When I lived in Lancashire, I was a staunch drinker of Hartleys - brewed in Ulverston - but that's now gone somewhere else and doesn't taste the same when I visit now. Or at least it appears to taste different to what I remember when I lived there. Because I suspect that living "down South" for over 40 years has changed my beer palate.

Anyway, what's the sense in "Sussex" bitter - formerly brewed by King & Barnes in Horsham - being called "Sussex" when it's now brewed in Blandford by bloody Hall & Woodhouse? Luckily, a member of the King family is still brewing in Horsham, and they do a nice winter "Old".

And Theakstons was sold. And, like King & Barnes, a member of the family continued to brew, and now sells "Black Sheep" (if memory serves).

I don't know what the world's coming to, I really don't. It were never like this when I were a lad... Anyway, I said to Fred the other day...