PUBS!

So I deleted a ton of content when I wiped my old website. Doh!

I spend a bit of social time in pubs – so I thought I could start with them.

Peterborough drinking

I live in Peterborough near the edge of the fens. It has pubs.

Ostrich Inn

This used to be the infamous ‘Bogarts’ pub. A second home of punks and strays. Scary Clown Matty even used to be the landlord!

Done up and now back with its original old name, the Ostrich is what I’d call a proper boozer, full of characters, in the heart of boro town centre.

Recently it’s ownership has moved around, but luckily music is still important here. It’s actually been improved as a music venue – a ‘stage’ area with permanent lighting, PA, and stuff to plug your gear into. It’s still a terrible shape for a music venue – a horseshoe bar, so it’s not ideal, but it’s pretty much all we’ve got these days as a permanent music pub.

We use the Ostrich Inn for last-minute or more intimate gigs – we’ve had some amazing bands play here – including quite a few touring American big names! Always free entry gigs, with a reduced budget.

Beer wise – a small range of real ale and craft on tap, along with a good range of gin. This place is all about the buzz.. a mixing pot of arty types, old punks, and hardcore drinkers. Often has pop-up vegan food people putting on grub.

The Stoneworks

Peterborough’s first and only craft beer bar. It’s actually probably in the top 10 craft bars in the country, both for the range (26? taps), and quality of the beers. Custom-built cold-room sits directly behind the bar, with very short tube runs to the taps. Their beer is delivered by Jolly Good Beer who bring the beer in chilled vans – and store it all in cold rooms, so it’s all at the very best and freshest quality. Not many bars can claim to be fully chilled from brewery to glass.

The bar is owned by Sean (who is dedicated to amazing service and a special experience), and ‘Texas’ Steve – who is a craft brewer in his own right (Bexar County). Steve’s contacts in the brewing scene mean the bar gets some amazing tap-takeovers – and a lot of special beer launch nights.