Cleveleys Pubs

I appear to have been in Hibernation Mode for the best part of a month but it’s now time to get back out there on the blogging trail. First up, a local trip, heading into Cleveleys with Karen after the Blackpool v Huddersfield match. Cleveleys has recently risen to prominence to become an official Beer Destination and I don’t visit often enough. Plus, there was somewhere new and exciting to visit tonight, which is always a treat.

I trotted into town, observing the following on my way:

Cask & Tap

Yes, yes, I know this isn’t in Cleveleys but we had to meet somewhere first. Cask & Tap was rammed on my arrival but I managed to find a space at the bar to consider my options.

I had considered the beer board on the Real Ale Finder app before heading out and had resolved to have just the one beer because I didn’t want to Peak Too Soon to the detriment of the beer and pubs in Cleveleys. However, faced with the above choices, I simply couldn’t choose just the one (always a problem in here), so I went for a third of each of the Blood Ink, Stotart and Baked Alaska.

But now I had a problem. I had three glasses, two hands and no vacant table to sit at. Mercifully, Karen arrived in the nick of time to help me transport my three beers to a space on a ledge she had found towards the front of the pub. Just as I had settled with my beers arranged, my rucksack over the corner of the chair and my coat over the back of the chair, a table became available so I started the process of moving everything all over again and finally settled down after what felt like a good ten minutes of faffing.

In the middle of all this, gaffer Gary trotted over to give me some cash from fanzine sales, which was a bonus and pretty much paid for my night out. Happy days.

Tonight was also a second Christmas for me and Karen. Not all of the books I’d ordered for her Christmas present had arrived before Christmas – and not all of the beers she ordered for me had been in stock. So tonight I presented her with a couple of books – duly wrapped – and Karen advised that she had received a 50% off voucher from Vault City by way of apology for messing up my Christmas present – what would I like to order?

Oops sorry about that brief interlude – was busy ordering my Vault City beers…

Anyway the beers in here were all very tasty. As always, I was tempted to buy a bag of Liquorice Allsorts off the bar to accompany them but we were eating out somewhere new and special tonight so I didn’t want to ruin my appetite.

Karen and I caught up on today’s match, our respective Open University studies and other bits and bobs before it was time to head to Cleveleys.

We decided to board the tram at the new stop at Blackpool North station. This involves an element of taking your life into your own hands (good practice for Marrakesh, it turned out), as they’ve basically done half a job and, unless you want to take a circuitous route (we didn’t), you have to walk on the tram tracks to get to the tram stop and risk doing an Alan Bradley. Anyway we were fine and took shelter in the shelter (it was getting cold now) and mercifully the tram soon arrived.

Northbound

As we headed northbound, a man seated across the aisle greeted Karen, recognising her from the Fleetwood Beer Festival at which she volunteered. It turned out this was Ray Jackson from Blackpool Fylde & Wyre CAMRA. He didn’t recognise me at all. I wondered if it was my disguise of a hat and glasses (I’ve given up on the contacts). Or I may have reached that age where women become invisible, which I’m actually fine with, as it makes me feel much safer.

Karen filled me in on the terrible buffet breakfast she’d had at the club earlier, with fatty bacon, inedible sausages and no eggs of any description (which I think is actually illegal on an English breakfast). She said everyone was completely bemused about the lack of eggs: no fried eggs, no poached eggs, no scrambled eggs, no boiled eggs. It’s not right, is it?

We hopped off the train at Cleveleys and it was FREEZING so we quickly scurried to the pub.

Wobblinn

I headed straight to the bar (as you do) while Karen scuttled up the stairs to the loo (I’ll be reviewing them shortly). I went straight in with my order without even looking at the pump clips because this pub is all about one beer for me. Can you guess which one?

Obvs I was having the Bathams! But on perusing the pump clips now I am kicking myself for not noticing the Christmas beer and the Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout. Perhaps I should have had a bat for the second round?

As I photographed the pump clips for you, dear reader, a man sitting at the bar piped up:

‘Ooh are you a beer geek like me?’

‘Er, I’m a beer BLOGGER, actually…’

I’m not sure why I was so quick to deny my geekiness there when it’s strikingly obvious to all of us (and complete strangers, apparently).

Meanwhile the girl behind the bar proceeded to throw my beer all over the bar, before apologising profusely and topping up and mopping up.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to throw your beer at you, I’ve only just started my shift.’

I was actually quite pleased for this little interlude, as it was Karen’s round and she was still upstairs and I didn’t know what she wanted to drink. She promptly returned, asked me what we were having and promptly ordered a second pint of Bathams (which wasn’t thrown at her – is such behaviour reserved for geeks? I should have asked my new friend at the bar).

It was busy in here, too, but we managed to find a vacant table at the front of the pub, by the window, which turned out to a a chilly spot. We moved further inside as soon as another table came available, the pub thinning the longer we were there (as Cask & Tap had done – was it us?).

There’s something special about this micropub. I feel so comfortable and at home here. It just works.

Right: time for the #LooReview.

I could have stayed here all night but I was getting hungry now.

‘I’ve only had a couple of eggs and some toast.’

‘Eggs?!’ exclaimed Karen, still smarting from the lack of eggs on her breakfast.

We headed across Victoria Road to a place that had come recommended by Fletch from Backstage.

Frilly Pig Bistro

My GOD we were FREEZING on arrival here and all we’d done was cross the road. How had it got so cold?

I must have been chuntering about how cold it was when we arrived, as our hostess made a point of seating us by a radiator – a lovely touch that I was grateful for. When I’d telephoned to book, I could tell she was lovely, as she ran me through the menu.

‘We’ll have a Lamb Shank, Marry Me Chicken and some sort of fish dish but I don’t know what yet – I’ll have to see what my fish man has and then I’ll build something around that. You aren’t vegan are you? Because if you are, we can cater for that.’

I took some photos on arrival (before it – quickly – got busy) so let me show you around.

I loved the music in here, too (Sinatra-type stuff), which created a chilled out ambience.

Now, what to drink?

Now I don’t like to waste my beer tokens in non-beery establishments, having something that I wouldn’t choose to drink in a pub. Hmm Doom Bar though? I have a soft spot for Doom Bar, since this was the first cask ale I had in a pub post-COVID and thus it tasted just WONDERFUL. However, I was SO cold that this affected my decision.

‘I’m tempted by a cup of tea, you know.’

‘Do you want me to pop the kettle on?’

‘Ooh go on then – thanks.’

And so it was that Karen had a Doom Bar and I had a pot of tea (and later a second one).

Right, so what are we having to eat, then?

‘EGG!!! Look, Jane! They’ve written EGG in bold letters on the menu. Are they trying to torment me?!’

Karen really does like her eggs. Her meal of choice in cafes and pubs is egg and chips or ham, egg and chips. I wondered if she’d ever get over this morning’s egg crisis.

Three courses is too much for me at the best of times so we decided to opt for a main and pudding tonight. Usually I’d go for a starter and a main but I’ve had a taste for Sticky Toffee Pudding ever since I had one in a pub in Burton a few years ago because I was ravenous.

Already the bistro was filling up and lush aromas were emanating from the kitchen and the next table.

This girl took our order. I loved – and remarked on – her pig pencil-topper. Little joys.

(Sorry about the pics – the mood lighting doesn’t really make for Insta-quality photos).

The food was delicious and piping hot. There was so much meat on the lamb shank and it was a hearty and filling meal. I didn’t really have room for the pudding but obvs I made room because Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Speaking of making room, the bistro was now full to capacity and there was a group of hungry diners hovering at the front of the restaurant waiting for a table. This little place sure was popular – and I could fully understand why. The quality of the people, the service and the food – and the love that has been poured into this place – will keep customers coming back. I was so pleased that we had decided to eat in Cleveleys tonight as opposed to Bispham, as had been the original plan.

Time for a quick #LooReview before going. Karen had insisted I visit for the wallpaper alone.

And now – la pièce de la resistance – my favourite pub on the Fylde Coast (I think!): Backstage.

Backstage Cleveleys

Please note the man posing to the left of the pub in this photograph. When I took my original photo, he noticed and I wondered if he was going to complain about being photographed. But obvs we’re in The North and that’s not the reaction I should have expected.

‘I hope you got my good side.’

‘Ooh, I’m not sure – shall we try again?’

Hence the above pose.

I love the North.

Right – to the bar!

The above doesn’t even tell half the story of the beery delights of this place. There’s also a magnificent fridge.

And there’s also a long line of keg offerings at the back of the bar.

Ooh I’ve never noticed these before:

Backstage has expanded into next door since I last blogged about it. And, even with the expansion, look how busy it was – IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. I only see pubs as busy as this in 80s TV shows (I would say ‘in December’ but I try to avoid pubs in December because, well, December drinkers).

Apologies for the lack of photos of the pub itself but it really was too busy for me to go round squeezing past people and taking photos. I had to wait ages for a canoodling couple to move before I could take the below pic for you.

We were seated in a prime people-watching spot. This place really does attract all sorts. There were the young ones (girls wearing next to nothing, despite the freezing conditions; lads in puffa jackets) and there were plenty of people our age, too. There were people who were there for the music (there was a band on at the far end – not so loud down our end so we were able to hear each other talk comfortably). There were groups of people partying, celebrating birthdays. This truly is a special pub and one I can happily spend hours in. And indeed did tonight.

Cleveleys is absolutely a destination worth visiting for the beer drinker. We didn’t even get to Shipwreck tonight. If you haven’t been to Cleveleys recently you are absolutely missing out. Just hop on the tram from Blackpool and the above delights await you. They have eggs and everything.

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