On to one of the real tourist honeypots that the Guide brings you kicking and screaming to, in this case on a slow train from Denmark Hill. “Welcome to Bromley” screams the sign welcoming tourists, probably. This is the place that South-east London and West Kent shoppers used to travel to in the decades before… Continue reading BROMLEY GOES TASTER-MAD
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.
BATTERED BY BARREL-AGED BOURBON AT SAMBROOKS
A number of you* have asked for more features on brewery taps on this blog, getting bored of all these pictures of churches, street art and Primark bags. This one’s for you, as Neil Young probably sang. I’d been warned about the back streets of Battersea by someone who shall remain nameless. I must be… Continue reading BATTERED BY BARREL-AGED BOURBON AT SAMBROOKS
WHERE THE **** HAVE ALL THE CASHPOINTS IN CARTERTON GONE ?
Now to the pub I know you’ve been waiting for, the Siege of Orleans in Carterton. “Where ?” Why, between Crocodiles of the World and Ducklington, of course. I’d seen it, marked just off the A40 between wonderful Witney and boring Burford, but I assumed it was a small village serving Brize Norton Airfield, which… Continue reading WHERE THE **** HAVE ALL THE CASHPOINTS IN CARTERTON GONE ?
COME TO ASHTON KEYNES
“Happy” with a touch of murk, that’s Ashton Keynes, my annual tick in the wilderness that is North Swindon In close-up the village looks submerged within Cotswold Water Park. I prefer the ancient map written on parchment in the village centre. It makes it seem rather more exciting than is justified. If you like… Continue reading COME TO ASHTON KEYNES
A RETURN TO THE FLEMISH WEAVER
You’ll remember my failed attempt to conquer Corsham, whose bizarre Flemish Weaver had suddenly switched to Winter hours just as I tipped up in Autumn. Well, I never give up. My immediate thought – “Have I entered the ultimate care home ?”. Room after room off a passageway to the bar, each with be-cardiganed gentlefolk… Continue reading A RETURN TO THE FLEMISH WEAVER
“YOU’VE GOT CHEESE ALL OVER YOUR FACE”
Sadly, that’s the only thing I could remember from the culmination of our night in Bath, in the upstairs room at the Raven. But first, a minor diversion. My £40 windowless room at Z Hotel gives you a FREE cheese and wine buffet at 5pm. Mixing metaphors, you’ve never seen such a bunfight. Decent… Continue reading “YOU’VE GOT CHEESE ALL OVER YOUR FACE”
CANCELLING PLANS IN BATH
It might seem a bit reckless reading these Bath posts now, but my original plan had been to have a few halves in Bath and then take the train to Bradford-on-Avon (twinned with the real Bradford) where a trio of ticks awaited. That idea went up in smoke as our Gang of Four stumbled into… Continue reading CANCELLING PLANS IN BATH
FATHER CHRISTMAS ON A UNICORN AND MANGO IPA
These set of posts from Bath wouldn’t be complete without a picture of Father Christmas riding JoJo the Unicorn in a craft beer bar. Note the care taken in the composition of this photo, the austere Primark bag offsetting the glasses of Mango IPA and Mme Benger’s rainbow hat (competition for Jon’s Bass braces). Brewed… Continue reading FATHER CHRISTMAS ON A UNICORN AND MANGO IPA
AN OFFICIAL BASS SHRINE – THE STAR INN, BATH
It was two weeks ago I sampled the Bass from the jug in the Star, during which time you’ve had 30 new posts (oh !), and I still can’t get the magical taste of flat Bass out of my head. I’m back in Bristol tomorrow and highly tempted to change travel plans (from Newport),… Continue reading AN OFFICIAL BASS SHRINE – THE STAR INN, BATH
A PROPER JOB
Visiting pubs on a Thursday lunchtime in one of the world’s great cities, that’s a Proper Job. Though of course, not as commendable a job as the folk leading the Extinction Rebellion outside the Abbey. Fear not, pubs are safe with Stafford Paul. Paul not only had the itinerary, he also had the annotated map. … Continue reading A PROPER JOB
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