A joyous racket – Jam Night at the Southgate Inn, Devizes

Only four Guide pubs in Devizes, and the Vaults was waiting till the day I left to revisit, so it seemed churlish not to revisit the Southgate having (re)ticked the British Lion and White Bear. I’ll be honest, I was spoilt by beer quality in Bath, half an hour away, so if I had to… Continue reading A joyous racket – Jam Night at the Southgate Inn, Devizes

“I’d live in a shed at the bottom of the garden and I’d never have a headache again” – Trowbridge delivers the goods.

Trowbridge is to Wiltshire what Leigh is to Lancashire, or Haverhill to Essex. But it was a joy, a JOY I tell you, to make a first trip back to the home of Ushers since we subjected our boys to the dodgiest Wetherspoons in the South a decade ago (bargain Curry Club, mind). Even the… Continue reading “I’d live in a shed at the bottom of the garden and I’d never have a headache again” – Trowbridge delivers the goods.

“Please come to the bar to be seated”

I hope you appreciate that pubs can be good despite average beer, or dreary despite exceptional ale. These four ticks in West Wilts were a mix of all that makes pub visiting our national pastime (after whippet racing), but the Lock Inn Cafe tested the patience. Bradford-on-Avon really is the Skipton of the South-West. A… Continue reading “Please come to the bar to be seated”