Someone who reads this will remember where I was where the debate about Llan-Dud-No or Llan-Did-No was raging. Luckily you don’t need to be able to pronounce it when you’re there, and everyone is English anyway (except when the Southworths visit). The Southworths managed rather better shots than I did on a dreich afternoon that… Continue reading TIP TOP TAPPS, LLANDUDNO

Next up in Colwyn Bay, the posh dining pub. It must be disheartening for a northern town to not have its own Brunning & Pricey in 2019, but the Station does its best to compensate. “Wait here” signs, Sunday carvery, free range children, gin, tapas, Prosecco contests. I really took against that white tiling, too.… Continue reading CRAFTY COLWYN

An hour between trains in “corking” Colwyn Bay. Enough time for three pubs, but was there enough material for three posts ?  We shall find out together. But first, a flat white or three in one of Tim’s best coffee houses. Last time here with my Dad in 2015 I was being followed round the… Continue reading LONELY PICKLED ONION MONSTER MUNCH

Yes, of course I love Rhyl.  How couldn’t you ? And you just know I’m not joking. At sunset in midsummer, there’s few better places on earth. I’d been looking forward to Rhyl’s Cob & Pen for a few years.  We nearly did it last year from Prestatyn, but life got in the way, as… Continue reading AND I SWEAR, YOU’RE JUST LIKE A RHYL

From one county town to another, more famous one, and a confession. I walked past the Olde Cottage on my trip to Chester, missing out on Otter, if not Bass. The pains of being a ticker. Still, a gorgeous day on the City Walls. Yes, I went to Chester and all I brought Old Mudgie… Continue reading CHESTER – OFF THE WALL

WARNING : Not for the squeamish. Contains Sam the Sham. I give rural dining pubs a bad rap on this blog, by and large. But just occasionally they come good. Plush, home of the Brace of Pheasants, is so small you can’t see it on the OS map. Alongside Plush, Russ will be thrilled to… Continue reading PLUSH

Of course, you don’t go to Dorchester just to complain about Wetherspoons. There’s the famous teddy bear museum, the Eldridge Pope brewery site long converted into boutiques, wine tasting shops and art galleries, the pasty shop, the barbers where they just play Two-Tone oldies, and the odd decent architectural flourish. But it’s a strangely dour… Continue reading A CONVIVIAL RABBIT IN DORCHESTER

Back to Spoons, unfortunately. Despite giving you the best of Pub Life like this; they also seem to be serving up ale like this; This is Dorchester.  Hardly a real ale backwater, you’d have thought. And the Royal Oak has made itself a GBG regular alongside the inevitable free house and micro. It’s your average… Continue reading UGH !