I can’t speak for Charles, who was oddly obsessed with Bathgate, but I’d really been looking forward to Galashiels, which I’d assumed to be the jewel of the Borders (a bit like you might assume that Wrexham is the jewel of the Marches). It’s possible I was influenced by the knowledge that “Kayleigh” was inspired here.… Continue reading PIGEON CHESS IN GALASHIELS
MUNCHING IN MELROSE
A Borders Beer Break via the partially reopened Waverley line. I’ll defer to Tom Irvin for the definitive view on the merits of the Borders Railway, but it could do with a buffet car and a stop between Stow and Gorebridge, perhaps to explore Toddle Ferry at Hoppringle. I know how much our American readers enjoy historical… Continue reading MUNCHING IN MELROSE
DALKEITH – BUD LIGHT THRU’ A STRAW
More repressed retiredmartin childhood memories today. These posts don’t write themselves, and a week on the road gives you little time to catch up, as Simon is no doubt finding out after his Bucks/Southampton epic crawl. A week on the road with a fellow traveller also gives you rather more material, as well as photos,… Continue reading DALKEITH – BUD LIGHT THRU’ A STRAW
TOP 100 PUBS – STAGGS, MUSSELBURGH
We stayed in Musselburgh for a couple of nights at the excellent Old Bakery, where a lovely lady gave us an unnecessarily detailed tour of a flat vacated by her son for the lesser comforts of Aberdeen Uni. The irritation of a tutorial on how to sit at the table was offset by the joy… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – STAGGS, MUSSELBURGH
JEDBURGH JAPES
Still a frisson of excitement as you reach the Scottish border on the A68 (nearest GBG pub – 3 hours walk). The presence of border guards cleverly disguised as burger vendors is the highlight, though the calling card from the Welsh chapter of the Mansfield Vespa club runs it close. A caring husband keeps his… Continue reading JEDBURGH JAPES
ABSOLUTELY MORTAL IN GREENHAUGH
It’s a bit unfair to call the middle of Northumberland a beer desert, though you can see from the Beer Guide extract below just how few there are between the A1 and the A69, so you have to get your ticks when you can. That lack of pint pots is due to the lack of… Continue reading ABSOLUTELY MORTAL IN GREENHAUGH
GBG PUB No. 10,000 – A BELLINGHAM BEAUTY
Obviously the number of pubs is largely incidental; completing the Beer Guide is all about finishing counties, then countries. I only realised I was close to the 10k when I finally updated my GBG spreadsheet last week. Excitingly, this minor landmark was in a place I’d never been before, that I’d always assumed was a hamlet a… Continue reading GBG PUB No. 10,000 – A BELLINGHAM BEAUTY
PIERCEBRIDGE ON THE GREAT NORTH ROAD
Leaving Derbyshire, I can now bring you back into the 21st Century with reports from my Scottish trip with Charles, the “Meisterdrinker of Dereham“. This was our route (A-C), as straight as you could hope for, except for the exciting diversion at Junction 56 on the A1, as the slip road to the B6275 is being… Continue reading PIERCEBRIDGE ON THE GREAT NORTH ROAD
DOUBLING UP IN DRAYCOTT
Fear not, I’ll soon have completed Derbyshire’s GBG entries, including one with a Derby County flag in; I’ll wait until Alan is asleep before I sneak that post out. This week I see Duncan the Pubmeister posting on Irvine, and Simon on North Marston, so Draycott doesn’t seem that unusual a blog topic. Following the… Continue reading DOUBLING UP IN DRAYCOTT
ILKESTON PUBS – ONE STEP BACKWARDS, TWO STEPS FORWARD
And a nice Shipstones mirror for Alan Winfield today, as I get even closer to the Stapleford home of the great man. I’m sure Alan has done virtually all of Ilkeston‘s 30 odd pubs. Quite a few closures of late, including the Brewery Tap, a pleasant but quiet micro. Last year I wrote; “The new… Continue reading ILKESTON PUBS – ONE STEP BACKWARDS, TWO STEPS FORWARD
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