Meeting A Pub Blogging Legend Part 2 – Whitwick

Not only was this a crucial meeting for the inaugural East Midlands breakaway of the PUB (Pub Bloggers Union) but it was also the inaugural breakaway visit for the Bass Alliance of Drinkers (BAD), which is likely to have four members (Old Mudgie and Ian T) but was just two strong on this occasion.

(Bass, in a half glass, on a Pedi mat with Martin shunning all vices!)

In fact, if we start any more breakaway groups there is a danger we will become the People’s Front of Judea – one topic not discussed on this occasion (will rectify next time).

However, to do that you need to find a hostelry that sells Bass…oh look there’s one.

273 – Three Horseshoes LE67 5GN (also known as Polly’s) is in Whitwick, which has delivered terrific swearing in all of its boozers previously, as it competes with Coalville for the prestigious title of the ‘earthiest boozers in Britain’ award.

This one started well as the gaffer was outside having a fag when we arrived and it also had outside toilets, which is a rare treat in 2018!

We were greeted with an “afternoon gents” by a punter studying the form intently and he gave us a couple of tips but we managed to resist the temptation;  however, I can only avoid so many vices.

The biggest one is Bass and the shady character Yorkshire Rich had clearly been here selling his wares beforehand but this may be genuine as Bass was definitely on the menu.

I plumped for a half and Martin was up to his limit so was forced to share the last knockings of my half  but the PUB (Pub Union of Bloggers) are a friendly bunch and the conversation was ALMOST as good as the Bass!

(Gaffer – post fag – pondering exotic holiday)

I told the gaffer I apologised for being the last of the big spenders and he replied with “Yep, I’m retiring to the Maldives on the back of this!”

However, he needed a good sense of humour as two couples had arrived ten minutes earlier in their Sunday best – all suited and booted – asking to see the menu..

He replied “We haven’t got a food menu – we sell crisps though,” The one couple chilled out and had a wine and a pint but the other bloke insisted they had been set up by their friends who had arranged to meet them for a meal here and prowled menacingly (well as menacingly as a septuagenarian can be) by a bench, wheel and motorhome opposite the pub!

The Bass was more than decent and the only problem was that it wasn’t a pint!   Whilst the pub is known as the Three Horseshoes every man and his dog locally refers to this boozer as Polly’s.

The other half of the landlord was really chatty and said they were the first duo in the history of the boozer not to be part of Polly’s (Burton/Callaghan) family when they took it on a year ago but were local and knew all about this history of the place.

Apparently they had to put the up the pub sign (not the Bass lamp) because delivery drivers couldn’t find the place.  The one side of the pub was a former watchmakers and a butchers and she referred to this as “It’s our little small place!  I mean that in a nice way as it’s our proper little pub and we really like it.”

Pub legend Martin happily shared his photos with me once again and has also blogged on this visit  (here’s his highly amusing version)

https://retiredmartin.com/2018/08/28/pollys-in-the-city-of-dan/

and we went our separate ways after visiting two of the best and most basic boozers you will find in Britain which still have a thriving market in LE67 postcode.

Just don’t ask for the menu!