I HAVE to confess I am an avid reader of the Guardian’s website and from time to time, a headline jumps out and really piques my attention.

So my thanks go to Joshua Searle, an SEO journalist (whatever one of those is) for bringing to my attention: “Wetherspoon’s ‘brilliant’ new drinks as Strongbow dropped from menu”.

My word, exactly where do you go with that one?

The ‘good’ news according to the report is that ‘Spoons’ owner Tim Martin has signed a 20-year deal with Budweiser Brewing Group, which becomes its largest supplier.

The first thought that ran through my mind was: who cares? The second thought was: Bud? Really?

There are many, many things we have imported from America that are good. But in my considered opinion, Budweiser beer isn’t one of them. It takes the meaning of the word bland to a whole new level.

Now I’m prepared to admit that I have very wide beer tastes and frankly there’s not much I won’t drink. But I’d rather go thirsty than drink Bud (only Fosters is worse in my considered opinion).

So ‘brilliant’ isn’t really how I see this move.

Of course, it is completely academic as I have vowed never to set foot inside a Wetherspoon’s pub ever again. Why, you may ask? Brexit, of course, is the answer.

You may recall that Mr Martin was strongly in favour of us leaving the EU and wasted no opportunity in telling us all the benefits we would get once we were out.

I don’t dispute that he is entitled to his opinion and similarly, I’m entitled to mine.

I am also free to spend my money where I see fit and I chose not to line Mr Martin’s pocket.

Now I am still waiting to see the benefits of Brexit – just where are the sunlit uplands we were promised by Mr Martin and his ilk?

But it appears things haven’t worked out quite as Mr Martin hoped. Fast forward to June this year and what do we have: Mr Martin calling for more EU migration to tackle the shortage of hospitality workers in the UK.

He urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to introduce a “reasonably liberal immigration system” to solve the bar staff shortage.

Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic saw a mass exodus of workers from the hospitality industry, prompting Mr Martin to call for the introduction of a visa system which would allow business owners to hire staff from abroad, suggesting that countries closer to the UK should be prioritised.

As one commentator said on Twitter: “Man who wanted to restrict freedom of movement now wants to bring back freedom of movement.”

So don’t expect to see me in a Wetherspoons any time soon.

On a different topic, I don’t usually comment on the outcome of court cases but there was one recently I think deserves further investigation.

The case in question is of a Winsford man who admitted in court to being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog that attacked and injured someone.

The dog in question wasn’t even one of those Rottweiler/Pitbull types. It was a Shih Tzu-pug cross.

Regular readers of this column will be well aware of my antipathy towards dogs (all and any dogs).

I don’t trust dogs, I never have and I never will. I’m only glad I didn’t come across this particular mutt.

I do accept that there are many, many people who love their dogs. But owning such an animal is a responsibility, not a right, and I think it’s beholden on every single dog owner to keep their pets under control at all times when they are out in public.

There also needs to be an acceptance that there are people such as me who are very uncomfortable around dogs.

Anyway, back to the court case. The dog owner in question narrowly avoided doing a four-month stretch in prison when his sentence was suspended for 12 months.

Other punishments included a three-month nightly curfew. He also has to complete ‘rehabilitation activity’ (whatever that is) for a maximum number of 20 days and pay costs of more than £200.

Frankly, I think he got off lightly. He would have been behind bars if the decision had been up to me.