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Friday 13th (Part 3) - "Yo Sneakie, Me again" started the email from Captain Kirk. "After the bus trip to duncton last night, I can confirm that the Criceters [sic] is back on course, with Skinners Betty Stoggs, Arundel Gold, FFF Moondance all in excellent condition (£2.55 a pint as well!) plus a Kings beer but I did not try that as they are consistently disappointing. Diana checked the menu and reports that the prices are more realistic but in keeping with the location. A couple of other pump clips were behind the bar so I presume the range will vary. I have attached a moody dusk light photo for you." If you want to see the picture Sneak suggests clicking here.
Friday 13th (Part 2) - Roumers abound that Hampshire has lost two other breweries today - White Star and Itchen Valley. Sneak cannot confirm either at the moment so watch this space.
Friday 13th (Part 1) - Sneak has heard the news that Ringwood brewery has been bought by the Marstons [
] people. Sneak understand that the folk at Ringwood are positive about the move but Sneak can't help thinking that Marstons is becoming another Jolly Greene Giant. The good news (for now) is that the Ringwood Brewery beers won't be brewed in Burton.
9th - Sneak visited the Spotted Cow in Anmerging this weekend and was pleasantly suprised at the range and quality of the ales on offer. While the majority were of the 'usual suspects' variety there was a Welton's. Things were looking up as well on the menu. However, Sneak Senior asked for no cheese on his chicken dish but was promptly told this was impossible as the meals were all pre-made and frozen! Sneak senior scowled before the waiter laughed and said "not really everything is home made". Sneak is not one to offer praise but this was one of the best pub meals had in a long time.
5th - Sneak was forwarded a picture of the new incumbant chair of the local branch. Sneak won't give Jim's name away as the offending passer on, but here for your pleasure is our chair. we're not sure if he is enjoying the drink - Sneak will leave that up to you ...
9th - Sneak only had half an hour for a quick drink yesterday so decided to try the Chapel Road crowd in Worthing. Sneak started off in the 'Spoons but as they had just finished their beer festival there was no beer to be had (bar John Smith's Smooth and Theakston's BB) so Sneak moved on avoiding Que Pasa, Yates's, the bar formerly a Firkin brewery - all aleless establishments and arrived at the Vintners Parrot to find the single hand pump clipless and empty. Time to get back to work.
28th - Sneak was in the Sir Tim today and overheard a conversation between a customer and a member of staff, it went something like this ... customer: "Pint of Directors please", member of staff: "Sorry we've no Directors on today as its the beer festival, we've only got real ales." Now this is something that Sneak has suspected for a long time but it seems to be filtering down to all and sundry now!
25th - Sneak has heard from ex-Fest again concerning rumours about the Cricketers at Duncton. "I have heard on good authority that it has now been taken over by Charles, Val Wingate's partner in Molecrew but is still some way off operating as a good beer pub as I'm sure you already know. However, what you may not know is that Charles is proposing to start with 4 handpumps - Triplefff Alton's Pride, Skinner's Betty Stoggs and 2 local beers (possibly 1 from Arundel). Found out by doing some tricky earwigging at the 3 Moles this afternoon." Sneak looks forward to his next visit.
22nd - The Church, a pub that was a church, has closed yet again. Rumour has it that it is going to be closed a while and possiblly converted into a ... church. In these days of everything int he high street being closed and made in to a Yates / JD 'Spoon and the like Sneak thinks that these is a rather nice story for a change.
21st - The Slobden was reported to Sneak recently. A certain informer related to Sneak how he had witnessed staff smoking behind the bar and blowing smoke over said infomant and wife. Roll on 1 July says us!
12th - Sneak (yes he was there) was invited to the opening of Beer Box in Worthing and a might fine opening it was. Sneak wishes Gary the best of luck in his new venture. Mrs Sneak is not to happy though as Beer Box is on Sneak's way home from work!
[Note from the Webmaster - due to circumstances beyond our control Sneak was "off-line" for most of Febraury and March, we hope to have a 'normal' service resuming in April.]
26th - Sneak realises this meaybe too later for regular readers to change their plans but today is the start of the Selden Arms beerfest. Beers to look out for include the Russian Imperial Stout at 10.5% and "smooth as a baby's bottom", the 5.5% Rum Porter which has "matured" to a nice round 6.1% over time, and some new beers from local and brewers further afield. Personally Sneak is look forward to a 'Crafty Shag' (the bird of course) from White's, and the first outing for 2007 of Sunburst. Can't wait for it to start. (3 hours and counting ...)
8th - Sneak met Marvin who has been infected with "Eastbourneitus". This particular disease affects many people but its symptoms usually start off with being served with lots of really cr*p real ale. The name comes from the fact that a certain East Sussex town is not renowned for its real ale. The later stages of the disease are even more horrific as the victim becomes immune to the taste of 5% lager ... Sneak can't go on.
7th - Sneak had a bit of a bad day today. Two pubs normally respected for thier Summer Lightning both severed up what can only be described as not worth drinking. The first was to say the least - warm. So Sneak moved on where the second was sent back untouched. Not Sneak's lucky day - and Sneak only had an hour pass!
5th - Vast numbers of real ale and Morris dancing supporters descended on Tarring High Street this Wassail to sing to the trees (Sneak thought that was the Lorrax's job) to bring on a bountiful harvest. Sneak understands that said celebration is rounded off with copious amounts of real ale. Sound like fun.
17th - Sneak heard from a group of dinners this weekend who were unfortunate enough to go the newly fitted out Coach and Horses. The beer was fine, but said dinners had to wait nearly two hours for thier main course! By then they'd had enough beer that there was very little left. All in all a "bitter" experience and one that Sneak won't be trying to repeat. Teach them to read a food review in the Worthing Herald!
16th - Sneak bumped into the Quaffer this Saturday. Seems the next issue is going to be an exposé of Sompting and Lancing. However, Sneak met him in the Selden preparing himself for the expedition. The preparation took the form of vast quantities of Dark Star Chocolate Stout!
11th - Sneak had been let on to the new guest ales coming on at the G&D in "the village". Dutch reported Bonfire Boy at £2.40 - well below Harvey's list price - and Sneak saw the Dog's Boll*ck$. Not having had that for a number of years Sneak ordered a pint of said ale. Only to have it run out half way through! Oh well have to have a Summer Lightning instead.
Well Sneak has been away "up-north" this month, and was most impressed with the price of RAIB. On a quick trip to Garstang's Boothes Sneak proudly came out of the shop with 12 bottles of RAIB for just over £12 (one bottle was £1.40 the rest 99p all RAIB) and these weren't special offers. An excellent selection as well.
Compare that with what you can get in Worthing. £1.75 is pretty much the normal if it is not on a BOGOF type deal.
Mrs Sneak wasn't too happy though as Sneak had forgotten the food for lunch!
30th - Well you read it here first. Sneak is a multimillionaire! Sneak was checking the investment club, and it seem the value (which can go up as well as down) has now reached a staggering £940,000,000 as of the end of August. Now Sneak is not good with a calculator, but even if there were 5,000 members of the Investment Club that would mean an average payout of about £188,000. Click here (180k)for a screen shot.
29th - Sneak heard from a degenerate bunch of spongers today. Seems they got a trip up to Hammerpot and nearly drank the place dry! Led by Joint Festival organsiers. You can see them and their host in action here. After Hammerpot (if that was not enough) said crew descended on the Dew Drop to consume vast amounts of Old Thumper at a brilliant £2.30 a pint, and then the Henty. Memories get a bit hazy at that point and Sneak has only rumour to advise of where they next visited
28th - Slightly old news (but if the newspapers can do it so can Sneak). One recent trip to the Lamb at Anmering found a group of Arun & Adur Stalwarts talking to one of the Sussex Drinker editors. Needless to say said editor was whiling the evening away over a pint of vodka and tonic. Sneak kids you not.
27th - Sneak was approached by an "ex-Beer Festival Organiser" today. "Just thought that I would let you know that I purchased some beer in the Swan in Arundel that came from Okells Brewery. It had a hand written pump clip saying 'O'Kells [sic] from the Isle of Wight' not Isle of Man! Taste was ok but the beer was a bit murky. However it was a real bargain at £2.85 a pint." Sneak is not sure where said ex normally drinks but believes there may have been just a hint of sarcasm in the last sentence ...
20th - Sneak understands that Marvin was in the "newly" aquired Alex. Shame he had to have some lemonable in the Harvey's to make it drinkable.
19th - Sneak has final got round (after a number of complaints0 to updating the website. So first off this month (what's left of it - Ed.) the new bar at the University of Westminster students' union. Which Sneak knows is out of the area but thought some of you might enjoy.
The press release goes "Welcome to the Intermission Bar [...] where academics come to while away their evenings and their student loans. The 499-capacity venue now plays host to six high tech tables, kitted out with pop-up touchscreens where students can order drinks without having to leave their seats."
"According to Escapism media, the company behind the tables, drinkers who order remotely become more creative, frequently leaving their lager comfort zone for spirits and cocktails."
The union said the "touchscreen ordering will save students having to wrestle with a throng of drinkers to get served. The union is also looking at new ways to earn money from the tables including sponsorship and by opening the system up to advertisers."
Sneak can't wait to see this is Worthing's Chapel Road, might be able to get a drink at the 'Spoons in under 20 minutes!
(Sneak was on holiday - not for all of it but he's having a rest ...)
20th - Sneak has often mentioned the goings-on of Chapel Road (Chaple [sic] if you're in the Tim Shelley). Well the Vinterner's has now had a makeover - a fine shade of bottle green - and the Wheatsheaf is now turquoise. Sneak decided to checked out Wikipedia® to find out what was special about turquoise and low and behold "mainstream psychiatric hospitals also use turquoise and other light shades of blue and green to calm patients by painting the walls in these colors." Always worth checking your colours first!
17th - Sneak also noticed that the Southdown has had a makeover, the wonderful sheep inn-sign has now been replaced with a rather bland offering. Sneak wonders if that is to reflect the type of beer sold. One day Sneak will find out ... one day.
15th - A wander down Chapel Road on day and Sneak found the old Toad under going a re-furb. Now black and yellow and renamed Que Pasa. Que Pasa takes its name from the Spanish for ‘What's happening' "which describes it to a tee!!" states the old Eldrigde Pope company's web-site. What on earth is happening! Sneak might just have to drink his last bottle of 1985 Thomas Hardy to spare his wrath.
14th - Sneak has noticed a lot of work going on at the Coach & Horses on the A27. A major "white van" fleet have been stationed there for a few weeks now. A new sign and the whole place has had a thorough going over. Including the web site which is now at www.meetingroomnine.com for some reason.
7th - Sneak has always had a soft spot for trying new beers. So along comes Stinger from the Badger. Spotted at the Horse and Groom (sorry World's End) Sneak tried a pint with his meal, and while a little bland (little hops, but to be fair it did say so) Sneak enjoyed it enough to have another. It comes in a nice (lined) stem glass. Of course Sneak popped it on his bill only to discover it was a round £3 a pint.
7th - Sneak is going to keep the location of this little gem (!) a secret. Sneak's eyes almost popped out when he saw a hotel price list (in Arun & Adur) and saw £3.50 for Harvey's. Sneak had to sit down after then noticing that said £3.50 bought you ONE 275ml bottle. A nice round £7 a pint! Needless to say Sneak did not stop for a beer.
5th - Sneak heard from and old friend today who is recognisable to all with his opening line "Yo Sneakie". Anyway ... "Last time I dropped into the Jolly Brewers it must have been just before the change of management. It was decidedly down at heel with empty shelves and fridges, not many lights on and some very tired and emotional clientele." Starts are correspondent."Having seen the 'Under New Management' banner outside, I ventured in the other night. The Bombardier was fine (£2.50 a Pint) the lights were back on and the shelves were full. Half the clientele were still tired and emotional and the others were playing darts comparing tattoos and texting each other."
3rd - Sneak may have to make an apology (shock horror) as the rumor that the Black Horse Findon 's skittle alley is still there, but nobody has yet confirmed. It is still a "restaurant but you can still get a pint Beefeater style", according to one correspondent.
26th - In preparation for tonight's showcase (see 25th below) Sneak has been abstaining, 48 hours and counting, 48 hours one minute ...
25th - Sneak heard from Dutch again, "As advised earlier this week, the Selden has a Dark Star Showcase this Friday evening, As well as the regular Hophead there will be :- Sunburst and APA plus Oatmeal and Double Chocolate Stouts. Sunburst is the only eighteen, so expect a bit of a rush, certainly the Double Chocolate will be gorged by the regulars and APA will undoubtedly go fast too!" Dutch tells us. Whoops "Silly whatsit, why am I not keeping this news to myself !" Don't know Dutch but Sneak certainly intends to have his fair share!
23rd - Sneak was one of the first to hear about the closure of Youngs' brewery (Sneak has many sources) and has a new plan of action for CAMRA, DO NOT start a petition - otherwise Youngs will have less than a year before they are taken over and become the Youngs Brewery, Bury St Edmunds like many of the family brewers now in BSE.
20th - Sneak heard from a regular contributor who spent a windy/rainy Saturday morning sampling the beers of Germany. Whilst enjoying himself completely said correspondant beleves that should the course be run on British beers the tutor may well have a can of Carling and John Smith's Cream Flow on hand - just to show you how bad they really are.
12th/13th - Sneak decided a 'themed' weekend was called for so Sneak visited two of the three Windmills this weekend. First off, the Windmill at Littleworth, where the beer was excellent. Perhaps, Sneak thinks, Badger has taken Sneak's campaign to heart as King & Barnes Sussex does now have "Brewed in Dorset" on the beer mats. Or perhaps Sneak's memory is not what it useed to be. Sneak drove (well Mrs Sneak) past the Windmill in Littlehampton (for obvious reasons) on his way to the Windmill in Rustington. This was Sneak's first visit here and it was a good visit too. Hammerpot Red Hunter was in mighty fine form (three pints form!).
6/7th - Sneak managed to miss the Mayoral presentation of the POTY 07 to the Seldam Harms on the Saturday. But managed a sneaky pint on the Sunday. No mild was left though as Andy Capp was reported to have drunk at least half of the available mild the day before.
4th - Sneak heard from Marvin again. Seems that the Black Horse (Findon) has "had a substantial refurb which must have cost a significant sum as amongst the prices I can remember were Fullers London Pride £2.90, Guiness £3.60 and a "goumet" burger [at] £9.00. Form an orderly queue now!" It also looks like the last skittle alley (possible the only) in Findon has been removed to make way for ... wait for it ... more tables and chairs. Sneak is of the opinion that the exorbitant price for London Price [sic] is only justified by the pub company's greed.
3rd - One of Sneak's regular correspondants reliably informs Sneak of one pub company who wrote to the landlord and said he had used up all his non-pub co. supplied beer for the year oh and while your at it add 20p to the price of a pint as the budget has just happened - making Sneak's suggestion of 5p (see 23 March below) seem positively tame! Sneak is obviously not a money grabbing accountant who can only see where the next £1 million is coming from!
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