You might deduce from this blog that that I don’t much care for that London place, and you’d be half right, you’d be half right*. If the town itself is a 9/10, and the pubs an 8, it’s only the beer that’s a 5 and lets it all down. Each year when the Beer Guide… Continue reading ONE GEM AT LEAST IN THE CITY OF LONDON
HOW TO SURVIVE WHITBY
We popped to Whitby, reckoning a blustery Saturday at the end of September would see us safe from both holiday hordes and the groups of Goths that always turn up in Mr Everitt’s tales. It was heaving. The busiest place I’ve seen since St Ives at Easter or York’s Shambles in Summer. Apparently there’s a themed weekend… Continue reading HOW TO SURVIVE WHITBY
TETLEY HERITAGE IN MALTON
On our way to a brewery break in Cropton we stopped at Malton for a last bit of Wi-Fi quiche before entering the Moors. The big news in Malton is Brass Castle’s cutting edge bar, but we fancied coffee and Battenburg cake in the Spotted Cow in Malton. It’s a Tetley Heritage Inn, which is still generally a… Continue reading TETLEY HERITAGE IN MALTON
NECTAR IN NUNEATON
Every 11th Thursday is curry night, when two middle-aged codgers from the east of England meet up in obscure parts of the Midlands to enjoy pubs and Indian restaurants. It’s a simple formula, only faltering slightly when I book rooms at a complete dump on the A5. Sorry Charles. The pub at the motel was… Continue reading NECTAR IN NUNEATON
THE CHIVERTON TAP
I’m sure Pub Curmudgeon will quickly correct me in lumping Cheadle Hulme‘s newest pub in with Greater Stockport, but the Good Beer Guide can’t make up it’s mind whether the Heatons Norris and Chapel deserve separate billing, so I’m in good company. The Chiverton Tap is certainly winning awards from Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA though,… Continue reading THE CHIVERTON TAP
LAVENHAM – WOOL & WARM BEER
The pubs were open just down the road from our tick-less stop, though there turned out to be no beer in Lavenham. Mrs RM asked me if I wanted to go in the Greyhound, and I said no, before remembering 20 minutes later it meant she needed the ladies. They don’t teach you mind-reading at… Continue reading LAVENHAM – WOOL & WARM BEER
I DON’T BELIEEEVE IT !!
Or Opening Times (2). I knew it wouldn’t be long. Two weeks into the new Beer Guide cycle and my first pub that wasn’t open when all indications were that it would be. Beer Guide says Wednesday Open 12-2 WhatPub says Wednesday Open 12-2 Their own website says Wednesday Open 12-2 The sign in the… Continue reading I DON’T BELIEEEVE IT !!
IF THE BEER’S GOOD, SAY SO
I’m making a special effort to tell the folk behind the bar when their beer is really good. It goes down well, even in that London (OK, only had to do that once there this month). Simon mentioned some weird looks he’s had when complimenting the beer, but that’s more to do with the notebook in his hand… Continue reading IF THE BEER’S GOOD, SAY SO
HOLMES CHAPEL GETS THE EMBER INN IT DESERVES
You’ll know I’ve not overjoyed about the growing numbers of Ember Inns in the Guide. I’m not the only pub tourist with that view. It does seem that Wetherspoons get a lot more flak for running identikit dining places than Ember, Marstons and Greene King, and I generally find Spoons have a lot more of… Continue reading HOLMES CHAPEL GETS THE EMBER INN IT DESERVES
MANCHESTER – ALWAYS CHANGING, ALWAYS THE SAME
Richard Coldwell contemplates the title of City of Beer in his excellent blog. It’s a timeless debate that provides easy copy for lazy journalists who are happy to confuse the number of breweries or handpumps with beer quality or pub character. At the CAMRA Revitalisation meeting in July the one moment of friction came when… Continue reading MANCHESTER – ALWAYS CHANGING, ALWAYS THE SAME
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