Birkdale

Amazon decided they would deliver a parcel on Saturday so I quickly rescheduled my survey to Friday, and headed under grey skies towards Birkdale, getting off the train at Hillside.I've mentioned before that sometimes I have to walk past good pubs because I'm heading for somewhere else. So I ignored the Pines and the Grasshopper and headed on to the Crown:A standard Ember Inns, this, perhaps less twee than most? Pleasant and peaceful inside with not many customers at two on a Friday. At least, it was peaceful until something upset the dogs. I know this opinion is unpopular but I prefer dogs to be kept outside. Eventually the family and dogs left and calm was restored.I selected Boddingtons, I don't often see the new version from Lees. Was the real Boddies this bland? It wasn't my favourite back in the early eighties when I lived in Manchester, but it was good enough. I wonder if the easy availability of very flavoursome beers (e.g. White Rat, Oakham Citra, anything from Peerless etc…