After yet another busy day at work we finally managed to get away at almost 5pm. I was really looking forward to an evening out with our friends from over the road, Paul and Sue, as they were taking us to a new pub in Northampton called the The Princess Alexandra.
Sue and Paul picked us up at 7pm and we set off for the town, parking in a nearby multi-storey. After drinks at the pub we were heading for a very good Balti restaurant so we all had some more alcohol with us!
The pub used to be a "spit and sawdust" pub in a back street of Northampton but was now what is called a "Craft Beer and Ale House". We are seeing more and more of these places springing up, specialising in very small breweries and obscure beers. There was a great atmosphere there and we fought our way to the bar, marvelling at how many beers were on offer. Sue was seeing some of her ex-workmates in there as well, and they came over to say hello and to have a chat.
I tried half a pint of Hobgoblin to start and was a little dismayed to find it served in a jug with a handle, which I hate! Keith tried a local beer which was also served in a pint jug and he confessed he didn't like this type of glass either! Paul happened to notice a board describing a 6% Neopolitan Milk Stout only served in a Schooner so I just had to try that next and I loved it...it was creamy, smooth and totally delicious so that's what Paul and I drank for the rest of the evening! The Schooner was 2/3 of a pint and at 6% it wasn't for the faint-hearted but we both agreed that it was a lovely beer.
We had a really good time in the pub, enjoying the atmosphere and the mix of customers. From there, we walked back to the car and drove the short distance to the Balti restaurant. Funnily enough, several groups of people who'd been in The Princess Alexandra were also in the Balti King, including some of Sue's work colleagues, so that was good!
We ordered our meal and Keith and I just had a small glass of wine! I chose a Balti Jalfrezi which turned out to be very hot indeed! We munched on poppadoms while our meal was being cooked and the food was very welcome as by now we were all very hungry. Keith and I shared a dish of mushroom rice and a Peshwari naan and definitely didn't have any room for dessert afterwards!
When we got home both children were still up and Sophie was relived we hadn't gone onto one of the clubs in town that I'd teased her about in a text!
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