We’ve just experienced the revitalised Stockton-On-Tees, and a wonderful thing it is too. The revitalisation of a town famous for car chase TV and debauchery documentaries is now back to its Georgian best, with the bonus of street art, coffee shops and micropubs. The culinary scene remains the chicken parmo though. For me though, the… Continue reading SACRILEGE AT STOCKTON’S SUN
A CAMBRIDGE ESTATE PUB SURVIVOR
I wrote yesterday about one of Cambridge‘s top pub for beer quality (alongside the Mill and the Maypole). The strength in depth of the city’s pubs is one of its great features (still too flat mind, but not much anyone can do about that now). A few years ago Cambridge CAMRA recorded the presence of real ale in every… Continue reading A CAMBRIDGE ESTATE PUB SURVIVOR
TOP 100 PUBS – THE CAMBRIDGE BLUE
Consistent beer quality in Cambridge has always been the city’s strength. I visit most of the pubs annually (less of them now than 2007 but they all serve real ale now, so that’s OK then) and only one pub this year had poor beer. There’s a lot of competition for the dozen or so places in… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE CAMBRIDGE BLUE
THE GLASSMAKER REVISITED
I was interested to see on Boak & Bailey’s blog today some historic pictures of the Glasshouse (nee Glassmaker), the pub next to Pilkington’s Glass Factory in the exciting outskirts of Doncaster. Mainly I was struck by just how gorgeous the pub looked in the ’60s, but also because I seem to have neglected to… Continue reading THE GLASSMAKER REVISITED
OTTER ON HOME SOIL
I’m starting to acquire an affection for Otter beers. Until last year every half I’d had, typically in Sussex and Hampshire country pubs, had been drab. A bit like Butcombe. Since I started getting into Dorset and Somerset, there’s been some superb beer, which must reflect on the improved cellarmanship in the western counties. I had… Continue reading OTTER ON HOME SOIL
TORBAY – BANANA CAKE & NBSS 3.5 BEER
“And those endless beaches That go on and on It’s magical” Metronomy – The Bay Not sure about the beaches. Joseph, but Torbay has some decent beer and cake, which I rate as rather more important. Having never been to Paignton or Brixham before the weekend I had an image of an upmarket beach resort and… Continue reading TORBAY – BANANA CAKE & NBSS 3.5 BEER
WELLINGTON – MORE DENTISTS THAN PUBS
They may be small but there’s a lot of Somerset towns. I’m reaching the end of them now, and after Wellington it’s villages all the way to the end of that particular Beer Guide chapter. It’s a shame that Wellington has just the one (seemingly perpetual) Guide entry, as the Travelodge was ideally placed, both for town… Continue reading WELLINGTON – MORE DENTISTS THAN PUBS
LINCOLN’S WEST END
Lincoln is an underrated city, partly because of the surrounding dullness (sorry Spital in the Street) and partly due to it’s a perception that there’s just a large cathedral and castle. The cathedral is one of my personal favourites, but it’s the steep walk down from there to the modern town centre that really appeals, possibly less so… Continue reading LINCOLN’S WEST END
THE OTHER SIDE OF SALFORD
It took me a while to get to grips with what constitutes Greater Manchester, itself an entirely artificial construct. What I quickly realised were the essentials; Stockport and Manchester are quite different, and Manchester United don’t play in Manchester, or even in Salford. “That [neighbouring] Stretford and Salford are not administratively one with Manchester is… Continue reading THE OTHER SIDE OF SALFORD
LEIGH WEAVES ITS MAGIC
My last Beer Guide entry for Greater Manchester was in Leigh. I always save the best Manc tick till last, except for the time I had to go to Walkden. Leigh doesn’t make a natural weekend break, but while Mitchells & Butler ran their Innkeepers Lodge in Lowton at bargain rates (£59.90 for 3 nights… Continue reading LEIGH WEAVES ITS MAGIC
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