From one county town to another, more famous one, and a confession. I walked past the Olde Cottage on my trip to Chester, missing out on Otter, if not Bass. The pains of being a ticker. Still, a gorgeous day on the City Walls. Yes, I went to Chester and all I brought Old Mudgie… Continue reading CHESTER – OFF THE WALL
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.
PLUSH
WARNING : Not for the squeamish. Contains Sam the Sham. I give rural dining pubs a bad rap on this blog, by and large. But just occasionally they come good. Plush, home of the Brace of Pheasants, is so small you can’t see it on the OS map. Alongside Plush, Russ will be thrilled to… Continue reading PLUSH
A CONVIVIAL RABBIT IN DORCHESTER
Of course, you don’t go to Dorchester just to complain about Wetherspoons. There’s the famous teddy bear museum, the Eldridge Pope brewery site long converted into boutiques, wine tasting shops and art galleries, the pasty shop, the barbers where they just play Two-Tone oldies, and the odd decent architectural flourish. But it’s a strangely dour… Continue reading A CONVIVIAL RABBIT IN DORCHESTER
UGH !
Back to Spoons, unfortunately. Despite giving you the best of Pub Life like this; they also seem to be serving up ale like this; This is Dorchester. Hardly a real ale backwater, you’d have thought. And the Royal Oak has made itself a GBG regular alongside the inevitable free house and micro. It’s your average… Continue reading UGH !
GOAT’S MILK IN GLASTONBURY
You’ll deduce this trip to “Glasto” happened a week before the annual celebration of ’80s pop at Worthy Farm. Day 4 of the Somerset Surge, staying a safe 150 miles clear of Simon in Cornwall. And a first trip to Glastonbury in nearly four years, which says just how vibrant the town GBG scene is/isn’t.… Continue reading GOAT’S MILK IN GLASTONBURY
JUNE ’19 STOCKTAKE + JULY PREVIEW – SPREADSHEET UPDATE
A grim month, in all honesty, for reasons you’ll know. I’m still re-reading Richard‘s idiosyncratic, thought-provoking comments on my blog, and I dedicated my first pint of Doom Bar to him after arriving back from the USA (Boooo) this morning. I’d no doubt have been heading up towards Richard’s North Yorkshire home to say hello… Continue reading JUNE ’19 STOCKTAKE + JULY PREVIEW – SPREADSHEET UPDATE
A CASTLE OF COMFORT
Whizzing through these Somerset posts now, thanks to Gatwick WiFi this morning. Whether I dare head back down the A303 till the Glasto cleanup is complete (2021) is another matter. Anyway, it’s about time I showed you the Bear in Wincanton, my bargain (£30) room for the night. You were expecting something tiny, weren’t you… Continue reading A CASTLE OF COMFORT
“Please do not Jump on the Bean Bags” – Misery in the Mendips
It took me a long time to get to the Mendips. About 44.4444 years, if memory serves. But I’ve been making up for that lapse of late, using Wincanton and Shepton Mallet as my cheap bases for a concerted attack on the Somerset GBG. (Spoiler: The beer isn’t very good). Yes, I know you’ll say… Continue reading “Please do not Jump on the Bean Bags” – Misery in the Mendips
GOING FOR THE BURN IN CREWKERNE
No, the Antelope isn’t today’s pub, more’s the pity. I bet it was great in 1977 (wild guess based on advertising “real ale“). Next stop Crewkerne, pronounced “kroo-kern” or possibly “atleastwerenotYeovil“. Possibly the largest town beginning with “C” I’d never been to before, and a pleasant surprise, particularly around St Barts. It’s not affluent, but… Continue reading GOING FOR THE BURN IN CREWKERNE
LOST IN A FOREST. NEAR YEOVIL
So another Glastonbury ends with entitled 22 year olds perched on new boyfriend’s shoulders drinking Prosecco and listening to a 60 year old goth from Crawley. Yes, Robert Smith of the Cure (last album 11 years ago made No. 33), is older than Mudgie. And looks it. But they were great, back in the days… Continue reading LOST IN A FOREST. NEAR YEOVIL
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