BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD – PEDI HANDLED WITH CARE

After finishing Derbyshire, thoughts turn naturally to Staffs, where frankly there’s an even better chance of Bass/Pedi and of being called “M’duck“. That’s pretty much all I really need from pubs these days. Barton-u-L, as the kids call it, is handily placed between the National Arboretum and that place where they brew Bass. Since Lord Buckethead… Continue reading BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD – PEDI HANDLED WITH CARE

SOUTHWOLD – ALWAYS CHANGING, ALWAYS THE SAME

There’s a lot to be said for and against sisters, I’m sure, but having one who invites you down to her holiday cottage in Falmouth and Southwold in successive years is hard to beat. It doesn’t make up for what she did to my Action Man in 1973, mind. Sis had used her Birthday presents to pay… Continue reading SOUTHWOLD – ALWAYS CHANGING, ALWAYS THE SAME

IS IT REALLY MY JOB TO TEST THEIR BEER ?

Alternative title: (Framlingham) Castle on a Hill Some more shameless raiding of modern pop culture today. My son Matthew was disgusted with yesterday’s effort, but it’s harder to work the LP he got for his 16th birthday into my post. Here’s a sample of his Lorna Shore album. So he gets the next best thing, the… Continue reading IS IT REALLY MY JOB TO TEST THEIR BEER ?

NO RICKROLLING IN NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS

Reader Mark from the USA seems to have a mild obsession with Rick Astley, going as far as to visit the Rickmeister’s baronial birthplace in Newton-le-Willows. Shamefully, that meant he’d seen more of the unofficial Woollyback capital than I had. Sure, I’ve got off there by mistake, who hasn’t when drunk ?  But the nearest pub… Continue reading NO RICKROLLING IN NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS

WATERLOO, COULDN’T ESCAPE IF I WANTED TO

Merseyrail gives you some real travel bargains. £5.10 (why 10p ?) for all-day trains from the Wirral up to Southport and across to Hunts Cross, whatever that is. That really helps pub tickers who have pubs in Crosby, Aigburth and Garston to tick. From the delightful Bootle New Strand, it’s a short hop up to Waterloo, the… Continue reading WATERLOO, COULDN’T ESCAPE IF I WANTED TO

INTO THE WIRRAL FOR BEERS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF

An odd trip last weekend as I delivered a chest of drawers to the Wirral on the way to a night in Bootle. I’m not sure what the lady from Heswall at our church charity sale was doing down in Waterbeach, but she wasn’t expecting an offer of home delivery.  Most Hoylake Tandooris aren’t brave enough… Continue reading INTO THE WIRRAL FOR BEERS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF