Secret Drinker reviews Goodbarns Yard in Boston

I always thought those people who built pubs in their back gardens were a little odd.

Yes, the craftsmanship, attention to detail and ability to have an idea and actually stick to it until completion are all - to me - amazing, even if the comedy names (I saw one twonk call his the Liquor Hole) are not.

But why would you want your own home-pub? Is it to keep up with the Instagram influencers, harvest your own online likes or to be seen as the cool guy in your gang? It can’t be anything more than attention, surely?

I ask because surely the whole point of going to the pub is the fact you never quite know who you’re going to bump into. Pub is short for ‘public house’ not ‘having some mates round but the wife doesn’t want that idiot Trev in the house and will be using the living room to watch Corrie anyway’.

The real joy is bumping into a random blast from your past or a stranger with a story to tell, the trip exacerbated by never knowing what’s going to happen next or what the guest beer may be.

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All these great unknowns are instantly eradicated if you’re running the place.

Besides, sitting in a pub alone night after night would be quite tragic, you’d soon become Tommy from Early Doors. And how many times can you enjoyably beat yourself at pool?

So to combat this you’d have to invite people over. But then you’re no-longer the pubgoer, you’re the landlord. You’re the guy checking his watch and wondering when that idiot who’s overstayed his welcome - who sees your home-pub as his pub rather than your home - will finally go away so you can go to bed.

I know we all needed something to keep us going stir crazy in Covid, indeed one mate of mine sent me his daily attempts to recreate KFC in his air fryer for months on end.

But surely we’ve been out of lockdown long enough to realise that - whether it’s socialising or the Colnel’s special recipe - you just cannot replicate the real thing.

At least that’s what I was thinking to myself as I took a seat at the Goodbarns Yard and presumed all the back-in-the-day drinkers must have been killing this warm summer’s afternoon in their lonely mancaves.

In years gone by - and not really all that long ago - places like this would be heaving on days like this. Standing room only inside and out as the smallest sniff of hayfever was enough to convince the whole town to stick on their best three-quarter-length combat shorts and large-logoed Ralph Lauren rugby shirts and hit the nearest beer garden for a Magners.

While it was pleasing to see this long-established and popular Boston pub was still very busy with a cross section of families, pals and couples of all ages - even if there were a few tables available on the large, covered decking - pretty much everyone was there for the food rather than the sesh.

It was the same inside this simple-but-enjoyable pub where, despite the glorious weather, large groups had elected to find a table they could all get round, tucked away in the many small enclaves that give the place a cosy feel.

It was then it dawned on me, what if I was the out-of-touch grouch here, hankering for a time that’s long gone. A Town Talk Facebook post in human form.

I texted a friend to lament the loss of Saturday sessions in the beer garden to be told the Gen Zers at her workplace see a night out as meeting up to hit the gym at 9pm, proof this is no longer my world.

And, as we’re seemingly trapped in this new stay-at-home society, it was actually great to see a pub doing a good trade on a weekend afternoon.

Well, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, so I took the plunge. No, I didn’t go to the gym at a stupid hour, but I realised I too was feeling peckish and got some food to fit in with everyone around me.

A decent bacon and cheese melt sandwich went down quickly and made me realise why people go to the Goodbarns for grub.

Tail between my legs or the dawning of a brave new me? Either way, I ate up and headed off. If you need me I’ll be at home building the Secret Drinker’s Arms.

GOODBARNS YARD, WORMGATE, BOSTON, PE21 6NP

DECOR: The pub has acosy, snug feel and the beer garden is nice and spacious. 3/5

DRINK: As I’m now down with the kids, I went for a pint of Beavertown Neck Oil session IPA (ABV 4.3%). 4/5

PRICE: I paid £6, A little pricier than I prefer but Beavertown ain’t cheap. 3/5

ATMOSPHERE: It was great to see lots of people out enjoying themselves. 3/5

STAFF: A helpful young lad behind the bar and the staffer who brought out the grub was also friendly enough. 3/5

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