Next stop, Durham. One of my favourite counties, even if the Beer Guide entries can be a bit “marginal” at times, beer wise. Nothing marginal about the Tanfield Two though. That OS extract says everything about northern Durham‘s contrasts. A test cricket ground (Chester-Le-Street), world class open-air museum (Beamish), a B&B which grown its own turf… Continue reading TANFIELD LEA WMC – “IT’S A BELTER”
THE POMPEY PLUM PORTER MIRACLE
“It’s coming home, it’s coming. Football’s coming home” screamed the bare chested Pompey fans as I left the Fawcett Arms tonight, armed with huge Chinese meal for one from the Golden Horse and sixteen aspirin. Any sensible person would have popped in the Beer Guide pub (Lawrence Arms) or recent GBG entry while waiting for… Continue reading THE POMPEY PLUM PORTER MIRACLE
NO BEER BORES IN THE PALMERSTON ARMS
BRAPA and I agree on most things, but occasionally I find myself in awe of just how hardcore a #PubMan he is, as when we had a minor difference of opinion over the Queen’s Head. Pubs that take themselves too seriously rarely score highly on the BRAP-ometer (£37.99 + P+P from Goole). Simon has… Continue reading NO BEER BORES IN THE PALMERSTON ARMS
CLIFTONVILLE, ALL IS FORGIVEN
Today’s blogging advice (courtesy Life After Football); if in doubt about your featured image, go with Bass. My last Kent tick meant another long journey to the heart of Thanet (and beyond). Cliftonville, you may remember, is the place that sparked a frenzied public inquiry recently when it was revealed there was no micropub in… Continue reading CLIFTONVILLE, ALL IS FORGIVEN
SCOTCH EGGS, CINQUE PORTS
15 minutes walk from station to micro. 15 seconds from micro to Proper Pub. And that’s only because I stopped to take a photo of the hardware shop. The Cinque Port Arms is a solid looking house, though the use of the “C” world is always a bit worrying. And inside it’s a little… Continue reading SCOTCH EGGS, CINQUE PORTS
THE SUN RISES ON NEW ROMNEY – VOL I
Not only did I get east and west mixed up again in the last post (thanks Mudgie), I also forgot that the too new Guide pubs in New Romney are in Kent. So there’s still one to go to finish Micro County (SPOILER – JUST DONE IT). Clearly it’s Kent. Romney Marsh is Great Expectations… Continue reading THE SUN RISES ON NEW ROMNEY – VOL I
OH, THOSE WACKY MICRO PUB NAMES !
You may find this hard to believe but I was nearly 10 before I saw the seaside, a combination of fear of a flat earth, and horse and traps on a go slow on the A10 making journeys from Waterbeach to Hunstanton or Cromer impractical. Nowadays, nearly all the new entries seem to pepper the… Continue reading OH, THOSE WACKY MICRO PUB NAMES !
DOVER CHILDREN INTRODUCED TO JOYS OF PICKLED EGGS
Sometimes these posts don’t need clever titles, do they ? I have NEVER been disappointed by Dover trips, though to be fair I don’t know if they use rats in the Sweet and Sour Pork yet. Never mind the pubs, it’s a great town for the walker. Just look at those contours above. Good… Continue reading DOVER CHILDREN INTRODUCED TO JOYS OF PICKLED EGGS
ANOTHER SMASHING WALMER PUB
The best thing about Kent pubs is they’re dotted along the coast at regular intervals. So 5 minutes from Deal and I was in Walmer, and a short hop from another new micro. Is it possible that Walmer is more than The Berry ? SPOILER: YES Looking at that map I do wonder if I’d… Continue reading ANOTHER SMASHING WALMER PUB
SEALING THE DEAL
No, nowt to do with Fosters. Been there, done that. Deal is the town that makes writing blog titles easy, and gave Dick and Dave such a warm glow about service in pubs last Summer (here). A rare GBG tick away from the well-pubbed beery centre, and even rarer new entry that isn’t a micro. … Continue reading SEALING THE DEAL