Secret Drinker reviews The Moorings in Spalding
You shouldn’t always trust your first impressions, but sometimes even I get things correct.
The second I stepped into The Moorings there was a boisterous mood; plenty of chatter, the clinking of cutlery and one bloke holding court with his mates making some risque quips which perhaps didn’t need to be heard by the elderly ladies nearby.
But still, they didn’t appear to mind, so all was well.
It didn’t take me long at all to come to the assumption that this place was well loved by its owners, and that love was reciprocated by its punters, who seemed a nice cross section of all ages.
There were couples, elderly ladies who lunched, younger ladies who liquid lunched, families and, of course, the very jolly Sid James impersonator and his pals.
While the other groups took their seats in the back of the pub or out on the attractive looking decking overlooking the River Welland, which dissects Spalding, I grabbed my drink from a pleasant barmaid and took a stool in the bar area to watch some golf that was showing on the big screen above the fireplace.
Sport was very much the theme in this patch of the pub, with framed Rugby League memorabilia from both hemispheres hanging on the walls.
A British Lions cushion was plonked on the sofa, in some kind of a defiant reminder that there’s a much better, manlier code of the sport to enjoy.
It was snug, cosy and a lot of love had obviously gone into the decor.
The small bar - with its built-in sink and no room wasted with bottles of spirits crammed in wherever possible - didn’t offer much wriggle room for the two members of staff serving, but they danced around one another impressively.
Unlike most buildings, The Moorings is best viewed from the back.
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If you pass it from the west bank you - particularly on a nice, sunny day - catch drinkers basking in the heat and merrily supping away in the outside area overlooking the river.
There’s plenty of seating on the two tiers and, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a visit from the family of swans that hang around the area.
From the opposite bank you’re greeted by the pub which, although the building is pleasant enough, is painted a sort of turtle green.
Definitely not my colour of choice, but it certainly didn’t deter the punters.
After finishing my drink I ambled back into the sunshine where, on the nearby benches along the bank, groups sat sipping their cider from tins.
Nice day for it lads, but the real action’s inside and you’re missing out.
THE MOORINGS, COMMERCIAL ROAD, SPALDING, PE11 2HD
DECOR: Take inspiration from the attractive decking and not the external green walls, because inside a lot of care has gone into the appearance. 3/5
DRINK: A pint of Camden Pale Ale (ABV 4%), which is a very nice pint. 4/5
PRICE: £5.70. The Camden stuff is never cheap but I’ve paid £7.50 for one of these outside the county (drink local). 3/5
ATMOSPHERE: Plenty going on for an afternoon crowd, and a lovely blend of people. 4/5
STAFF: A barman and barmaid always had smiles for the punters and did will to navigate the small bar area comfortably. 3/5
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