What with the climate crisis and Covid variants and Spurs finding form the world is a scary place at the moment, according to Mrs RM, who has been off on a trip round the Antrim Coast before it disappears. While she was gone, I made myself useful by making some headway with Cheshire. SOME of… Continue reading CHESHIRE DINING PUB
Month: August 2021
TOUGH CHOICES IN NANTWICH
I actually wanted to use “Which sandwich in Nantwich ?” as the title. Indeed, my choice of lunch in Chatwins was the most problematic decision during my trip. I joined a queue in the market place for the iconic bakery, a queue that stretched across the road and into Crewe (that rhymes as well) by… Continue reading TOUGH CHOICES IN NANTWICH
A BLACK PUDDING SAUSAGE ROLL IN HELMSLEY
More North Yorkshire stragglers, and a first trip to the tourist honeypot of Helmsley (pop. 1,515) for 25 years. Is that possible ? It’s very North Yorkshire coach party/bikers/OAP destination for people who can’t brave the A170 to Scarbs and Whitby, but punches well above its weight and is undeniably a little bit lovely (though… Continue reading A BLACK PUDDING SAUSAGE ROLL IN HELMSLEY
PUB LOO ART OVER THE ALDWARK BRIDGE
Time to tackle North Yorkshire, which I completed as a GBG county for the very first time as recently as August 2019, but failed last time out. This year the NY contingent seems very gastro heavy, particularly in the region known as “Greater BRAPA”. Thrillingly, Aldwark, best described as located in “Pashmina York”, requires a… Continue reading PUB LOO ART OVER THE ALDWARK BRIDGE
CASK AT THE CRICKET – A STICKY WICKET ?
This afternoon Durham play Glamorgan in the final (the final !) of the nation’s premier one-day cricket competition. Search in vain for any mention of it on the BBC’s website, which is devoted to The Hundred, the purest form of cricket. Now the final is played on a Thursday at Nottingham, which with the greatest… Continue reading CASK AT THE CRICKET – A STICKY WICKET ?
SOUTH CAUSEY – THE POSHEST PUB IN THE BEER GUIDE ?
Regular readers will know that I’m not the smartest dresser in town; the suits, ties and cravats all went in the bin when I retired and I hope I won’t be expected to wear black tie for my own funeral. Dave noted that Durham (and Northumberland) have a fair few posh pubs in the Guide,… Continue reading SOUTH CAUSEY – THE POSHEST PUB IN THE BEER GUIDE ?
SEARCHING OUT COMMUNISTS IN CHOPWELL
I’m working far too hard, curating this blog. You can find Chopwell yourselves on the map, somewhere between Consett and Chester-le-Street. An intriguing area of coal mines, Cava and clubs. Where the bus drops you off in Blackhall Mill, note the leg to the sign stolen by a vandal from Vindolanda. Sadly the Social Club… Continue reading SEARCHING OUT COMMUNISTS IN CHOPWELL
BLANCHLAND – TO THE VAULTS
A weekend in Durham, but a raid into Northumberland for what we GBG tickers call “a straggler”. No-one has ever called Blanchland (pop.135) a straggler before. Blanchland was, I presume, built in the 17/18th century in order to later provide the setting for filming Catherine Cookson period dramas. With a bit more effort from Mrs… Continue reading BLANCHLAND – TO THE VAULTS
STANLEY !
Bishop Auckland is the childhood home of Stanley Jefferson (Laurel), named after the legendary Wetherspoons opposite the church. Spoons have lovingly commissioned a statue of our comedic heroes (my fav is The Piano), though I think it’s based on a still from their posthumous 1966 comeback when the CGI effects went awry. Not in the… Continue reading STANLEY !
BIGGING UP BISHOP AUCKLAND
As Dave “US” Dave mentions, the joy of the GBG is that it drags you round the country, visiting places the pashmina and DIPA crowd fear to tread. Like Bishop Auckland, whose run of poor quality beer in the Guide was only broken last week with The Welcome. Even there, BRAPA was led on to… Continue reading BIGGING UP BISHOP AUCKLAND
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