Just before the pandemic struck last March I made my first real incursion into Galloway, sadly unable to make logistical arrangements to tick Newton Stewart, the Chatteris of the North.
Continuing the Wicker Man theme, that classic 1973 advert for the Scottish hospitality trade had its premier in Newton Stewart, possibly here;
But I can’t be bothered to check.
It looks a one street town, with a lovely bridge over the Cree and a range of tourist attractions mostly involving trees and authentic looking Indian meals at the “Belted Galloway Viisitor (sic) centre”.
Scotland has great rivers, you know. Just as well, as BRAPA will probably need to get to some of these places by canoe.
Smaller than Waterbeach, but with more pubs and hotels than the whole of the “Fen Edge” put together, I warmed to it as we searched for the Crown.
Inevitably, the Crown turned out to be duller than the bars with the big red “T”.
There seemed to be a public bar that was closed, so we had to make do with the dull rear of the dull dining room, where we were made to wait and ponder our choice of cutting-edge ale.
They were lovely, here, I’ll say that. But one sip of an oddly watery Hen (NBSS 1.5*) convinced me I’d made the right decision to do the driving today.
Mrs RM manfully (?) tried to finish it, and my coke, while listening to Annie Lennox wail “Why ?” in an otherwise deathly quiet sort-of-conservatory where gentlefolk ate fish and chips, wordlessly.
You can tell a great pub by whether it plays Dire Straits rather than Annie Lennox. Controversial, but true.
*I can’t wait to input all my NBSS scores.
retiredmartin 
Was a very good Indian in NS …no memory of good pubs
Shame the Ellangowan Hotel in nearby Creetown is closed as that is where the interior of the Green Man Pub ( campy landlord Alder Macgregor and ” father ” to Britt Ekland ) of the Wicker Man was filmed…no great beer but a wonderful atmosphere of the cult film …
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We drove through Creetown, no hint of darkness ! And last year I stayed in Wigtown, where the locals were wonderful (though they might have been English).
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Yes Wigtown was hospitable ..the Book town of the North..
Bladnoch Inn j outside Wogtown had good Cask when I visited few years ago…
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Correction WIGTOWN..!! Mea culpa
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I’ve never measured the pub’s quality by the choice of music, rather choice of beer
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I think you’re reading the wrong blog then, Jelena ! I’ve no interest at all in the CHOICE of beer, just the QUALITY. And the atmosphere, banter, welcome and overall sense of a social space.
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I’ve just clicked on the link on JelenaM’s name – now there’s a venue that I don’t think I’d be measuring by the choice of beer!
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Same here.
I believe that Cloudwater DIPA is a seasonal beer.
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“Nothing but total respect for Annie Lennox”
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Always liked Annie Lennox because (a) damn fine singer and (b) my Mrs looks a bit like her.
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2 good reasons. The first LP I bought at 14 was the Tourist’s “Reality Effect”.
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The Belted Galloway is apparently noted for its good fodder…
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I once stayed with my dad in a small hotel in Newton Stewart that may have been the Crown. They served High Tea rather than dinner 😀
Galloway really is the back of beyond, isn’t it?
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It’s like a bygone age, doesn’t it ?. Though to be honest there are plenty of similar small hotels in Lincolnshire.
Of all the Beer Guide counties it’s the one, along with Argyll, that has took the most mental effort to (nearly) do.
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That may well have been the one my aunt and uncle used to run. Was it silver service by any chance?
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Looks intriguing!!! I’m off to the Central Bar👊
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