We just received an announcement that The Free House pub in Nelson is celebrating it’s first month in business. Congratulations! Mic and Eelco, their families and other investors were courageous to move forward with this venture in these economic times. Opening a business in a recession is daunting, even if beer is supposed to be more ‘recession proof’ than most products. And opening the most expensive pub in town in this climate takes an even deeper commitment to the vision.

Sadly for us, the tab is giving us a sting. We know it’s good value for money, given the wide range of unique choices and the larger imperial pints. We can’t resist the hand pulled real ales. We are willing to pay extra for something we can’t get elsewhere and we’ve been out more in the past month (always to the Free House) than in the prior three months. Still, our funds are limited and our budget is usually tapped with the first round. We keep saying we should order halves to spread it out and enjoy more variety, but there’s just something about the feel of a pint in your hand…and we aren’t exactly suffering when that pint is full of Townsend’s No.9 (top stout in the 2008 NZ International Beer Awards) or Twisted Hop’s Twisted Ankle. It’s so nice that they never make us feel bad about only buying what we can afford. Eelco seemed rather bemused by the guy who asked if it was okay to order just a half- why wouldn’t it be? Apparently some bartenders will try to make a guy feel a bit sissy, but not here.

And thankfully we aren’t the only ones emptying our penny jars to help make this venture work. Eelco says the real ales have been a huge success, selling as much as three times as fast as the ‘brights.’ As winter seeps into our bones, we increasingly crave the warming comforts of a thick, creamy, dark something which only the Free House can provide. And every evening we’ve spent there we’ve enjoyed fantastic conversations with friends, friendly staff or strangers which just adds to our compulsion to return.

If you haven’t been to their website yet, or even if you have, you should check out the latest clever addition- digital snaps of the current menu boards! Now we can get a sneak peek of what’s pouring plus review a list of what’s coming. Thanks, Mic! I guess we need to hurry in to try the spruce beer…