Well, I teased you with a promise of my favourite GBG counties, offered a great prize, and then failed to tell you what they were. Baa Baa Toure gave me a disapproving look at my lazy blogging. OK, let’s start with Staffordshire, in at a respectable 10th for a landlocked county without a standout Chinese… Continue reading TOP 10 COUNTIES – No.10 – STAFFORDSHIRE
A PROPER HEAD ON THE BEER IN THE SUN
204 pub visits since pubs returned, but only half of those were new GBG ticks. Which is what we call deeply unprofessional in GBG Ticker Land. SEVEN trips to my nearest pub, the inimitable Sun. Well, it is imitable; the Three Horseshoes in Ecton that BRAPA just raved about is pretty much a carbon copy.… Continue reading A PROPER HEAD ON THE BEER IN THE SUN
SEPTEMBER ’20 STOCKTAKE + OCTOBER PREVIEW
“You need to slow down, retiredmartin” Oh. And that wasn’t even the whole of it. But that map of September travels shows a relentless focus on the South-West (4 trips), and the Plague-lands of the North. And Preston, which is a law unto itself. With clusters of new GBG pubs now as rare as good… Continue reading SEPTEMBER ’20 STOCKTAKE + OCTOBER PREVIEW
SPECIAL MANCHESTER “GUESS THE PUB” EDITION
You may be horrified that my two lads couldn’t identify Frank Sidebottom on the graffitied walls of Newton Street. “Best street in Manchester” says Matt. Is it ? What’s it got, Police Museum, Ezra & Gill ? I felt old. We’d stopped in Manchester on the way home from bucolic Barrow so Matt could give… Continue reading SPECIAL MANCHESTER “GUESS THE PUB” EDITION
NO PRE-EMPTIVE TICK ON PIEL ISLAND
Day 3 of the Lakes mini-break with the lad. We’d had the spectacular weather for our walk, so only fair it was relentless drizzle on the Wednesday. Time for a last unwise breakfast. Trip Advisor’s trendy tip, The Last Resort Coffee Shop, had literally just closed its door, so we went for the trad option… Continue reading NO PRE-EMPTIVE TICK ON PIEL ISLAND
SUNSET OVER BARROW MORRISONS
Back in Barrow, I somehow cajoled a tired 21 year old to join me on a tour of a workaday Northern town before tea. I knew North Irish Sea Dave would want to see my pics, even if you don’t. We did a circuit of town, stopping so I can bring you the best looking… Continue reading SUNSET OVER BARROW MORRISONS
HAND SANITISER LEAKAGE AT BROUGHTON-IN-FURNESS
Despite the odd grump about table service I’d enjoyed a first real foray into the Southern Lakes, but James was gone by mid-afternoon and we could only fit in one stop on the way back to Barrow. Luckily, the Manor Arms was a bit of a cracker. I nearly visited on that “Let It Go”… Continue reading HAND SANITISER LEAKAGE AT BROUGHTON-IN-FURNESS
NICE HILLS, ANYWAY
Being told off (again) this was a wonderful day in the Lakes. The man who served us the ice creams in Boot Post Office was chatty and cheery, the sheep didn’t attack, and the walking was strenuous but rewarding. We got a BIT lost, but it didn’t seem to matter. Rather like the pursuit of… Continue reading NICE HILLS, ANYWAY
“DON’T TOUCH THE BAR !”
You left us in Boot, at the foot of the Hardknott Pass in Eskdale. The toy trains come here, the Ladies who lunch come here, the 4x4s run you over here. It’s one of the top Lakes honeypot villages. We went to explore Boot. It took 15 seconds, one for each resident. FIFTEEN permanent souls… Continue reading “DON’T TOUCH THE BAR !”
SCAFELL (NEARLY)
All great days start with a Wetherspoons Full English breakfast (why no Cumbrian variant). Well, actually, no they don’t. Porridge would be a better bet when you’re about to take on England’s highest hill (whatever). James had been wanting to climb Scafell Pike since he managed it in Year 7 at Cottenham (age 12); I… Continue reading SCAFELL (NEARLY)
retiredmartin 