I somehow forgot to tell you that Duncan had already been to these Northumbrian gems last month, after our meet up in the Craft Union bars of Chester-le-Street. That time I overdid it on Doom Bar and chickened out of a joint trip up the Northumbrian coast. I DID remember that his post took in… Continue reading FISHING FOR HOLY ISLAND TICKS
ALL MASKED UP IN ETAL
Masks, eh ? Whatever. It’s just a mask. Next up is my first pub where I had to wear a mask on entering a pub. The rather fetching Black Bull in Etal. Or Etal with Ford as the poshos prefer it. Just south of Coldstream, and those funny Scots with their sensible leader, lies Etal… Continue reading ALL MASKED UP IN ETAL
WOOLER, WOOLER, WOOLER, UH, TELL ME MORE
The problem with having an early night (22.30 rather than the usual 01:00) is you wake up at about 04.37, see that Russ has written you an essay and never get back to sleep. Six hours sleep is plenty, sometimes more than enough. I emerged from the campervan with one of those craft beer carry-outs… Continue reading WOOLER, WOOLER, WOOLER, UH, TELL ME MORE
ROTHBURY STAGES THE METALLICA v ADELE SHOWDOWN
Before I get to the next open pub, here’s a kinda closed one; You do better hanging out of a car whizzing round a corner at 70mph. That’s The Star Inn at Netherton, one of the classic Basic Unspoilt Pubs of Great Britain. Only open Friday and Sunday evenings these days, and since Thursday even… Continue reading ROTHBURY STAGES THE METALLICA v ADELE SHOWDOWN
SUNSET OVER ALWINTON
More isolated Northumbria for you now, just up the road in Alwinton. Wikipedia tells me more about Alwinton and its 71 souls than it does about some southern dormitory towns of 71,000, and gives me this lovely photo by Chris of St Michaels and All Angels. At 7pm I couldn’t see anything except a row… Continue reading SUNSET OVER ALWINTON
5 HOURS UP THE A1 FOR A HALF
An unfinished half and that view of the Northumberland National Park, to be fair. 4hr 12 says Bing Maps, which can only mean Mr Bing doesn’t stop for diesel at the Ram Jam services or drive a steady 62mph in their new campervan. You break the journey into segments. An hour to Grantham (ooh, new… Continue reading 5 HOURS UP THE A1 FOR A HALF
AN AK AND AN UNSOLVED MURDER IN EPPING FOREST
Yet another pub that isn’t in the GBG for you, just to show not ALL my trips are to dull tickers venues approved by the CAMRAs (joke, joke, don’t kick me off the GBG21 priority list). James has been back from Sheffield, waiting to go back to Sheffield, for 3 months now. His mates in… Continue reading AN AK AND AN UNSOLVED MURDER IN EPPING FOREST
THE NETHER STOWEY WHINGERS ANGLING CLUB
One last tick in That Somerset, making a late but probably futile bid for my Top 10 counties post, whenever that is. Ah, Never Stowey, handy for the Quantocks and Samuel Taylor Coleridge devotees. Whoever they are. A tidy village of 1,373 with a steep walk to the castle mound. The Long Buckby of the… Continue reading THE NETHER STOWEY WHINGERS ANGLING CLUB
GOOD CHEER IN PORLOCK WEIR
Well, well, the world is full of misery today, isn’t it ? So I’m guessing what you want to read about are the joys of a walk in the wonderful North Somerset countryside, where Stella and blackberry matching is de rigueur, and ending at the pebbled beach at Porlock Weir (the Porth Dinllaen of the… Continue reading GOOD CHEER IN PORLOCK WEIR
BREAKFAST IN BRIDGWATER
First up, I do hope LifeAfterFootball‘s latest post marks a break, rather than a retirement from promoting pubs. Aller looked spooky in the morning. I could have been in the Fens. 20 minutes later I was crossing the M5 towards Bridgwater, which has been disappointingly GBG-lite of late. Matt had a friend near here with… Continue reading BREAKFAST IN BRIDGWATER
