Cask Ale Lottery In Whitwick

Whilst I don’t meticulously tick off regions like Martin and Duncan as they attempt to achieve the impossible and complete a GBG glut of pubs in a calendar year, I do keep records

Of course, it is nigh on impossible nowadays as you get some boozers, such as this one documented by Duncan, that really only opens for a few hours per week, so the accessibility is tricky.

However, duly noting all of that, I am aware that I am slowly but surely finishing off the likes of Coalville, Whitwick and its surrounding ex pit villages.

It will be a sad day when I don’t need to visit the LE67 postcode anymore, as it has some of the most edgy yet fantastic pubs in Britain.

Not all of them of course would meet with beer sommelier Rich’s approval, as there is only one cask ale on and a distinct lack of craft options, but none of the punters are remotely concerned in  401 – The Three Crowns LE67 5DT

(Bar blockers #1)

It’s in the Market Place in Whitwick and just over the road from The White Horse, which was an edgy boozer when I popped in for some Champions League football about 15 months ago.

If you check on the CAMRA website then you have to unclick the famous real ale available green tick box as it definitely says cask is not on the agenda.

When I called in at around 5.15 on a Thursday it didn’t look as though cask was on the agenda for many but I saw the Pedigree pump clip and thought why not?

To be fair, a pub that is advertising itself as the cheapest beer in Whitwick, where sub £3 pints are the norm, is likely to pull in the spoons clientele in an area that has no Wetherspoons.

(Bar blockers #2)

They were all there, Stella, Carling, Foster’s, Strongbow and all well under the three quid mark.  The barmaid was friendly and when I managed to catch her eye between the bar blockers – who weren’t budging an inch for anyone – I managed to order half a Pedigree (Marston’s).

(Best prices in Whitwick!)

£1.15!   yes that’s just over a pound for half a pint of Wolverhampton Burton’s finest and the barmaid was friendly but the local bar blockers weren’t up for any eye contact/small talk.

The conversation was flying elsewhere  though and the punters away from the bar were slightly friendlier although clearly enjoying the prices. One bloke who was working towards being wasted promised he’d go home for his tea, freshen up and then get back on it later!

There was a bit of banter about a dog that looked like it was peeing on the floor due to its age and generally people were knocking back a lot of drink at a cheap price with sky sports on in the background.

The Pedigree was barely drinkable to be honest but I didn’t have the heart to negotiate bar blockers once again so I forced most of it down as I couldn’t see any Martin style plant pots nearby.

Therein lies the cask conundrum.  This is most definitely a locals boozer with stacks of chimney pots in close proximity.

There are other boozers nearby who provide a decent pint of beer but I’m not sure anyone in this pub cares…and why should they?

(That definitely says stabling…)

It’s a proper boozer, one that Alan Winfield would have loved and Paul WME has probably beaten me to it, as you needed to be on your toes in here as people were indulging in some proper drinking.

#publife in some local boozers involves getting wasted on cheap booze and having a play up as opposed to drinking earnestly and welcoming in all and sundry.

(imagine this with pink marker pen all over it…)

This is my penultimate Whitwick boozer so I am taking my time before finally ticking off the section of the LE67 postcode.

The 2019 cask ale summer lottery has started early and this would be a better boozer if it kept to its market and put on a bit of keg Worthington.   However, apart from me, I don’t think anyone else cares and if you’re out for a craic then this is definitely a pub that will get very lively.