Secret Drinker reviews The Pied Calf in Spalding

A good day out in the pub often boils down to being in the right place at the right time. And I think I’ve struck gold.

I try to be conscious when writing these reviews (that does help) of the fact that I may have dropped in on a place on a bad night and not been able to do a boozer full justice.

One fair example would be last week’s trip to the Britannia Inn where I had the whole place to myself.

Perhaps the barman’s had a bad day or the beer was a little off and the next thing they know, they’re getting a mark in this column they don’t find fair.

That’s the downfall of only having a snapshot to make an assumption.

However, things do work the other way too, like when I walked into the Pied Calf.

I don’t have the background knowledge to say this place isn’t packed to the rafters every day, but I bet the tills were doing a little bit better on this Saturday because the Spalding Flower Parade had just passed by.

The floats did look fabulous, but as an outsider I’d been dragged along to effectively wave at a lot of people I don’t know representing organisation’s I’m not familiar with while dressed up as stars of shows I’ve not seen.

Of course, the story is a little different for the locals who appear to use the day as an excuse to get into town, begin drinking ridiculously early on and bump into a load of pals they’ve not seen in ages.

So after an hour or two stood in the sun watching others have a jolly good time I decided I’d more than earned myself a drink.

The Red Lion was doing a roaring trade but as the place - and the outside tables were packed - and I’d already reviewed this place not too long ago, it was time to find somewhere else.

A matter of metres away, behind a flock of concrete sheep (is Spalding twinned with Milton Keynes?) was the Pied Calf. And, like the Lion, it was very busy.

“Oh mate, I’ve not seen you in ages,” a bloke cried as he pulled a long-last pal in for a cuddle as I tried to squeeze past them in the doorway.

Inside the seating was all taken up and more mates stood around. The conversation was animated and everyone was having a great time (that’s what drinking early in the day does for you).

Groups stood around tables cracking jokes and sharing a laugh with strangers.

There was a nice vibe. People were up for a good time, and it showed as I - looking for a space to make my own - accidentally trod on one chap’s foot, only for him to give me a big smile and a pat on the back.

“No worries fella.”

I’m not one to cast aspersions and it’s by no means right to suggest everyone - with the exception of a small girls who waited patiently at the two-deep bar only to be told she’d have to come back with an adult if she wanted anything - was a little on the tipsy side.

But I do hope the vast majority of those in the pub weren’t driving home.

I found a table in a back room to plonk myself down for a bit, one of many little nooks around where you could get some respite from the throngs if you wished.

But the atmosphere was elsewhere so I soon headed out to check the beer garden.

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Again, large groups sat round small tables and the spare, seatless tables, were used to dump empties or for the smokers and vapers to plonk their glasses as they got to work.

‘Good 4 U’ by Olivia Rodrigues blared out of the speakers as revellers belly laughed in their sun trap.

Good for them too!

THE PIED CALF, SHEEP MARKET, SPALDING, PE11 1BE

DECOR: Hard to tell as the place was wall-to-wall people. The bar area was nice and some backrooms, presumably dining areas at quiter times, were a little chintzy and dated with their overbearing red carpets. But there were all the pub wants such as the fruity and the darts board, plus the outdoor area was a nice sun trap. 3/5

DRINK: I had a bottle of Heineken (ABV 5%), which was refreshing on the day. 3/5

PRICE: I paid £4.40 which is par for the course, even if I regularly moan bottled beer is way overpriced. 3/5

ATMOSPHERE: Cannot ask for morel The atmosphere was lively and fun-packed. I was in a room of strangers but the people I spoke to treated me like a friend. 5/5

STAFF: The bloke who served me had his work cut out but was operating swiftly and getting the punters what they wanted at impressive speeds. He was also compassionate to the young lady he was unable to serve. 4/5

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