Simon liked that photo when I stuck it on Twitter a month ago, and BRAPA & Colin the Cauliflower are my target audience. They understand what makes a pub great. Folk of all types standing around talking rubbish, a comfy seat, a cheery landlord, brown walls full of tat, a pint of drinkable beer. All… Continue reading ME AND THE FARMERS
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.
THE TIPSY @ ST.PETER AND THE LIVE STREAMED FISH
Channel Islands Pub No.1 – The Tipsy, St Peter, Jersey. Almost forgot. Mrs RM was first on the plane to Jersey. She’d want you to know that. Last off, mind. While she explored the quaint shops of St Helier (M & S and Boots), I walked the 25 minutes to my first tick. Now, the… Continue reading THE TIPSY @ ST.PETER AND THE LIVE STREAMED FISH
PLANNING THE CHANNEL ISLANDS TICKATHON
Right, if you’ve an allergy to the Channel Islands I should come back to this blog in, ooh, October. Twenty-three GBG entries for 170,499 islanders, and I needed ten (10) ticks for the set, having not set foot there since 2014 (before this blog started). If I’m going to finish the Guide this year, I… Continue reading PLANNING THE CHANNEL ISLANDS TICKATHON
COMBE FLOREY’S JOEL GARNER STAND
If I were you I wouldn’t be anywhere near the M5 this next week what with Glasto and by-elections, so good job I did a tricky Somerset tick in Combe Florey a month ago. Yes, a month ago. But this is the last post before we get onto the Channel Islands, and I know how… Continue reading COMBE FLOREY’S JOEL GARNER STAND
HOLMAN CLAVEL
A bit faded, but that pub sign really is a classic. There’s a factory in Mold that pre-fades your metallic pub signs for you, I understand. Holman Clavel*, lumped under Culmhead in the Guide but could equally fit under Widcombe or its own heading in future years to confuse tickers and their spreadsheets. It looked… Continue reading HOLMAN CLAVEL
“A small DRINKING COMMUNITY WITH A LARGE FARMING PROBLEM” – CHURCHINFORD AWAKES
“Glasto” is back, Instagram shares will soar and 22 year old girls will do irreparable damage to their boyfriend Henry’s backs while they sway to the latest musical talent (Macca, Jesus & Mary Chain, Black Dyke Band) and spill their £7 pints. Mumsnet has been a bit dull of late, but the mum leaving her… Continue reading “A small DRINKING COMMUNITY WITH A LARGE FARMING PROBLEM” – CHURCHINFORD AWAKES
CHESIL BEACH, FAR AWAY IN TIME
Another top free view courtesy of “Search for Sites“, which had deposited me on the Isle of Portland for the night. Just south of Fortuneswell, home to half the nations top unreconstructed boozers, you can take your pick alongside the campers and white vans and enormous MoHos, one of which was making a valiant attempt… Continue reading CHESIL BEACH, FAR AWAY IN TIME
WEYMOUTH WONDERS
Two new pubs in Weymouth, always a treat, though I never really feel I get to the heart of the place on any visit. The road to the Belvedere actually takes me past an altercation on the seafront. The cause of the commotion turns out to be free candyfloss. What a lovely English seaside resort… Continue reading WEYMOUTH WONDERS
A DASH TO THE DOGHOUSE
Micros, heh ? They either don’t open at all, or shut when they say they’ll be open, or close before tea time supper, as in the case of Weymouth‘s quite wonderful Doghouse. As ever, pubs can open whenever they like, and I had no excuse for not getting my butler to check their midweek opening… Continue reading A DASH TO THE DOGHOUSE
“So, HAS Swanage changed then ?”. “Enough”.
The Spanish Inquisition lady in Corfe Castle was intrigued by the fact I’d been to Swanage as a chubby 11 year old in THAT summer of 76, and asked if I thought it had changed. “Enough”. “Oh dear” But I wasn’t complaining. Everywhere has to change a bit, or we’d all be drinking mild at… Continue reading “So, HAS Swanage changed then ?”. “Enough”.
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