December 2024. Cambridge. “Never forget where you’ve come here from” sang Take That in their plodding 1995 hit, shortly before forgetting where the band’s talent lay and letting Robbie Williams leave for Burslem on a free transfer. I come from Cambridge, of course, and circumstances have conspired to keep me in Cambridge rather longer than… Continue reading MORE UNSUNG CAMBRIDGE PUBS – THE TRAM DEPOT

December 2024. Rye. Yes, Rye does have another pre-noon opener for the desperate adventurous pub man, though you might not even notice The Crown if not for the twin flags, promise of Sky Sports, and window sticker advertising Old Speckled Hen. OK, it’s not Rother Valley or even Harvey’s, but if you can only justify… Continue reading WELL, THE CROWN HAS GOT GUINNESS

December 2024. Rye. One last blast of Rye before a return to parental duties in Waterbeach, and a reminder that it’s not just artisanal beer and croissants in east Sussex’s top town. Not that the tourists were out in force on Tuesday as drizzle hit the cobbles leading to Lamb House, once home to Henry… Continue reading REJOINING THE NATIONAL TRUST

December 2024. Icklesham. East Sussex. I feel a little awkward adding so many pubs to the Top 100 recently, but then again the Queen’s Head is, in its way, as essential stop near Rye as the Ypres. This is a GBG perennial I visited just before the blog started, and it’s inexplicable I hadn’t taken… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – QUEEN’S HEAD, ICKLESHAM

December 2024. Canterbury. I left the Two Sawyers, looking rather more charming outside than in, and wondered what to do next having invested £7.30 on an off-peak return. I’d only just visited Canterbury, done the little church, and a few central pubs, and an aimless walk in drizzle seemed pointless. Next train back in 10… Continue reading SHEPS CHRISTMAS BEER

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 ?

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 ?

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

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