It’s nearly two weeks since Dick and Dave left the fizzy keg comforts of the US of A for the warm cask and weird banter of our shores, and I’ve only just got round to writing sarcastic comments on the photos from Leeds. Leeds was a bit of a mammoth crawl, going overnight from… Continue reading LEEDS THE HARD WAY – TAPPING THE VICTORIAN FAMILY
HOOVERING UP HARROGATE TICKS
Believe me or not, but this punishing 3 posts-a-day routine is paying off, and I might even catch up this week, if I can even remember why Dick took back those two pints in Leeds. Before Leeds, Harrogate. (Slightly) overrated by retired gentlefolk and cake lovers, underrated by folk who like good beer. While I… Continue reading HOOVERING UP HARROGATE TICKS
WE CLOSE OUR EYES AND WE CAN TALK TO STRANGERS (ABOUT GUEST BEERS IN BISHOP AUCKLAND)
The welcome committee was out for Simon today as the BRAPA bandwagon rolled into (newly shiny) Cambridge station. I took this great photo in the Flying Pig (BRAPA tick No.1) while we compared notes on beer quality across the GBG, taking extra care to make sure Simon can’t be identified by angry landlords. Statistically,… Continue reading WE CLOSE OUR EYES AND WE CAN TALK TO STRANGERS (ABOUT GUEST BEERS IN BISHOP AUCKLAND)
TOP 100 PUBS – PRESTOUNGRANGE GOTHENBURG, PRESTONPANS
Weird name, great place. I’d be wanting to visit the famous “Goth” since it was refurbished a few years back, and really ought to have done it from Musselburgh last year. But it pops in and out of the Beer Guide, and I just forgot (you’ll be amazed to know). There’s some gorgeous houses by… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – PRESTOUNGRANGE GOTHENBURG, PRESTONPANS
EDINBURGH CONQUERED
Oh look, here’s a place you’ll have heard of (though there’s folk in our village who would place Edinburgh just above York on the map if asked). It’s the home of the little cricket team that just beat England, their Gaetjens moment if you like Edinburgh is an essential annual visit, outside August anyway;… Continue reading EDINBURGH CONQUERED
GO, GO TO LINLITHGOW
Perhaps uniquely in the English-speaking (as opposed to Scots-speaking) world, I know where Linlithgow is. Quite a stately town, the Cirencester of the north. I know it’s got an ancient Palace; we’d dragged the boys round it on the way to see the Falkirk horses (much more exciting). The most interesting thing about the walk… Continue reading GO, GO TO LINLITHGOW
GOING UNDERGROUND – A FELTON MICRO
You may remember Felton‘s Foxes Den as the site of my latest failed attempt to visit a micro pub back in February. I tried again. It’s a pretty little stone village, clearly still at war with West Thirston just over the bridge, with its gastro pretensions and sports cars. Felton has the street art, the… Continue reading GOING UNDERGROUND – A FELTON MICRO
BOHO PRUDHOE
There aren’t many towns in the Beer Guide that come as a complete surprise these days. Dunbar was a pleasant surprise, Glenrothes less so. Prudhoe isn’t a complete shock. Despite being the first settlement into Northumberland along the A695, and being surrounded by greenery, it’s got more in common with Tyne colliery towns like Blaydon… Continue reading BOHO PRUDHOE
ONE BEER IS ALL YOU NEED
I nearly forgot the Peacock at Tanfield Village, which is surprising given the cars I had to dodge on the half hour walk from the WMC to the posh bit of Tanfield and the care I spent setting up the photo above. A great green walk past industrial estates, sewage works and Shaft (dis), which… Continue reading ONE BEER IS ALL YOU NEED
TANFIELD LEA WMC – “IT’S A BELTER”
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”
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