Two down, one to go in Exeter, or Heavitree as the Good Beer Guide now determines that the Pig & Pickle lives in. Looks like Exeter to me, mate.  And I’m sure the Royal Oak over the road fromthe new GBG entry was listed under Exeter last time I was here. Twenty minutes east to… Continue reading PUTTING THE X IN EXETER

72 pubs ticked in Devon over the years, 40 of which had dropped out of the Guide, leaving the County as my biggest challenge. Hoorah for the (University) Holidays, which leave student residences in central Exeter and Plymouth for the exclusive use of GBG tickers in July and August. You can guess which of those… Continue reading DEVON KNOWS I’M MISERABLE NOW

Next stop, Devon, with ninety-two (92) Guide pubs to do. Simon is going to push me around the county in a wheelbarrow, just like in the song. He owes me. First up, a taxi for Matthew. Here’s Matt and mate taking in one tent and four kg of crisps into 2000 Trees Festival near Cheltenham.… Continue reading TAUNTON TAMED

A report from Lofthouse. No, not that Lofthouse. The little one in the middle of Nidderdale. You know, the one with a 1 in 7 descent. Isolated Yorkshire pubs are a bit hit and miss. Either modernised to exclude the casual drinker, or so resiliently basic you wonder where the lunch custom is coming from… Continue reading NIDDER ON A TUESDAY

So this is the point where I take the scenic route back to the Travelodge with my NCSS 2.5 takeaway and attempt to draft a new post using what we IT experts call a “tethering & portable hotspot”. Obviously, I didn’t make it that far. Oh, look, the Museum Vaults. Not only the best looking… Continue reading UPSETTING THE DOG IN THE MUSEUM VAULTS

Short posts, I’m afraid. Cambridge had its hottest ever day yesterday (100 degrees F), and the Swedish band I saw at the Blue Moon (Holy Now) had been swimming in the Cam to cool off. Unwise move. The two new Guide pubs ticked, the classy place revisited after 20 years, it was time to find… Continue reading SUNDERLAND PART II – THE OLD AND THE NEW

Two Spoons to do in and around Sunderland meant it was a great place to stay overnight, when compared to a ditch in Blaydon, anyway. And £35 for a Travelodge on the High Street, too.  Musn’t grumble; it would have been £100 to stay in Durham, and £54 in Middlesbrough. Why have people got a… Continue reading BIG NIGHT OUT IN SUNDERLAND PART I

Back to my favourite type of post; a pub in a town I can really explore as if for the first time. Which is almost true of Houghton-le-Spring, a 40 minute bus trip on the Number 35 from Sunderland, enlivened only by the close-up of the Penshaw monument. This was my third trip to Houghton… Continue reading SPOONS PUTS A HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING IN MY STEP

This post has been designed by computer to appeal to my audience by addressing their core interests; The death of cask Greene King Old folk arguing about splitting the bill Taking back your pint Pudding Pub cats Some of you will remember the Ship in Brandon Creek. Yes, the campervan is back on the road… Continue reading HOW TO TAKE YOUR PINT BACK