My last new Guide pub in Suffolk didn’t offer much in the way of walking, partly because of torrential rain and partly because it’s in the large area of nothingness between Stowmarket and Diss (think Leigh to Lymm but duller). When folk tell me how lovely Suffolk is, I assume they’ve only ever been to the… Continue reading RICH PICKINGS nr. STOWMARKET
CRAFT & CONTRADICTION IN CLAPHAM
I had a couple of contrasting experiences in Clapham on an enjoyable New Years Day, which tended to sum up the inconsistency of the London pub scene for me. Although it’s got no great attractions, flying pigs apart, the stretch of Battersea leading from the Junction to Clapham central is always an interesting walk, whether via the… Continue reading CRAFT & CONTRADICTION IN CLAPHAM
NEW YEAR, SAME OLD TWICKENHAM
Basing my travels around the Beer Guide means that I have to visit some challenging places, including the home of “Rugby”, at least once a year. Last year my visit coincided with some Rugby Sevens tournament, which meant beer in plastic glasses, over-excited middle-class families. Only the brilliance of the Sussex Arms redeemed Twickers on… Continue reading NEW YEAR, SAME OLD TWICKENHAM
COZUMEL
Our short cruise ended in Cozumel, a large Mexican island famous for its diving. We’d been hoping to take the passenger ferry to visit the sea turtles on the mainland, but rough seas intervened. We ended up snorkelling at the Chankanaab park, which has some good snorkelling and a friendly lizard I’m sure I remembered from… Continue reading COZUMEL
CAYMAN BOCK
Coming towards the end of my Cuban/Caribbean trip now. By this stage I’d just heard the news about the floods in Tadcaster, realised Lemmy was not immortal as I thought, and seen Stoke City play like Barcelona. All bad news, and a 24 journey home to come. I was looking forward to a return to… Continue reading CAYMAN BOCK
GUINNESS IN JAMAICA
Leaving Cuba we made a return visit to Montego Bay, skipping Dunns River Falls this time for a tubing trip down the Great River at Montpelier. Tubing basically means sitting in a tyre and holding on, both to the tyre and to the plastic cups of white rum punch being passed round as you go over… Continue reading GUINNESS IN JAMAICA
THE CASE FOR A CUBAN BREWDOG
Yesterday I tried to sum up Havana’s non-beery appeal, but I didn’t cover the things for which it’s famous (and likely to be much more so once Americans are allowed back in). I don’t get cars (Pop Plus/Ka/Aygo is my history), and I couldn’t even tell you what the one above is (it‘s blue), but… Continue reading THE CASE FOR A CUBAN BREWDOG
HAVANA – DON’T GO FOR THE BEER
But DO go for everything else. Mrs RM had always wanted to go to Havana. In the end, I think I fell for it even more than her. It has a shambolic beauty, characteristic of Genoa and Naples which I also love. Although lacking the hills of those two, it’s possibly even more aimlessly walkable,… Continue reading HAVANA – DON’T GO FOR THE BEER
EL PATCHANKA, HAVANA
The bar scene in Manchester has a bit of a head start on Havana, but Patchanka wouldn’t look out of place on Tib Street, or anywhere in East Berlin. Patchanka has the massive advantage of no obvious Hemingway connections, or inclusion in the usual guides, having seemingly opened a year or so ago. Very basic, covered… Continue reading EL PATCHANKA, HAVANA
THANKS TIM
Thanks Wetherspoon – decent Birthday pints at Gatwick. Jaipur this morning (and Pride landside last night). Perhaps a few more Spoons airport pubs ought to be in the Beer Guide like they are in Scotland ?
retiredmartin 