More Manx holiday snaps I’m afraid. If you haven’t cancelled your fortnight in the Seychelles and booked a dirty weekend in Peel* by the end of these posts I’ll have failed.
The beer prices should help your decision.
On a fourth visit to Ramsey it was surprising how much new there was to discover. I reckon you need at least six visits to an average town to get the hang of a place. One trip to Maidenhead is more than enough.
Two maps, one for the Island.
For context, I did the Island by bus last time in about 4 hours total travel time. Jeremy Clarkson famously drove it in 40minutes for a Top Gear special; the Pubmeister was seemingly hoping to knock a few minutes off that record as we set off on Saturday morning, buoyed by the new Skids album on full blast.
Ramsey is a bit gorgeous, in my twisted view. You need the OS map close-up to appreciate the setting. My “art shot” with Explorer map failed miserably.
Wikipedia says it’s been a route for invasions by Vikings and Scotsman, as well as receiving visits from royalty. Clearly Pubmeister is our invading Scot, and Martin (2) our (pub) marauding Viking, so I’ll play Queen Alexandra for the purpose of this piece.
Martin (2) had outstanding “business” with Ramsey, needing to visit or confirm closure of many, many former GBG entries. So Duncan and I set off on tourist duties; Duncan to the town museum, I to the dark alleys leading down to the harbour.
It’s Man’s second largest town, but only a tad bigger than Greater Waterbeach, which would make you think, if it wasn’t too hot to think here in Waterbeach.
A quirky place, with some handsome traditional shops,
and some that need a bit of training in Political Correctness.
The ironmonger survives, as does the Guardian reader friendly organic market with appalling puns.
But a lot of independent shops were closed down, awaiting a booming micro pub scene imported from Margate.
Ramsey has places called “Paws for Thought” (pet shop), “Wholesome Baker Woman” (cakes) and “No Name” (pub, see later), which tells you a lot. I had a superb black coffee in Rosa’s Pantry, spoilt only by the absence of “Martika’s Kitchen” on the playlist.
Then, across the bridge to The Mooragh. I can imagine how Queen Alexandra felt crossing this bridge in 1902 on a Harley Davidson or whatever.
Victoriana alert !!
The Belvedere is quite a stunner, a rare survivor from the time folk used to take the waters here rather than in Morecambe, I guess.
Across the road, Bleak House had fared worse.
Even Tetley and Boddingtons couldn’t save it, though the messages on the door tell a more complicated tale.
I alerted Duncan to this bloggers’ treasure and walked along the prom, admiring a view that stretched to the Isle of Man.
Back in town I somehow resisted the Trafalgar, leaving Lady Sinks The Booze to enjoy that this week.
The pub with No Name (the Commercial) wasn’t on my list, but with a beer from each of the three main breweries it was an essential visit. A plain half in a plain pub rescued by hand wash of regal vintage.
*Plot spoiler.
retiredmartin 
The beer prices look like a reason in itself to visit the island. What kind of people live there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well Morten, if you’ve ever seen David Bowie’s Labyrinth, they look like the goblins in that classic. But the bit about tails is a myth. They all have tails.
LikeLike
They do indeed. What they don’t all have is the full complement of arms and legs. Never seen so many amputees. Is it still like that or were you having such a good time that you didn’t notice?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re either Kirsty or you read Kirsty’s post.
LikeLike
I’m not Kirsty, and I hadn’t read her post although I have now. WordPress made me anonymous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
#We are all Kirsty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“#We are all Kirsty.”
That subliminally made me pour another beer because I read it as ‘we are all thirsty’. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always been thirsty, not sure about Kirsty, the beer prices by the way are obscene/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Obscenely good. I think £3.30 was more typical for Okells. £4.50 for Hooded Ram stood out but that would be like buying Green Devil or Jaipur here.
LikeLike
Speaking of rhubarb this Manx sojourn has gone on longer than the average Geoffrey Boycott knock.
But in a more entertaining way …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m the Tavare of pub blogging, Coldwell is Boycott, Lady STB is Stokes, BeerMat and Life are Root and Cook, and BRAPA is Jimmy Bullard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In that case I’m the Barmy Army lard-bucket shouting from the sidelines …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hurrah !
LikeLike
Does that mean that our Birmingham colleague “life after football” is actually Cristiano Ronaldo ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Closer to Diego Godin of Uruguay if we’re using that analogy. Godin will be thrilled.
LikeLike
That’s not Real. It is Atletico !
LikeLiked by 1 person
The England cricket team, although they squeaked a win, could do with a bit of Sir Geoffrey’s endurance at present 🙁🏏
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was too nervous to listen/follow that today, fortunes swaying throughout the test like nothing I’ve seen. I expect technically the standard was rubbish, but that 1,000th England test will be remembered for a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I stayed in Ramsey for a week thirty years ago and though probably no busier than any other town on a Friday or Saturday evening it’s the only place I where most people move on pub to pub mid drink so many of the pint glasses are in a different pub at the end of the evening from where they started.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent point as per usual. Lots of folk moving around town. Love that.
LikeLike
Yes, thirty years ago this month.
That was two years after the takeover but two-thirds (71) of the pubs were still Okells and a third (35) Castletown.
And it was two years after Bushy’s brewpub opened in Victoria Street, Douglas.
LikeLike
Did you know that the hotels along the Mooragh Promenade were used as an internment camp for enemy aliens during WW2?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they’re still in use for that purpose judging by Bleak House. I got some very suspicious looks !
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Austere”
But very green. Even the beach! 🙂
“Cor Stack sounds dodgy”
From the map I’d say they’re closer to Ireland vice the UK; what with Balla this and Balla that. 😉
“The origin of the name”
That first one is actually pretty good. It says “VR Post Box”, so I’m assuming you wave your smart phone in front of it and it will send your email for you. 🙂
“Can’t say that, fam”
Obviously you don’t know the nickname for the Canadian dollar coin. 😉
“Certainly curious”
I can see partly why the Curoisity Shop closed. With a phone number that long, by the time you dialed it they’d be closed!
“I had a superb black coffee in Rosa’s Pantry,”
For a second there I misread ‘pantry’. 🙂
“I can imagine how Queen Alexandra felt crossing this bridge in 1902 on a Harley Davidson or whatever.”
Was it partly up so she could do it Evel Knievel style?
“Cor !!!”
Love the sign. A bit ironic that it’s famous throughout the Known World and Ramsey; which would seem to indicate that Ramsey isn’t aware of the rest of the world?
“Even Tetley and Boddingtons couldn’t save it, ”
I’ve seen that German Boddingtons in the window before. Must have been at Pubmeister’s blog.
“rescued by hand wash of regal vintage.”
How the hell do you get sweet lime? By mixing it with the pomello?
Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, all the best bits are nicked off Pubmeister (though I saw it first).
LikeLike