I know how much you like my Posts of Pain, so here’s a corker from the Cheshire Plain. I’ve had lots of good things to say about Northwich in the past; Moulton’s Lion being a corker of a village boozer. But, as so often, Cheshire insists on putting food-centric café bars in the Guide, mostly… Continue reading BACK TO THE CHESHIRE PAIN
A HAMBLE GAMBLE
PARENTAL ADVISORY – CONTAINS DOOM BAR I’m sticking to strict chronological order, which means that Alan Winfield is now more up-to-date than me with his latest post from home (here), a post that sets a new standard for “sensible drinking“. I applaud him. Our own, more modest journey took us down the M3 for a… Continue reading A HAMBLE GAMBLE
PUNK ARRIVES IN WATERBEACH
Interesting reading Boak & Bailey’s recent post on their move from Cornwall (“Craft Central” to you and me) to the cask desert that is Bristol, and their anticipation at discovering their new local. I hope all goes well on both fronts. Our nearest pub, in Waterbeach, is rather taken for granted, I’m sorry to say. That’s more… Continue reading PUNK ARRIVES IN WATERBEACH
SKIPPING SKIPTON
For ten points, name the beer above. It’s one of my favourites, and the redeeming feature of my diversion to Skipton and Cross Hills. I almost skipped Skipton completely due to a phenomenon known as “slow uploading of photos”. That would never do. You’d have missed out on my Mood Photo. Gallagher’s Ale House looks… Continue reading SKIPPING SKIPTON
HAMMERED IN HARROGATE
More tales written two blocks from the war zone that is, apparently, uptown top ranking Hamburg. Though I think the screams are from beer tourists realising the choice is Becks or the one with the heart on it. More tales praising Harrogate. As with Scarborough, a night in a B & B in the town is… Continue reading HAMMERED IN HARROGATE
BASS, BASS, GLORIOUS BASS
Well, a long dry run without Draught Bass came to an end in Harrogate last week, where I made a return visit to one of the town’s increasing number of classic pubs, tucked away between the Pump Room and the valley. Not an obvious Bass stronghold, but the Hales Bar is a real throwback to simpler… Continue reading BASS, BASS, GLORIOUS BASS
A COLNE COLOSSUS
I can lump Barrowford in with Barnoldswick, but Colne stands alone. The last stop at the end of the M65, a million miles from posh Skipton but a world way from “difficult-to-love” Nelson, whose only Beer Guide pub in recent memory was a (very good) Hungry Horse. Colne, like Darwen, is an undiscovered gem. Steep… Continue reading A COLNE COLOSSUS
WISTFUL MICROS FOR PENDLE WITCHES
Today we start #PrayForSi week, as BRAPA ventures into Cornwall with only a Good Beer Guide and the sure and certain knowledge that Newquay is a very bad base for tackling the county. To cheer him up, I found a programme (above) of a Hull Tigers match that, by my reckoning, he might well have been conceived… Continue reading WISTFUL MICROS FOR PENDLE WITCHES
A CLAYTON-LE-MOORS TOURISM BOOST
I’m writing this in Copenhagen after two of the great pub visits, which I really ought to be writing about instead of Clayton-le-Moors (which I always confuse with Clayton-le-Woods). But discipline is needed if I’m going to maintain any sense of chronology. As if to prove I’m abroad, Bing won’t let me show you the… Continue reading A CLAYTON-LE-MOORS TOURISM BOOST
TRAINSPOTTING IN RAMSBOTTOM
Not really of course. Trainspotting is, ahem, much too noble a pastime for the likes of me, but hopefully Tom will enjoy these pictures of noisy engines at Ramsbottom Station, where trains pretend to go to interesting places in Rossendale and Rochdale, ignoring the harsh reality that folk here really want to go to Accrington. Still,… Continue reading TRAINSPOTTING IN RAMSBOTTOM
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