The night before the defining moment of the Cornish Tick 2022, and I decided I’d better spend it in a hotel rather than the campervan, as I wouldn’t want my fellow travellers to the poshest place in the UK complaining about the smell. Cornwall in mid-July isn’t the best place to look for B &… Continue reading FIVE STARS IN ST. ERTH
Month: September 2022
DECISIONS PENDING IN PENDEEN
Cornwall’s fortunes haven’t always relied on the production of the nation’s most popular cask beer and shark tourism; well into the late 20th century the area was renowned for its mines. If Blackpool FC play AFC Penzance in the FA Cup I’m sure Jane will tell you all about Geevor Tin Mines, which would make… Continue reading DECISIONS PENDING IN PENDEEN
BRUMMIES BAKE IN THE HALZEPHRON
Another tick in the Lizard, one of my favourite parts of the South-West, this time in Gunwalloe. In 2020 I’d caught Lizard Point at its blustery best, bit mid July saw temperatures touching 30 degrees, and the Halzephron trade was all on the benches. With an hour till teatime the interior was empty, but still… Continue reading BRUMMIES BAKE IN THE HALZEPHRON
A PUB TICKING WIZARD ON THE LIZARD
Back to that glorious summer of 2022 (was still pretty sunny in Sheffield yesterday, mind), with the Campaign to Conquer Cornwall about to reach its crescendo (CCCC). I have a niece near Helston (denoted by Blue Anchor below), but not wishing to scare them with an unannounced visit I whizzed down to The Lizard for… Continue reading A PUB TICKING WIZARD ON THE LIZARD
Cheers, Taff. The end of a legend at the Railway in Newtown
I’m not generally sentimental about change, but when Mudgie kindly copied me in on the news that David “Taff” Jones had finally retired from Newtown’s Railway Tavern today my heart sank a little. I was surprised to see I’d made three trips to the Railway since 2016 alone, so it must be one of my… Continue reading Cheers, Taff. The end of a legend at the Railway in Newtown
P-P-P-PORT ISAAC – TICK MARTIN ARRIVES
Completing the Guide isn’t for everyone. Anyone (like me) with an innate fear of cute Cornish seaside towns full of MumsNetters complaining about hills will struggle, and I really had to choose my moment to tick the west coast of Cornwall; Simon can tell you all about the dodgy Cornish buses, I was more concerned… Continue reading P-P-P-PORT ISAAC – TICK MARTIN ARRIVES
A SONIC BOOM OVER FINNYGOOK BEACH
A mega post as I enter Cornwall in mid-July for the first of ten (10) ticks on the way to GBG glory. The Scillies apart, Cornwall isn’t as tricky as Devon to complete; fewer Guide entries, fewer high edges, less chance of a pub run by an octogenarian being unexpectedly shut on Thursday*. And it… Continue reading A SONIC BOOM OVER FINNYGOOK BEACH
SO CLOSE TO CORNWALL, I HAD TO HAVE A DOOM BAR IN PLYMOUTH
It’s not fair. Simon goes to Plymouth in June and it’s like the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah (has it ended ?); students snogging (close your eyes, Colin), vomit in the Barbican, 8 pint Towers of Beer (almost a gallon, folks) on every corner. I go a month later and the most exciting thing… Continue reading SO CLOSE TO CORNWALL, I HAD TO HAVE A DOOM BAR IN PLYMOUTH
MOUNT BATTEN
Still in an endless July; we spent the night camped in a Park & Ride car park in Plymouth. Don’t let anyone tell you pub ticking isn’t glamorous. In many ways the Plymouth halt was a disaster; no stop for Bass at the Dolphin and no Chinese takeaway. But just across from the Barbican lies… Continue reading MOUNT BATTEN
“A LETTER TO THE BREWERIES”
Coming into 2022 I knew I’d need a slice of luck as well as Mrs RM’s peerless driving to complete the Guide. If I’m honest, I expected a fair number of GBG pubs wouldn’t survive last winter, and no doubt tough times lie ahead, but it’s worth noticing that this year has only seen half… Continue reading “A LETTER TO THE BREWERIES”
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