Category: Gorleston

The fifth pub in our expedition, and the first one that I’ve visited before, was the Short Blue in Gorleston. Nathan and I visited most of the pubs in Gorleston a few years ago and this one was a disappointment, but I’m pleased to say that matters were much better this time.

This is a quirky venue in terms of its history, its external feel looks a little like one of the Victorian pubs that have closed, but this is really positive that it’s still going. It first opened in the 1860s and it traded until 1975 when it was sold by Watney Mann and it lost its licence in 1978. That would have normally been the end and it would have become a nice house, but, fortunately it was reopened in 1987 and has traded happily since then.

The pub’s website has a longer history of the reason for the name of the pub, but in short:

“In 1795 a young Scrymgeour Hewett left his native Fifeshire to look after some property in Dagenham for an aunt, where he met, courted and married Sarah Whennel—the daughter of a Barking fishing boat owner. This was to be his introduction to fishing, eventually taking over his father-in-law’s two boats—the small beginning of the Short Blue Fleet.”

From August 1900, there is an early story of tragedy with a tram car in Gorleston that involved the former landlord John Robert Bass. The local newspaper, the Norwich Argus, reported at the time:

“DEATH IN A TRAM-CAR AT GORLESTON

An inquest was held at Gorleston on Tuesday on the body of John Robert Bass, aged about 60, of 50, Springfield-road, who died in a tram-car.

The widow stated that about 6 on Monday morning deceased ate a good breakfast, and left to catch a tram. He appeared in his usual health, and had no occasion to hurry. Generally he had good health, but during the winter suffered from a cough, and he had not had any medical treatment since the spring for this cough.

John Ward, a tram conductor, said that on Monday, just after he got a car out of the terminus, he saw deceased coming along slowly, and he took a seat in the car. Witness told deceased he had got into the wrong car, and he replied, “All right, old chap.” When he moved the car again he saw deceased sitting in it as if asleep. He shook him, but he did not speak. Another tram employee came and looked at deceased, and said he was dead. He was in quite a natural position in the corner of the car with a box of matches in his hand, and his pipe lay on the floor beneath his feet.

Dr Tipple said he was called to deceased, and found him reclining on the seat in the tramcar, and just dead. He had ascertained that he had been under the care of Dr Read for cardiac asthma. Dr Read had found that deceased had a fatty heart, and witness had no doubt death was due to heart failure.

A verdict of “Natural causes” was returned.

Bass was employed by Mr Richards, boat-builder, of Lowestoft. He was formerly a smack-owner, and afterwards became landlord of the Short Blue Tavern at Gorleston, eventually relinquishing this to work at his trade as a shipwright.”

There was just one real ale, Old Speckled Hen, which was slightly disappointing, but there seems to be some Greene King tie going on here. The service was though really friendly, there was a welcoming atmosphere here and a laid-back environment.

The crisps helped the excitement of the beer. The venue serves food from 12:00 until 15:30 on Sundays and we had arrived just towards the end of service, although we weren’t looking to eat here. Well, other than crisps. I liked that the team member mentioned when we entered that they had finished serving, that saved an awkward conversation if we had wanted to eat.

The menus for anyone who might be interested, although they’re mostly only open during lunchtimes. Sometimes less is more though.

Not wishing to moan, and it’s nothing to do with me really, but I’m not keen on these witty toilet door names, for those who don’t speak English they’re a challenge, it would be nice if they could put the symbol on as well.

Anyway, I’m glad that we came to this pub as I felt very welcome, it was clean and the staff were all personable and keen to help. It’s only a small bar, but there was at least a real ale available and they have an excellent reputation for food.

Our fourth pub of the day was the Mariners Compass public house in Gorleston. The pub was opened in 1934 as the Middleton Arms and it was operated over the years by Steward & Patteson, then Watney Mann, Brent Walker and then Phoenix Inns. In 2007, it was renamed as the Mariners Compass. I don’t know the reason for the name change, there was a pub called the Mariners Compass in Great Yarmouth long ago, but it does seem an odd thing to change.

That section of the building to the left is now a dog grooming parlour but it was formerly part of the pub. I suspect that it was originally a fish store as this was mentioned in a 1938 newspaper article.

I also quite liked this newspaper article from February 1935 and this also references that the brewery sacrificed the Earl Grey pub to get a licence for the Middleton Arms.

“That only eleven people were charged with drunkenness in Yarmouth last year” was revealed at the annual licensing meeting on Friday. The Chief Constable, Mr. S. W. Smith, in his annual report, stated that the Monastery alehouse in Middlegate Street, referred to March as redundant, was closed at the end of last year. The licence of the Earl Grey, High Street, Gorleston, was transferred to a new house, the Middleton Arms, Middleton Road, on December 18th, and the licence of the Lucknow Tavern, St. Peter’s Road, was surrendered on the same date. The Duke of York beerhouse, George Street, was closed last February, making three houses dispensed with in 1934. The Anchor of Hope, St. Peter’s Road, and Victoria Tavern, Victoria Road, were redundant, and from a structural standpoint should be referred. Brewers and owners of licensed property were anxious to meet the suggestions of the licensing justices in acquiring property for remodelling premises not redundant, to give better living accommodation.”

The real ale selection is visible in this photo, but it was evident they were laying some things out for a raffle so they politely asked us to order from the bar in the other room. And, it’s fair to say that I hadn’t expected the pub to be so busy when we arrived, it was full and that’s rather positive to see. We didn’t realise that this was the time for the weekly meat raffle and there was music and other entertainment, so our timing wasn’t ideal.

Ordering at the bar took a little while, but the bar staff were friendly and were working as fast as they could. I wasn’t entirely sure why they were selling such large bags of crisps and big bars of chocolate, but I do approve.

I ordered half of the Woodforde’s Wherry and expected a real ale, but it was served as a keg version. I didn’t even know that they did this, but Roy confirmed that they did, and I decided that I preferred this keg to the cask version. It was very reasonably priced at £1.90 for a half, which I think was the cheapest of the day other than for JD Wetherspoon.

It was quieter outside, although it wasn’t the most salubrious of drinking locations.

It was really rather lovely to see a pub that was so busy and so evidently serving its local community so well. They were fund raising and it was bringing the community together, this was very much the sort of place that it would be possible to find new friends if moving to the area. It’s not quite what I expected, but the welcome felt authentic, the atmosphere was welcoming and I was surprised and delighted.

Third on our list of pubs to visit in the day was the Cliff Hotel in Gorleston as Jen wanted to overheat us in the extreme afternoon heat.

The hotel was first constructed here in 1897 at a cost of £50,000, but it burnt down in 1915 which was a little sub-optimal, but it was soon rebuilt. The fire was reported in the national press and it was noted that “for fully two hours the hotel was blazing like a gigantic torch and the reflection could be seen 25 miles away.”

Back to 1899, they were advertising 25 shilling weekend stays where you received Saturday dinner to Monday breakfast, with a pick-up from Great Yarmouth railway station if requested in advance. The hotel noted that they were “luxuriously furnished with every modern improvement, with magnificent sea and harbour views” which all sounds rather nice.

The signage to the bar area was clear and it all looked well decorated and welcoming. Note that the photo is quite washed out because of how sunny it was, but this is the restaurant area.

There were a couple of real ales and I went for half a pint of the Woodforde’s Wherry which was reasonably priced.

The keg options and that Salt beer is at least acceptable.

The Wherry was well kept, light and tasted as expected.

And the view over Gorleston. The table we sat at was a little dirty, but the team members were getting around cleaning them and they were all friendly and personable. There was a bit of a sea breeze and the views were quite impressive over the beach and sea.

The external terrace has been done out really rather nicely and there’s plenty of space. Most people were sitting inside as it was hotter than the centre of the sun outside, but I didn’t say anything.

It was still too early to eat (well, without needing to eat again) but the prices looked very reasonable and the food being served looked entirely agreeable.

I had thought that this venue might be a little too decadent for me, but it was accessible, informal and everything was clearly signed. There must have been a significant investment that has been made here into the hotel building generally, it all seemed in good order. I’d come here again for a drink, it was really all quite pleasant.

[I originally posted this in July 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image link]

Gorleston is one of those towns which seems to be quite enthusiastic about the number of blue plaques which it puts up. That seems a marvellous idea to me, it’s far better to have too much history than not enough. Great Yarmouth Local History and Archaeological Society are the organisation responsible for these plaques, and there are many others located around Gorleston and Great Yarmouth. He lived at 225 High Street, Gorleston, which was also known as Surbiton Lodge but it’s been demolished and replaced by flats now. He died in 1993 and is buried at Gorleston Cemetery and Crematorium. The plaque indicates that Hamilton-Deane practised medicine here from 1923 until 1985, which makes him one of the longest serving GPs in the country.

There’s more about him and his life at http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/exceptional-gorleston-doctor-william-hamilton-deane-honoured-with-plaque-1-1068846.