I’m not claiming it’s sunnier than Manchester, but everytime I got to Folkestone I get unseasonably warm weather. Two years ago I had this view from the The Leas, but on Tuesday Bello Gelato had decided to be shut on the hottest day of the year so far. That was a shame, as this is the… Continue reading FIRST-RATE FOLKESTONE
Month: March 2017
IN DEFENCE OF SHEPS
There’s no case I won’t take on. Except the case for Maidenhead (until a resident comes on here and challenges me to discover its hidden allure). All of our other towns have their merits, even Ashford. And nearly all pubs have some appeal, although an Ember Inn in Maidenhead (is there such a creature ?)… Continue reading IN DEFENCE OF SHEPS
ANOTHER DOVER MICRO, ANOTHER WINNER
Alan’s reflections on his honeymoon yesterday made me laugh (sorry Alan), until I realised my own wedding night was spent in a pub on the edge of Dunstable, and followed by a tour of Southsea’s finest hostelries. It all went downhill when we got to Brittany… The other excursion from Folkestone is, of course, to… Continue reading ANOTHER DOVER MICRO, ANOTHER WINNER
TAKE THE FIRST TRAIN TO ASHFORD
My post-box is full of letters from readers asking why I never visit Ashford. The truth is that there hasn’t been a new Beer Guide pub there since The Reformation*. The answer people really expect is that Ashford is matched only by Maidenhead for its ability to create a void in the soul. At one stage they… Continue reading TAKE THE FIRST TRAIN TO ASHFORD
THE ROYSTON WETHERSPOONS RIOTS
I’ve quite a lot of travels to write up at the moment; I might have to sub-contract it out to Simon as he’s clearly got more blogging stamina than me. But I’ve put posts on Dronfield, Leek, Oswestry and Folkestone on the back-burner to bring you a report on a riotous lunchtime in Royston. Let Mrs RM be my… Continue reading THE ROYSTON WETHERSPOONS RIOTS
THE UPMINSTER TAP
I may have my reservations about the micropub model, but the welcome from owners and customers is often an exemplar of how you want to be greeted in a pub. One pub to go to complete the set of London GBG ticks for this year (take that BRAPA !), and an unusually difficult one. Not… Continue reading THE UPMINSTER TAP
MUNDY BOIS, MONDAY JOY
I’m struggling to find much to whinge about at the moment, what with good beer in London, sunshine in Stockport and micropubs opening when they say they will. I’ll hope for worse tomorrow. Monday opening, or lack of it, has been a reliable source of gloom over recent years, making Sunday overnighters just that bit… Continue reading MUNDY BOIS, MONDAY JOY
TOP 100 PUBS – THE PINEAPPLE, KENTISH TOWN
a.k.a. Kentish Town the easy way Vol II 20 years ago NW5’s Pineapple looked the business and sold Bass, though it wasn’t great Bass on my visit. These days it’s dropped the Bass, but the beer it does sell is some of the best in London. So, in a bit of a good beer desert between the… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE PINEAPPLE, KENTISH TOWN
KENTISH TOWN THE EASY WAY – VOL 1
Suddenly I understand what Dad’s Taxi means. First an escort for my youngest to the glitz of Covent Garden to see “An Inspector Calls” (quite brilliant, apart from the legroom) at the Playhouse last Thursday. You may be impressed to hear that; My son asked if I’d like to tick off a pub before the play. I said… Continue reading KENTISH TOWN THE EASY WAY – VOL 1
BAMFORD – PEAKS, PALE, POST & PROG
Yesterday I found myself in one of those patches of the UK with more breweries than Good Beer Guide pubs, the type which make a bit of a nonsense of the GBG App when you’re looking for the nearest pub. It won’t be too long before Guide entries are outweighed by breweries, few of which will have… Continue reading BAMFORD – PEAKS, PALE, POST & PROG
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