I want my Special, Ethel

No mention there of the beer that dominated Norfolk when I arrived in Norwich in 1974, Watneys Norfolk Bitter, the standard. along with the national version,Star Light, against which I judge all bad beer.

Before I left the Norwich brewery had started making Stag Bitter, though it was only available in that London and was not that much of an improvement.

As for competition, there were only a handful of non-Watneys pubs in Norwich, including the UEA union bar selling the worst Adnams possible, a Courage pub (the Windmill?) where we would go for Russian Stout and a couple in the city, possibly the Bell Hotel and the Wild Man, though the Golden Star opened while I was at UEA and by the time I left in 1978 you could get a decent pint if you were prepared to catch a bus.

Posted By: watfordcanary, Nov 26, 18:23:12