Looking out into the quiet green park, you’d never guess The Lumsden is located in the heart of bustling Newmarket. We popped in to sample today’s deal: a beer tasting platter plus large pizza.
The choice of pizza was easy. While Meat Lovers is a classic and the menu also caters for vegetarians, we opted for the Peking Duck which The Lumsden reckons is a little bit unique. We’ve never spotted duck on a pizza anywhere else, but it’s delicious.
The beers took us a little longer to choose. Good George was a drink I remembered from my last visit – it’s an Irish red ale with a deliciously light, fruity taste. The beers change often; regulars and beer aficionados time their visit by the Pouring Soon notice written above the bar. We asked for recommendations and trusted the descriptions on the tasting paddle menu. Mike’s Milk Chocolate Stout really did taste chocolaty and smooth. We also tried a golden ale, a pilsner and a crisply bitter “Parrot Dog Flaxen Feather.”
The five tasting beers are served on a paddle, coded to their cheat sheet so you know what you’re drinking. We sipped slowly and discussed the difference between stouts and ales, pilsners and malts.
Once you’re done talking about the different beers, have a go at the board games scattered across the tables. We spotted Connect Four and Snakes and Ladders, mixed with offerings more challenging after a pint or two like Chess and dominos.
Other amenities include free popcorn for nibbling plus a charging station for your mobile. How often have you been out and found your phone dead? A charging station in every bar would solve a lot of first-world problems. Plus you’ll find the more typical pub-offerings like a pool table and sports playing above the bar.
Regulars lounge outside and doodle on the chalkboard tables or recline on a leather couch, aiming for a place in the 100 Club. After enjoying a hundred pints, these regulars are rewarded with a swag bag, their name on the wall and the staff’s eternal admiration. A tasting paddle was enough for a sunny week-day afternoon – but we’ll be back to climb our way up to the 100 Club.