As I’ve said many times, Wales mixes up the basic boozer with outside loos, peeling paint and entitled Arsenal fans (OK, only one of those) with the farmhouse style posh gastropub for pashminas from Prestbury. Most English visitors to Brecon in Summer have never been to a Proper Pub where you’re not shown to… Continue reading LESS BASIC BRECON
PAPER LABELS
Just what you want. A Gooner serving beer with a paper pump clip. What do you think when you see a homemade pump clip ? Scarcely less credibly, it’s the return of Archers, who kept The Imbiber going singlehanded a decade or so ago with their monthly release of two dozen new beers named after… Continue reading PAPER LABELS
£2.30 A PINT
This week I’m up in Manchester/Paisley/Preston, making sure Matt is settled into his barbering (?) course in the Eternal City (that’s not Preston). So I’m snatching the odd 20 minutes of WiFi to bring you up to date with the glories of Mid Wales. This one comes to you from the Etihad before kick off,… Continue reading £2.30 A PINT
NO CASK DEATH IN MACHYNLLETH
I took the train from Newtown to Machynlleth, officially the slowest journey in the UK. I could probably have jumped off the train as it trundled past Cemaes, nipped in the Dovey Valley for my half, and hopped back on as it slowed for the bend. Back in Mach (future blog title) only a month… Continue reading NO CASK DEATH IN MACHYNLLETH
A QUICK BASS IN THE RAILWAY
Not much photographic evidence of the Railway in Newtown , but with the very best pubs you rarely stop for photos. I checked in at Newtown’s Gro Guest House, the best of the year. And not just for the teddies. Yes, a teddy bear fanatic. 21 minutes to the station, 21 minutes till the train,… Continue reading A QUICK BASS IN THE RAILWAY
ARRIVING IN LLANWRTYD WELLS TOO SOON FOR THE BOG SNORKELLING
Three days in Mid Wales and I still couldn’t quite finish the GBG chapter. It’s possibly the most challenging “county” after Rutland, which just doesn’t open at all, with weird opening times, aggressive sheep and occasional trains. But I did make it to Llanwrtyd Wells (pronounced clan-weir-tid), some 22 years after last driving past it… Continue reading ARRIVING IN LLANWRTYD WELLS TOO SOON FOR THE BOG SNORKELLING
BEGUILED BY BEGUILDY
My favourite part of BRAPA is when he says things like, “Lydgate. You’ve never heard of it, don’t pretend you have. It is like Dukinfield. But only because you’ve never heard of that either.” and I can go, “Oooh, I have, I have, Pick me.” The GBG is the most educational book in the pub… Continue reading BEGUILED BY BEGUILDY
CLOUDS OVER FOXTON
Yes, a literal blog title, but what rhymes with Foxton ? Hoxton ? Quite what you’ve done to deserve a post on an unheralded village pub (never graced the GBG in my lifetime) in an unheralded South Cambs village I’ve no idea. All Foxton has is a railway station that surprisingly survived Beeching, and the… Continue reading CLOUDS OVER FOXTON
NO SLEEP ‘TILL NORTHUMBERLAND PINKED
I know how some of you only live to see maps of Beer Guide counties covered in pink (rather than green), so here’s Northumberland. And here’s what my rather battered GBG looks like with two/three/four/? weeks till GBG20 arrives in pristine condition. Elsdon is in the remotest bit of the county, making Rothbury look like… Continue reading NO SLEEP ‘TILL NORTHUMBERLAND PINKED
ROTHBURY – STOUT, PYGMY GOATS & THE DEFENCE OF RORKES DRIFT
Coming to the close of Northumberland GBG now, and an overdue return to Rothbury, home of the great National Trust property (Cragside) and down the road from one of our Basic, Unspoilt gems. A shame the Star is open 5.5 hours a week these days, and my visit was on one of the 162.5 hours… Continue reading ROTHBURY – STOUT, PYGMY GOATS & THE DEFENCE OF RORKES DRIFT
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