Almost at the Dolphin now, but feel free to guess how the quality of the Bass has been improved by adding another seven beers on the bar. First up, I spent half an hour finding somewhere to park my car for the next 3 days without paying a penny.  I think it was Okehampton. Parking… Continue reading A DISTRACTION FROM THE DOLPHIN

Bit of a theme running through this blog, as no doubt academics would discover in 100 years if the Internet hadn’t accidentally been destroyed in the Great Fire of 2033. The more handpumps the worse the beer, attractive pubs aren’t the best, published opening times are largely indicative, and bar blocking remains a national sport… Continue reading THE 4.15 BAR BLOCKING STAKES LIVE FROM PLYMPTON

Here I go, reeling you in with cuddly fish and promises of Bass again. This next one is a real curate’s egg, in this case the curate of Plympton, my base for the exploration of the Miners Arms in Hemerdon. Take a look at the expanse of nothingness below Drakelands Mine (Wolf Minerals); that’s where… Continue reading BASS FISHING AT DRAKELANDS MINE

Sometimes I don’t think you lot appreciate the effort involved in compiling a blog post after a night of “research”.  Goodness knows how BRAPA does it AND models weird clothes for a living. This one comes to you after a night in Machynlleth with the estimable Mr Mudge, and two pints of NBSS 3.5 Draught… Continue reading PERSONAL TRAINERS

Ooh, look, the Huawei thingy is back.  Just as sinisterly, I’ve had 26 views from China so far today.  You’re all under surveillance now for rubbishing Tsingtao on Beer Twitter. In a rush now.  In blog time, I’m about a day away from the Dolphin in Plymouth (Bass alert), in real time I’m a day… Continue reading GONE FOR AN ASHBURTON

The title comes courtesy of BRAPA, of course.  I only paid for P&P. No-one has called me Mart since my sister ran out of space two letters short on my 8th birthday card. The Poacher came after breakfast, a grand affair in Exeter’s other classy Spoons outside St David’s. Good job I hadn’t popped in… Continue reading THE IDES OF MART

Two down, one to go in Exeter, or Heavitree as the Good Beer Guide now determines that the Pig & Pickle lives in. Looks like Exeter to me, mate.  And I’m sure the Royal Oak over the road fromthe new GBG entry was listed under Exeter last time I was here. Twenty minutes east to… Continue reading PUTTING THE X IN EXETER

72 pubs ticked in Devon over the years, 40 of which had dropped out of the Guide, leaving the County as my biggest challenge. Hoorah for the (University) Holidays, which leave student residences in central Exeter and Plymouth for the exclusive use of GBG tickers in July and August. You can guess which of those… Continue reading DEVON KNOWS I’M MISERABLE NOW

Next stop, Devon, with ninety-two (92) Guide pubs to do. Simon is going to push me around the county in a wheelbarrow, just like in the song. He owes me. First up, a taxi for Matthew. Here’s Matt and mate taking in one tent and four kg of crisps into 2000 Trees Festival near Cheltenham.… Continue reading TAUNTON TAMED

A report from Lofthouse. No, not that Lofthouse. The little one in the middle of Nidderdale. You know, the one with a 1 in 7 descent. Isolated Yorkshire pubs are a bit hit and miss. Either modernised to exclude the casual drinker, or so resiliently basic you wonder where the lunch custom is coming from… Continue reading NIDDER ON A TUESDAY