February, even with the free day, was another month when I failed to get to the Square and Compasses. Definitely in March when a group of us are walking the Jurassic Way. I did get to visit 30 new Beer Guide pubs in 14 different counties though, and a couple of Beer Guide selection meetings… Continue reading FEBRUARY 2016 STOCKTAKE
Month: February 2016
OTTER VALLEY
I’m travelling down to visit my sister in Falmouth, where I hope (as a by-product) to make more progress in completing Cornwall’s Beer Guide contingent. My half way stop is Honiton, another Devon town I don’t know well. The approach through the Blackdown Hills is beautiful, though the town itself doesn’t give any great vantage points… Continue reading OTTER VALLEY
TO BATTERSEA AND BACK AGAIN
I was looking forward to a day at Ikea in Milton Keynes with Mrs RM yesterday, but she denied me that pleasure. Given that 8.2% of trips to Ikea in 2015 ended in divorce, perhaps she was well-intentioned. Needing a long walk (and hiking round Ikea would have achieved that) I took an early train to… Continue reading TO BATTERSEA AND BACK AGAIN
THE CASE FOR DOOM BAR
There’s a lot of good beer in Gravesend, but walk a couple of miles west to mainly residential Northfleet and things dip alarmingly, as you’d expect near the Ebbsfleet football ground. You could, at a push, walk to the George & Dragon at Swanscombe, but not today. A succession of run-down pubs promote cheap lager, mostly… Continue reading THE CASE FOR DOOM BAR
GRAVESEND – MORE THAN BEER AND POCAHONTAS
A change to our plans meant a day trip to Gravesend, and a chance to tick the famous Tilbury-Gravesend passenger ferry off my bucket list. It’s even better than Woolwich, and at £3 off-peak return a saving of 16p each way on the Dartford tunnel. Over a month that’s almost enough for a half of… Continue reading GRAVESEND – MORE THAN BEER AND POCAHONTAS
SCRATCHINGS IN THE OLDE SUN, ST. NEOTS
I’ve had a few days closer to home, before I embark on the great Doncaster/Tunbridge Wells/Hull odyssey (unfortunately in that order) this weekend. No new GBG ticks for 3 days; BRAPA will be catching me up by May. My now regular St.Neots Thursday has just uncovered a gem though. I wrote about the town’s pubs… Continue reading SCRATCHINGS IN THE OLDE SUN, ST. NEOTS
GREAT BEER GARDENS – PRATER, VIENNA
Pub Curmudgeon can spot a good story, and this Guardian one on his Twitter account via Old Holborn is a cracker. The title is self-explanatory. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/23/vienna-police-fine-man-70-for-loud-belch Let me reassure you that Mrs RM and I have nothing to fear from such draconian policing, but I cannot be sure of the rest of the family. The Wurstelprater… Continue reading GREAT BEER GARDENS – PRATER, VIENNA
THE SHELFORD GROUP
I’ve had some less than glowing things to say about South Cambridgeshire recently, but I’m going to give it every chance this year. Shelford, Great and Little, is the first rail stop out of Cambridge, and therefore one of the main commuter villages in both directions. It’s also on the doorsteps of the Addenbrookes Hospital/Biomedical… Continue reading THE SHELFORD GROUP
CHICHESTER – PROS & CONS
My trip to the South Downs was in part prompted by Premier Inn, who rewarded my questionable brand loyalty with a free night in Chichester. Although this Inn is on the leisure park just off the A27, it’s actually only a 5 minute stroll into the centre, where the Chichester Cross presides over some impressive… Continue reading CHICHESTER – PROS & CONS
BIGGING UP BOGNOR – THE INGLENOOK
Last summer I revisited Bognor Regis and was astonished by the transformation of a Butlins I recall with horror from the Summer of ’79. The town itself was workaday, but at 8am it was redeemed by sunrise over the coast, and the memories of a classic Non-League ground. The town’s sole Beer Guide entry remains… Continue reading BIGGING UP BOGNOR – THE INGLENOOK
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