Barells: 03/09/2011
 
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Went for a drink last night with a mate of mine that had just come bac from a trip to Brazil. We went to a pub called The Barells a pub run by the Wye Valley Brewery, a local brewery. As well as having a good old chin wag, I found the place a fascinating vibe....

You see, I'm not a Herefordian 'born and bread' so some of the stuff that goes on here and is 'the norm' I find fascinating. 

What I had not realised is The Barells is an institution in Hereford. Has been for years. It's actually not that pleasant really in terms of decor etc. There's no music and it's got no real entertainment (TV's etc) and other than the fact it does have a massive beer garden etc and the local brews on offer of course, it really is a pub that should be half empty on a Friday night with a few old blokes supping their pints. Not so The Barells.....

The place was heaving! I mean seriously heaving. I can't really convey how packed in people were to, what in reality, was a big brick courtyard outside the pub. Young and old alike, business men and hippies, poshed up chicks (ready for their nights out) and scruffy blokes (like me!). Lots of people I knew there that I would never have expected to be in a place like that. It was a real hub of life. I was really quite shocked!  

As well as chatting away to my mate I was left thinking 'what is the draw?'. I mean why were there a few hundred of people in a back patio of some pub in sleepy old Hereford off the beaten track from the City Centre.. I mean there are some that go there for the ale. It serves up local brew and people do like that round here but I think it was more than that. It's people. 

Where there are good people, more people tend to migrate I reckon and the Barells seemed to me to be a good honest 'people place'. Not needing the wide screen TV's, loud music and other entertainment but just offering good local drink and people to enjoy it with. There were no louts, drunkenness or anything else you often get with big crowds. Just a place that is honest and draws a load of people who want to share their animated stories of the week I guess. People listening to each others stories and telling their own over a pint. That don't happen enough these days I reckon.

It really was good to see that in fragile old Britain with all it's riots there are people, many people, just simply get on and make the world go round. In fact, if the truth be told there will be hundreds of pubs and venues up and down the Country where this will also be their vibe. It's not Churches that are places where people care for each other! 

So, for people like me who (sadly) are tucked up in bed by the time I got home last night, it's a good to know that drink and crowds can = good British 'niceness' and not trouble.

A nice mellow reflection for a Saturday morning - before I go and kill myself on a 10 mile run!

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