Ever since we started going to the Lakes, the Dog and Gun has been our spititual home. We normally arrive in Keswick at about half-past-two, and park in the central car park. There then follows the ritual dash up the little alley way to get a pint of Theakstons before closing time.
It fell out of favour briefly in 1990, shortly after it was re-arranged. The long tables and benches in the Public Bar end disappeared and were replaced by four-seater tables with high-backed seats. Because there were six of us, it was difficult to sit together, and so we stomped off to the George Hotel (also Theakstons) for the week.
I now fear, however, that we have moved for good. This spring we arrived just too late for a lunch time pint, and instead had one in the bar of the Keswick Lodge Hotel. That evening, the Theakstons in the D&G wasn't wonderful, the taped music was intrusive and not to our tastes, and towards the end of the evening the tightly packed crowd waiting to pounce on our table began to annoy us.
On Sunday we arrived a few minutes before six for the ritual queueing outside, only to discover that it didn't open until seven, although we were convinced that the previous autumn it had opened at six on Sunday. We milled about for a bit, and then went to the Keswick Lodge. The Theakstons was the best for several trips; there was no piped music; the menu was more varied; and best of all there were no human vultures hovering over our table.
It was also noticeable that the other occupants of the bar didn't feel the need to converse by shouting. I shall never understand why some people have to talk so loudly; I don't want to listen to their conversations, and I don't want to have to shout to make myself heard by my friends.
And so it looks as if the days of the Dog and Gun are finished. I don't suppose we shall be missed!