5/6th May 2023. Our good friends the Southworths had arrived in Lil’ Ol England ahead of the Coronation, but despite a frantic search we were unable to secure them tickets for the main event via Twickets so they had to make do with a day eating oatcakes and scoring beer, which sounds a good second… Continue reading CORONATION DAY
“When brewery tap opening hours ruin your day, Remember…, Be Strong, Because all will be Okay”
May 2023. Let’s finish Essex for another year. Mid-Essex has some corkers, both in the county town and salty Maldon. A brewery tap to finish ? Not ideal but at least it’s open Thursday, not like some places I could mention that open the first Saturday of the month or close for Winter and Spring.… Continue reading “When brewery tap opening hours ruin your day, Remember…, Be Strong, Because all will be Okay”
CRAFTY CASKS, RAYLEIGH
May 2023. An Essex special to start the week, though I fear these three (3) posts will disappoint those of you (Hi, Dave) looking for photos of church naves and castle mounds. Plenty of those in Rayleigh, but on another flying visit you only get pics of upside down Union Jacks, and a modern beer… Continue reading CRAFTY CASKS, RAYLEIGH
REHABILITATING GRAYS
May 2023. Thee only way to finish the eastern part of the GBG is Essex. BRAPA’s adventures in getting from King’s Cross to Thurrock on a rail replacement bus and back in time for an unwise ESB at the Parcel Yard would make classic reality TV. Excitingly, one of my new Essex ticks is in… Continue reading REHABILITATING GRAYS
SUNSHINE OVER THE ETIHAD
3rd May 2023. I’ve let Matt use my season ticket for City’s title party, his first time seeing the League trophy lifted. Getting a bit boring now. A fortnight ago I had two games in a week, and after the walk back from Lowton on the Wednesday I fell asleep in Cathedral Gardens, a sure… Continue reading SUNSHINE OVER THE ETIHAD
LOWTON ADDS YET ANOTHER CLASSIC BOOZER TO GBG23
May 2023. You left me in prime Woolyback country, between Newton-le-Willows and Golborne (what ? where ? asks 99% of the population), pondering on the connection between Shakin’ Stevens and Carol Decker. Congratulations to Mr Paul Bailey from Tonbridge, who correctly worked out Shaky beat Carol on the TV show, Hit Me, Baby, One More… Continue reading LOWTON ADDS YET ANOTHER CLASSIC BOOZER TO GBG23
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SHAKIN’ STEVENS AND CAROL DECKER ?
May 2023. My last Greater Manchester GBG tick didn’t come till May, which is poor form. But at least it gave me a rare trip into Woolyback country, and a chance to admire the flashy new Newton-le-Willows station. When you live in the scary lands between Warrington and Wigan you get your excitement from new… Continue reading WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SHAKIN’ STEVENS AND CAROL DECKER ?
A JOYFUL SURPRISE AT THE END OF FEN LANE, NOTTS
May 2023. I’ve always had a vague ambition to travel every road in the UK and pink it in on my Philip Navigator atlas. Sound familiar ? One road that had always escaped me was Fen Lane, just off the A1 in the triangle farming wilderness between the Vale of Beauvoir, Grantham and Newark; Sadly,… Continue reading A JOYFUL SURPRISE AT THE END OF FEN LANE, NOTTS
DIDN’T CAMRA USE TO RUN THIS PUB ?
May 2023. I’d popped into Cambridge from Waterbeach for a quick walk, but as I finished my pint of XXXB at the Kingston the heavens opened, proving that the sun shines on the righteous except when the righteous are about to do something very daft like do all the GBG pubs in Mill Road in… Continue reading DIDN’T CAMRA USE TO RUN THIS PUB ?
“The stars shine so bright, but they’re fading after dawn, there is magic in Kingston town”
May 2023. I intend to blog about why repeating Good Beer Guide completion isn’t on the card this year, and one of the reason stares me in the face as I write this from my parents spare bedroom out of which Baa Baa Toure and Alfie the Alpaca gaze longingly. Yes, spending three days a… Continue reading “The stars shine so bright, but they’re fading after dawn, there is magic in Kingston town”
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