August 2023. Royal Leamington Spa. Not a great day for my meticulously planned diet, to be honest. Having turned down the Doom Bar in east Leamington’s “Proper Pubs” I somehow got distracted by the poshest pub on the Parade. In my defence, it’s in the GBG, and I feel obliged to report on the state… Continue reading A HALF OF BUD
Tag: Abbot
IN SEARCH OF ABBOT
August 2023. Sheffield. September brings the new Good Beer Guide (Londoners on Privilege Club probably have theirs already, mind); August brings (after a 4 year break) news of the cutting-edge flavoured ales awarded “Beers of the Year” by CAMRA at the big beer festival (GBBF) in London. Obviously the only category we’re interested in are… Continue reading IN SEARCH OF ABBOT
TOP 100 PUBS – SKINNERS ARMS, JUDD ST, LONDON
July 2023. London WC1. A Terrific Travelcard Tuesday in terms of distance covered but a rather woeful haul of just two new Guide pubs (Camberwell and Chiswick) before I had to plan a return home to get Mum her favourite tea from Waterbeach Best Kebab. You should never keep your mum waiting beyond 5 for… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – SKINNERS ARMS, JUDD ST, LONDON
EVERY GOOD BIRTHDAY STARTS WITH A £1.65 PINT OF ABBOT IN KILMARNOCK SPOONS
I should, perhaps, be worried that some readers might take this blog too seriously, but then I remember that anyone who does will have long ago stopped reading, blocking the words “retiredmartin“, “excellent Doom Bar” and “evil tasters”. But then again I know you’ll believe that a trip to Kilmarnock Spoons in the company of… Continue reading EVERY GOOD BIRTHDAY STARTS WITH A £1.65 PINT OF ABBOT IN KILMARNOCK SPOONS
EVERY GOOD EVENING ENDS WITH A SPOONS COOKIE DOUGH SANDWICH
STILL on Friday night, but only one of the recommended Hexham pubs in the Trailblazer Guide to Hadrian’s Wall left to do. Of course, it’s the Spoons. I know that love for the “People’s Pub Chain” isn’t universal, even amongst my esteemed readers. But you get a far better mix of folk in the Forum… Continue reading EVERY GOOD EVENING ENDS WITH A SPOONS COOKIE DOUGH SANDWICH
TIER 2 – QUACKERS
Here’s the Spoons I promised you earlier. You haven’t been able to sleep with excitement, have you ? St. Ives. Not THAT one. The Cornwall one is out of bounds to Tier 2 scum like me, and as you know anyone leaving their Tier for a lower one for a pint will be turned back… Continue reading TIER 2 – QUACKERS
AUTUMN IN CWMBRAN
My newish Rough Guide to Wales is proving it’s usual middle-class self. Lots of nonsense about misericords and 13th Century battlements, nothing about where to see spitting in Ebbw Vale pubs or buy a Chinese takeaway at midnight, which is my definition of Rough. No mention at all of Cwmbran, an authentic Welsh New Town at… Continue reading AUTUMN IN CWMBRAN
SUBURBAN COMMUNITY LOCAL, ST.NEOTS
I was pleased when Alan Winfield started a blog to record his impressive pub crawls, often in the lesser known towns around England. Not only is it an impressive photographic record of our pub stock, it’s also a reminder of the variety of drinking places folk enjoy. You might think people like Simon Everitt and… Continue reading SUBURBAN COMMUNITY LOCAL, ST.NEOTS
EXEBRIDGE & THE CASE FOR ABBOT
It was a flying visit to Exmoor, but long enough to establish that any tourists there were could be found walking to the Tarr Steps. I’m joking of course, no-one walks that far these days, and there are killer snakes out there. Actually, they were all looking for the lone open pub; that turned out to… Continue reading EXEBRIDGE & THE CASE FOR ABBOT
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