, which he has clearly greatly enjoyed, and included going onto the pitch and even going into the dressing rooms, where the players were already starting to gather, including Mr. Stopforth! Blimey, I could have some great pictures. Never mind, I brought this on myself, let’s be honest.

The lad’s performance on the pitch eases Stafford’s pain at having no commentary. This is the second 6-0 away victory we’ve witnessed this season!

Post match, we hang back to allow the traffic to clear, affording the opportunity for a debrief with the home supporters, all of whom comment as to how much better County were than Chorley. Let’s hope they’re right in the end.

After a quick handshake of congratulation with Mr. Gannon, Phil drops us off near the hotel for one final beer, hopefully at the Deva Tap which was open when we dove past on the way to the game.

Shut again! As I write this, I now realise that the Deva doesn’t open on Mondays and closes at 10pm weekdays. I blew it! Again!

No matter, we head back to the Olde Cottage encountering various County Supporters hurrying to get the last train back to Stockport. Hope you all made it chaps!

On the way back to the hotel, we check gutters and wheelie bins, just to make sure there are no stray County fans that need a bed for the night. All is well.

Stafford’s key-card doesn’t work, so the night porter has to sort that out before we can turn in.

They Think It’s All Over

I wake up having had this mad dream that County won 6-0!

No sign of the Blue Army at the station.

Sat on the train, I reflect on what a great trip it has been. Back-to-back away games

without going home. Would this ever be repeated? Probably.

Upon returning to Stockport, I pick up a sarnie at Sivori’s, before heading off to Walthew House for my weekly volunteering stint in the resource centre there.

Stafford sets off for his Blind Tenpin Bowling League fixture. I’m amazed he still has the energy.

As I wait, I’m chatting with another County Supporter, in fact all the talk in there is about County. And why not!

Apparently the Nuneaton tickets will be available on-line only and we have been given 3 sides of the ground. The game kicks off at 3pm and has always kicked off at 3pm, so I don’t know what the Non League Paper was on about.

Please, please let us be over the line before then. Then we can enjoy a stress-free final game of the season.

I might even be allowed to wear my hat again! I can dream.

As you know, you can find all of the pubs I mention on the excellent CAMRA website www.whatpub.com

Graham ( Usually in a hat ) Privett