retiredmartin

Yes, let’s do Buckingham. Only one (1) new GBG pub, but I haven’t been for years and I reckon I can stretch it out to 4. 3. 4 posts.

Excitingly, the 49 minute journey from the Admiral Nelson (I’m driving since Mrs RM admitted on Untappd she’s a rubbish driver) takes me somewhere I’ve never been before.

Yes, Silverstone racey car track. Much closer to that A43 I whizz along on the Cambridge-Oxford route (1 of 2) and absolutely huge and shiny.

Bit of a pub desert, this bit of West Northants, and then suddenly you’re at Stowe School where Prince Rainier III of Monaco was educated.

Our £33 Travelodge was a little less exciting than Silverstone and Stowe, but Alfie, Baa Baa and new addition Charlie (left) enjoyed their view of the A421.

Aylesbury stole the county town status in 1727, but the residents of Buckingham couldn’t give a duck.

12,890 souls and a private university, eight remaining pubs and a social club (and a ballroom).

In 2018 I’d noted that there were zero (0) GBG entries in the new Guide, or anywhere close, let’s explore. Mrs RM was fully prepared for battle.

It was only 20 minutes walk into town on the circular (“dull”) walk.

The New Inn was a GBG regular till recently, but even Side Pocket for a Toad can’t gain it entry this year,

so we press on over the Great Ouse, at its least great here, towards the market square.

Dramatic skies over the romantic sounding “parish church”,

and into a centre hardly buzzing with life, but at least you see the “golden duck”.

Villiers Boutique Hotel, the self acclaimed “best in Buckingham”, offers conference facilities and Faulty Towers themed dining but no cask, and I know because I surveyed it.

The breakfast (pic : their Facebook) alone should put you off.

Is that yellow thing fried bread ?

Mrs RM liked the look of the White Hart, the sort of faded market town hotel you expect in Andover or Stafford.

but inside that grand entrance lies a less than enchanting Greene King diner in need of TLC.

Actually, what really strikes you is that the absence of a Wetherspoons hasn’t really improved the lot of the other pubs in what you’d think a prosperous town, though they do have one of those Lounges that seem to pop up everywhere.

Verdetto Lounge is named in honour of the county jail opposite,

but we had yet to deliver our verdict on Buckingham.