Anything was going to be a bit of an anticlimax after the Black Boy, but the Caernarfon GBG newbie was, excitingly, hard to find down the tiny streets off the castle walls. Ah, here it is. “Smallest bar in Wales” apparently. That probably says more about the paucity of micros in Wales than anything else.… Continue reading CHRISTMAS TV GUIDES IN CAERNARFON
TOP 100 PUBS – BLACK BOY, CAERNARFON
I mean. Just look at it. Who needs words? A flying return visit after 20 years. Yes, I was right the first time. It’s gorgeous. Oh yes, there’s Bass. Actually, sometimes the Bass sign is a red herring. And or course, not all Bass is Good Bass. This was good (though not cheap) Bass. Rich,… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – BLACK BOY, CAERNARFON
NO SLEEP ‘TILL AMLWCH
A bit of pub-free tourism at the most northern town in Wales. Wow. I’m sure there’s been Guide pubs up along the north Anglesey coast, probably Lees or Marston, but not this year. So Amlwch’s tourism rests on its gourmand credentials, their Proper fonts, and their upmarket shopping offer. It’s not Southwold is it ?… Continue reading NO SLEEP ‘TILL AMLWCH
“CAN I SIT WITH THE ELVES ON ANGLESEY”
Next up a wholly unremarkable pub, rescued by an incident of customer segregation rarely seen these days. A rare trip into Anglesey, and a sense of guilt as I shuttled past Patrick’s Bar on the mainland. Anglesey always promises much but I must be missing out something as it seems to be an island of… Continue reading “CAN I SIT WITH THE ELVES ON ANGLESEY”
UNWOKE AT THE WAKE IN ROWEN
Those end-of-year highlights posts really interfere with my chronology, don’t they. Back to the Big Northern Pre-Christmas Tick, as I leave Stockport to meet the Pubmeister in North Wales. A quick half in Rowen in the Conwy Valley, a pleasant stroll from Bodnant Garden where you can safely leave your OAP for a couple of… Continue reading UNWOKE AT THE WAKE IN ROWEN
ANNUAL RETIRED MARTIN AWARDS 2019
Finally, the Awards. Who will be this year’s Paul Mudge, Wolverhampton and Marsaskala Social Club ? Will anything from my foreign jaunts get a look in ? TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS TOP 5 ALBUMS (yeah, like you care) 5. Hand Habits – Placeholder 4. Lomelda – M for Empathy 3. Aldous Harding – Designer 2. Big Thief… Continue reading ANNUAL RETIRED MARTIN AWARDS 2019
#PUB PHOTOS
Awards to come later, but here’s a few of my favourite photos from my blog* to whet your whistles. A real old mish-mash. The lovely couple above met us in The Circus (and Grey Horse) on 2 January and explained they were keen observers of Old Codgers in their natural environment. Talking of The Circus;… Continue reading #PUB PHOTOS
DECEMBER ’19 STOCKTAKE + JANUARY PREVIEW
A quick look at December before the big Awards issue. An eventful month; 2,636 miles says Bing Maps, but unfortunately it’s a bit more than that as I had to spend a few days at home in between the trips. Average hotel/B & B price : £29.71. THE STATS Seventy-one posts, eighty (80) new Beer… Continue reading DECEMBER ’19 STOCKTAKE + JANUARY PREVIEW
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I’m not one for celebrating days (apart from 22 December); treat every day like the best day of your life. So I haven’t been out on New Year’s Eve at midnight for 30 years, since I saw in the year of The Beloved and Fool’s Gold and World In Motion with six IPAs (“Ippers”) at… Continue reading HAPPY NEW YEAR
2020 VISION
Tonight I’ll be working on my Stocktake for December (Spoiler: lots of pubs) and the Annual Retired Martin Awards for 2019. If you can guess my PubMan of the year you win two pints of ESB. In the meantime, what does 2020 promise for the pubber. Inspired by Pub Curmudeon’s review of the decade, I… Continue reading 2020 VISION
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