I have a passion for old buses
and like to drink on one even better. First some history about
the Bombardier Bus: RCL2239 Routemaster Coach Long started
work near where I used to live. The bus entered service from
Romford Garage near the Romford brewery on route 721,
Replacing RT’s, they were a more comfortable coach come bus.
It was transferred to the National Bus Company in the 1970’s
and repurchased by London Transport in 1979 to be refurbished
and used on route 149.
The bus was acquired by Charles Wells who
then converted the lower deck into a mobile mini-bar with the
exterior painted with the cross of St. George and a pint of
Bombardier on the roof. I first saw the bus at the Great
British Beer Festival a couple of years ago and thought it
would be great to have it at the Newark beer festival. |
Last August, the BB visited the Inn on The Green at Coddington.
It had already visited the Grey Horse in Collingham earlier in
the day and at 16.30 arrived at the Inn on The Green. So I
went along on a damp evening to be greeted by Tim Morris, the
Landlord, Barry Hearn the driver and Lee Wood the National
account manager.
Whist there I got to see the new style glass. I was interested
to see that instead of stating “Charles Wells” it now just
says “Wells”. The connection with the bus? - Charles Wells are
to start brewing John Bull Bitter, which was brewed near one
of the stops the bus served in its hay day. I do hope it
tastes better than the old John Bull because, from what I
remember, it tasted cr*p!Sinjon Nov'04 |
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