Sometimes it’s an absolute pleasure to enter a backstreet boozer and be so well received and welcomed.

Doing LPE in heavily residential areas I never know what I’m going to get when I cross the threshold into very often a blind interior from the street. My presence as an outsider is often not welcomed and more tolerated. You have to be battle hardened especially if alone (which I usually am). By nature people are suspicious of outsiders and pubs can be very territorial on the old manors. You have to try quickly to breakdown barriers and leave your ego at the door entering as a guest. A big smile and greeting to the staff and punters at the bar goes a long way to acceptance and, frankly, it’s just good manners.

The lady manning the pumps couldn’t have been more hospitable and the two punters at the bar were first rate happily talking about pubs of the area.

It’s a classic backstreet boozer with everything you’d expect to find - trad carpet, dark wood, darts, pool table, more trophies than you could shake a stick at and two separate bars. Sadly in 20 years time you’ll only find pubs like this in history books.

I’ll likely never step foot in here again but I will always fondly remember the warm welcome and friendly chin wag over a jar at the bar about changing pub culture (and many sad demises). Conversation and social interaction is what sets us aside from beasts and we could all do a bit better if we spent time talking to people more (not at them). You know what to do...