Horse, Fox and Palace
A meander round the inner suburb, starting for me at the Bay Horse on Blossom Street. Always a very local pub, except on race days, and quite cosy. The Deuchars was off but the Black Sheep was superbly kept, one of the best pints of Sheep I’ve had in a long while. Nearly opposite, the Mount was closed and advertising for a new manager, but nobody felt deprived as it was never a favourite. The Crystal Palace has a rather bright lounge bar, a bit like a 1950s living room with 150w bulbs, and full of well-dressed old people of both sexes chatting quietly. Our group was perhaps an atypical intrusion. But as it’s a Sam Smiths pub, the beer was extremely cheap. Finally, to the Fox, which has had its ups and downs but retains the two nice back snugs. Not quite as comfy a feel as it used to be, but OK.