A third and hopefully final ticking trip to “saucy St. Andrews“. No, the TIC doesn’t actually call it that put “frightfully upmarket” wouldn’t work well as a slogan. We arrived just before the 150th Golf Open, thereby annoying those annoying Americans who shout “In the hole !” before every shot (instead getting a Yank who… Continue reading A SAUNTER IN ST. ANDREWS
Month: July 2022
ANGRY MAN AGITATED AT ANSTRUTHER CHICKEN SLICES
Three years ago I escaped from the CAMRA AGM to do a bus trip round the Fife coast to Anstruther. I’m not saying the CAMRA AGM was dull, but the main discussion concerned whether Life Members (“leeches”) should be shot or hung. Why waste bullets, I say. In 2019 I declared Anstruther “rubbish”, but now… Continue reading ANGRY MAN AGITATED AT ANSTRUTHER CHICKEN SLICES
THE QUEUE FOR TOASTIES IN LOWER LARGO
Still in Fife, the shaded area on the map; I love that bit of coastline between the big bridge (I think it’s called big bridge) and the golf place, and if you can get over the shock of the Brewer’s Fayre in Glenrothes the pubs are worth the trip. Another of Fife’s highlights is the… Continue reading THE QUEUE FOR TOASTIES IN LOWER LARGO
THROWING THE BALL BACK IN FREUCHIE
More modest posts about modest little Scots boozers, and more proof that Fife is a corking chapter of the GBG as long as you care little about whether your beer is GBG 3+ or GBG 3- (3.25, Mike). Actually, it’s the Kingdom of Fife, of course, just as it’s the Mess of Merseyside and the… Continue reading THROWING THE BALL BACK IN FREUCHIE
GLENROTHES REVISITED, WITH SURPRISING RESULTS
Until last month, Glenrothes was, perhaps, best known for the Retired Martin blog post from a GBG Brewer’s Fayre serving only an undrinkable Doom Bar. “But ALL Doom Bar is undrinkable, surely ?” writes a luddite on Discourse. Oh, and its proximity to the historic town of Raith, home to Kirkcaldy Rovers. But time, and… Continue reading GLENROTHES REVISITED, WITH SURPRISING RESULTS
BARMAN’S PICK, BARGAIN PRAWNS IN BURNTISLAND
Back to the First Great Scottish Saunter of June 2022, and one of those joyful discoveries of a place for the first time. Yes, you, Burntisland, tempting me with your free overnight parking by the Leisure Centre*. I didn’t really park that close to the sea, but others did. I arrived at the same time… Continue reading BARMAN’S PICK, BARGAIN PRAWNS IN BURNTISLAND
62 TO DO – THE GBG COUNTDOWN CONTINUES
The posts have dried up to such an extent that Dave Southworth, seen here with my #PubMan of 2019, has risked our warm cask to travel the Atlantic to ask for his subscription back. Well Dave, you’ll get reports on Lundin Links and Trent Bridge and Port Erin soon enough (OK, November), but this has… Continue reading 62 TO DO – THE GBG COUNTDOWN CONTINUES
THE CROWN WEARS THE CROWN IN KINGHORN
The Scottish GBG entries along the Firth of Forth (of Fife) were very good, pubs for the connoisseur (not the one who likes St Helen brewery taps), but they were a bit quiet. Not the Crown, which I reached at the Golden Hour of 17:30 after admiring the “beach”, and viaducts. You’re not far from… Continue reading THE CROWN WEARS THE CROWN IN KINGHORN
CARPET SHOPPING IN ABERDOUR
I do hope “carpet shopping” isn’t a euphemism for something like tasters (or worse). In 1999 we subjected our newborn son to a succession of Ryanair flights on the reasonable basis he had a free seat ’till he was two years old. Our flights typically cost £9.99, which explains how we’ve killed the planet for… Continue reading CARPET SHOPPING IN ABERDOUR
SINGING ALONG TO KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND IN DALGETY BAY
Scotland is a wonderful country, full of “characterful” individuals and battered food stuffs. And a decent train line along the Fife coast built especially to help tickers. The Hillend Tavern is listed under Hillend, rather than the Dalgety Bay station you arrive at, or Lesser Cowdenbeath or whatever. Hillend is a deadend village in the… Continue reading SINGING ALONG TO KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND IN DALGETY BAY
retiredmartin 