November 2025. Eastbourne.
Mrs RM is spending a season down in Sussex by the Sea, attending to elderly parents (sound familiar?). Arranging Lasting Powers of Attorney never seemed so urgent.
I’m hoping to spend a while down there too, ticking GBG pubs and National Trust castles.
Some dreich weather to start this week meant I was bursting at the leash to get the train from Rye to Eastbourne by Tuesday.
At 60 “bursting” and “leash” have different connotations, so I was delighted the lone GBG newbie wasn’t far.
Ooh look, another Spoons.
Now I’ve almost caught up on the blog (BRAPA in still on 9th October despite writing about 10 pubs in 3 disparate counties) I might do some more reflective posts.
On, perhaps, the relevance of the Beer Guide in a post-craft society, the revival of Holt Bitter, and the dominance of JD Wetherspoons in towns that have seen their family brewery owned pubs diminished.
The Cornfield Garage is not an architectural highlight of a town with the Lamb, a pier bar and an art deco gelateria.
But it’s the cheery day centre for gentlefolk you’d expect in Eastbourne, and today the beer is sensational.
Mrs RM, who’d announced she was never drinking again after Sunday night, declares that Bateman Dark Fruits Porter “mmmm, get off” (3.5), my Burning Sky Inclination is so almost perfect (4.5) I’m inclined to stay for another,
particularly when the wings and dippers and rings arrive.
I mean, another half hour of watching old folk trying to steal the edge of someone else’s table ?
Who wouldn’t want that drama ?
Sadly, Eric Ravilious awaited.
retiredmartin 
“Mrs RM is spending a season down in Sussex by the Sea, attending to elderly parents (sound familiar?)”
Good lord, yes. Just know that someone over here has the deepest sympathies for you both. 😟
“I’m hoping to spend a while down there too, ticking GBG pubs and National Trust castles.”
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. 👍
“Some dreich weather to start this week meant I was bursting at the leash to get the train from Rye to Eastbourne by Tuesday.”
Totally get that (with no offense intended to your in-laws).
“At 60 “bursting” and “leash” have different connotations, so I was delighted the lone GBG newbie wasn’t far.”
LOL. Ok, I CANNOT comment further as I may be banned from the Internet!
“Now I’ve almost caught up on the blog (BRAPA in still on 9th October despite writing about 10 pubs in 3 disparate counties) I might do some more reflective posts.”
And thank god for that! If Si starting pumping them out like you do I’d probably go curl up on a corner!
“On, perhaps, the relevance of the Beer Guide in a post-craft society, the revival of Holt Bitter, and the dominance of JD Wetherspoons in towns that have seen their family brewery owned pubs diminished.”
In other words, give some of the other bloggers a chance?
“The Cornfield Garage is not an architectural highlight of a town with the Lamb, a pier bar and an art deco gelateria.”
Yes, yes but, those prices are nothing to sniff at.
“and today the beer is sensational.”
See!
“Mrs RM, who’d announced she was never drinking again after Sunday night,
Wait, didn’t you comment in the Leffe/Spice bag post that she felt fine the next morning?
“my Burning Sky Inclination is so almost perfect (4.5) I’m inclined to stay for another,”
Seize the moment!
“I mean, another half hour of watching old folk trying to steal the edge of someone else’s table?”
Probably right up there with snail racing.
“Sadly, Eric Ravilious awaited.”
I shall avoid the temptation to Google and merely… check out the latest post.
Cheers
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