Pubmeister, the man who knows a thing or two about Beer Guide completion, was pondering the merits of revisiting a pub you’ve already done in the comments. And he’s right; to visit 500+ new Guide pubs a year you can’t really afford to be distracted by return visits. Just as questionable is the practice of… Continue reading A CHESTER HAT-TRICK
TOP 100 PUBS – THE OLDE COTTAGE, CHESTER
Odd one this. The GBG records that I visited the Olde Cottage in Chester a fair few years ago and found the beer distinctly average. So why make a special return trip, on a busy day ticking new Merseyside pubs ? Because they keep bombarding me with tweets like this, Due to unforeseen circumstances we… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE OLDE COTTAGE, CHESTER
CHUFFED IN CHESTER
The Merseyrail network generously takes in Chester, but misses the honeypots of Rainhill and Wavertree, so my £5.20 Daysaver couldn’t quite get me to two new micro pubs near the M57. You can imagine my despair. Still, I finally got to finish Cheshire at the traditionally named Goat & Munch. I remember a time… Continue reading CHUFFED IN CHESTER
30 MINUTES BETWEEN TRAINS IN FRESHFIELD
The Beer Guide takes you to places you’ve never heard of. Kicking and screaming in the case of Maidenhead, of course, but otherwise it sets you on a lifelong journey of discovery. That’s how I described our four nights in Pontins Southport back in 2003, before a recent refurbishment raised it from “Hellish” to merely… Continue reading 30 MINUTES BETWEEN TRAINS IN FRESHFIELD
SOUTHPORT : IT BEGINS
Last Sunday, after a week selling charity tat, I set off for Southport, home to the world’s biggest lawnmower museum and half the UK’s micro pubs. I waved goodbye to my favourite bar towel, and drove the 4hrs 20 past the great UK cities of Derby, Stoke and Manchester. Here, you get four (4) new… Continue reading SOUTHPORT : IT BEGINS
WHAT BEER SHOULD LOOK LIKE
I haven’t got a clue how beer is made (beyond the fish gut bit), but I know a well-kept pint when I taste one. And see one. So here’s some nice pictures of beer. Normally over early May Bank Holiday I’d be bringing you a report from our local’s annual Beer Festival, the high point… Continue reading WHAT BEER SHOULD LOOK LIKE
A POSH SAM SMITH’S
A bit of late night pub porn for those of you who will never know the joy of a pint of malty bitter for two pounds sterling. That’s you, Maidenhead. Rather surprisingly, that pint comes from the posh suburbs of Peterborough. The Botolph Arms is on the edge of the Ortons, the bit of Peterborough… Continue reading A POSH SAM SMITH’S
“ONE ALE’S PLENTY, NUMBER TWENTY”
On to my last Staffordshire GBG pub. The Hednesford Ex-Servicemens Club joins the similarly social Bridge which you might remember so delighted me last year. My preparatory reading tells me that; “The club plays host to many sports teams including darts, dominoes, bowls, snooker and pool. A pigeon flying club is also based at… Continue reading “ONE ALE’S PLENTY, NUMBER TWENTY”
MORE MERCIAN MICROS
I won’t lie. My heart sank when I came to the next tranche of photos and I realised I’d have to start writing about micro pubs again. Partly because there’s not an obvious “M” word you can bung in to your blog title. “Morose” ?, “Mediocre” ?, “Middle-aged” ?. All could be true but… Continue reading MORE MERCIAN MICROS
FREEING MY INNER PUNK (IPA)
Tomorrow City get to parade the League Championship trophy with children, sponsors and assorted hangers-on; sadly I’ll be missing that to visit an assortment of Old Man pubs (sorry, craft bars) in Northampton with the men who defeated SR6. If you see us, avoid us. So next Wednesday’s match against Brighton will be my last… Continue reading FREEING MY INNER PUNK (IPA)
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