Just got my February What's Brewing (10th of the month is usually when I get it over here). I was reading the article reviewing the book on Bath pubs and noticed a mention about the Beehive being Bath's last Cider House and that sadly it closed in 2001. In 1995 during our first visit to England my wife and I took a day trip to Bath on the train from London. We visited the Roman Baths in the morning, had a pub lunch in one of the pubs nearby and then set out to explore this very hilly city. After a strenuous walk around admiring the Georgian architecture we started to head back towards the train station when we stumbled upon the Beehive. Being a real ale novice at that time (no GBG to assist me) pub visiting was hit or miss. What attracted us to the Beehive was a sign outside offering 70p pints of some tasteless sh*t. As I was consuming my pint of cheap swill I noticed that most of the patrons were not drinking what I was drinking. In the dimly lit pub it looked to me as if they were having pints of orange soda pop. Obviously I knew these grown men (my wife was the only female in the place) were not drinking Fanta so I asked the bartender what they were having. He told me and we switced to the cider on the next round. We had a great time there chatting with locals and left feeling pretty good to head back to the train station. I always hoped I could return there someday for another fun afternoon, but that is now not to be. At least I have my fond memories.
My question is that are there still cider houses in England? I have visited many pubs in England and Wales during my annual visits to the UK and have never encountered another pub like the Beehive where most of the patrons were consuming cider.
Bruce CAMRA member from New Jersey