I’m not saying Newbury is irritating, but its new (GBG-wise) micro was my only unticked Beer Guide entry within a thousand mile radius in the wild west of Berkshire. It is irritating that even BRAPA has been to the Cow & Cask before me. Simon was unusually kindly about it too, perhaps because the errant children had been made into pies by then.
This micro is tucked into an attractive little development near the station, guarded by a unicorn. The chatty owner let me in a few minutes before noon, which is never ever going to influence my beer scoring (NBSS 3.5 for the West Berkshire Stout). With the caveat that I prefer pubs where you can hide if you want to, this would be my first port of call in Newbury. After Eggs Benedict in the Spoons, anyway.
The area between the station and the Kennet has a few “proper” pubs, including a particularly attractive one beer Arkell’s house. Seeing an Arkell’s pub in the Beer Guide is as improbable as Leicester winning the Premiership, of course, but an off-licence with cask isn’t impossible.
I dropped into Inn at Home to buy Tim Thomas a bottle of Liquid Mistress. That would have made a better present for Mrs RM of course, but she warranted something rather stronger. Tim, or Mr Newbury, met me for coffee and quiche (thanks Tim) and conspiratorial chat. If anyone finds the latest copy of Ullage in Wellingborough, Cleethorpes or Wigan they’ll know whence it came.
Life isn’t just about Beer Guide pubs, and I was keen to explore the town’s impressive industrial heritage (you can see why Mrs RM sat this one out). Behind the industrial estates north of the racecourse, it’s so tranquil you could be somewhere posh.
Almost as attractive as the parish church in fact.
retiredmartin 
Great post. Love the industrial sites and museums in the UK. Just visited the Wales slate museum. Excellent. I am curious which newsletters are your favorite? I read some Derbyshire ones and the Norfolk one. Like Stockports too.
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Stockport by a distance, mainly because of their coverage of all their pubs and honesty. Ullage has Simon and I in it this moth so clearly great taste. Last Orders (Lichfield area) is my other favourite. Will bring you a selection at New Year if you want.
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You need to let your fans know about these appearances. Way to keep the anonymity going with the beard! Stop giving Simon all the credit for humor. Birth blogs are pretty damn funny.
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Simon says things that even I wouldn’t dare, though oddly Australia seems to have had a calming influence on him. Hopefully that won’t last.
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I love those. One of the few things I bring home.
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Ullage also has selected columns of mine syndicated, which is another point in its favour 😀
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How could I forget, think I included a picture of one of those columns I read in the Bunk pub this year.
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Read Cash is King earlier today in Opening Times.
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And in Ullage with Ring My Bell. So, PC, RM and Simon, all in the publication.
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and edited by Tim, whose own blog is well worth a look.
http://beereurope.blogspot.co.uk/
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I looked and you are correct.
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‘I prefer pubs where you can hide if you want to’. Maybe that’s why I like pubs with nooks?
Nice post. I’m here for research purposes as I have a pit stop in Newbury tomorrow.
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Be careful that far south, Jane.
I’m in Blackpool East at the moment, and that’s scary enough.
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Oh goodness. I’m almost jealous, but for the weather. Are you visiting NIKO? Newbury does not look particularly inviting but I’ll try to make the best of it.
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