Run by George and Louise (not to be confused with George and Lynne the scantily clad liberated couple who appeared in comic strip form in The Sun for most of the 70’s and 80’s) the pub, based right by the Sir Robert Peel statue and Tamworth’s Toolbox (see how reserved I’m being not cracking some sort of smutty comment at this point) slap bang in the centre of the town opened in 2017 originally as a fairly low key tap room for George’s brews (it is home to The Tamworth Brewing Company) it has now been transformed into something spectacular. Controversially I actually probably preferred it when it a little known secret drinking den but as you’ve probably realised by now with Blues, cricket and heavy metal music listed in the hobbies and interests section on my CV I would probably be classed as a bit odd !!
George’s attention to detail is second to none (he’s arguably more hands on than the current MP for Tamworth) no stone is left unturned, I don’t want to blow smoke up his proverbial but in my opinion The Tap (as it is known by locals) is as close to pub perfection as you can get and the numerous accolades bestowed on the place are testament to this fact.
To my shame (unlike villa fans) history isn’t my strong point, my history result in my mock O level (that’s a GSCE kids) was deemed that poor it was decided it was uneconomic to pay for me to sit the real thing. Given this I have had to check my facts carefully to describe the age of the pub’s features, the building is part Tudor, the castle that the pub overlooks is Norman (that’s the era not the name of the castle apparently) and the wall in the garden is Saxon (again it’s an era and not the new wave of British heavy metal band from Sheffield).
Not only is The Tap a fabulous place for a pint there are more activities available than there are on a week at Center Parcs. A quick look at recent events sees a Sunday Session (which is a musical event rather than an ill advised pre work booze up), an archaeology in the community chat (stop yawning at the back of class), a wreath making workshop (even I stifled a yawn typing that) , bat watching (as opposed to bat dropping snigger snigger) and the extremely popular paint and sip sessions (I can not confirm whether the painting is of live models!!). Joking aside the pub is always putting on events for its loyal customers known as Tappers by George and Louise.
My most recent visit was a great one, it was on a Friday after work and that first pint wherever you are and whatever you are drinking (okay maybe not Skol) tastes like nectar. I ordered a pint of one of the beers from George’s microbrewery I will probably lose pub blogging points for not making a note of the name of it but it was a pale ale. I took my seat and surveyed the pub and the post work crowd..
The bar staff are extremely pleasant and knowledgeable, a lady approached the bar and with a broad smile on her face the barmaid greeted her with ‘Hello Karen, have I got a beer for you…let me know what you think’ and with that Karen was sent away delighted with her half of Holy Moly. Brilliant stuff !!
A sign above the bar asks whether punters have been on George’s Whopper, I’m not going confirm or deny as to whether I have or not but I will admit to seeing George’s wood as he tended to the log burner near the front of the pub. I knew I couldn’t behave myself for long !!
Unlike many micropubs/microbreweries (including Tamworth’s very own King’s Ditch) The Tamworth Tap plays background music and for my visit I felt I should’ve been wearing a Choose Life T-shirt accompanied by leg warmers and deeley boppers as the playlist was from the 80’s, I heard some rarely heard numbers including Imagination by Belouis Some, Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz and Don’t Waste My Time by Paul Hardcastle. When I do my notes for these posts (I don’t just throw them together!!) I put reminders as text messages in my phone which I send to myself. How I laughed therefore when my phone autocorrected Hardcastle to Hardcore !! Looking at dodgy websites? Who me?!!
It’s the little things that make a difference and quiz cards on all the tables on the night I went in is typical of George’s meticulous attention to detail, I took a chance on a random card which happened to be on Swedish legends Abha and Mamma Mia I got four out of four without Chiqua-cheating (the answers were under the questions as presumably they are meant for punters with friends and not Billy no mates types like myself)…
Being of a certain age it wasn’t long before I required a trip upstairs to visit the pub’s conveniences. I visited one that was unisex in nature but fear not ladies my toilet etiquette is exemplary, my aim was straight and true and the lavatory seat was placed down as required!!
I took a quick photo of the upstairs room for blogging purposes but I think I spooked the two girls on the photo who must’ve thought I was some sort of stalking weirdo so if this post is my final one due to a pending court appearance I can only apologise !!
As well as having a bottle shop for those hard to get Belgian beers the piece de resistance of the pub is the beer garden, it is as magnificent and as aesthetically pleasing as an Ian Bell cover drive…
…the terms and conditions of ongoing stalking proceedings mean I am unable to take too many photos (only kidding folks!!) and my snaps most certainly don’t do this award winning feature any justice whatsoever so I recommend you have a look at this 360 degree view of the pub’s beer garden.
As I left the 80’s tunes were still playing and when I was walking out the door I heard Fairground Attraction’s Perfect. A very appropriate summing up of The Tamworth Tap, the jewel in the crown of the pubs in Tamworth.
A terrific pub! I'd forgotten about George and Lynne - great throwback!!!
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