Thursday 23 June 2011

John Thompson

My personal challenge for this round of Miss Jenny Matlock's alphabe-Thursday is to post about a location within the borders of my own county of Derbyshire, UK, for each letter of the alphabet.


Look for the letter, to see where I am.



J is for John Thompson.

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This week's post is closely linked with the one from last week, focusing on the pub and brewery, just outside the village of Ingleby.


It began life as 15th century farmhouse, but in 1968, John and Ann Thompson converted their home into a public house and, uniquely, named it after themselves; a UK first!



Being a 'Free House' means that they are not tied to any specific brewery and from 1977 they have brewed their own beer; the very first brew being to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of HM Elizabeth II. Their's is now the longest established micro-brewery in the country, producing beers mainly for sale on their own premises.



Unusually, food is only served at lunchtimes, but that hasn't stopped them from making it into the Good Pub Guide for all 25 years of that publications existence; one of only 66 UK pubs to achieve this.



More recently, the John Thompson have teamed up with a small Derby based company to provide Scandinavian lodge accommodation. The lodges are available for short or long term renting by anyone (up to a maximum of 4 people per lodge), but I suspect they are quite popular with fishermen, as the River Trent is just across the field. (The pub can just be seen in the top-centre of the photograph below).


Back to the pub roadside and there is a lovely show of poppies along the beer garden wall.


Anyone fancy a pint of J.T.S. XXX ?
                                  

16 comments:

  1. That's a really traditional town. Love the serenity depicted in the pics

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  2. What a delightful story. They certainly knew they were on to a good wicket when they opted to follow their dream all those years ago, having had quite a few notable achievements to bolster their business and keep it going so successfully all these years. I'm not a beer drinker (a glass of wine will do nicely for me, instead, please) :)

    The surrounding scenery is lovely and what a welcoming splash of colour those poppies lend to the Pub! As always, I thoroughly enjoy these outings with you, H...thank you!

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  3. Love the building, love a pub vibe and adore the poppies!!

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  4. If I make it to your part of the world, your place is the first in which I'll stop to have a pint. Yours is a delightful story.
    I very much appreciate your visit and hope you'll come again.

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  5. Yes please - just half a pint for me and a pint for the farmer - and by the way - those poppies are glorious.

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  6. I'm not a beer drinker, but maybe a taste. I love the poppies.

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  7. How cool that you have all that history around you. I love how you are doing the alphabe-thursdays. Great.

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  8. Well that "J" didn't stump you at all! Brava! And excellent post!!!!

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  9. Love the River Trent photo with the swan and the duck....

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  10. What a great place! I love the river view.

    Teresa

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  11. I looks beautiful... I would love to visit!

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  12. that's a beautiful wall - great use of an old house! Looks like a place I need to put on MY map! {:-D

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  13. How unique! Kind of like having your friends over for a drink and chat whenever:) Love all of this!

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  14. I'm so enchanted by the words, '15th Century Farmhouse'. Yikes. That just reminds me how 'young' America is as a country.

    Those little cabins look like a charming place to stay, don't they?

    Sit and watch the river and then head to the pub!

    Thanks for a jewel of a link this week.

    I'm so glad you picked this as your 'theme' for Alphabe-Thursday.

    It's so fun and fascinating.

    A+

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