Time to tackle North Yorkshire, which I completed as a GBG county for the very first time as recently as August 2019, but failed last time out. This year the NY contingent seems very gastro heavy, particularly in the region known as “Greater BRAPA”. Thrillingly, Aldwark, best described as located in “Pashmina York”, requires a… Continue reading PUB LOO ART OVER THE ALDWARK BRIDGE
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.
CASK AT THE CRICKET – A STICKY WICKET ?
This afternoon Durham play Glamorgan in the final (the final !) of the nation’s premier one-day cricket competition. Search in vain for any mention of it on the BBC’s website, which is devoted to The Hundred, the purest form of cricket. Now the final is played on a Thursday at Nottingham, which with the greatest… Continue reading CASK AT THE CRICKET – A STICKY WICKET ?
SOUTH CAUSEY – THE POSHEST PUB IN THE BEER GUIDE ?
Regular readers will know that I’m not the smartest dresser in town; the suits, ties and cravats all went in the bin when I retired and I hope I won’t be expected to wear black tie for my own funeral. Dave noted that Durham (and Northumberland) have a fair few posh pubs in the Guide,… Continue reading SOUTH CAUSEY – THE POSHEST PUB IN THE BEER GUIDE ?
SEARCHING OUT COMMUNISTS IN CHOPWELL
I’m working far too hard, curating this blog. You can find Chopwell yourselves on the map, somewhere between Consett and Chester-le-Street. An intriguing area of coal mines, Cava and clubs. Where the bus drops you off in Blackhall Mill, note the leg to the sign stolen by a vandal from Vindolanda. Sadly the Social Club… Continue reading SEARCHING OUT COMMUNISTS IN CHOPWELL
BLANCHLAND – TO THE VAULTS
A weekend in Durham, but a raid into Northumberland for what we GBG tickers call “a straggler”. No-one has ever called Blanchland (pop.135) a straggler before. Blanchland was, I presume, built in the 17/18th century in order to later provide the setting for filming Catherine Cookson period dramas. With a bit more effort from Mrs… Continue reading BLANCHLAND – TO THE VAULTS
STANLEY !
Bishop Auckland is the childhood home of Stanley Jefferson (Laurel), named after the legendary Wetherspoons opposite the church. Spoons have lovingly commissioned a statue of our comedic heroes (my fav is The Piano), though I think it’s based on a still from their posthumous 1966 comeback when the CGI effects went awry. Not in the… Continue reading STANLEY !
BIGGING UP BISHOP AUCKLAND
As Dave “US” Dave mentions, the joy of the GBG is that it drags you round the country, visiting places the pashmina and DIPA crowd fear to tread. Like Bishop Auckland, whose run of poor quality beer in the Guide was only broken last week with The Welcome. Even there, BRAPA was led on to… Continue reading BIGGING UP BISHOP AUCKLAND
“Have the real ale; we’re trying to get on to the next barrel !”
Back up to Durham, where I seemed to be stalking BRAPA, or perhaps vice versa. Half a dozen ticks, and a burning urge to return to Bishop Auckland. It’s not a rich town, but it has a richness of history and architecture and landscape few towns can match. And of course, it is the home… Continue reading “Have the real ale; we’re trying to get on to the next barrel !”
HIDDEN SHEFFIELD
Matthew moved into a new home in Manchester today. I’m helping him bring his vinyl over tomorrow, and will no doubt get some visits to a new place in, possibly Wigan. He’s just sent me this pic of his lunchtime curry, which could be a bit too smart for This & That, Dave will know.… Continue reading HIDDEN SHEFFIELD
BLACK PUDDING IN OLD HILL, SAMOSAS IN SHELL CORNER
An exciting end to West Midlands GBG21, with two new micropubs in Microland, or north Halesowen/lower Dudley/whatever. Some lovely contours, and some great names. Mucklow Hill, Hill and Cakemore, Shell Corner. I love walking round places that are a bit indefinable; places that sell pies. I’m less enamoured by puns for pub names, but Wheelie… Continue reading BLACK PUDDING IN OLD HILL, SAMOSAS IN SHELL CORNER
