I guess there’s a sort of inverse relationship between beauty and Bitter in the Cotswolds; the greater the tourist honeypot factor, the lower your chance of a good pub. Chipping Campden is gorgeous, the Lavenham of the Cotswolds, and yet I’ve never been to a pub here before. What can it mean ? Quite a… Continue reading A HAPPY HOOKY IN CHIPPING CAMPDEN
DONNINGTON – NICE PUBS, SHAME ABOUT THE BEER
I was going to call this “Faggots & Chips & Dross in the Cotswolds” but with Russ in your readership you have to be extra careful about your blog titles. My blog naming team had a real struggle with this one. Perhaps mining the Monks classic for inspiration isn’t a wise move, either. We… Continue reading DONNINGTON – NICE PUBS, SHAME ABOUT THE BEER
TENNIS BORES IN BURFORD
SPOILER : Contains rare praise for Greene King, so move on now if that upsets you. If you’re American and travelling the Cotswolds on the Fodor (or even the retiredmartin) recommended route, I bet that Burford looks like that “Lil ol’ England” of your dreams. Or of any Richard Curtis film, anyway. It’s very hard… Continue reading TENNIS BORES IN BURFORD
WITNEY – A MUG OF TEA AND MAGGIE MAY
Quite a few reports from our more affluent, and therefore duller, counties to come. One of them will feature England’s worst beer and best faggots and chips, so something to look forward to. First to Witney last Monday, where I hoped to find a recent Prime Minister stocking shelves in Waitrose, or at very… Continue reading WITNEY – A MUG OF TEA AND MAGGIE MAY
HARTSHEAD – PUB OR KENNEL ?
My journey back from Manchester was enlivened by news reports on the craze sweeping the country (i.e. the South) for grown men to dress up as dogs. My only comment is that you can’t possibly drink a pint of Bass wearing that outfit. The debate (what is there to debate ?) brought to mind my… Continue reading HARTSHEAD – PUB OR KENNEL ?
JANUARY ’18 STOCKTAKE
A month that started here; and ended here; can only be a great month. Dryanuary has been a roaring success,with a round 50 new GBG pubs (take that, BRAPA) in 15 counties. completing just Notts this time. And Nevada, of course. Highlights were the pubs of Northumberland, the Manchester Beer Festival, and that “3 Billboards”… Continue reading JANUARY ’18 STOCKTAKE
WHEN THE LEVY (CRAFT BEER FLOOD) BREAKS
Part 2 of last Friday’s Levy trail, as we “headz to Fred’s” (potential slogan there). Then we saw this; In years to come, future generations of pub tickers will debate, “JFK”-style, which of us actually suggested a detour from our CAMRA approved crawl to this unassuming backstreet Irish pub. “It’s a secret new craft bar” … Continue reading WHEN THE LEVY (CRAFT BEER FLOOD) BREAKS
2018 PUB CAT CONVENTION IN LEVENSHULME
As all pub bloggers know, bench seating and cracking beer are no match for a cute pub cat when it comes to blogging. The one above was a bit coy, obviously waiting for Pub Curmudgeon as I discussed opening time fails with Pubmeister in Levenshulme’s Blue Bell. A second trip to Levy in quick… Continue reading 2018 PUB CAT CONVENTION IN LEVENSHULME
3rd TIME LUCKY AT MANCHESTER BEER FESTIVAL
There are three things you must do when visiting Manchester Beer & Cider Festival Fill your CAMRA plastic bag full of branch magazines Find a table where people will chat to you even though you look like an axe murderer (thanks Cheshire folk) DON’T get paralytic. Regular readers will know I failed fairly spectacularly on… Continue reading 3rd TIME LUCKY AT MANCHESTER BEER FESTIVAL
PORTWOOD PERFECTION
I left you in the bar at the Petersgate Tap on Thursday night (25/1), two great pints of Draught Bass down in 20 minutes, wondering if I should ask for the flat version again. But I figured a great night in Stockport needed a Chinese takeaway. I stuck out a tweet and waited for… Continue reading PORTWOOD PERFECTION
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