OT: Things you can't buy

Dec 07, 2017 16 Replies
  1. Beer mats - only obtainable by theft from pubs.

I prefer them to rigid coasters, as they are absorbent and don't stick to the bottom of a wet glass. They are disposable, so need to be cheap.



I've looked on Amazon and eBay, and all that is available are collectors' editions at around 25p each. They must cost a fraction of a penny each to pubs in large quantities; I would expect to pay more than that, but not more than 5p each: say £5 for 100 or £10 for 200, including postage. Generic or geometric designs - I don't need to advertise beer to myself, but I wouldn't object if the design isn't too repulsive.


  1. Single servings of sauces

These would be useful for sauces I rarely use, or only for particular foods, such as tartare sauce or horseradish sauce. If I buy a jar and put it in the fridge for further uses it invariably goes nasty before it's used, even though, I know, it'll keep a lot longer than they claim on the label. I just want a supply of different kinds I can keep in the cupboard and use as required. I would prefer the small rectangular plastic packs with the peel off lid - I don't know what they are called



- rather than the sachets or sticks, as they are messy to use.



Again, it appears that only small numbers at unreasonable prices are available. I would expect to pay £10 for 100, assorted, including postage.


You need to go to a company who use them as promotional material, they will probably let you have a lot if you keep their advert on them. Brian

available from Makro/Booker if you have a card.

packs of 100 from ebay, about £5 delivered

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Loads on ebay

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ml-case-of-70/

£20 for 70 - the packs are more expensive than sachets.

Saches are £9 per 100, pick and mix, free ostage

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Many other sellers on Ebay

Owain

If you regularly use a pub just ask the landlord most are happy to give you a handful.

Mike

Think on topic and apply scissors to cardboard of your choice? Beer mats don't have to be round. And cardboard used to work for insoles when the shoes wore thin.

Go into local fast food place (preferably not a chain) and make them an offer? (While "go into...with cordless angle grinder and make them an offer they can't refuse" would be on topic but I cannot commend it.)

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why not just buy some cardboard and make your own.

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You need to work on your Google skills.

You can have 500 with anything you want on for £60.

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Thanks all. I'll look into the eBay suggestions.

Google " Beer Mat Printing" for many more

I buy a large jar and then put 'single' portions into small plastic tubs which are then frozen until required. Works fine.

Dunno about tartare sauce though as I can't stand the stuff.

I suppose an alternative would be sauce in tubes, but I've only ever seen ready mixed mustard in those, which keeps forever in the jars anyway. The lack of oxygen should preserve other sauces, like concentrated tomato purée, which they tell you, after opening, to keep in the fridge and use within three weeks or so. I've found that it keeps (in the fridge) for up to a year. If I haven't used it recently I squeeze a little out onto a paper towel and discard.

Try your local branch of CAMRA. Some of them have special mats printed for their beer festivals, oarticularly the large festivals.

If they have any left over they might let you have them at cost and save you the postage which, on those on ebay, costs more than most of the mats themselves!

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