Yesterday I had a day out with Dad in Alrewas, visiting the National Memorial Arboretum. One of the highlights of retirement is the opportunity to spend time exploring with parents, as long as you can avoid taking up golf. The Arboretum is a site of remembrance and reflection, and particularly poignant for Dad, who still… Continue reading ALREWAS
GOOD BEER GUIDE – LAST FIVE STANDING
Five pubs have appeared in every edition (43) of the Good Beer Guide, and it did occur to me that at some point we will be down to one. When you retire these things matter, you know. In 1998 my wife and I visited the 25 pubs that had survived 25 editions; we got a couple… Continue reading GOOD BEER GUIDE – LAST FIVE STANDING
WEST ONE (SHINE ON ME)
Much as I’d like to have just travelled between North-West and South-West in rotation, reality dictates that at some point I have to revisit that London to visit the capital’s 39 new Beer Guide entries, murky warm beer or not. Since retirement I’ve not missed the fortnightly hell that is Waterbeach to Kings Cross (at… Continue reading WEST ONE (SHINE ON ME)
THE MACC DADS
Macclesfield is one of my favoured overnighters when I visit Manchester, competing well with Glossop, Stockport and Chadderton on my balanced scorecard, which rates the following:- Travelodge for under £30 Short train/metro into Manchester Access to new bit of UK to explore At least 1 new Beer Guide pub in walking distance Holts, Robinsons or… Continue reading THE MACC DADS
TOP 100 PUBS – THE MILL, CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge remains one of the UK’s top pub towns, with a good handful of characterful free houses providing beer quality only matched, to my taste, by central Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Newcastle-under-Lyme among major towns. The Cambridge pub “scene” has been improved in recent years by Milton Brewery’s 3 town openings and local legends Terri and Jethro‘s… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE MILL, CAMBRIDGE
UPSELLING IN BODMIN
I won’t be comparing Bodmin to Walthamstow (only with a Moor) here, but I did see something in the Wetherspoons that impressed and amused me yesterday. Arriving just before breakfast ended for my usual Eggs Benedict and coffee, I was told by the jovial barman “that’s what you want” as he pointed to an admittedly… Continue reading UPSELLING IN BODMIN
FALMOUTH
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
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