Last year I popped in to Andover at the end of Dryanuary and found it in rude health, at least as far as unpretentious pubs and beer quality go. What it lacks in classic architecture, Andover makes up for in budget hotels, ideally placed on industrial estates and service stations. Sadly the Premier Inn has… Continue reading THE SLOW DEATH OF TUESDAY DRINKING IN ANDOVER
BACK TO BASINGSTOKE
Nowhere on our sceptred isle is without charm, of course, but I’ll confess my heart sinks a bit as I hit the M3 roadworks for a third time in a month, en-route for the new GBG joys of Basingstoke. Actually, I started in Silchester, a few miles north, and I doubt folk there see themselves as… Continue reading BACK TO BASINGSTOKE
WADSWORTH IN HUNTS
Back from Scotland to a rare post about my home county (ish). You’ll be thinking that’s a spelling mistake at the top, particularly if you’re Pub Curmudgeon and know to expect them. Not so. The Three Horseshoes in Graveley is owned by tiny J.Wadsworth wine merchants of St. Ives in Huntingdonshire, perhaps our most low-key pub… Continue reading WADSWORTH IN HUNTS
1967 AND ALL THAT
The last post from Scotland for, ooh, two weeks, when I’m back up to Glasgow, finally doing that elusive Coatbridge Spoons. I’ve left the best from this trip ’till last though, as well as a few reasons apart from great pubs to visit Musselburgh. Here’s some highlights, reflecting the sunset, architecture, street art, S.Luca’s ice cream parlour,… Continue reading 1967 AND ALL THAT
AN EDINBURGH EDUCATION
My eldest son James turned 18 (with a bullet) yesterday, celebrating with a chicken doner from Beach Best Kebab, one of my village’s remarkable collection of top takeaways. If he achieves the necessary grades he’ll get to go to Sheffield. The idea of my staying in his student accommodation in order to visit all the… Continue reading AN EDINBURGH EDUCATION
HAND PULLED IN MUSSELBURGH
Taking a look at the local CAMRA Guide to Edinburgh (3rd edition, 2008) is instructive. Just the two real ale pubs in Musselburgh, the venerable Volunteer’s Arms ( Staggs) and the somewhat lesser known Leavenhall Arms. Nine years on, the only addition (Rugby Club aside) is the inevitable Spoons, the derided chain that provide the only decent cask… Continue reading HAND PULLED IN MUSSELBURGH
TWO BRIDGES IN THE HEART OF LOTHIAN
Almost a second Marillion reference in two days there. The main flaw in our plan to “Do the Borders” by train is that the train doesn’t actually serve many places in the Borders. Not by a Good Beer Guide definition, anyway. Just the two in Galashiels and (with a walk) Melrose. Perhaps the extension to… Continue reading TWO BRIDGES IN THE HEART OF LOTHIAN
PIGEON CHESS IN GALASHIELS
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
