The 'Swindon Saunter' - YES, IT'S THIS WEEKEND!
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For those who may not have remembered (or realised), we have an away trip CAMRA social, by train this, coming Saturday.
All are welcome to join up (obviously get your own tickets) and sample a cornucopia of beery stuff in Brunel's very own Wiltshire hotspot - Swindon.
"The Glue Pot" will be the first official port of call, just a short walk from the Railway Station. It is part of the original railway village which was built in the 1840s by the man himself. It's a pub owned by Hop Back Brewery who are based in Salisbury.
From lunchtime, until roughly around 1.30, this will be our starting point, then we will head off to “The Drink Valley” (approx. 4 mins walk).
This is a brewpub which started up in December 2021, which I'm reliably informed brews a great selection of cask beers and a choice of some on keg brewed in house, alongside guests.
From there we'll travel to Swindon Old Town (around a 20'ish minute walk from the Railway Station end of town, although frequent bus services do go up there) and visit a veritable feast of options all within minutes of each other:
First up - "The Hop Inn - This bar started the real ale scene on Devizes Road. Apparently it has a fantastic range of 8 cask beers alongside a good keg selection (also fridges filled with cans and bottles). I gather there is delicious smelling food served here from on site kitchen named “Hop Nosh”. This pub is also local CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year.
Next - The "Hop Kettle Tap & Brew" - Located directly over the road and owned by Hop Kettle Brewery. A taproom, in the microbrewery itself, opened in December 2019.
Then there's "Little Hop" and "The Tuppenny".
We'll end the trip back near the railway station, and by then it will almost certainly be a free for all at any of these below, depending on everyone's individual return travel timetables:
The "Hop Kettle Brewery tap", "The Queens Tap" and "The Beehive".
For those that would prefer to join us part way round - After starting near the railway station at lunchtime, we will leave our exact next port of call with the bar staff, but if it's up in the old town it won't take a lot of searching around to seek us out.
My mobile number is: 0751934960, so please feel free to text or call if you wish and I'll do my best to help you out
Confirmation that everyone's arrival and departure preferences are completely up to you, so, be carefree, wherever you may be, but hopefully I'll see you somewhere along the route!
Cheers
Steve Reed