While the main point of retiring was to explore, I’d also been looking forward to a few lunchtime pints in Cambridge pubs, with loads of Dickens loaded on Kindle to finally read. In reality I’ve only spent a half-dozen or so lunchtimes in town, but today I decided to see how our city centre pubs… Continue reading A LUNCHTIME DRINK
BACK TO BOGNOR
Finally managed to get the family camping this summer, a couple of nights near lovely Bognor. I can recommend Ecclesden Farm in Angmering for a cheap, picturesque site. It’s a working farm 10 minutes walk from an excellent pub (Spotted Cow) and 20 from a train connection with the rest of Sussex. I reckon the… Continue reading BACK TO BOGNOR
BRITISH TOURISM BOOM
Judging by how busy many of our coastal resorts have been on recent visits (Hastings stood out), Britain is going through a tourism boom. Whether this is due to pensioners taking more short breaks out of season, better weather (?) or good promotion, one consequence seems to be less budget hotels available at discount prices.… Continue reading BRITISH TOURISM BOOM
DARLO
I’ve just made an overdue overnight trip to Darlington, a Durham market town which I’ve always had unreasonable affection for, largely based on the atmospheric Feethams ground and some excellent pubs. 3 new entries in the Beer Guide, the first changes in some time, and a newish cheap Travelodge made my mind up. To be… Continue reading DARLO
BERLIN IN 80 BEERS
As I left Berlin the local paper was reporting continued rapid growth in tourism to the city, now only behind London and Paris in Europe. An astonishing number of outdoor cafes and beer gardens were certainly thriving this week. This was my second visit; on the first in 2011 I covered the central tourist area… Continue reading BERLIN IN 80 BEERS
TOURIST BERLIN
I’m in Berlin for a couple of nights with my son while he shops for some specialist miniature skateboard equipment. Hardly any pubs for me ! It’s our 2nd trip, and the continued revitalisation of the eastern part is startling. I reckon Boxhagen Street in Friedrichschafen is as dynamic a street as I’ve seen, standing… Continue reading TOURIST BERLIN
OPENING TIMES
Visiting all the pubs in the current Good Beer Guide is a long-term project. Aside from the logistical issues associated with lack of public transport or cheap hotels, one of the big challenges is the heavily restricted opening times of quite a few GBG entries. It is clearly the right of every pub/club/off-licence/greyhound racing venue… Continue reading OPENING TIMES
EAST RIDING
I’m finally on my cheap night out in lovely Hull visiting the couple of new entries, if the Adelphi will ever open. Despite a reputation on a par with Stoke, I rate Hull very highly for it’s gorgeous old town, museums, and a varied collection of boozers and cafe bars refelecting it’s history and student… Continue reading EAST RIDING
REAL ALE AT THE ETIHAD
Real ale is a reasonable expectation in many lower league grounds (Durham CAMRA is a particular champion of their County’s teams), where clubhouses are free to all. I can actually only recall a couple of league clubs where handpumps were a feature in the halftime catering; at Colchester’s new ground which had an attractive cask… Continue reading REAL ALE AT THE ETIHAD
BRAKSPEAR ORDINARY
On long walks I tend to stick to halves, and a dull half can be a very depressing experience. The most impressive beers I’ve had in halves tend to be the stronger pale beers such as from Oakham and Burning Sky. Bass and Harveys are definite pint beers. Brakspear, despite it’s change of site, continues… Continue reading BRAKSPEAR ORDINARY
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