23rd October 2022. On the train back from Conisbrough the inspector checked my mobile ticket. “It’s OK to break my journey at Rotheram, yeah ?”. “Well, strictly, NO, it’s not. But you’ll be fine, I expect“. That’s the worst possible answer, isn’t it ? I should have asked Tom Irvin. My second South Yorkshire micro… Continue reading STEPTOE’S FOR ONE
COMPLIMENTARY PORK PIES IN CONISBROUGH
23rd October 2022. Back in Sheffield, the new GBG hadn’t arrived, as priority had been given to Yorkshire tickers with pub mascots. Hey ! That’s me ! How come BRAPA got his a week before me ? Never mind; we’d shared Sanskrit copies of the GBG pages and I knew I had two South Yorkshire… Continue reading COMPLIMENTARY PORK PIES IN CONISBROUGH
LOOK WHAT I’VE FOUND IN CULLOMPTON !
22nd October 2022. I stopped for the night in Cullompton (pop. 7,439). Someone has to. They don’t exactly illuminate the GBG, but the market towns off the M5 between Bristol and Exeter have some real pub gems, and more importantly cheap B&Bs and places you can leave your campervan overnight and wake up to it… Continue reading LOOK WHAT I’VE FOUND IN CULLOMPTON !
“That one !”. RANDOM POINTING IN FALMOUTH.
22nd October 2022. I finally summoned the energy to leave the Premier Inn at Helston at 11:17 on the Saturday. In truth if I hadn’t arranged to meet my Sis in Falmouth I might have stayed a third night and started on the Doom Bar at the Beehive, about which What Pub has exceedingly little… Continue reading “That one !”. RANDOM POINTING IN FALMOUTH.
So, IS Helston the new Falmouth ?
Don’t be daft. But I did enjoy the trio of trad pubs accompanying the Blue Anchor back in October, and the beer in all of them was GBG quality (NBSS >3.17). And the seating in the Inn & Still may appal traditionalists but would find favour with art students in Penryn (possibly). To be honest… Continue reading So, IS Helston the new Falmouth ?
BRAPA’S KNEE AND THE DRIPPY DROPPY
21st October 2022. I’m not proud of this, but I spent most of that Friday in bed in Helston Premier Inn. NOT because of the Spingo Special at the Blue Anchor, oh no, it was just things catching up with me. Mainly the trauma of those 10 minutes negotiating the lanes of Constantine and Gweek… Continue reading BRAPA’S KNEE AND THE DRIPPY DROPPY
LEAVING THE TAKEAWAY OUTSIDE THE RODNEY
You left me after two pints, including a Special, in the Blue Anchor, a lovely pub to get tipsy in, even if the ale “tastes like beer used to taste decades ago“. Thanks for that, John. I turned left out of the pub and realised there was (almost) nothing beyond the Grylls Monument. In homage… Continue reading LEAVING THE TAKEAWAY OUTSIDE THE RODNEY
NOVEMBER ’22 STOCKTAKE + DECEMBER PREVIEW
Welcome to December, the month of retiredmartin’s birth (22 December, make a note). How will YOU celebrate the magical day ? Odd doing these stocktakes now I’ve completed the Guide, but life goes on. November may not have seen me progress towards a target as such, but it was rather hectic; 3 nights in Cologne,… Continue reading NOVEMBER ’22 STOCKTAKE + DECEMBER PREVIEW
SPINGO’D AT THE BLUE ANCHOR
20th October 2022. OK, your classic pub porn. Because, legally, you can’t stay on the edge of Helston and not visit the Blue Anchor. But also because, and I have to be honest, I wasn’t absolutely sure it was a classic. I tipped up about a quarter to five, the Golden Hour, and got the… Continue reading SPINGO’D AT THE BLUE ANCHOR
A FORTY (40) MINUTE WAIT TO CHECK IN AT HELSTON PREMIER INN
20th October 2022. We pressed on after lunch at Wellington Spoons, reaching my niece’s house near Helston in just under the six hours. For context, I drive ten (10) hours towards Orkney on the journey from Waterbeach to GBG glory. Given the choice, I’d rather drive those six hours on dual carriageways to Cornwall than… Continue reading A FORTY (40) MINUTE WAIT TO CHECK IN AT HELSTON PREMIER INN
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