If I’ve learned one thing about blogging, it’s that folk prefer misery to happiness. No-one wants to read about a nice pint in Pontypool; they want woe in Watford and micro madness in Margate. So here’s rage from Radnage. Or woe in Wycombe if you like to dump places in their nearest big town… Continue reading A RADNAGE RIOT
Month: October 2018
NEVER MIND THE KEG !
I’m sorry to do this to you, but I have no say what goes in the Beer Guide. So here’s the KEG Craft Beer Tasting Bar, putting Bourne End on the map for the first time since 1951, when Stanley Spencer painted the beer festival at the Bounty from across the Thames. In fact… Continue reading NEVER MIND THE KEG !
UP THE (WATFORD) JUNCTION
A few trips to the edges of Metro-land now, to see if there’s anything nice I can say about it for a change. Starting with Watford. I’ve nothing against the town, but Beer Guide new entries round here have been, er, challenging. 2016 produced pint return trauma, 2017 was just firkin’ hideous. Both those newbies… Continue reading UP THE (WATFORD) JUNCTION
MORE BAR FLIES NEAR THE RUNWAY
What enters your head when you enter a pub and see the scene above ? Get out the ******* way What’s wrong with sitting at tables anyway ? Ooh, is that “Side Pocket For A Toad” ? All 3 from me as I finish the Luton Airport mini-crawl in the Fox at Darley Hall. … Continue reading MORE BAR FLIES NEAR THE RUNWAY
HIGH TABLES IN LOUCHE LUTON
I only gave you that Dover post as Matthew wanted to see my gig photos, and even he’s complaining about my lack of chronology. So back to last Sunday, and a swift return to the Luton suburbs. If I’d received my Privilege copy of the Guide in Privilege time I could have knocked these off… Continue reading HIGH TABLES IN LOUCHE LUTON
NO CASK AT DOVER PORT
The internet is rubbish down in Dover, so here’s a short post courtesy of Spoons WiFi. My mushroom benedict in the Eight Bells is the blue dot below. We’re in Dover for our One Day Only heatwave, and a night of what the kids call “metal core” in a new venue converted from the old… Continue reading NO CASK AT DOVER PORT
SAMOSAS UNDER THE WHITE ROSE
The last post from “New Bradford”, and the sort of pub that makes you want to book an Ibis Budget room for an immediate return trip. A short hop uphill (by Cambridge standards) to the Peacock Bar, with stops to search through McDonalds dustbins reflect on the majesty of Bradford architecture. The Peacock looks a… Continue reading SAMOSAS UNDER THE WHITE ROSE
SUNBRIDGE WELLS
As Dave said on the last post, Bradford is a delightful surprise, particularly for anyone whose view of the place is formed by biased BBC reports or “Notes From A Small Island“. Dick and Dave were, no doubt, thrilled by the stately but scarred architecture and quaint gift shops. The walk from Pub 1… Continue reading SUNBRIDGE WELLS
BANKING ON BRADFORD
Two nights in Manchester, and an excursion into Bradford for three new GBG winners. It feels a bit like sacrilege not to actually stay in the Eternal City and wobble back to a budget hotel after a Dhansak and gallon of Mango Lassi, but frankly I needed to get Bradford ticked. The suspense was killing… Continue reading BANKING ON BRADFORD
BACK TO FAILSWORTH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE AGUERO
Not a vast number of new Guide pubs in Greater Manchester for me this year, particularly in the city centre. But trips to Burnage, Prestwich, Westhoughton and Failsworth are enough to keep me happy. What art ! What history ! What incomprehensible dialect ! Ah ! Failsworth, the glamorous bit of Oldham (or is that… Continue reading BACK TO FAILSWORTH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE AGUERO
retiredmartin 