{"id":4804,"date":"2024-09-24T16:30:28","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T16:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=4804"},"modified":"2025-05-21T08:20:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:20:12","slug":"all-aboard-shirk-rust-and-pray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2024\/09\/24\/all-aboard-shirk-rust-and-pray\/","title":{"rendered":"All aboard \u2013 shirk, rust and pray"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In July micropub fans in south east London had a unique opportunity to visit three of the best independent watering holes in one afternoon courtesy of the Shirk Rust and Pray open top bus tour. What an awesome day we all had! The pub trade generally is suffering and every week there seems to be news of further closures but the same cannot be said for our smaller independent pubs. Micropubs thankfully are thriving and providing havens for real ale and cider drinkers as well as craft ale\/keg drinkers and wine\/gin drinkers. There\u2019s room for all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bus tour was the brainchild of Maryann O\u2019Connor, the co-owner of the Green Goddess In Blackheath Standard. The free trip linked three splendid pubs: the Shirker\u2019s Rest<\/strong><\/a> in New Cross, the Rusty Bucket<\/a><\/strong> in Eltham and the Green Goddess<\/a><\/strong> itself. It just so happens that the other co-owner of the Green Goddess, Stephen O\u2019Connor, holds a bus driver\u2019s licence and so the main challenge was finding a bus to hire and keeping everything crossed for good weather. Maryann said, \u201cThe day turned out to be very wholesome, even better than I expected, with people piling off the bus with the biggest smiles on their faces; a day of celebrating good pubs and friendship!\u201d Ably assisted by \u2018conductor\u2019 Stuart Gyles, who is the co-owner of the Rusty Bucket, Stephen racked up nearly 150 km on the bus with around 700 passenger trips! Stephen said, \u201cSo many happy people! A great day, and we even managed to keep to my timetable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Stuart and Stephen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The first bus left the Green Goddess at 1.30, giving everyone time to have a quick one before going onto the Shirker\u2019s Rest. It then picked up some of the Shirker\u2019s regulars to take them to the Rusty Bucket, which is where your correspondent caught up with beery friends from CAMRA\u2019s South East London branch and the Roses Women\u2019s Institute. There was plenty on tap here, including cask pale ales from Deya (It\u2019s another App) and Park (Ranger). Rachel Lagzda, co-owner of the Rusty Bucket, said, \u201cWe were all in when the tagline \u2018Shirk, Rust and Pray\u2019 was mentioned. To collaborate with two fantastic pubs who share our ethos was always going to be a winner. Great drinks plus great people equals great times!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Roses Beer Committee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There was some time before the next bus, so CAMRA folk took the opportunity to jump onto the B16 bus to the Long Pond<\/a><\/strong> in Eltham. It was looking splendid but sadly it was closed; we had forgotten that it does not open until 6.30 on Saturday evenings. We consoled ourselves with a swift one at the Park Tavern<\/a><\/strong> (and a plate of pat\u00e9 and crackers). After that, it was perfect timing for the next shuttle bus and on to the Green Goddess<\/a><\/strong>. We had a splendid ride through the streets of Eltham and Charlton (ducking the overhanging trees) before the Goddess came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There we had the choice of another fantastic array of beers and ciders with a good food offer (steak and chips\/salad) that some in our group enjoyed. On cask I had Good Chemistry\u2019s Amble On which was rather more malty than I usually go for but very refreshing. Next up on keg was a lovely juicy American pale ale from Elusive Brewing, suitably labelled Shirk, Rust and Pray (4.5% ABV). Had to be done!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Suitably refreshed and, as I had failed to plan my timing for the shuttle bus, I needed to jump on the 53 bus to complete my tour (and get my final \u2018old school\u2019 bus ticket stamp!) at the Shirker\u2019s Rest<\/a><\/strong>. This is a lovely micropub; it\u2019s quite small but it has an upstairs area. A good cask offer here; I went for Elusive Brewing\u2019s Roots, a 3.8% ABV session pale that was light and sharp and hit the spot nicely after a warm bus ride. Andrew Grumbridge, co-owner of the Shirker\u2019s Rest said, “I knew we were on to something when I was asked when we were doing it again before the bus had even arrived! So lovely to be involved and to cement our relationship with two exceptional local pubs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was great to see all the pubs doing well from this splendid collaboration. The bus tours ended at 8pm, so hopefully everyone got at least one ride to another watering hole. Well done to all the pubs for promoting the event and supporting each other. There was a real holiday atmosphere on the bus, lots of laughter and lots of lovely people got to visit pubs that they may not usually go to. Everyone\u2019s a winner. Same time next year then?
Maria Freeman<\/em><\/strong>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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