Sad news tonight that Bessie Davies, long-term landlady of the wonderful Dyffryn Arms in Pontfaen (“Bessie’s), has just died, aged 94. This photo is from the Pembrokeshire Herald, whose reporter Tom Sinclair has just posted a gorgeous tribute to Bessie. It captures the spirit of the Dyffryn better than any photo I ever took. I… Continue reading A TRIBUTE TO BESSIE DAVIES
HAPPY HOLIDAYS IN HOLBEACH
December 2023. Holbeach. Oh bless you, GBG24, engineering a long awaited return to Holbeach, the unknown quantity of the Fens. Just look at those famous faces associated with the town. Yes Geoff Capes of the Police fame. A town full of history. I spent my 33rd birthday at a fancy dining pub just up the… Continue reading HAPPY HOLIDAYS IN HOLBEACH
SMALL BEER, GOOD BEER IN CROUCH END
December 2023. Crouch End. London. I’d got a spreadsheet extract showing the London pubs I needed on my phone. I know you lot love spreadsheets. Pleasingly, I was about to complete that Top 4 (FIFA haven’t agreed a 5th place so that Lower Edmonton one will have to wait) at Small Beer in Crouch End.… Continue reading SMALL BEER, GOOD BEER IN CROUCH END
WHERE OR WHAT IS CROUCH END ? AND WHERE’S THE NEAREST LOO ?
December 2023. Crouch Hill. London. And that’s the problem with London pub “curated self-explorations“. So many steps, so much beer, so few (no) public toilets on trains. I actually thought the Overground (the orange one) might have loos. How daft can you be. So 10 minutes later I found myself at Crouch Hill station, searching… Continue reading WHERE OR WHAT IS CROUCH END ? AND WHERE’S THE NEAREST LOO ?
FOX ON THE RUN, IN FOREST GATE
December 2023. Forest Gate. London. The walk from the “Iron Maiden” pub on the edge of Stratford to the Holly Tree on the edge of Wanstead Flats was uneventful, and no-one wants that. Row after row of neat East London terraces, with not a single micropub or cereal cafe to break the monotony. Oh, what’s… Continue reading FOX ON THE RUN, IN FOREST GATE
RUNNING FREE – INTO MARYLAND
December 2023. Maryland. East London. I hope you’re enjoying this pictorial trip through East London as much as I did, but do I care if you’re not ? With Hackney and Stratford conquered, I just had Forest Gate to go. Theoretically doable on bus, but who wants to use a bus. Ugh. Far better to… Continue reading RUNNING FREE – INTO MARYLAND
A tribute TO Stratford
December 2023 Stratford. Stratford E15, that is; no-one would look to convince you of the charms of that Warwickshire version. Most visitors to the transport interchange turn one way to the Olympic site and West Ham or another to the shops and the Westfield Tap. Before that tick at the Black Bull I think my… Continue reading A tribute TO Stratford
A Tribute IN Stratford…
December 2023. Stratford. London. Pubbing in London is brilliant, and I can honestly say both the beer quality have the friendliness have got better since Covid. And as I jumped back on the overground at Hackney Central I rejoiced in the knowledge my next tick was only 20 minutes away. Such riches ! The only… Continue reading A Tribute IN Stratford…
CHRISTMAS DRINKERS IN HACKNEY
December 2023. Hackney. I’m in danger of catching up on the blog, so let’s put an end to that with a Big(ish) Night Out in London ahead of the annual End of the Road Christmas Show.. I caught the train from Waterbeach and slept in the campervan to save the price of a “cheap” Premier… Continue reading CHRISTMAS DRINKERS IN HACKNEY
A PINT WITH WILLY WONKA
December 2023. Sheffield. Back in Sheff, Mrs RM said she wanted to go and see Wonka, a documentary about the 19th century cocoa industry or something. Going to see musicals with your wife earns 8.6 brownie points, according to Mumsnet Research, just below letting her finish your packet of pickled onion Monster Munch you’d been… Continue reading A PINT WITH WILLY WONKA
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