Turning back the clock to the early 1980s (1982 to be exact) was my first experience of going out to the pub for a pint.
Imagine the scenario:-Small mining town just inside the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border in the Nottinghamshire side.16 pubs all within an area of a few miles and each one selling just 3 choices (best bitter,mild and a lager) on the pump.Maybe 12 were Hardy Hanson and the others Shipstones and 1 Home Ales.16 pubs with only 9 choices of beer in total,the local miners absolutely loved them.
There was also the local night club,which was about a mile away down an unlit narrow pot holed lane,which served John Smiths (luxury). This place was a great place to drink and dance the night away,unfortunately the walk home was a little dangerous as in those days i really don’t think the drink drive law existed in peoples heads so it was very fraught.
Strangely i really enjoyed the best bitter on offer,probably because i hadn’t tasted anything else apart from the three or four different bitters on offer.Little did i know back then what a taste sensation the future held.
Enjoying a pint of great beer 