WHAT THE DICKENS ! A BROADSTAIRS BEAUTY

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8th January 2020

Well folks, I’m writing this in the Sandringham Hotel in Weston-Super-Mare, and I’ve just been to the worst Wetherspoons in the country, which is more exciting than the biggest. Old Mudgie will know which one I mean.

Next up on my Thanet Thrust was Broadstairs, the national capital of Dickens tat. It’s lost its “airs” according to the OS.

Broadstairs
Part of Brexit redrawing of OS maps
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Bleak House
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Curious

Controversially, I’d place Broadstairs behind Magic Margate and Resplendent Ramsgate on my Thanet League Table, and you’d probably disagree with me.

Perhaps I just needed a sunny day like last Wednesday to appreciate it.

And a bag of lemon sherberts from Sweet Yesterdays. But remember folks, lemon sherberts can damage your NBSS scores and caution is advised.

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Viking Day
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Duncan McKay fighting back warm Doom Bar supplies

Broadstairs had a good buzz on a cold January afternoon, the gentlefolk drawn by Dickens, micros and dog walking.

I had an energetic stroll over the rocks along Stone Bay, an early highlight of the new decade with its ancient graffiti.

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Ancient cliffs
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“Me and the boys one last time this decade”

I thought I’d found an undisclosed micro along East Cliff.

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Shut

But sadly winter opening hours apply.

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Pebbles

A nice steep climb back from the rocks into town. A lovely, rambling town of fraded reds and blues; full of antiques, Italian bistros and craft beer, just as it was when Dickens wrote Moby Dick here. Probably.

Dickens would have loved micropubs with all their funny characters.

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Houdini’s magic bar – future GBG ?

GBG newbie Mind The Gap is two minutes from the station and I sense a theme here.

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What can I tell you ? It keeps reliable opening hours, sells good beers you’ve heard of at £3 a pint, including an excellent Gadds 5 (NBSS 3.5).

The Landlady was a chatty gem, some regulars came in and said “Oooh, Hophead” and “Only a half, I’ve just had my breakfast” and “Hophead, not what it was, is it?”.

And there’s a sign that says “Trunks Only”. Just not that sort of trunks.

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It’s just a bit “Our Mutual Friend”, rather than “Great Expectations”, if you know what I mean. Which you don’t.

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

27 thoughts on “WHAT THE DICKENS ! A BROADSTAIRS BEAUTY”

      2. I’m not sure if that makes him a poor simpleton, or a loquacious raven. Perhaps the latter is Martin the Owl? Although I now have a mental image of the entire populace of Newark gathered around a leaky effigy chanting “nevermore”.

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  7. “I’ve just been to the worst Wetherspoons in the country” – oh, no, it’ll take me all day thinking through dozens of contenders to work out which venue holds that title.

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    2. Not difficult, given that he’s staying in Weston-super-Mare and there’s a choice of two. I agree with his verdict, btw. I can see that one being on the disposal list given that they now have a swanky new hotel on the sea front.

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    1. Hi Paul,

      Hophead didn’t seem much different to me this past couple of months, compared to memories of it from a couple of years go. So…it was what it once was. But consider the source!

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