Desert Island Pubs – David Wood, business development consultant, FRP Advisory
David Wood, business development consultant, FRP Advisory
1. Earliest Memory of a Pub
It would have been somewhere near Tenby in South Wales, circa 1969. I’d have been about 13, and on a family holiday. Stood outside with half a pint of shandy and a packet of crisps. I can vaguely recall the smell of stale beer and smoke. What happened next was my father falling out of a small dinghy into Tenby Harbour, as we planned to embark on a bit of sea fishing. After that, it would have been the Cross Keys at Stillingfleet, near York. My Dad was mates with “Dave”, the landlord, and I might have had another shandy, with the forerunner of pub grub, scampi and chips in a basket!
2. Most Inspirational Pub to my Career
My career has never directly involved the world of hospitality, other than being a huge consumer of its products and services, but over half my working life has relied on having pubs of a certain standard available for “business development”. I’ve certainly enjoyed the journey and the quest for brilliant pubs, and wonderful beers. It could be argued that the first 25 years of my working life (banking) also necessitated frequent networking and strategy trips to pubs.
The pub that has seen me host several events to mark milestones in my working life is Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street, London. Known to half the planet, it’s an amazing place with a warren of rooms spread over several floors, and reputed to have had customers including the likes of Charles Dickens, Samuel Johnson, Mark Twain, WB Yeats, PG Wodehouse, and David Wood.
Its place is firmly cemented in my heart due to me hosting at least two leaving do’s, my 50th Birthday drinks and Divorce drinks, not to mention a special dinner to celebrate one of York City Football Club’s most loyal players – Wayne Hall. I was a prominent member of “York City South” and we cajoled Wayne along after a London-based match in his testimonial season. He was ginger-haired (partially bald) and it was indeed a Ginner Dinner! I think it was in the Johnson Room, and there were around 45 of us there.
My favourite room, other than the cellar, is the small bar on the right as you walk in. Marvellous York stone slabs and a gorgeous old fire. It’s a Sam Smith’s pub, one of the best in the estate, but I’ve never spotted the ubiquitous [owner] Humphrey Smith there though.
3. My Current Local
I have two in Suffolk, where I live, and one in London, where I still work part-time as a Consultant for FRP Advisory. The amazing place a couple of miles from me (nowhere is in walking distance) is The Peacock Inn, Chelsworth, Suffolk. It has just been awarded a Bib Gourmand by Michelin. The management team of Jack and chef Sam have really upped the ante in the last few years, and the food is top notch. Ambience is perfect, supplemented by some artwork from Le Gavroche (and some wines in the cellar also secured via the auction last year). It’s also a locals’ drinking pub, and has lots of 14th century character, with Adnams Southwold Bitter and a Mauldons’ option always on.
The real gem, also 2-3 miles away, is the Cock Inn at Brent Eleigh. Run by James and his wife for many years, it’s been untouched for decades, and has two small drinking rooms and three ales on rotation, all local. And always in tip-top condition. Popular with walkers and cyclists, it really is like stepping back in time. Uncomplicated doorstep sandwiches and Sunday roasts are popular. Pink, thatched and unspoilt. Perfect. Sadly, I don’t get there often enough…just yet.
In London, I use The Pelt Trader, Dowgate Hill (near Cannon Street Station) most of the time. A great selection of cask and keg beers, plus some lagers for those of that persuasion. Makes its own fantastic pizzas too. I’ve successfully integrated several colleagues and clients over recent years!
4. My Favourite Pub
The Blue Bell, Fossgate – in my home city, York. The city has more great pubs and beer choice than anywhere else in the world, I would venture. But The Blue Bell is magnificent, with two rooms and a serving hatch. The back room, heavily dark-stained, wood-panelled and with comfy chairs is my favourite pub room anywhere. I’ve been going in there since 1973, and little has changed. Its beer menu is perfect, with Yorkshire brews from the likes of Brass Castle, Rudgate, Bradfield, Wold Top and Timmy Taylor’s. Always a mainstay of the classic York crawl.
5. The Pub you’d like to take to the Island
If it’s Fantasy Island, then The Maltings, also in York. Sadly closed last year when Shaun and Maxine were exhausted with running the place after 32 years. It won, I think twice, the coveted title of Cask Ale Pub of Great Britain, and had an amazing throughput of fine ales. Always a challenging read of the board to work your way through. And then there were the sensational chips. The Chilli Chips were not to be trifled with! Anyway, it’s been sold, and now turned into a brash green place called “The Dubliner”. I won’t be crossing its threshold.
So I guess it’ll have to be The Blue Bell.
6. The beer (unlimited supply) you’d take to the desert island?
Rooster’s Baby Faced Assassin. Loved it ever since I perchanced upon it on an occasional visit to Pure Bar in Birmingham. Hope they still stock it following the acquisition of Purity by BREAL Group. Honourable mentions to Thornbridge Jaipur IPA, and Timothy Taylor’s Landlord.
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