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Published: August 25th 2013
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2 locks, 413 in total.
Laundrette today and I was offered a cup of coffee – gratefully accepted it too.
It was great working the locks again, even just the two, before mooring at Amington on the eastern edge of Tamworth to meet up with Toni and Stewart. We had only just found out about a boat rally/festival being held this Bank Holiday weekend at Alvecote marina, a short walk forward from our mooring; we were all keen to see what it was like so headed off for a look, wondering about our chances of a meal at the
Samuel Barlow pub despite no booking. As well as the usual moorers there were about 40 old narrowboats in and around the marina; they were or had been freight boats run by different companies, the most famous being the Fellowes, Morton & Clayton boats although there was one from the Samual Barlow coal company. These boats were all decorated and their brasswork gleaming in the early evening light; many owners were dressed in Victorian/Edwardian boaters' clothes but their wives very sensibly didn't! The were some trading boats as well. The whole place
was heaving and with some trepidation we approached the pub.
I could write a book about the
Samuel Barlow, or about its chef/owner anyway. We went inside as there was music being played quite loudly outside. Yes, dogs were welcome inside but place was virtually fully booked - we could have that table by the window if we vacated it by 7.30pm. 90 minutes – easily done. We all chose our meal from the board and before we could order the Australian chef wandered over to us. Had we visited before? No? Well he'd just tell us a little bit about the place. He walked over to a small blackboard and brought it back to show us – headed 'Mutts' Menu' it offered a bowl of cooked meat (beef today) and gravy for a donation to the RSPCA. And could he also point out that on 14
th September they were hosting the biggest doggy pub lunch as another RSPCA fundraiser – last year there were 141 dogs dining. At this point he decided the music was too loud indoors as well – one word from him and it was silenced – good chap!
He then proceeded to go through our menu for this evening with details about how the dishes were prepared – it all sounded so enticing that 3 out of the 4 of us changed our menu choice. He had a wonderful turn of phrase and sadly I can only remember some of his comments:
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We don't do starters – we're a pub, not a restaurant.
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No sandwiches because I can't be ******.
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Two types of pepper sauce – one where you can actually taste it and wimpy pepper.
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We serve man-steaks and lady-boy steaks and the size also depends on whether we like you or not – if you get a small steak then b***** off!
Well the food really was delicious and we would thoroughly recommend a visit if you're in the area; not Monday lunchtimes as he plays golf on Mondays and doesn't open until 4pm. (Actually he had an excuse for not being open every weekday at lunchtime – all revolving around his golf.) Avoid January too – he goes on a golfing holiday......
There was
to be a boat cavalcade at 8.30pm, all decorated and lit up but it was such a cold evening in the stiff breeze that we headed back to our boat. We did see the boat parade on our way back but my photos were rubbish so you'll just have to imagine the scene.
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