September 2023. Royal Tunbridge Wells. I was taking a break from in-law drama in the Pantiles, and after a couple of pints of pre-emptive and post-emptive craft thought I’d better get back for 6. Google maps tells you when and where to catch the bus from the station. “You’ve just missed the last bus mate”… Continue reading WHEN THE LAST BUS BACK FROM TUNBRIDGE WELLS HAS LEFT AT 5:28pm
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.
TO THE PANTILES !
September 2023. Royal Tunbridge Wells. Out on my bit of respite from in-law drama, I was heading aimlessly towards the Pantiles, when it suddenly occurred to me what a scruffy town Tunbridge Wells is, particularly around the main station. On the Clive Bull show on LBC this morning a lady called Sophie from Reading said,… Continue reading TO THE PANTILES !
A LITTLE BIT OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS, A LOT OF WATERBEACH…
September 2023. Royal Tunbridge Wells. Just back from a week away from caring for 2 sets of parents and now I find a new (embargoed) GBG on my doorstep alongside the Colombian coffee beans from Pact. Here it is; Some folk have opted for the plain cover version. Be aware ticking that doesn’t count. Four… Continue reading A LITTLE BIT OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS, A LOT OF WATERBEACH…
WHO ORDERED THOSE CANS ?
September 2023. Farnborough. There were a few restaurant options for our stay in Farnborough, including an ultra-rare Wimpy and Poppins, a Harvester (with Doom Bar) and Harvester (without). But the Spoons was a minute’s walk from our Premier Inn, so that got the vote (I’d just done my 15k steps). Not the most attractive, tucked… Continue reading WHO ORDERED THOSE CANS ?
TOP 100 PUBS – THE PRINCE OF WALES, FARNBOROUGH
September 2023. Farnborough. The night was young, but my ticking was complete. What else did Farnborough have to offer the intrepid tourist ? Well, the Harvester next door to the Premier Inn where Mrs RM was beavering away on VAT returns had Doom Bar, the Travelodge housed a GBG Spoons, and somewhere near that airstrip… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE PRINCE OF WALES, FARNBOROUGH
A TREASURE COVE
September 2023. Farnborough. A Thursday night in Farnborough. We ticked the “Leisure” box on the Premier Inn on-line reservation system and could almost hear the computer thinking “Leisure ? Really !“. I won’t claim that Mrs RM was in raptures in anticipation (that would have been Maidenhead), but she did seem genuinely intrigued. “What’s in… Continue reading A TREASURE COVE
CHURCH CROOKHAM DAHLIA BATH
September 2023. Church Crookham, near Fleet. Another dull Hampshire dining pub as we approach a crescendo of sorts in Farnborough. Church Crookham sounds like the dullest place on earth, so I hope I have no readers there. The only point of note is that the green blob between our new Guide pub in Eversley Forest… Continue reading CHURCH CROOKHAM DAHLIA BATH
RAINBOW FRUIT COCKTAIL HANDWASH ? IT CAN ONLY BE BASINGSTOKE
Beer Guide safely back in hand, it’s time for some (increasingly rare) ticking action before GBG24 lands (ugh) and the whole charade resumes. “You’ll never finish” shouts someone. 20 minutes up the A303 from Longparish to The Edge of Basingstoke, which would have made a great Stevie Nicks song. I’ve been campaigning on the Old… Continue reading RAINBOW FRUIT COCKTAIL HANDWASH ? IT CAN ONLY BE BASINGSTOKE
THE DRAMATIC RECOVERY OF RETIRED MARTIN’S GBG IN LONGPARISH
September 2023. Longparish. I realise some of you have been unable to sleep since news of the loss of my GBG first broke last Thursday on our way to the End of the Road. Thankfully, someone invented mobile phones and Mrs RM contacted the Plough who confirmed that a middle-aged man had, indeed, stupidly left… Continue reading THE DRAMATIC RECOVERY OF RETIRED MARTIN’S GBG IN LONGPARISH
NOUGHTIES NIGHT IN THE NORTHERN MONKEY
All the pubs in Sheffield by foot No. 137 (est.) – The Northern Monkey, Hillsborough Sheffield has great pubs. It also has some quite good pubs, the sort of places that would be in the Scottish chapters of the GBG that young Simon is doing at this very moment. I took Mrs RM on a… Continue reading NOUGHTIES NIGHT IN THE NORTHERN MONKEY
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