The Last Crawl Of Summer

It was slightly odd to have Liz leave the house before me for her opening game of the season but having an extra weekend before the Conference kicked off meant I had time for a final close season Saturday crawl.

As ever, London Miller Chris was keen to come along me (though he should really have joined Liz and co. cheering on the Millers) and we met at the Kernel Brewery in Bermondsey. This was his first visit and he was tasting some of their beers when I arrived, including their latest brew, Amarillo Pale Ale.

We then split a bottle of their White beer which is my favourite of theirs at the moment - an extremely drinkable and more-ish brew.

Brewer Evin told us that his wife had given birth to a baby boy but they'd not yet got a name. I suggested that simcoe (a hop he uses in his ales) would be a good moniker. We'll see whether his other half agrees...

After Chris had bought a few bottles, we wandered off to Lou Farrow's, the local pie and mash shop.

I opted for double pie, double mash which was in hindsight a tad optimistic as their pies are quite filling and I ended up not finishing my mash. Bad form, don't you know...

(left) The Oakdale Arms - doomed?

The first pub of the day was to be the Oakdale Arms in Harringay, north London, which meant a three-tube journey.

This pub is part of the Individual Pubs chain and is sister pub to the Pembury Tavern. It has been under threat for the past few years and is now supposed to be closing for good.

As such the place is looking a bit run down and there are only two beers on - Spartacus and Tiki from Milton - apparently most of the handpumps have gone to the Pembury in Hackney. We opt for the Spartacus - it's not in brilliant condition.

Manager Rob sees Chris looking into one of the glass cases holding a variety of reptiles and takes out one of his Bearded Dragons. They look fearsome little beasts but don't apear to mind being handled so I pick one up and am surprised by how soft they are. Apparently all they need is one good meaty feed per week and then they're happy on salad. Not my sort of diet.

Rob said he is taking each day as it comes and there is hope that the current planning permission will expire before any work is done to convert the pub into housing. Fingers crossed it does survive.

From here we travelled across north London to Gospel Oak where the heavens opened as we got off the train. Once we'd taken the correct route (after I headed off in the wrong direction), it was just a short walk to the Southampton Arms and so we didn't get too wet.

This pub sits on Highgate Road and as we approached it was clear the road had been cordoned off by police cars. What was occurring?

It turned out that a car had somehow turned over on top of a zebra crossing just a hundred yards down from the pub.

Fortunately the driver was not badly hurt so we didn't feel too bad rubber-necking.

(right) Hmmm, bet you couldn't execute that manoeuvre again, squire...

The Southampton Arms has a great range of beers and ciders and thankfully is not too busy.

As ever I have to remember to ask for a straight glass in here otherwise you're given a jam jar.

After a few pints, it's time to get the football results - there is only one that really matters today and Chris is pleased to hear Rotherham have started the season with a victory against Lincoln (who had simian-featured Clarke Keltie in their ranks).

We move onto the nearby Dartmouth Arms where the Leeds -v- Derby game is in full swing on the TV with only a dozen or so interested punters watching it.

I'm quite surprised to see the pub has three Westerham beers on the pumps : British Bulldog, Grass Hopper and Finchcocks Original.

Both of us opt for the Grass Hopper - Chris quite likes it but I'm not keen as the condition is a bit poor.

(left) The Southampton Arms

Once the game is over, we move on down to Kentish Town and a nice back street boozer called the Pineapple which is the local CAMRA current pub of the year.

The place was very busy as we arrived but we managed to grab a couple of seats at the bar. Also in residence was Jeremy Paxman's understudy, Gavin Esler.

There were five beers on including the likes of Bass, Redemption Urban Dusk and Sambrook's Wandle Ale. We both had the Redemption which was OK but not outstanding - not a surprise as it then ran out.

We arranged to make a final pit stop at the Betjeman Arms at St Pancras where we'd meet Liz after she got back into town. As I got there I couldn't find my phone and then Liz turned up to tell me that the Pineapple had rung her (last number redial) to say I'd left it on the bar. Doh!

The beauty of having a crappy five-year old Nokia is that the smart young things of north London wouldn't think twice about pocketing such a primitive device.

Hopefully I'll not be quite so forgetful over the coming weeks and months of the season. Bring it on!

The Boys Are Back In Town

I normally hate going out on Sunday nights but this is the bank holiday weekend and so I convince myself that it's more of a virtual Saturday.

Liz has gone off with her chums to see Rotherham battle it out with Dagenham at Wembley for the right to play in League One. I've had a few texts asking if I was going and wishing Liz luck but for me the season is well and truly over and I'll not be there. Besides, I have other plans.

They started with a visit to the Southampton Arms in Gospel Oak, an area of north London stuck between Kentish Town and Hampstead which I'm not very familiar with.

The pub has recently popped up on the beer radar recently as having a great choice of beers and ciders - so Steve Duffy and I popped in earlier last week when he was in town and we were impressed. I decided to make another visit with Geoff, our Argyle chum, who was also keen to try it.

Five ciders were available including the lovely Yarlington Mill from favourite Gwynt y Ddraig plus about six beers from various microwbrewers including Whistable Oyster Stout, Otley 01 and Runner, a beer from the Truman Brewery.

Truman's was a major brewer based in Brick Lane but after over 200 years of brewing it closed down in 1989. Now a couple of East End beer enthusiasts have resurrected the name and their recipes and are brewing at the Nethergate brewery (though they aim to return to London). Runner is their first production run - a darkish session beer which was very nice. Watch this space.

For me, there are a couple of minor niggles with the Southampton Arms - unless you ask for a straight glass you'll be served in a jug and they also seem to encourage piano players to come in and tinkle away annoyingly.

From here it was a short walk to the Junction Tavern which was having their 13th beer festival over the course of the long weekend. The place was packed when we got there and all but one barrel on their stillage had been drunk with just five beers on draught.

After a couple of pints I leave Geoff and head on down to Camden for the main event of the day - the mighty Punishment of Luxury are playing the Underworld.

My sister and niece have come down to stay with me for the weekend so that they can go to the gig but they preferred shopping and a tapas bar to drinking with me so we all meet up outside.

This is the band's third London gig in less than a year and I still can't believe that they're back together. They're busy setting up as we enter - no roadies to help them out, they've got to do their own humping.

(left) Jimi Giro and Nevilluxury

I have a quick chat with bassist Jimi Giro who tells me he hadn't got home to Newcastle until 4am that morning after playing in Southport with another band. That's rock and roll, I tell him sympathetically.

The set-list is much the same as for the other gigs though they've clearly been rehearsing as they've tinkered around with the arrangement of a few songs.

There didn't look to be much of a crowd at first but people soon started to move down to the front of the stage and towards the end the crowd were really jumping.

Someone threw an empty plastic glass that bounced off singer Brian Bond's head but he barely flinched and carried on like a true pro. I'm sure he's had much worse thrown at him 20-odd years ago.

The band encored with two of their singles - Jellyfish and what the band described as their one ballad, Brainbomb, which was anything but. The only way to finish their set.

During the gig Brian announced that their album, Laughing Academy, is to be re-released later this year which is great news.

They have another gig in December this year - this will be in Stockton and has been arranged by Mission Impossible editor, Steve Harland, who is also a huge fan of the band. I only hope it coincides with a home game or something will have to give...