Meanwhile in a Pub near You, Something Amazing is Happening…

Around the time we launched The Blue Stoops the pub had two different genres of press coverage. One was in what used to be called The Broadsheets, with some lovely reviews from the likes of Jay Rayner, Giles Coren and Nick Lander.

But in the Redtops, a different story was brewing. The Sun and The Mirror were going apesh*t about the appearance of a beer called Double Diamond on draught, on the Stoops bar. This was national news right up there with “Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster”.

Double Diamond was first brewed by Allsopp’s in 1876 and by the 1960s and 70s had become the nation’s favourite beer, selling more than 50m pints a year, fuelled by hilarious TV ads featuring the tag-line ‘works wonders’. So popular indeed that Tony Benn thought about nationalising it. Then, mysteriously, it went into a steep decline in the 80s, and by the 90s it ceased production, despite being the late Prince Philip’s go-to beer. So apparently unloved and forgotten was the brand that I was able to buy it back from its then owner, Carlsberg, for £1 to add it to the Allsopp’s stable.

Our brewery partners Kirkstall up in Leeds came up with a smashing new recipe, we gave the iconic original branding a tweak, brewed a small batch, and stuck it on the bar at The Stoops.

So the next time you are in, do order a pint. It is a light 3.8% ABV, golden in colour, and as we say is “brewed like a pale, drinks like a lager, tastes bloody wonderful.” Brilliantly, it is also vegan (remember vegans?) and gluten-free. More info on the beer here on the beautiful new website.

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