August 2023. Royal Leamington Spa. Not a great day for my meticulously planned diet, to be honest. Having turned down the Doom Bar in east Leamington’s “Proper Pubs” I somehow got distracted by the poshest pub on the Parade. In my defence, it’s in the GBG, and I feel obliged to report on the state… Continue reading A HALF OF BUD
Month: August 2023
IN SEARCH OF THE REAL LEAMINGTON SPA
August 2023. Leamington Spa. It was still only 16:36 and I’d done the ticks and the pre-emptive ticks and the weird plants and I had a long night in Leamington Spa ahead of me. Who orders a Chinese takeaway before pm in a Spa town ? I perused What Pub. Blimey, what a lot of… Continue reading IN SEARCH OF THE REAL LEAMINGTON SPA
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN LEAMINGTON
August 2023. Royal Leamington Spa. Checking my photos now I see I’d left the Boiler Room before 4pm, so a whole night lay ahead to explore the many wonders of Leamington Spa. Starting with the Busker of Jephson Gardens. Press PLAY and work out the tune. Always give a busker your last quid. Unless you… Continue reading BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN LEAMINGTON
ARRIVING IN ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA TOO LATE FOR THE ENGLISH BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 2023. Royal Leamington Spa. One should always respect UK towns with a “Royal” prefix. Royal Tunbridge Wells, Royal Wootton Bassett, Royal Reading… Leamington’s football team dispensed with Royal, and the Spa, meaning they didn’t get a visit by Prince William at their historic victory over Stourbridge in the 2022 Birmingham Cup Final. Of course,… Continue reading ARRIVING IN ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA TOO LATE FOR THE ENGLISH BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
AN EXCELLENT END IN EVESHAM
August 2023. Evesham. Forgive any typos, this post is brought to you from the Spoons in Bognor Regis, a cultural experience of its own. For a second year I completed Worcestershire at an Evesham pub, this time a Proper Pub I can’t quite believe had only just made the GBG. The walk from the station… Continue reading AN EXCELLENT END IN EVESHAM
PUB RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
August 2023. Stratford-upon-Avon. Oh, you tease, Retired Martin. Obviously you’re not really going to recommend anything in the home of the Bard (or is that Prescot now ?). Correct, Stratford is an irredeemable dump. Best get your Stratfords mixed up and head for east London. Here, head straight out to the village of Loxley, near… Continue reading PUB RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
PLAYING HOOKY
August 2023. Brailes, Hook Norton-land. A reminder of the best ever film about playing hooky*. Actually I wasn’t exactly AWOL; I had told Mrs RM I was off in the campervan for a couple of days. I think. Let’s finish Warwickshire. Carefully now, lest we stumble into the land of Donnington beers. Admit it, you… Continue reading PLAYING HOOKY
NOW, EVEN ELY GOES MURK
August 2023. Ely. Literally next door to the Royal Standard, up the little lane from the car park that used to lead magically to a Woolworths which a podgy pre-Retired Martin used to frequent in the ’80s, sits a craft beer bar. Looks more like a tea shop, but that’s Ely for you. Ely was… Continue reading NOW, EVEN ELY GOES MURK
£10.40 ? FOR TWO PINTS !
August 2023. Ely. My sister continues her market gardening business near the Chung Hwa (Beach Blooms), but has moved house to just off Ely waterfront, which gives me an excuse to visit her for a beer when I get bored of Waterbeach. (“bored of Waterbeach ! Surely not ?“). Ely isn’t over-pubbed, considering its population… Continue reading £10.40 ? FOR TWO PINTS !
THE LADYBOWER BLONDE DRINKERS OF BAMFORD
August 2023. Hope Valley. We’d earmarked August for exploring Sheffield and the Peak, and Mrs RM had been banging on about the Plugholes at Ladybower Reservoir, which had looked a bit dry when we walked the northern section last year. 22 minutes from Sheffield station, Bamford gives you one of those lovely low effort, well… Continue reading THE LADYBOWER BLONDE DRINKERS OF BAMFORD
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