I stopped at Tadcaster on the way to my gig in York, to see how they’re getting on with replacing the bridge that’s cut off east from west. Slowly is the answer. If you remember what market towns were like in the 1870s, before motor cars and wifi, you’ll find Tadcaster familar. On Saturday afternoon,… Continue reading TADCASTER AFTER THE FLOODS
A REASSURING SIGHT BACK IN BLIGHTY
Enough of Franconia, until I read Ron Pattinson’s articles on Forcheim pubs and head back there on my own. You’ll know by now how much I love home comforts and the joys of routine, and my regular Thursday trip to St Neots got me back in touch with England’s glories very quickly. Little Paxton is… Continue reading A REASSURING SIGHT BACK IN BLIGHTY
LANDBIERPARADIES -NUREMBURG’S GEMS
I cannot tell a lie. The highlight of our Nuremberg trip was the sensational “craft” ice-cream in the street below, which is one of my favourite in the world. As is the city, which is firmly in my Top 5 (with Manc, Genoa, Ghent & Berlin). Nuremberg’s neighbourhoods/suburbs can’t rival those in Berlin yet, but they do… Continue reading LANDBIERPARADIES -NUREMBURG’S GEMS
MAY STOCKTAKE
A decent month, with 33 new Beer Guide pubs in 13 counties, and Northants and Staffordshire completed for the year. No new Guide pubs since 21 May though, with Cambridge Beer Fest and a trip to Nuremberg intervening, so Simon may well be catching me up now he’s discovered walking as a travel option. It… Continue reading MAY STOCKTAKE
ERLANGEN – AN UNDISCOVERED BOOZER
After a sobering morning walking round the old Nazi marching grounds, inadvertently intruding on the Rock in the Park site, we needed something a bit uplifting. Erlangen seemed the ideal lunchspot. A university town the size of Cambridge, whose most famous resident seems to have a love-hate relationship with his home, rather like myself. I… Continue reading ERLANGEN – AN UNDISCOVERED BOOZER
VORSPRUND DURCH WOOLWORTHS IN INGOLSTADT
The object of this trip to Bavaria was to see as many new places as possible without really annoying my son Matthew. I’ve always wanted to go to tiny Ingolstadt, at least since 2015 when they somehow made it into the Bundesliga with a 15,000 seat stadium. Their finish of 11th this season must be the football… Continue reading VORSPRUND DURCH WOOLWORTHS IN INGOLSTADT
NUREMBERG BEER FEST – DON’T DRINK THE WHISKY BOCK
I’m sure there are some excellent articles on the Nuremberg Beer Fest; this one won’t be much help to future beer tourists. I’d start with Paul Bailey’s comprehensive review from last year, which even gives it it’s proper title. I’ve have made a better job of it if I’d just followed Erlanger Nick’s steer, but… Continue reading NUREMBERG BEER FEST – DON’T DRINK THE WHISKY BOCK
BAYREUTH – CRAFT WORK BUT NO WAGNER
In the year that Sonic Youth’s much abused Goo sleeve was released, I bought the Wagner Ring cycle (’60s Karajan, obvs) from Garon records in Cambridge. I must have played one side of those 19 LPs in the 25 years since, that good bit from Tristan und Isolde. Without the mental fortitude acquired from a session… Continue reading BAYREUTH – CRAFT WORK BUT NO WAGNER
MARATHONS, ZOIGL AND PHILIP BAILEY
On Saturday Matt went to the World Finger Board championship in Schwarzenbach, an essential experience for anyone who like seeing German youth culture accompanied by a soundtrack of ear-splitting Public Enemy. Great steal from Sonic Youth too. Fast Fingers 19 was won by a fourteen year old Italian, so there’s hope for us all I… Continue reading MARATHONS, ZOIGL AND PHILIP BAILEY
FINDING LIFE IN MUNCHBERG
Munchberg sounds more exciting than it is, but it’s still a lovely slice of rural Germany, with the usual pale colours, cobbled streets and manicured gardens you’d expect. It makes attractive use of the tiny river running through. Our hotel, the Braunschweiger Hof (top and below), looks like the only place in town, and reminds… Continue reading FINDING LIFE IN MUNCHBERG
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