I’ve yet to introduce myself to my new local in my new billet in North Berwick, near Edinburgh, or the landlord I’ll clink glasses with.
But it’s got me thinking of my five favourite bar stops on my travels.
Anything, as long as it’s beer
The Hopperie, Ieper (or Ypres): Now that I’ve reached this advanced age I tend to repeat myself, repeat myself.
So this tale from Tom’s Bierhaus gets another outing… Muriel, that’s her real name, ordered a G&T.
To Tom’s bafflement… ‘This is a bierhaus I have more than 200 beers and I can tell you about them all.’
She got water.
To my disappointment I found out when googling that Tom’s has shut so I’ll divert you to Bruges and Le Trappiste http://www.letrappistebrugge.com.
Where they have nearly 200 beers. So no danger of being as quiet as a Trappist monk.
And, of course, we toasted the Fallen… In Flanders fields.
The best Glasgow bar
Glasgow Bar, Tobago: Just ask for Karl and tell him Jim from Glasgow sent you.
Only that there have been hundreds of Glasgow Jimmys who have passed by and asked for a selfie with Karl Glasgow.
Who has never been to Glasgow, or Scotland.
Although he knows a dreadlocked man he introduces me to who has come in to do some repairs who was in a band in Fort William in the Scottish Highamds.
Try the mahi-mahi (like swordfish) which obviously comes with macaroni cheese (everything does).
With Carib or Stag beer or rum punch.
It’s unlike any Glasgow working man’s bar I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a few, and with knockout views of Parlatuvier Bay.
See www.tobagogov.tt and let’s do it all over again in On your marks, get set, GOAT in Tobago.
Mrs Ippi and Mr Ippi
A honky tonk near the Marriott Hotel, Cleveland, Mississippi: Don’t ask me the name, there had been Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale and Bulleit bourbon taken.
But it’s across a bridge and is where my Travel buddy, Ireland’s Travel Writer of the Year, Isabel Conway and I stayed for late-night drinks.
After I had spotted a fella lassoing the waitress in while watching the rodeo on the TV.
We joined them, he showed us his dogs and horses on his phone, and Issy and I agreed he was a good ole’ Country Boy.
And here’s where you can read about the whole adventure, my American Trilogy… The Promised Land, The story of the Blues, The King of Kings.
And much more besides at https://www.deep-south-usa.com and https://visitmississippi.org.
Vegas baby
Carneval Court, Las Vegas: I’m heading back to Vegas in May to see my fiancée, maybe wife Cami, from Utah.
We danced at Carneval Court https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-las-vegas/things-to-do/nightlife-carnaval-court?utm_campaign=GMB&utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_term=CarnavalCourt&utm_content=bar#.XkRmBCSnzYU to Eighties Covers band The Whip Its https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NYEYxH6l1uQ.
And the barmen poured drinks in an arc into the mouths of women and squirted cream foam into women’s cleavage.
While women dressing in playing cards stood guard at the door.
Visit https://www.lvcva.com and join me around Vegas… Strip… the light fantastic.
Hamburgers and pints
Strand Pauli Beach Club, Hamburg: I’ve drunk at many a beach bar, Barbados, the French Riviera, Majorca, Greece… but it’s Hamburg for me.
The Strand Pauli Beach Club https://www.strandpauli.de on the shore near the Rieperbahn where you can dine on burgers, obvs, and Astra beer.
Before sleeping it off in a double bed.
And here’s what else happens in Hamburg Hamburgers and ships.
