A few ales

Right then, I was aiming to get this started earlier but due to various obstacles (me being lazy and spending too much time in the alehouse), I've only just got round to doing it. The idea is that I'll visit 366 different pubs this year that serve real ale - you, the lucky reader, will get to find out all about it. I'd also aimed to get a few more photos sorted but only got a new camera the other week so they're also a bit thin on the ground. Great start.

So far I've been to 48 different pubs that sell real ale (and a few other that don't). I kicked off the challenge in the Red Deer in Sheffield on New Year's Day with a pint of Everards Sunchaser and have been to Manchester, London, Scarborough and, very briefly, York.

                                                           The first of many

Manchester is one of my favourite places to imbibe and a trip to watch Sheffield United at Bury provided the perfect opportunity to sink a few. The top end of the Northern Quarter was our chosen post-match destination with The Angel (Bob's Brewing Co - White Lion), The Marble Arch (Marble - Lagonda No 6) and the The Crown and Kettle (great jukey, Prospect - Blinding Light) all taken in. You can see the fine tiled ceiling of the excellent Marble Arch in the picture below (unfortunately some oaf has got in the corner of the shot). Anyone visiting Manchester should make the effort to locate this gem, great ales from Marble and a lovely interior.

The week after Manchester I found myself in London on another Blades away trip. Due to a slightly unconventional route down, pre-match opportunities were limited. We did, however, mange to visit The Charles Lamb. A lovely little backstreet effort round Islington way, and a nice pint of RCH Pitchfork to take in the surroundings.

A swift one in the Harlequin (Timothy Taylor's Landlord) was also boxed off before heading to the match (we were robbed!).

Around tea-time we headed to the London Bridge / Borough Market area. Had one in The George - fact fans will pleased to know the Charles Dickens used to bevvy in here. Felt nice to have a pint where Charles probably used to come and get smashed on mead or whatever they drank in those days.

After that we headed to the much celebrated Market Porter, a pint of Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter was consumed and we were on our way.

To round the day off, we nipped in the newly opened Euston Tap. They've built it in some sort of old sentry box (bit too big for that) or something, the ale was good (Thornbridge - Brother Rabbit) and I liked the compact feel of the place.

So that was London, a trip to Scarborough last weekend saw a visit to the homely Leeds Arms - great pub, shame about the name. Cracking pint of Copper Dragon Golden Pippin so I'll let them off.

If you're still reading this hats off, I'll be aiming to update this on a more regular basis so if you want to see and read more about ale, pubs and my attempt to visit and drink in lots of them, pop back. Cheers!