When I retired I think Mrs RM may have harboured some thoughts of me engaged in indoor activity such as monitoring the paint dry or rating the daytime TV. I’ve let her down badly on that front, so felt I could make it up to her with a nice growler of craft IPA with her… Continue reading MIDDLE-CLASS MICROS
ANDOVER -REFUGE FROM THE BOLLY VALLEY
I visit North West Hampshire quite a bit as it’s on my way to the End of the Road music festival, has good walks in Watership Down territory and is amply supplied with cheap Travelodges and Premier Inns. Just north of Andover are some of the prettiest villages in the South, including the thatch and… Continue reading ANDOVER -REFUGE FROM THE BOLLY VALLEY
JANUARY STOCKTAKE
To prove it’s not just See the Lizards I’ll steal ideas from (sorry Matthew), here I poach shamelessly from BRAPA4500 to bring you a regular progress report. January Progress Report 39 new Beer Guide pubs, in 16 different counties, helped by generous Travelodge and Premier rates in Dover, Newbury and Altrincham, and the usual hospitality from… Continue reading JANUARY STOCKTAKE
NEWBURY IN THE DYING EMBERS OF DRYANUARY
A couple of days in Newbury to finish off Tryanuary, and a chance to see a town that left little impression in the past, bar some decent Arkells on the A4 and a recollection of a lockside Fullers pubs. The cheap, newish central Travelodge has free parking so they’re back in my good books. I had… Continue reading NEWBURY IN THE DYING EMBERS OF DRYANUARY
THE DUKE WILLIAM, STOURBRIDGE
My Top 100 pubs will be places I could recommend without hesitation, particularly if I’ve been able to revisit them in the last six months. There’s also a tranche of brilliant places with a big question mark over them. The home-brew Globe in Glossop is one; the Duke William falls into the same category. I visited… Continue reading THE DUKE WILLIAM, STOURBRIDGE
STOURBRIDGE – BOSTIN’ BUT NO BATHAMS
Sorry for Black Country cliches, but they were all present and correct on Friday night. Friendly folk, cheap good quality beer and curry, “Noice”. There were a couple of Beer Guide newbies to visit, but the real reason to visit was a new indoor skatepark for my son to tick off (ticking starts young). We… Continue reading STOURBRIDGE – BOSTIN’ BUT NO BATHAMS
CAFE BEERMOTH
As Café Beermoth has had such glowing reviews since its surprisingly prompt opening last month, I thought I’d share a less happy tale. Last week I suffered a loss I’m only now coming to terms with. After the Manchester Beer Fest I appear to have lost the collection of CAMRA Newsletters I’d spent 2 hours accumulating.… Continue reading CAFE BEERMOTH
SPRINGTIME IN ST.NEOTS
I’m going to be spending a lot of Thursdays in St. Neots for the foreseeable future. This bit of Huntingdonshire/East Bedfordshire is still flat, but does have some decent walks along the Ouse and enough urban development to pass a couple of hours. In Potteries style, St Neots is a collection of villages either side… Continue reading SPRINGTIME IN ST.NEOTS
BLUE MONKEY SPREADS ITS WINGS
What Arnold lacked in architectural interest it made up for in cheap dining options. Compared to Cambridge the many pubs and cafes were thriving on Wednesday lunchtime. The Spoons was packed with OAP diners, and even at £1.05 no-one wants to drink a coffee standing up. The most attractive looking alternative was The Coffee Grinder,… Continue reading BLUE MONKEY SPREADS ITS WINGS
ARNOLD LANE
Enough of the glamour trips to Wigan and Altrincham. Back to gritty reality today and a first real exploration of Arnold, something of an omission on my part, even given Gedling Borough’s status as a real ale desert. Most of Nottingham’s best pubs are within a mile of the central square. Nottingham itself continues to… Continue reading ARNOLD LANE
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