Welsh Rugby Scarf Travel Log in Pictures

[McClef]

I didn't know that Boddies had been moved to Magor!

Great pictures Dee!

[English Bloke]

Not to hijack the thread but to answer your question Tref.

(Please skip this post if you have no interest in either the loss of a proper beer or the wanton destruction of iconic Mancunian buildings.)

Boddies was sold by the Boddington family to the Whitbread Beer Company in 1989 and so marked the start of the demise of a once great Manchester beer. Whitbread's brewing division were in turn 'acquired' by the brewing giants Interbrew (now Inbev) in 2000. Their primary concern is volume of sales and the Brewery in Strangeways Manchester (next to the famous Prison) didn't have the facility to handle bottling and canning, so it was itself canned in 2005. The site was cleared in 2007 and all that remained was the unique chimney. The landmark may have remained standing for a while but the fires had long since gone out for the "Cream of Manchester".



Bit of history for you. The site on an 1844 OS Map.



The brewery in 2005. Notice the large "To Let" sign on the wall outside.



The famous landmark chimney in 2005. The brewery building reopened briefly as a nightspot in 2006 but it was a short-lived venture.



The site was eventually cleared in 2007 and was used as an open-air car park.
Above pictures © Keith Williamson and reproduced under creative commons licence



Another view of the old brewery site and chimney with the Manchester Evening News Arena behind it.


In 2010, the task of bringing down the chimney safely was assigned to a company called Rafferty Steeplejacks, The above photo is borrowed from their website which also gives an account (and more pictures) of the demolition process here. (If you like that sort of thing). They took it down brick by brick, depositing the rubble down the stack, till there it was... gone!


A 200 room Travelodge Hotel now occupies the site. Not sure if it's open yet but work is definitely under way...



The "Boddingtons" Travelodge (err... It's not actually called that...) is right next door to the MEN Arena as I said and also Victoria Station so on the up-side it's handy for City Centre overnighter visits for gigs and exhibitions. On the down side? End of an era!!.


The Boddingtons that everyone drinks now is made at the Inbev site in Magor, near Newport, South Wales. The site is enormous so understandable how they are able to make so much of it, but to be honest... It's just not the same. Like cubic zirconia isn't diamond... like hamburger isn't fillet steak... like footy kilts are not 16oz wool. I could go on [sob!... sobsob!] but I won't.


Apologies for the interruption but hope that answers your question Tref. I now return you to your regular scheduled viewing. Thank you and goodnight.

[starbkjrus]

Just a reminder of Standard's request...hope things work out so it gets there. Great job on the the pics, everyone!

Yup, that's in the log so I have to work with that...

Well spotted John. Also Dee, I am in that pic at the back of your desk when we met in Ferintosh the very first one I believe. I remember the weekend well. We all had a blast.
Iechyd Da
Derek

And yes, you are correct...It was INDEED a blast....

I didn't know that Boddies had been moved to Magor!

Great pictures Dee!

Had no idea....

[Standard]

Just a reminder of Standard's request...hope things work out so it gets there. Great job on the the pics, everyone!

Yup, that's in the log so I have to work with that...

Thanks guys. Really enjoying everyone's pictures thus far on the wee scarf's journey.

[Downunder Kilt]

Anyone willing to tell where the scarf is now? Seems to have gone to ground after 9 August.

[Derek]

Downunder Kilt ... I sure it will appear anytime now.
And before you say anything Jock ... Yes ...I have taken some deep breaths, made a cuppa and entered a relaxation mode.
Hope Downunder dont get the same symptoms.
Iechyd Da
Derek

[Standard]

Derek can rest easy, the wee scarf has made a safe landing here in Macomb which is situated in west central Illinois! Since we are situated so close to the mighty Mississippi River (only 35 miles away) a it seemed only fitting to welcome the wee scarf with a dinner of catfish and fried chicken.

We happened to be celebrating the birthdays of my sister, her husband and two of their children who all have birthdays within the next two weeks. Since I had to work late I did not get to attend the gift openings, but was able to join my wife and the rest of the extended family for dinner at the historic Hotel Nauvoo in Nauvoo, Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi River. http://www.hotelnauvoo.com/

Nauvoo is the site of the Morman settlement on the Illinois bank of the Mississippi River which they left when they headed west to finally settle in Salt Lake City, Utah. http://www.historicnauvoo.net/

It's late, and time for bed so I'll post a couple of photos tomorrow.