December 2024. Canterbury. A Sunday night in a campervan in a deserted car park in Faversham #LivingMyBestLife I see the council have already adopted my “Fabulous Fav” slogan, and I was tempted to spend the night taking pictures of knockers. But my disappointment at the continued darkness at my new GBG craft bar (work it… Continue reading DOES TIMOTHY TAYLOR’S FAMED QUALITY CONTROL EXTEND TO CANTERBURY ?
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.
IS SPOONS BEER QUALITY REALLY GETTING BETTER ?
December 2024. Faversham. I doubt this will make my Top 10 Posts of the Year, or even of the day, but the blog is a diary, and sometimes uncomfortable truths need to be spoken. Spoons cask is getting better. Just ask the Tand. He knows. And in Hounslow, Eastbourne and now Faversham the beer has… Continue reading IS SPOONS BEER QUALITY REALLY GETTING BETTER ?
TOP 100 PUBS – THE ELEPHANT, FAVERSHAM
December 2024. Faversham. I’d paid the £7.10 (equivalent to a pint of Sam Smiths in London these days) to park the campervan overnight in Faversham, and was going to Do It All. A couple of ancient Sheps inns, the two new GBG entries, a Crispy Beef… My plans fell apart in the drizzle at the… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE ELEPHANT, FAVERSHAM
GADDS IN SHEPS LAND
December 2024. Faversham. Time to leave Mum for a couple of nights and pop down to see Mrs RM. Even Cat A prisoners at HMP Belmarsh (tickers who ask for tasters) get better spousal visitation rights. In gale force winds I made it as far as Faversham before parking up for the night. You remember… Continue reading GADDS IN SHEPS LAND
MY FIRST (AND LAST) PABST BLUE RIBBON
December 2024. Islington. A week ago I was trudging through the back streets of Finsbury towards Angel in the relentless drizzle of an English December, suddenly aware this charming little bit of North London was unexplored by me, though the George & Monkey looked familiar. An early start at the Lexington, a 200 capacity stalwart… Continue reading MY FIRST (AND LAST) PABST BLUE RIBBON
TOP 10 LONDON PUBS – THE SUTTON ARMS, EC1V
December 2024. Farringdon. London. Not many loo stops pubs at all, full of Santas or not, on the walk up from St Pauls through the Barbican to Angel. But I’d found my target, a pub which 3 years ago I immediately warmed, as much as for the wonderful Old School landlord as the crafty keg,… Continue reading TOP 10 LONDON PUBS – THE SUTTON ARMS, EC1V
NO ROOM AT THE INN
December 2024. Bermondsey to the Barbican. Thursday is my gig night in London. But it’s 2 hours till first act at the Lexington, and it’s £2.80 on the tube to Angel. Let’s walk, heh ? Well, it’s raining, idiot, and I’m feeling the consequences of that stupidity with a streaming cold this morning. But what… Continue reading NO ROOM AT THE INN
“I’M THE TICKER OF SOUTHWARK, IT’S WHAT I DO”
December 2024. Bermondsey. Thanks to Deserter for the title inspiration. Back to Cambridge from Sheffield on Wednesday morning, the laundry still not dry, I was straight off back to London that evening for a gig. Plenty of time to rest when you’re dead. A heaving Northern Line to London Bridge, and then 10 minutes walk… Continue reading “I’M THE TICKER OF SOUTHWARK, IT’S WHAT I DO”
ALIVE AND KICKING AT THE CARLTON CLUB (WHALLEY RANGE)
December 2024. Manchester. A lot of rushing back and forward at the moment, with an overnighter in Manchester vis Sheffield to check the boiler, check the post, and see City win for the first time in many, many months. It’s hard supporting the little teams, I can tell you. “Fancy a curry, Dad” texts Matt.… Continue reading ALIVE AND KICKING AT THE CARLTON CLUB (WHALLEY RANGE)
CAMBERWELL BASS P**N
December 2024. Camberwell. Stuck in London for a while, allegedly due to an incident in Royston (it’s always Royston, isn’t it ?), I’d headed on the first train south from St Pancras to Loughborough Junction, your hop-off for Kings Hospital, where my Father-in-law has been a regular visitor this last year (as well as an… Continue reading CAMBERWELL BASS P**N
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