No, Russ, not a spelling mistake (for once). Bang-up to date, an irritating little tick in Farnborough, a place famous for having more Harvesters and Beefeaters than people (2011 census). The OS map makes this look an extraordinary bit of the world; airports, museums, “Danger Areas“, the home of darts, rifle ranges and even… Continue reading FARNBOROUGH’S PRIDENJOY
Month: February 2018
FLOWERS & FEATHER DUSTERS IN FARNHAM
My teenage son decided he’d had enough of me by Monday. “When you going out ?” That means “Leave me alone” “But the “Beast from the east” is coming” “Wimp” So off I went towards Aldershot, home of the UK’s most unlikely budget hotel options. Normal time, 2hrs 30, yesterday 1hr 55. Take… Continue reading FLOWERS & FEATHER DUSTERS IN FARNHAM
MONDAY MORNING YOU SURE LOOK FINE
Monday morning, trapped at home by the threat of the “Beast from the East“*, surprised the trains were running at all in the face of this never before seen onslaught. No trip to Aldershot today, so I did my usual fallback of a long walk round ” Cambridge central”, the place that nice Japanese tourists… Continue reading MONDAY MORNING YOU SURE LOOK FINE
FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS ABOUT OXFORD PUBS
First a “Punk’s Not Dead” theme, now a real “Flogging a Dead Horse” effort to squeeze an eighth Oxford post out of one pub crawl. But I like pouring over the lessons learned, even if it’s from barely 3% of Oxford’s pubs; Eight busy pubs, suggesting there’s plenty of life left in the traditional pub… Continue reading FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS ABOUT OXFORD PUBS
SAM SMITHS v PINT SHOP
Our night in Oxford drew to an end as dusk descended, in the Pint Shop, Mrs RM deciding she’d had enough pubby fun, and wasn’t doing the Sam Smiths place with the rest of the gang. This was a slight disappointment to me, but I’d guess the Pint Shop is a gazillion time more likely… Continue reading SAM SMITHS v PINT SHOP
PUBS AREN’T DEAD
Into the home strait now, and along lovely St Giles for the pub I’d have recommended to any visitor before today. I know the detail is important to you, so I should add that before that Mrs RM headed for a flat white in Blackwell’s Café Nero. It’s a good place to people watch.… Continue reading PUBS AREN’T DEAD
UNWRAPPING THE KING’S ARMS, OXFORD
Into tourist central now, and that pub across from the Camera (which is not as exciting as CAMRA). The King’s Arms is wrapped in unflattering scaffolding, so here, as the ice age descends, is my photo from the balmy summer of 2015. I’d forgotten what was special about it, until we stepped thru’ the… Continue reading UNWRAPPING THE KING’S ARMS, OXFORD
TOTTERING WITH TIM THOMAS TO THE TURF TAVERN
If all else fails, fall back on alliteration. Tim T and I made for Pub 4, leaving Mrs RM to buy some shopping from UniQlo that she’s since discovered she needs to take back (hopefully not to Oxford). I assured Tim I knew the way to the Turf, but of course I didn’t really.… Continue reading TOTTERING WITH TIM THOMAS TO THE TURF TAVERN
OXFORD – COVERED MARKET TO CASTLE
Keep reading, the Bass badges are coming up soon. The good thing about these Beer & Pub Forum crawls is that, unlike the Japanese tourists visiting the city, you can dip in and out of our tours without getting told off ! Mrs RM and I dodged the standard menu in the Chequers in… Continue reading OXFORD – COVERED MARKET TO CASTLE
OXFORD CHEQUERS – A PURE PEDIGREE
Pub No.2 for the Taylors and the Tim was the Chequers, one of only a few real Oxford classics (in my humble opinion). Look, it even says “Historic Pub” on the door ! With cobbled courtyard, breweriana and proper pub sign, the Chequers was an instant highlight (again). Mrs RM was reminded of the… Continue reading OXFORD CHEQUERS – A PURE PEDIGREE
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