December 2023. Hull. Just to prove I really was in Hull, rather than, I dunno, Theale or Leiston. A professional GBG ticker would have headed straight to the Guide newbie Old Bull & Bush, had a half, then swam around the Humber to Grimsby to do a tick in New Waltham. But I can do… Continue reading LOOK THROUGH ANY WINDOW. THE GEORGE HOTEL, HULL.
Author: 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.
Timothee Chalamet was right
December 2023. Hull. Suddenly, Americans love our unsung UK towns. The Southworths rave about Leek, Reynolds and McElhenney have taken Wrexham into the Premier League, and now the actual Willy Wonka is telling us how “sexy” the Hull accent is. And of course Timothee is right, and it can surely only be a matter of… Continue reading Timothee Chalamet was right
CAPTAIN FLINDERS COME HOME
December 2023. Donington. Lincolnshire. Jules alerts us to the welcome opening of a new Euston Spoons. Hoorah ! Someone has to keep the price of a London pint below a fiver. It won’t replace the Bree Louise of course, nothing could (though the beer might be more reliable),but it’s good to have the name of… Continue reading CAPTAIN FLINDERS COME HOME
A TRIBUTE TO BESSIE DAVIES
Sad news tonight that Bessie Davies, long-term landlady of the wonderful Dyffryn Arms in Pontfaen (“Bessie’s), has just died, aged 94. This photo is from the Pembrokeshire Herald, whose reporter Tom Sinclair has just posted a gorgeous tribute to Bessie. It captures the spirit of the Dyffryn better than any photo I ever took. I… Continue reading A TRIBUTE TO BESSIE DAVIES
HAPPY HOLIDAYS IN HOLBEACH
December 2023. Holbeach. Oh bless you, GBG24, engineering a long awaited return to Holbeach, the unknown quantity of the Fens. Just look at those famous faces associated with the town. Yes Geoff Capes of the Police fame. A town full of history. I spent my 33rd birthday at a fancy dining pub just up the… Continue reading HAPPY HOLIDAYS IN HOLBEACH
SMALL BEER, GOOD BEER IN CROUCH END
December 2023. Crouch End. London. I’d got a spreadsheet extract showing the London pubs I needed on my phone. I know you lot love spreadsheets. Pleasingly, I was about to complete that Top 4 (FIFA haven’t agreed a 5th place so that Lower Edmonton one will have to wait) at Small Beer in Crouch End.… Continue reading SMALL BEER, GOOD BEER IN CROUCH END
WHERE OR WHAT IS CROUCH END ? AND WHERE’S THE NEAREST LOO ?
December 2023. Crouch Hill. London. And that’s the problem with London pub “curated self-explorations“. So many steps, so much beer, so few (no) public toilets on trains. I actually thought the Overground (the orange one) might have loos. How daft can you be. So 10 minutes later I found myself at Crouch Hill station, searching… Continue reading WHERE OR WHAT IS CROUCH END ? AND WHERE’S THE NEAREST LOO ?
FOX ON THE RUN, IN FOREST GATE
December 2023. Forest Gate. London. The walk from the “Iron Maiden” pub on the edge of Stratford to the Holly Tree on the edge of Wanstead Flats was uneventful, and no-one wants that. Row after row of neat East London terraces, with not a single micropub or cereal cafe to break the monotony. Oh, what’s… Continue reading FOX ON THE RUN, IN FOREST GATE
RUNNING FREE – INTO MARYLAND
December 2023. Maryland. East London. I hope you’re enjoying this pictorial trip through East London as much as I did, but do I care if you’re not ? With Hackney and Stratford conquered, I just had Forest Gate to go. Theoretically doable on bus, but who wants to use a bus. Ugh. Far better to… Continue reading RUNNING FREE – INTO MARYLAND
A tribute TO Stratford
December 2023 Stratford. Stratford E15, that is; no-one would look to convince you of the charms of that Warwickshire version. Most visitors to the transport interchange turn one way to the Olympic site and West Ham or another to the shops and the Westfield Tap. Before that tick at the Black Bull I think my… Continue reading A tribute TO Stratford
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