November 2024. Wood Green. London. Three ticks by two, on a Sunday. I’d forgotten what multiple GBG pub ticking was. Leaving Higham Hill, I nearly got distracted by the craft options on Blackhorse Road; Actually, it’s Cafe Rodi I regret being too full to tick, their Mediterranean breakfast looks like a thing of beauty. 20… Continue reading CATCHING THE BUBBLE IN WOOD GREEN

November 2024. Higham Hill. E17. London buses, eh ? The little display on Google Maps delights on telling me the W15 from Walthamstow to Highams Hill is running two, three, five, seven minutes late. And then as soon as it starts it stops, dead, for a change of driver mid-journey. My fault, should have walked;… Continue reading HIGHAM HILL, HIGH HOPES

November 2024. Great Cransley. Northamptonshire. GBG25 has many themes, I may even blog about them if I stop going to pubs, but rewarding unsung towns is a key one. The suburbs of Rotherham are flush with good newbies, and now we have a second debutant in the foothills (?) of Kettering. In truth, I’d no… Continue reading “NO FILTER” CHAPPELL ROAN RULES IN GREAT CRANSLEY

November 2024. Burton Latimer. Ooh, a topical blog. Sort of. The Poppies of Kettering achieved the most notable of results in the 1st round of the FA Cup, a once great sporting competition. A comeback win against your near neighbours from three divisions higher, to set up a glamour tie against Doncaster Rovers, has seen… Continue reading POPPIES AT THE GATES OF BURTON LATIMER

November 2024. Snettisham. The seaside trade in Sunny Hunny is long gone, but North Londoners will still head up the A10/A149 to the twee North Norfolk pubs of Burnham and Cley every weekend, and this week signals the start of Thursford Christmas Spectacular, annual treat for Fen folk seeking a bit of Autumnal glamour and… Continue reading THE QUEEN VICTORIA, SNETTISHAM. THE BEST REASON TO HEAD TO NORTH NORFOLK SINCE THE THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

November 2024. Castle Rising. King’s Lynn/Lynn. And here’s why I still use the GBG to plan our travel. A rare new Guide entry in That North Norfolk on the road to Sunny Hunny, and a chance to re-evaluate that odd bit of nothingness near Sandringham. In my mind I’d confused Castle Rising with Castle Acre,… Continue reading RESISTING THE GIANT SAUSAGE IN CASTLE RISING

Just “Central” will do, surely ? Who names a county after a lake ? Apart from Rutland, obvs. I mean, look at it… How would you describe that big empty blob above Gartmore ? I ticked much of this chapter during Scotland’s extended COVID nightmare, so the pubs weren’t in ideal shape, but there was… Continue reading HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY No. 68 – LOCH LOMOND, STIRLING AND THE TROSSACHS (CENTRAL)

November 2024. Bath. Seven (7) pubs in Bath, all worthwhile, only one below NBSS 3 and a trio (Raven, Star, Curfew) close to a 4. But what about life beyond pubs ? “What’s that ?” says Paul. I’d booked a £52 “Z” hotel again for Mrs RM and myself; for comparison Paul and Will paid… Continue reading CHEESE AND WINE. BATH 8/7