A Toast To Tweedy

A Short Scroll

The picture is from harveys.org

The man by the bar advises me that one of the options I am considering will soon be on a hiatus owing to the coming of spring. Understanding this, I opt for the Olympia in acceptance that I will not have a chance to imbibe the Old Ale until autumn. I tell the man who I intuit to be a regular that the seasonal change has urged my choice. I get the sense that this place feels like home to him, and I am grateful to be in a pub where polite words extend to strangers. I am at The Royal Oak, owned by Harvey's of Lewes, Sussex. It is a relatively secluded pub within a short walk from Borough tube station and a not too lengthy stroll from London Bridge. The agreeable temperature outside complements my smooth and light pint. I am glad to be here, a traditional pub with wooden fittings, pleasant white walls, Toby jugs, a small piano, cosy and well-lit spaces, a local vibe, a sense of being lived in, and a fine selection of ales. I would not have found it without Tweedy.

“I don't quite know how to describe why it is so perfect”, “it is absolute magic”, Tweedy says while joyously praising Harvey's flagship drink Sussex Best during his video on pubs in Southwark, London. The copper coloured, malty, hoppy, sweet but not too sweet bitter is wonderfully balanced. Viewers of Tweedy Pubs will know that Tweedy is fond of ale, but his channel does not exist merely to indulge a taste for drink. Always ready to adeptly employ historical research, Tweedy routinely makes learned and thoughtful contributions to British cultural history. He immerses the watcher in journeys through time, brings to life fascinating stories, and expounds on architectural features. Tweedy Pubs is as much a realm of partitions, bar gantries, Scandinavian granite, Windsor lamps, and places and people, as it is about a soothing pint.

Last Easter, I randomly came across Tweedy Pubs when searching for a pub in Belgravia, London ahead of a meeting with friends. I sought pleasant surroundings and a way to spend an afternoon in the wealthy area without emptying my wallet. Tweedy provided much detail about Belgravia. He consistently notes the price of the drink he purchases at every pub he attends. I do wonder how he never appears sloshed on camera given that he can cover around half a dozen venues in a single video. Since his first piece there, Tweedy has been back to Belgravia to create a slicker, more in-depth, and professional account of pubs in the elegant district. If you fancy a pint in a charming and tranquil setting but would rather not pay £8 for a Guinness, then the video below is for you.

Tweedy does not restrict himself to pleasant strolls around some of London’s most desirable spots. He has ventured to Hackney, London and found little worth sticking around for. Someone who enjoys traditional pubs while dressing in tweed will probably feel out of place in a very liberal milieu like Hackney. If I had any lingering doubt about never wanting to go there, Tweedy extinguished it. He is willing to make sacrifices like this so you do not have to.

It does not always follow that a nice part of London will have good pubs. Tweedy demonstrates this during a trip to Wimbledon. I have become an avid fan of his work in part because of his aversion to gastro-pubs, and Wimbledon is full of modern establishments of this variety. Again, Tweedy has saved me from future disappointment.

At a time when many pubs are struggling; and our towns and cities are becoming less traditional and less aesthetically pleasing, Tweedy captures much of the beauty and character of establishments in areas that have either already gone or feel less and less like home with each passing day. His work is crucial in preserving our pub heritage lest memories of it be lost forever.

Cheers.