Pub 106, Day 40 – The Itchy Pig Ale House

By Rob

Imagine the excitement when we first heard that a new micropub was opening in Broomhill, right at the bottom of my street.

But first, a crucial question: does a micropub count as a pub?

We decided that it does, for the same reason that microfibres are still fibres, and a microbiologist is still a biologist (albeit one who is very small studies microscopic organisms).

With the passage of time and a little patience, we soon found ourselves sitting in what had become, without a doubt, my closest boozer.

From outside it looked more like a butcher's than a pub, with its shopfront aesthetic and porcine branding. Inside, it was a small-yet-stylish affair with wooden flooring, and a counter decorated in a million different 2p coins. The lighting, I was later told, is that found in pig pens throughout the country, and in place of standard furniture you can enjoy resting your pint on an old Singer sewing table.

The best thing about the Pig, however, is not the decor. Speaking from regular experience, I can safely say that the selection of beers has no rival in Broomhill – David beats Goliath in the battle for providing the best booze. The Pig regularly switches up the drinks on offer and, via the blackboard, keeps its punters updated on what’s coming down the pipeline. Not only this, but it’s one of the few venues in the area to have an ever-changing series of both keg and cask beers, helping to keep the selection diverse and interesting.

No wonder it enjoys such a successful showing at the CAMRA awards, despite only recently arriving on the scene.

Andy and I each ordered a pint of Red Star IPA, from Tollgate – a nice light beer, with citrussy and floral notes.

As we sat down, we found ourselves pleasantly surprised by the Pig. Its small size and lack of music didn’t prevent it from cultivating a warm, friendly, public house atmosphere. In fact, the small size seemed to encourage conversation between people on either side of the bar, and between the customers themselves.

Without a doubt, this micropub was clearly a pub.

As I’ve desperately tried to explain to women for almost ten years now: it’s not size that matters.

Pub: The Itchy Pig Ale House (495 Glossop Rd, S10 2QE)

Rating: 8.5/10

Pint: Red Star IPA

Brewery: Tollgate Brewery (Calke, Derbyshire)

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