I know how much you lot enjoy it when Simon travels 7 hours to find a pub closed despite being promised it would be open.
Truth told, this year has seen fewer epic fails than usual, despite the complete absence of opening hours in the Guide.
I guess we’ve had to work harder, comparing Facebook posts with websites and drone images collected by the Russians.
It didn’t actually matter that the Black Bull in Donington was closed, I’d ticked it years ago and just fancied one of those pies that Fenland pubs do so well.
“Always Open” it says. I see that a lot on Google, and often contemplate knocking on their window at 7am and demanding a half of Doom Bar.
“We are open” says the Bateman board out front.
Facebook says, well nothing. No opening hours at all. In my experience Fen pubs either open all the time or never.
Anyway, it was closed, as was Donington itself, bar 2 locals staring intently at me.
I cut my losses with a discounted cheese and onion sandwich and cheese and onion Max crisps from the Co-op, and resisted the tractor porn.
I know my American readers love these pictures of unheralded England as much as I love photos of Louisiana linedances. Enjoy.
Yes, it’s the home of Matthew Flinders, whoever he is.
Of course, I’m now desperate to go back when it’s open, if it ever is.
retiredmartin 
Ah, farmers.
Good ol’ Private Eye featured a cartoon, of a sullen farmer, leaning on a five bar gate scowling, beneath a “Pick Your Own” sign.
The sign read “Pick Your Own Excuse As To Why Brexit Has Not Damaged Farming”.
You can’t beat a seasonal chuckle,
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Same with the fishermen, eh!
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There’s nothing more erotic than Farmers Weekly.
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You clearly haven’t seen “Pub Ticker Fortnightly”,
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Does that star a guy named Buck Naked?
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There’s a subtle difference between erotic and perverted (the first the involves a feather, the latter the entire chicken).
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That’s very deep, even by your standards Scott !
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Matthew Flinders invented Australia, and was born in Donington.
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I thought Kylie invented Australia ? What did she get the OBE for then ?
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Looking at the first pic, I thought that he invented Blue Telescope Juggling
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” Honest Ales” as useful a descriptor as Fine Ales ..ubiquitous in Scotland in 20th century = standard keg 😀
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Aye…what does “traditional fayre” mean to you, Graeme?
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I think “Honest” tells you they aren’t going to file for bankruptcy and then buy the brewery back from the administrator (he says, having just come back from Liverpool).
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