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
A WALK TO THE PUB
My main ambition on retiring was to get fitter and visit the places (not all pubs) in the UK and abroad I hadn’t managed. In the last 6 months I’ve increased average daily miles walked from about 10 to 15, with quite a few 25 miles days recently. There is no doubt that it’s easier… Continue reading A WALK TO THE PUB
SCOTLAND (SLIGHT RETURN)
Life’s not all beer and skittles etc. After a fantastic couple of long walks around Glasgow and Edinburgh, today I have a 4 hour walk around Corby. Nowhere in Britain is without merit, and Corby has the UK’s premier skatepark which is what drags youngest son here on a regular basis. It also has some… Continue reading SCOTLAND (SLIGHT RETURN)
DUE A DEUCHARS ?
Final thoughts on Scottish pubs, before I turn my attention to how I get to the Aberdeenshire pubs by public transport. When I first spent significant time visiting Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2000 (cheap Ryanair to Prestwick), Caledonian Deuchars was ubiquitous and clearly being drunk in decent volumes. It had the sort of growing reputation… Continue reading DUE A DEUCHARS ?
ALECHEMY
I’ve just completed my day’s 26 and a bit mile walk around Edinburgh, which as well as confirming it and Glasgow as world-class cities allowed me to do a quick comparison between their respective pubs. Both cities have about 25 pubs in the current Beer Guide, those allocations reflecting tourist numbers and population. In Glasgow… Continue reading ALECHEMY
FALKIRK REBORN
There was much criticism of the sustainability of Millennium funded projects (Earth Project and the Public primary exhibits) but they certainly produced a range of cultural developments that got me exploring industrial towns throughout from 2000 on. It has sometimes seemed to me that in Scotland new cultural attractions have been hogged by it’s big… Continue reading FALKIRK REBORN
No.1 BREWDOG FAN
Just had a superb walk around Kelvingrove Park and the Museum, housed in as great a Victorian building as you’ll see. Kelvingrove My wife forced me into a lunchtime trip to the Brewdog across the road despite my best efforts, and the flight of their stronger beers again proved her instincts right. I’ve seen mixed… Continue reading No.1 BREWDOG FAN
PERFECT BEER IN GLASGOW
I’ve had a great day re-aquainting myself with central Glasgow for the first time in 10 years. I can’t see any dramatic changes in the shops, restaurant and pub scene, certainly of the scale seen in Stockport, Cambridge or Shoreditch, but saw for the first time some stunning architecture, particularly around Kelvingrove. Byres Road and… Continue reading PERFECT BEER IN GLASGOW
THE £1 PINT
Today the family walked the 7 mile Cow Hill circuit around the hills south of Fort William, which frankly gave some of the best views you’ll get in the UK. The Highlands are an expensive short break; the Premier Inn is the most expensive hotel I’ve stayed in, which may say much about me. Worth… Continue reading THE £1 PINT
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