March is National Essential Tremor month and we highlight this on our Twitter feed.
ALE BY RAIL
Wednesday, 4th March
The Central Bar, Carrickfergus.
Another rail journey to Carrickfergus. We had hoped to arrange a Meet The Brewer event, but it was not to be (various reasons), but we will think about this option for another time). As usual, a filling lunch, some fine cask ales and lots of chat and there some time left for a cask ale or two in the Crown before heading home.
IMPROMPTU BEER DAY
14th March for lunch
Bangor Train Trip
First stop from Bangor train station was the Ava for liquid refreshment. Then a dander down the Main St to Kings Quay, with a spot of lunch in the café opposite followed by a short walk back and into the Imperial to see what is available. Another short walk back to the station, taking the option of a spot of Deja Vu in the Ava. One for the road in the Crown.
YEAST FROM THE EAST VI:
Wednesday, 18th March
A bus trip to support a couple of NI's local breweries.
A meet around noon at Boundary for a test flight of beers to see what is new, then a short walk up the road to the Arches and Bullhouse. Then the Glider back at the stop just across the road from Bullhouse for a final pre-home pint in the Crown.
SUNFLOWER SESSION:
Saturday, 21st March.
About 12:30.
A walk through he shopping mall to The Sunflower pub to sample whatever cask they have on that day (ever changing and there is also a decent Beamish to be had). After that it a small walkabout and back towards the City Hall for a pre homeward bus pint in the Crown.
FEBRUARY:
BFTWNI once again supporting the local brewers (who find it hard to get their products on to the bar counter and into the licensed trade in general) with its own FE-BREW-ARY campaign.
AS EASY AS ABC
Ards-Bus-Cask.
Wednesday 11th February
Met up for the 11:20 bus to N/Ards then lunch, chat/banter, cask ales, a bus back just after 4pm with a quick pre-homeward pint in the Crown.
ALE BY RAIL
Wednesday, 18th February
The Central Bar, Carrickfergus.
Another rail journey to Carrickfergus for a filling lunch, some fine cask ales and lots of chat. As usual, there was time left for a cask ale or two in the Crown before heading home.
KA DEAN MEMORIAL PUB CRAWL
Monday, 23rd. February
The Bridge House
A lunchtime meet to remember the humour & times of a past member.
Famous for being "The man with two names" over here - Tony on one side of the place, Kenny on the other - he was a cask ale hero: fully supporting cask ale, and cask ale groups. Then a uick ale at the Crown before the bus home.
JANUARY:
BFTWNI once again supported the business community (which is usually financially depressed the month of January) with its own BUYANUARY campaign!
Making the point of buying locally instead of huge international conglomerates.
BELFAST BRUNCH:
Saturday, 10th January
Lunchtime
The Bridge House, Belfast
We met up for some food, cask ale, chat during the Wetherspoon 'January Sale' (2nd-15th). Then a pint or two in the Crown before heading home (or onwards).
ALE BY RAIL:
Wed, 14th January
Lunchtime
The Central Bar, Carrickfergus
The first train of the year for this popular event. The bar does a mid week discount (10% or so). Now that the new rail station is open the travel is not so convoluted as when the station was being built and traffic diversions were a pain. The usual stuff; food & cask ales, loads of chat, at the Carrickfergus Spoons, then the train home & a quick stop at the Crown for a pre-home pint.
BURN'S NIGHT:
25th January.
CANCELLED!
Wetherspoons no longer host this event in Northern Ireland so we have rearranged as below:
CITY CENTRE MEANDER & PUB CRAWL
Saturday, 24th January, 12:25
A bit of exercise for us:
Susan has sciatica problems, meaning I solo - hence the image.
Starting at Wellington Street & Fountain Street around 12:25 and the first stop is Voodoo at the other end of Fountain Street. After that, well just a chat about where next then a dander round the streets checking out how things are going, leaving off a few of our BFTWNI beer mats, chatting to the staff. The Crown Bar about 5pm for a last pint before heading home.
