With Christmas on the horizon, a Scottie Tour to Chesham was a must, and a thinly veiled excuse to go via London on the way home. Under normal circumstances a short 35 minute drive through the Buckinghamshire countryside would bring you to leafy Amy Lane, but in the new era of Regimental train journeys, we set off from Luton, into King’s Cross and then onto an epic 17 stop, 59 minute journey on the Metropolitan line. So another visit to the Scandinavian Café for a breakfast refuel before boarding at Luton was in order and by the time we arrived in Chesham, the taste buds were waiting to be bathed in ale.
A short walk from the station was the Red Lion, a large open plan pub, with a long L shaped bar. We popped in here as the Tractor Boyz wanted to watch the Ipswich match, but the locals had over ruled them and opted for the Arsenal match. The very accommodating bar stuff switched one of the many TVs over so they could watch Ipswich Town drag out what looked like a 0-0 draw against Charlton Athletic, until Noel Hunt squeezed in a last minute winner. This cheered up the Tractor Boyz and Kevin was happy as the Gunners have put the mighty WBA to the sword thanks to a Danny Welbeck second half goal. So, we’re guzzling the excellent and reliable Doom Bar, the boys are happy that their second teams have won, what can go wrong? Erm, three Scottie Tours, one draw, two losses and no goals. As we strolled up the road to Amy Lane, we wondered if we would see a Dunstable goal, let alone a win.
The boys did not disappoint today. Not only did we get our first goals on a Scottie Tour, we also had a first win. An emphatic 3-1 victory over the Generals was most enjoyable, with goals from Effiong, Herd and McKenzie-Lowe. This sent us on our merry way in a very happy mood, despite the aggrieved locals who resorted to abuse as we left the ground, with one particular mouthy little so and so, claiming our support was shit and that they took more fans to Truro. On the walk back into town we agreed to try out the highly recommended Chesham Brewery Shop.
Established in 2013 by the Red Squirrel Brewery, the shop is right on the Market Square and, although in recent times it was an Italian delicatessen, it was once a pub called the Globe. It is better described as a micro pub and beer shop, selling an excellent range of bottled beers, ciders and wine supplemented by a neat little bar selling draught Red Squirrel beers, guests and cider. Beers are served from a tiled wall behind the bar with 10 taps in a very similar way to the Euston Tap. A couple of pints of the Red Squirrel Czech Pilsner were sampled before we stocked up for the epic return journey on the Metropolitan line. The massive choice of bottled beers is perfectly complimented by their take away service. A two pint milk bottle full of beer for the journey at only £4 cannot be sniffed at and with our supplies set off for Chesham Station. On arrival it seemed our tickets were not working on the barrier. It appears that Chesham is in Zone 9, did not even know there was a zone 9, and we only had Zone 6 tickets. Faced with seven tipsy Dunstable Town fans the chap in the ticket office made an executive decision and let us all through. What a legend!
As you may or may not know, on the London Underground as you approach the next stop the sultry sounds of what we think is Joanna Lumley, tells you the name of the approaching station. As Joanna was telling us our next station was Euston Square, we all looked at each other and thought “Euston Tap”, so we bundled off and surfaced on the Euston Road, with the Tap in sight. As we came to a fire station, a fire engine was just reversing back in from a shout and we jovially suggested that we come in for a tour. The fire fighters seemed very keen to show us round, a little too keen for our liking and we bottled it. Maybe another time chaps.
Once at the Tap, raspberry cider, calvados and an excellent Christmas Ale were quaffed, making the journey back to Luton somewhat hazy. Having gained a claret and blue scarf on the return leg we arrived back at Luton station in time for the last A bus into Dunstable, with dreams of where our next trip would take us in the New Year.
