Category Archives: Microbus

Whitby

I’ve been a CAMRA member for a few years now, since before I became involved in bars, but I’d never taken part in activities or excursions.

Working in the current bar has changed that; a lot of guys who’re members come into the bar and we know a lot of them by name.

When an email popped up, mentioning a trip to Whitby, we agreed a team Microbus outing. This happened on Saturday and we all had a great day. The trip was so well organised, but, after a visit to Whitby Brewery, there wasn’t an agenda. The opposite was the case, since some of the bars couldn’t accommodate everyone at the same time.

This was the first time all of us have have had a day out together since opening the bar – we’re all rarely in the same place at the same time.

We realised that we can do more to promote future events. We’ve some ideas. We’ll certainly take part in another.

Unexpected

So, our little bar has somehow been voted CAMRA Gateshead pub of the year.

We’d not expected this; there’d been a hope of coming in as runner up, but we couldn’t have imagined coming so far in our first year.

Our only real target was to make the 2024 Good Beer Guide; pub of the year wan’t really on our radar.

Christmas camping

Christmas, the perfect time of year for camping.

Think about it; Boxing Day bus services end pretty early in the day. And it can be a real pain to get a cab late at night.

Fortunately, when faced with a long, cold walk home last night, there was an alternative.

The future

I’ve been thinking a lot about the future lately.

People who know me might be surprised to hear that I don’t see this cool little bar as being part of that.

Getting this place open was one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. Largely because I did most of the physical labour as, well as the obvious multitude of bits of red tape, formalities and other such rubbish.

In many ways, getting the ‘bus up and running was pretty close to work I’d done when I had a proper job. While the bar was stupidly hard work, it was hugely rewarding. Particularly when there was a real outcome and a feeling of I did this.

And maybe that’s what I liked about the last few projects in my old job. Once something was delivered, the buzz was over. The inevitable live running politics took over and a new job came along.

So why would Microbus be any different? I’m at the point when, although I love the place, the buzz is already a distant memory and the people shit has started to encroach on the joy in something new.

This stuff’s so frustrating.

Work

After a 12 hour day in the (new) pub, I went to work in the Schooner for another 4 hours.

Back in the new place in five hours.

New career

I’ve been involved in the Schooner for almost two and a half years. It was meant to be something of a hobby after early retirement from a proper job. I’ve reduced my share in the pub significantly, but it’s proven impossible to sever all ties. Soon perhaps.

We’ve been told that we should get the keys to the new place in the next few days. Then we’re hoping to get the place up and running in a month or so. There’s a lot to do, but we’re looking forward to it.

Micropub update

The premises license for the micropub came through the other day. While we’d heard weeks ago that the license had been approved, the physical license took a few weeks to materialise.

Not that we were in a rush; we’re still waiting for the lease and planning permission. The deadline for the planning decision is the end of next week though, so there should be another development soon.

Of course, that’ll still leave the matter of the lease.

Meanwhile, thoughts on potential t-shirts (they won’t be white, this exists only on paper right now). And maybe a table top.

And I’m continuing to buy random shit.