retiredmartin

And so we reach the 73rd and final, and possibly best of the GBG chapters.

No, really. I had it at No. 5 on my list of the best GBG chapters in 2020, and I can’t wait to get back and enjoy that astonishing coastline,

magical bays,

scriptural verse,

and reminders of musical legacy.

Oh, and don’t forget to say “Hello fairies“.

An astonishingly consistent collection of pubs, rarely straying from Okells and Bushy’s served in Paul Mudge approved houses with proper fonts.

Douglas – Rovers Return

Well, in the Rovers, anyway.

All I remember was chatting travel and pubs loudly with blokes in hats and metal jackets.

Spend an evening in the astonishing pubs around Douglas market place and you’ll understand the Manx motto “Quocunque Jeceris Stabit” (“84,000 drunks clinging to a rock trying to find a WiFi to check-in to Untappd”).

Douglas – Old Market Inn

I could have picked the Albert, or the British, or the Quids Inn to demonstrate the sheer exuberance of Douglas at night,

but the Market gave me the best pics,

and the best bench seating.

I rarely took notes on Man, especially when in the wonderful company of Dave Halliwell, so let’s see what BRAPA wrote.

“The barman, who didn’t seem an ideal fit for the clientele, tried a Barry Scott Cilit Bang joke, which went down like a lead balloon, as did his acoustic guitar playing. Crazy place.” Spot on, Si. I think.

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Laxey – Mines Tavern

I mean, look at those contours, just a really beautiful bit of coast up around Laxey, though Duncan rather spoilt the trip by playing the new Skids album at top volume.

Come for the coast, come for the wheel, stay for the Mines.

“With no evening food trade, there’s just the steady supply of cheery local drinkers that keep Manx pub levels so high. You can imagine this as a bustling boozer outside Derby station, though I sense there it would be obliged to have more than the three Okells beers on.  Three is plenty, of course.  Another cool Bitter in a row (NBSS 3.5).“

—–

Then carry on up to Ramsey, perhaps the most underrated town in the GBG.

Ramsey – Trafalfar Hotel

I was delighted to see the Trafalgar make the top 4 of CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition, rare recognition for the island.

And yes, those prices are 2022 ones.

Just a simple, multi-roomed drinking house by the river, the sort folk go mad over in Norwich. I’ll try and get back this year and take some decent photos.

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Castletown – The George

We’ll go a bit upmarket for pub 5, with another gorgeous little town on the coast.

The George isn’t Castletown’s famous pub (probably the Sidings),

but it’s a bit smarter than those Douglas boozers, and the quality of the “Oh-kells” a revelation. Cool, crisp, sherberty (is that a word ?). A palpable 4.

That’s five. Over to you for a sixth, which might come from Port St Erin,

if the Bay Hotel has scrapped those plastic glasses, or the micro in Peel.

You won’t find a duffer on Man.