ALBION

January 2026. Waterbeach.

One more night in Waterbeach before exciting forrin’ travel, and as always it’s Mrs RM who insists we nip in the Sun while waiting for the Chung Hwa to work its magic on squid.

I wish Mrs RM would work her magic on my phone camera, but for now I’m claiming this is an art shot;

Oooh ! That’s brave. Two from Woodfordes, whose Wherry has fallen out of favour.

Bev (Pub Man of 2025) assures me they’re all great, and they are.

We know and love the Nog, but this Albion Stout is startlingly crisp and chewy (NBSS 4.5), and if you think I’m all Pollyannaish about the quality of beer, it seems Kentish Paul is also raving about cask at the moment.

I seem to be using the Sun as much as I did when I really lived in Waterbeach, drawn in as much by NBSS 4+ beer as memory, and the only minor quibble I’ve heard is about the low chairs, which Mrs RM rather likes.

A quarter of crispy duck, spicy squid and Singapore Udon (oooh, a change !). Even without TV and internet while we mind Sunnyside, it’s hard to beat.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

19 thoughts on “ALBION”

      3. No! There was enough weird stuff going on on that trip, but it’s a long story. Suffice to say I would like to return at some point. A good friend goes every year and is in love with the place.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Your comment did not pop up on my notifications Paul, just happened to see it here. Sorry if I have missed others, just give me a nudge. That is interesting about your friend. Where was he from?

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Martin,
        Phil had enthusiastically spoken about Atherstone having plenty of proper pubs and good shops and a return ticket for no more than a mile and a half taxi fare. He didn’t mention Rome to me so maybe you or Lana can confirm if Rome has equivalent pubs and shops. I realise it’ll be more than £6.30 there and back.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Thanks Martin. Remembering that last year I got to Atherstone twice as often as Uttoxeter, which is free on my bus pass, makes me realise just how good that underrated Warwickshire town is.

        Liked by 3 people

      10. Lana,
        Have you visited the Florence a mile south-east of Stoke on Trent railway station ?
        If not a day there, rather than a weekend, might suffice.

        Liked by 2 people

      12. Lana,
        He was born on the Tixall Road, just across Kingston Hill from where I’ve lived for 34 years.
        No, I think the nearest Magic Roundabouts are in Hemel Hempstead and High Wycombe. And I remember Jasper Carrot, who I first saw in 1971, singing about one. I’ve heard it suggested locally that Britain’s most famous nurse was named after a Potteries suburb – and more recently “no, it was Jamaica” !!

        Liked by 1 person

      13. One of the benefits of train travel, as Lana and Paul will know, is you avoid scary roundabouts. Swindon is the other terror. I think you’d enjoy Swindon pubs, Paul, lots of Arkells.

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      14. Martin, my visits to Swindon are so rare that I remember them both well.
        Firstly the Glue Pot on the day before my fortieth birthday and the Archers brewer was sat at the bar reading a tabloid paper.
        Secondly on the way to Bath fifteen months ago, stopping off for an Arkells 3B in the Kings Arms as part of my fiftieth anniversary tour of all the, surviving, original independent brewers’ beers.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. “and as always it’s Mrs RM who insists we nip in the Sun while waiting for the Chung Hwa to work its magic on squid.”

    Do they slam it onto the ground over and over and then hang it up to dry in the Sun?*

    *(the big ball in the sky, not the pub)

    “but for now I’m claiming this is an art shot;”

    I can’t figure out if they’re performing a Hitler salute, trying to illuminate bombers (or drones), or announcing a gala opening somewhere.

    “Bev (Pub Man of 2025) assures me they’re all great, and they are.”

    You can rely on the barkeep.

    ” and if you think I’m all Pollyannaish about the quality of beer, it seems Kentish Paul is also raving about cask at the moment.”

    Is it the End of Times?

    “and the only minor quibble I’ve heard is about the low chairs, which Mrs RM rather likes.”

    (looks down)
    Uh, no thanks. 😉

    “Evene without TV and internet while we mind Sunnyside, it’s hard to beat.”

    Why does it matter that poor old Mrs Evene has no TV or internet? 😋

    Cheers

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