Combe Downer Alert

That Jekka Gal

That Jekka Gal

That Jekka Gal

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Joined
2 Oct 2019
Posts
83
Just been served a pint that was a good inch and a half from the top of the glass so, as you do, I pointed out to the landlord that he’d just served me a Combe Downer.

Tumbleweed.

Obviously a blow-in from London with no local knowledge so, I explained, the term Combe Downer originates from the days when the stone used in the construction of Georgian Bath was quarried on Combe Down on the southern edge of Bath. These quarrymen were a boozy lot and the pubs would serve them takeouts that were carried down into the mines where they were at work but to prevent any spillage they would be filled to within an inch of the top of the glass. Hence a Combe Downer.

Miserable sod, I was expecting a free drink for that inneresting little factoid but he could barely bring himself to even top me back up. The days when my local knowledge = kerching-a-ding-a-ling are sadly over it seems.
 
Hotwired said:
Remarkably understanding publicans to let their glassware leave the premises and be taken down a working mine.
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Especially in the Georgian period, when glassware would have been more expensive than it is today. I'm also wondering what the law regarding measures was in those days. I was under the impression that it's been strict in England for centuries. Maybe they used slightly oversized glasses, so an inch from the top was a full measure.
 
That Jekka Gal said:
Just been served a pint that was a good inch and a half from the top of the glass so, as you do, I pointed out to the landlord that he’d just served me a Combe Downer.

Tumbleweed.

Obviously a blow-in from London with no local knowledge so, I explained, the term Combe Downer originates from the days when the stone used in the construction of Georgian Bath was quarried on Combe Down on the southern edge of Bath. These quarrymen were a boozy lot and the pubs would serve them takeouts that were carried down into the mines where they were at work but to prevent any spillage they would be filled to within an inch of the top of the glass. Hence a Combe Downer.

Miserable sod, I was expecting a free drink for that inneresting little factoid but he could barely bring himself to even top me back up. The days when my local knowledge = kerching-a-ding-a-ling are sadly over it seems.
Click to expand...

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I guess it's gonna be 1 made up story a day now that you broken into the limelight.
Have you considered you drink too much?
 
Hotwired said:
Remarkably understanding publicans to let their glassware leave the premises and be taken down a working mine.
Click to expand...

If the publican was selling 40 odd pints per day to the miners, and they were bringing the empties back or paying for breakages, then it made sound business sense, (IF there was a pub operating that way).

Feek said:
I know that song.

If I’m ever served a pint that’s not a pint, I just ask the barkeep to top it up. There’s no need to be sarky about it.
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It’s never happened to me, I’m not a beer drinker, but I was in “The Neptune”, Rupack St. Rotherhithe with a friend and he was served a pint with a bit of room at the top.
He said to the barman, “Reckon you can get a double scotch in there?”
He said, “I reckon there’s room”, so my friend said, “So do I, but try it with bitter instead.”
 
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