You left me in Great Torrington,
where Twitter was in ferment about my prospects for the evening ahead;
It looked quiet enough, too quiet really.
I thought the Black Horse seemed the lively option, but a crowd of yoofs were simply agreeing a blog title for a post about another closed pub.
Wiki says, reassuringly, “In July 2019, Great Torrington was reported to be the healthiest place to live in Britain“. But I also note that Wiki gives no population figure, so quickly are they all dying off.
There were a few plain pubs on the A386 above town, but in central Torrington the only pint seemed to be in the Cons Club.
Not only that, but the town didn’t seem to have many eating options, bar the chippy and kebab takeaways whose wrappers were to mysteriously appear underneath my campervan in the morning.
What Pub mentioned Thai food in the Torridge in Taddiport, Torrington , which had the additional benefits of a stiff walk down/up the hill AND first class alliteration.
As it happened, the Torridge was the hub of local activity. A group of lager lads admiring the vista, and Devon duos devouring the dhansak Phad Thai.
My notes say “energetic”, “busy” and “unfussy”, none of which describe me.
Despite being busy they found me a window seat on the promise I wouldn’t dawdle, and fed me Massaman curry and a decent Tribute in no time at all.
The problem with eating Thai or Chinese outside of Cambridge is that it’s never going to be as good as the Wrestlers or Chung Hwa, is it ?
Good enough, and an exemplar publican, but Good Torrington is never going to work, is it ?
I spent an uneasy night, waiting to be attacked by locals, but your disappointment it didn’t happen was my relief.
If you’re not busy and energetic, I am really scared at what I am…
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I only managed 25 pubs in 5 days, BRAPA managed 51 in 9 !
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He can only be described as frenetic.
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I have nothing but admiration for Si, and Duncan and Maltmeister (who ought to blog).
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Stay 4 more days and do 26 more pubs.
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4/5 days is ideal. 6 pubs a days, mix of halves and pints at the end of the day. Never a hangover.
You must be suffering by the end of your trips?
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“Stay 4 more days and do 26 more pubs.”
Or stay one more day and do all 26 as a tribute to Alan Winfield. 😉
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Simon seems to be regretting the length of his Surrey saunter 🤭
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Does it count as 51 when you’re “escorted” out of 37 of them?
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total war zone
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“You left me in Great Torrington,”
With an OS map that I couldn’t decipher with a magnifying glass!
“Main drag”
I see neither automobiles, motorcycles… or queens. 😉
“Wiki says, reassuringly, “In July 2019, Great Torrington was reported to be the healthiest place to live in Britain“. But I also note that Wiki gives no population figure, so quickly are they all dying off.”
Makes sense in a way. All the old folk die off so the people still alive are that much healthier as a group. A bit like Covid perhaps? 😉
“Not only that, but the town didn’t seem to have many eating options”
I can commiserate. Christmas Day, 2015, Jasper, Alberta. On our way to spend Christmas with our lads in Edmonton. The only place to get food for dinner was a gas station convenience store!
“AND first class alliteration.”
Was it totally terrific?
“Tribute in a homebrew glass”
Looks good.
“Wrong choice”
Looks… not good.
“but Good Torrington is never going to work, is it ?”
Piss poor alliteration. 😉
“but your disappointment it didn’t happen was my relief.”
I’m sure less than half your readers were thinking that. 🙂
Cheers
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Isn’t a map of Canada just ice or water?
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Pftt!
You’re forgetting the mountains; and the forests; and the rolling waves of wheat in Saskatchewan. But yes, ice or water does describe Newfoundland. 🙂
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According to WhatPub, quite a few closed pubs in Torrington, although it does suggest there are four open in the town itself.
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The Cavalier, Royal Exchange and Torrington Arms feel very much edge of town, with all central pubs closed. Nothing at all close to the car park overlooking that marvellous valley.
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