Two more pubs for Taylor’s Toping Taxis (don’t bother nicking it, it’s trademarked), then I can bring you some of my own ticks. If I get to West Wales before midnight. Two gems that in 90% of the GBG counties would be your Pub of the Year. We were staggered to hear that Mark, who… Continue reading PARMA VIOLETS
TOP 100 PUBS – THE HOLLY BUSH, MAKENEY
Bit of a cheat, putting a pub in my Top 100 (373) when I only had a pint of water and Si’s dregs (which would make a great name for a beer). But Makeney’s Holly Bush could just serve Peroni and you’d still want to drink there. In case you’re paying attention, I did drop… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE HOLLY BUSH, MAKENEY
BRAPA DOES IT HIS WAY
Part 2 of BRAPA in the Amber Valley, and my chance to impress me with your musical knowledge. Stop C (where A was the quiche place in Belper) is the award-winning White Hart in Bargate, star of my own blog a mere 14 months ago. It would have been walkable from the Black Bull’s Head,… Continue reading BRAPA DOES IT HIS WAY
TAXI FOR BRAPA ! A BELTER OF A BELPER
Yes, very naff title. I’m tired. I won’t drag this one out (I will). For a start, as DES, I’ve nothing to say about the beers on Si’s Amber Valley Day Out. Though I must say, the water in Belper was better than in Cambridge. And secondly the banter in Belps was so good… Continue reading TAXI FOR BRAPA ! A BELTER OF A BELPER
BULLISH ABOUT PUBS
“Frankie Says…” go to a pub. Actually, after the Half Moon I was ready for an early night of Chinese takeaway and LBC, with BRAPA to come in the morning. But then our group split up, and Pete & The Mudgies (a punk group from Atherstone, surely ?), nipped in the Bull. For a… Continue reading BULLISH ABOUT PUBS
THE HALF MOON – FIGHTING BACK
I’m sorry this post pops out long after the lovely Ali has brought her cover versions of Fairport Convention classics to the Half Moon. You can still catch Dean Friedman, though. Pub Number 8 was a lung-busting five minutes out of town, and only inserted in the itnerary at my insistence. It was the Pub… Continue reading THE HALF MOON – FIGHTING BACK
BEER GUIDE TICKING TERROR AT THE TAP
Nearly finished Rugby now. Then I can turn my attention to (checks diary) BRAPA in Belper. One of the downsides of these pub crawls, apart from the fixation on craft bars, is that you’re expected to stick with the group, and not nip off to pubs that aren’t on the official route or admire the… Continue reading BEER GUIDE TICKING TERROR AT THE TAP
CRAFTY BANKERS
Bankers for the next Beer Guide, that is. Si, Duncan and I can spot them a mile off these days. Bikes rather than mobility scooters outside the door, shiny tables resembling a board game, complex lavatory arrangements, hipster customers, Oh. And those beers you’ve never heard of, of course. But the beer. Wow. On a… Continue reading CRAFTY BANKERS
YOU CAN THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS FOR THE SQUIRREL
Rugby Pub No.5, and we weren’t even a little bit tipsy, apart from Richard who was becoming ever more animated at the prospect of some Proper Factory-produced beer at our next pub. On the way we passed an advert for Dean Friedman’s show, “Lucky Stars” and, er, the other ones. I just played his impressive… Continue reading YOU CAN THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS FOR THE SQUIRREL
I SUCCUMB TO THE PLUM (PORTER)
What are those #PubMen looking at ? I guess they were eyeing up my yummy Plum Porter at the Victoria, our fourth Rugby stop. This was the longest walk of the day, a mammoth ten minutes out towards the former Bass stronghold of Hillmorton. Ten minutes, and four excellent pieces of jaywalking from our… Continue reading I SUCCUMB TO THE PLUM (PORTER)
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