August 12, 2022. Swindon’s Tap & Brew was about to become my final English Beer Guide tick, with Wales having fallen the day before. I’ve told you about Swindon already. Back home, Mrs RM could sense the excitement. All that lay in the way of GBG immortality were 2 or 3 trips to the far… Continue reading THE QUIET BEFORE THE TICKING STORM
NO HIDING PLACE IN MELKSHAM
Two ticks to go and England would fall ! Two in Wiltshire, both of which had contrived to defeat us back in April by being closed (it works, try it). In its defence the Hiding Place had put its correct opening hours on Facebook (not very 2022, that), and I was delighted to have an… Continue reading NO HIDING PLACE IN MELKSHAM
SPOONS CURRY NIGHT IN HAVERFORDWEST
My last night in Wales, and Duncan met Baa Baa Toure for the first time. It was emotional. Haverfordwest is a great place to be emotional in (NGPTBEISS 3.5+). Duncan, who’s just broke his blog silence by welcoming the new GBG, had done all the Guide pubs for 3,788 miles around, so it was a… Continue reading SPOONS CURRY NIGHT IN HAVERFORDWEST
LEARNING (UNDER DURESS) TO LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC IN HAVERFORDWEST
Back to mid August, with the whole of Wales ticked and England about to fall I was about to enter the most exciting period of my life. I know you’re supposed to say the birth of your children is the most exciting time, but why lie to you now ? The GBG is laid out… Continue reading LEARNING (UNDER DURESS) TO LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC IN HAVERFORDWEST
OCTOBER ’22 STOCKTAKE + NOVEMBER PREVIEW
Having joined the ranks of the immortal (Duncan) on 10 September and finished the GBG it was inevitable there would be a bit of a comedown in October as I decided what to do next (apart from eat Chinese takeaways with Mum and Dad in Waterbeach). Look how quiet a month October was; Oh well,… Continue reading OCTOBER ’22 STOCKTAKE + NOVEMBER PREVIEW
PAPER PUMPCLIPS = PROPER PUBS IN CROES-GOCH
Heading towards the finish line of Wales GBG ticks in August, but with a hurdle in front of us. Would I survive the gentrification and pashmina overload of Solva, the broadsheet readers’ favourite. Well, the creek was a bit Swallows & Amazons, but the Cambrian was just a well-run bistro dining pub with good local… Continue reading PAPER PUMPCLIPS = PROPER PUBS IN CROES-GOCH
TOP 100 PUBS – CRESSELLY ARMS, WEST WALES
In 2019 Duncan expressed surprise I’d never been to the Cresselly Arms in, er, Cresselly, and on my mad dash this Summer to the GBG finish line I wondered if I’d bump into any “classics that I really ought to have done already”. I guess the Mansel Arms in Porthyrhyd, Farmers in St Ouen, and… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – CRESSELLY ARMS, WEST WALES
“Please do not approach the bar”. Saundersfoot lays down the law.
Summer by the seaside. Can’t beat it. Unless you’re a ticker when a wet winter Wednesday in Wednesfield is wonderful. Saundersfoot isn’t quite Tenby, but it looked pretty special on the descent to the beach. If Tenby is the Welsh Whitby, then Saundersfoot is its Filey, I guess. Nowt wrong with Filey, as Richard Coldwell… Continue reading “Please do not approach the bar”. Saundersfoot lays down the law.
MY PLANS FOR WELSH GBG DOMINATION COME TO RUINS IN NARBERTH
“How are you getting on with the blog ?” shouts Mrs RM, in-between demands for more coffee and breakfast in bed. Note she hasn’t asked how I’m getting on with cross-checking the new GBG I think she thinks I’m not doing it anymore. Well, Mrs RM, I’m in Wales in mid-August, about to tick a… Continue reading MY PLANS FOR WELSH GBG DOMINATION COME TO RUINS IN NARBERTH
ARRIVING BY TRACTOR AT TEGRYN
Every year’s Good Beer Guide has a handful of “Signature Ticks”, the pubs with odd opening hours, require two ferries from the mainland, or have absolutely no social media presence. The completist targets these ones early in the year, and holds their breath. So it was with the Butchers Arms in tiny Tegryn in August.… Continue reading ARRIVING BY TRACTOR AT TEGRYN
retiredmartin 