Yet another reason why the Dolphin is the best pub in the world

I had been at my Gaelic class when my husband Bari texted me that a friend I’d not seen for a long time, Annie, was at the Dolphin folk night. The first Monday of the month is folk night, and Bari had taken his cajón along to join in with all the other musicians who had turned up to enjoy the fine beer and play and sing.

I’d had a lovely evening with my Gaelic friends and drove home, parked the car and walked the couple of hundred yards to the Dolphin, the best pub in the world. On the way I encountered a friend, Manchu, on his way home from the pub and we stopped and exchanged news about our families. He told me that since it was such a pleasant evening, folk club was outside. I walked on, down the middle of the road because our village has so  little traffic , saw everyone having a wonderful time in the beer garden of the Dolphin, and went into the pub to get some beer. Alice and Vicki were behind the bar and we had a pleasant chat as they sorted out a nice pint of Otter for me, and Tim, also at the bar, told me how wonderful it was that José Mourinho was back at Chelsea Football Club. I waved at Ben, Alice;’s brother, took my pint, had a brief word with Phil and Nigel who were playing poker with some other lads who I nodded and smiled at, then out to join folk club.

I sat with my friends Azu and Antonio who had his guitar and was playing along with the other musicians, had a brief word with Annie, had a brief word with Graham and asked after his wife, blew kisses to my husband Bari, and sat to enjoy the evening. Alice came round to collect the glasses, helped by her dog Simba, who is bigger every time I see him and I sat with and chatted to Azu while the various musicians played on.

There was a group of a singer, a banjo player and a guitarist who played along but every so often sang their own stuff (everyone else joined in, of course) there was Bari and Roy, who is a member of a great local band called Fallen Apples, on guitar along with some other people on guitars, there were other people playing accordions, guitars, mandolins, and even a cello all playing and singing and producing a great sound. Antonio and Azu sang in Spanish which captivated everyone…  We just had such a good evening under the stars on a perfect June night! A word that sprung to mind, maybe because I had been to my Gaelic class, craic… it was a great craic…. but just typical of what you can expect at the Dolphin. good beer, good fun. good service, good times!