Five casks of Longdog’s Winning Co-ALE-ition (pumpclip attached above)were delivered to the wholesaler last week and will be delivered by them to The Strangers Bar this week, complete with the Co-ALE-ition pumpclips.
Here is the provisional itinerary for this very special day (Wed 25th June 2014):-
The Strangers Bar at The Houses of Parliament – we will be met by Rollo (Sir Gerald Howarth’s PA) about 12.30 no ID is required but we need to allow say 15 mins to get through security. Dress code is smart casual, but gents must wear a jacket and a tie (Alan’s white suit and bow tie fully meets these requirements).
Rollo will then escort us straight to The Strangers Bar where we will meet up with Sir Gerald Howarth straight after Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) have finished at 12.30. We are hopeful that David Cameron will also pop into The Strangers Bar for a pint of Co-ALE-ition and another chance to lift up Howling’s arm to acknowledge the OMRLP’s latest triumph in successfully producing their own range of ales. Phil and Lisa Robins (Longdog owners/head brewer) will also be there with us but escorted by their local MP Maria Miller.
Borough Market (open from 10 till 5pm on a Wed) fantastic fresh food to suit every taste and very good value as well, we could go there for an early lunch around 11am or after The Strangers Bar visit and also visit the world famous Market Porter pub. We could also get up and close to The Shard Building which is just over the road from Borough Market.
Sit in the public gallery in the House of Commons and listen to the debates — the MPs are sitting from 2.30pm on Wed and it is free entry.
Other pubs in London who have already confirmed they will be selling Co-ALE-ition ales on Wed 25th June are as follows:-
Pommelers Rest (Wetherspoons pub in Bermondsey near Tower Bridge) will have Ascot Ales ” Monsters In The Dark ” and ” Hope & Glory ” both on sale (Reggie, the Manager and his staff are looking forward to a return visit by Alan Hope and others on Wed 25th June).
Crosse Keys (Wetherspoons flagship pub less than a mile from the Pommelers Rest) will have Ascot Ales ” Monsters In The Dark ” and ” Hope & Glory ” both on sale (Josh, the Manager and his staff are looking forward to a visit by Alan Hope and others on Wed 25th June).
Rochester Castle (Wetherspoons pub in Stoke Newington – Loony Party cabinet member Knigel Knapp’s local pub) will have Ascot Ales “Monsters In The Dark” and “Hope & Glory” both on sale (Angela, the Manager and her staff are looking forward to Alan Hope and others popping in on Wed 25th June).
Indian restaurant options (three highly recommended options)
Tayyabs in Field Gate Road (East London) – recommended by Amran (former Manager/owner of the Danshiri in Fleet who lives in the Brick Lane area of London). Open all day from 12 till 11.30 pm on Wednesdays.
Tower Tandoori on Tower Bridge Road in Bermondsey and near the Pommelers Rest pub – highly recommended by the Manager of the Hook Tandoori who lives in London. Open from 12 till 2.30pm and from 6 till 12pm on Wednesdays.
Red Fort in Dean Street, Soho – highly recommended by the Owner of the Hook Tandoori who eats there when he is in London. Open from 5pm to 1am on Wednesdays.
I will update this information when I hear back from Alan Hope about The Strangers Bar final arrangements after Sir Gerald Howarth leaves us at 1pm and in addition there may also be some further Co-ALE-ition pub options after Chris Gill (Ascot Ales) has completed his deliveries in London this Thursday.
The News & Mail and the Basingstoke Gazette are both covering this ” Co-ALE-ition enters The Strangers Bar” story so I will be providing them each with different photos, an outline of the story and and lots of other information. Howling may have got a national newspaper on board by then plus TV as well.
Howling is in charge of all the arrangements for the Houses of Parliament, House of Commons and The Strangers Bar key parts of the visit including getting guest tickets which by their very nature are limited in number – don’t just turn up on the day please give Howling a call on 07946 292557 to check availability. However if anybody wants to join us for any other part of this momentous day e.g. at the three pubs, Borough Market and at a highly rated Indian restaurant, let Derrill know either by email (derrill.carr@btinternet.com) or you can give him a call on 07803 292557.