Until this year Falmouth was probably the largest UK town I’d failed to visit, somehow managing to bypass it en route to the more exciting Redruth, Blisland and Launceston during a half dozen trips to Cornwall. I knew it’s reputation as a lively student town, home to Rev Barrington’s Seven Stars, but the maritime side… Continue reading FALMOUTH
BEER BETTER IN PINT GLASS – SCIENTIFIC PROOF
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN CRAFT KEG I had a bit of flak on Twitter recently for suggest to an Edinburgh that beer always tastes better in a pint glass. This week in Falmouth, with the aid of my renowned beer expert sister, I was able to gain the necessary scientific evidence (i.e. a sample size of… Continue reading BEER BETTER IN PINT GLASS – SCIENTIFIC PROOF
FLAT BASS
Just back from a couple of days visiting my sister who has just moved to Falmouth (more on that later). One of the many highlights were 2 marvellous pints of flat Bass, my first for many months. I have an unhealthy affection for Bass, based only on some wonderful pints at odd places and times,… Continue reading FLAT BASS
HOLTS
One other highlight of my latest Manchester trip was a brief reaquaintance with Holts, staying within sight of their brewery in Cheetham and visiting what is probably their flagship pub in the Shambles area. When I first visited Manchester, for pubs rather than music, Holts seemed to me to symbolise the city even more than Boddies. … Continue reading HOLTS
INDY MAN
I can’t say IndyManBeerCon was on my bucket list, but being up in the city anyway I could put it off no longer. I loved it, but probably not for the usual reasons. I’d have gone just for the food (startlingly spicy pizza), music and architecture, which made it pretty similar to the End of the Road festival… Continue reading INDY MAN
BLACK PUDDING
2 nights in Manchester for a gig (Low at the Cathedral) and an “event” (IndyManBeerCon) gave me time for a long overdue trip on the tram to Bury, one of my favourite traditional market towns, and not just because of some memorable wins at Gigg Lane over the years. Bury displays a fair bit of the… Continue reading BLACK PUDDING
MILTON KEYNES – A BALANCED VIEW
Milton Keynes doesn’t get great press, whether due to Bill Bryson’s withering assessment in “Notes from a Small Island“, the roundabouts, or the franchising of Football League status. Having visited it regularly over the last 30 years for activities, football, pubs (see below) and even REM at the Bowl, I have seen its good and… Continue reading MILTON KEYNES – A BALANCED VIEW
SOMERSET LEVELS
I fell a few yards short of my 20 mile target on Saturday, but still enjoyed some fabulous walks around the towns of the Somerset Levels. Having only skimmed the surface of the area before, I wanted to see how Bridgwater, Taunton and Glastonbury compared to my mental image. Bridgwater is a challenge to appreciate. … Continue reading SOMERSET LEVELS
COUNCIL CUTS IN SOMERSET
The NHS continues to struggle to cope with a budget rising by 2% a year (and demand for services by at least 5%), while the public seem not to notice Council cuts of 20% and more. That’s a simplification, and the stress on care budgets is clearly knocking on to the NHS, but I have… Continue reading COUNCIL CUTS IN SOMERSET
A WHITTLESEA WALK
My 10 mile walk round Whittlesea (*) in the Fens probably wasn’t what I had in mind for retirement on days as sunny as this, but nowhere is without merit, and the Hub would be my last Cambridgeshire pub in the new Beer Guide. More sports bar than pub, 1 other punter, decent-ish Woodfordes. Frankly, it’s… Continue reading A WHITTLESEA WALK
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