Saturday 14th November. A small group of Sons met in a bar adjacent to Piccadilly Station in Manchester.

 

The instigator of the get-together was Norman Leigh, Grand Sheik of the Flying Elephants Tent of Bolton. He had offered to conduct a short tour of a number of 'micro breweries' in and around the station area. 

Most of them are located in the viaduct arches, under the station.

Norman undertook this same trip the previous weekend, with John Burton Snr & Jnr, who were unable to attend this weekend. 

 

All these small breweries have 'tap rooms' where their wares can be sampled. 

 

Sons travelled from Wigan, Chester, Sheffield, Bradford, all experiencing various delays and overcrowding on the their respective journeys. However, once they were all assembled, off we went, following Norman like a pied piper. 

The first of the venues visited caused more than raised eyebrows, with their prices, so half measures were resorted to. But in general there was a large selection of drinks, styles and the other places were more realistic with their prices. 

 

Much merry making, discussion and general catching up took place.

Interest in the forthcoming UK Chester Convention was a topic, also very positive interest about the possibility of a UK convention in Belfast, in 2028.

 

Most of the participants were sporting one or another of the excellent 'Spiff Up' T-shirts designed and produced by Gary Winstanley 

(plug, they are available from his 'Little G website).

 

Some of those attending were staying over in Manchester for the night. 

I left after the fourth bar, so I don't know how the tour ended.

 

But one nice little irony (possibly akin to a Laurel and Hardy film) was that the final few bars were located on Temperance Street.

 

More good news later. 

 

 Dave Williamson