It’s Coming Home…

“It’s coming home, It’s coming home, it’s coming, pubs are coming home….”

Yes, I know it’s not ideal for many smaller pubs and problems lie ahead but, let’s celebrate the fact that one of Britain’s greatest pastimes, drinking in pubs, is back on the agenda again tomorrow!

(Pied Bull in Shepshed – most popular pub according to the stats)

I am definitely visiting a pub tomorrow and, as I have some time off looming after working throughout lockdown, I am definitely visiting a few more throughout July!

That means less of this…

 

– thank you to Leatherbritches Brewery  though, for providing some fabulous beer these past three months, and hopefully back to this…

(lacings – Black Swan in Shepshed)

Of course, for bloggers like myself it is a lifeline, as there are only so many posts I can dredge up about not drinking in pubs, and my aim is to at least reach 600 pubs by the end of 2020.

I am currently 45 away from that total but, with some planning, I reckon I can notch them up before we’re welcoming in the New Year.

However, in an act of blatant plagiarism and ripping off the likes of Martin/Mudgie/Duncan/Paul WME and Si, I am having a look through my stats in almost three years of blogging.

23,000 + visitors, although even Alistair Campbell, the king of spin, couldn’t make you believe that was 23,000 different punters.

An average of 12.5 comments per post this year means I am down from my ‘halcyon’ period of 2019 with 15…

this is the new normal though!

Some of the top commentators are listed here

and I know the actual effort it takes to comment on a blog as opposed to just Twitter so much appreciated to everyone who comments on both forums.

Clearly Micros are the new talking point as this post  (see above) was my most ever commented post and a Clash based Micro in Loughborough came in second.

However, best views ever are February 6, 2019, which must mean that what the reader(s) really want is the magic of the FA Cup.

I posted this blog on Lifeafterfootball that day

and it was a dark Tuesday night in Shepshed.

The late great Richard Coldwell offered his usual contrary point of view and he was fantastic at sparking off debates – I miss him.

Martin,

Duncan,

Neil,

Russ (after a freebie!)

and Ian all joined in.

Quite often the comments are more entertaining than the blog itself (said 95% of readers when questioned)

Newport beating Middlesbrough in Round 4 in the Pied Bull – a backstreet local in Shepshed – clearly captured the imagination!

Was it the Leicester City darts flights?

Was it the half pint of Burton Bitter Saddle Tank?

Was it the friendly gaffer turning the TV towards me so I could watch?

Was it the conversation about the various merits of Luther & Silent Witness?

Was it Shepshed Pete telling his pals who drink in The Black Swan?

(Butthole Lane is where Shepshed Dynamo play – just for clarification!)

I’ll never know but that, for me, is the beauty of pub blogging.

You turn up at a pub you’ve never visited before and as you open the door you never know what to expect…

Sometimes what seem like the most bog standard places provide the best tales and pub life is fantastic.

It might change but, I know as I’m waiting tomorrow to order a pint, there will be that crackle in the air and a feeling that Lifeafterfootball is returning to normal.