31st January 2020 (ring a bell ?) Another day, another underrated Midlands mining town of about 25,000 souls. With daylight to help, you get the whole tourist package with Rugeley. Cancel those holidays in Rome and Runcorn and come to Rugeley this summer. Best known for the cathedral to rival Lichfield, I’ve given the town… Continue reading RUGELEY’S CATHEDRAL OF BASS
Tag: Bass
TOP 100 BASS PUBS – THE MAGAZINE HOTEL, NEW BRIGHTON
22 December 2019 This post marks the eighteenth consecutive blog entry to shamelessly milk my birthday (22 December), only sixty short of the Pub blogging record (Source : Guinness Extra Cold). The Magazine doesn’t really need a “best Bass pub” qualifier, particularly as my Top 100 has now reached 236. Not many people are aware… Continue reading TOP 100 BASS PUBS – THE MAGAZINE HOTEL, NEW BRIGHTON
BLUE MUGGE, PINK TICK, LEEK STAR
One of the most iconic photos on my blog, as Dick (pink pen) and Dave (out of shot, MAGA hat) combine effortlessly to tick the Blue Mugge in Leek. A few months ago I was in the Ship in Shaftesbury with BRAPA, wondering how many other great pubs I’d still to discover for the first… Continue reading BLUE MUGGE, PINK TICK, LEEK STAR
PONTFAEN’S DYFFRYN ARMS STANDS DEFIANT
Just back from Cardigan with many tales to tell, but for now I’ll just answer Dave’s question about the Dyffryn Arms, one of our classic, basic, unspoilt pubs. YES, it’s (just) back open after the fire this year, Dave. And as great as ever. My first visit since that 33rd birthday trip I mentioned recently.… Continue reading PONTFAEN’S DYFFRYN ARMS STANDS DEFIANT
MEMORIES
I needed seven pubs to complete the Isle of Wight. Three around Sandown in the bagn, two back in Ryde, one in the centre in Arreton, and the most difficult down at the bottom on Niton. My plan had been to take the bus via Newport down to Joe’s. Only two things were in my… Continue reading MEMORIES
SUPER CUPAR
My last night in Scotland, and where better to end this trip of a lifetime than in Cupar. No, me neither. Three things brought me to Cupar. A cheap train to Edinburgh in the morning, a GBG pub and the simple fact I wasn’t paying £109 to stay in St Andrews. Not that my Sunday… Continue reading SUPER CUPAR
SADDLE SOAP ADVICE AT THE LAMPLIGHTER
It’s more than two weeks since our Northampton trip, so you could forgive me for making it up at this stage. But I have my notes, I have my photos, and now I have Richard Coldwell‘s blog to copy remind me of Pub No. 4. The Lamplighter was a real backstreet boozer on my… Continue reading SADDLE SOAP ADVICE AT THE LAMPLIGHTER
FINISHING SALOP WITH A BASS BANG
Only one left in Salop for the GBG year, and another cracker. No better place to finish anywhere than in Shrewsbury, of course, even without enough room in my belly for half a dozen or more marvellous pubs I should have done. I caught the town on the first sunny day of Spring. And… Continue reading FINISHING SALOP WITH A BASS BANG
3 BORED BILLS OUTSIDE THE A601 RING ROAD, DERBY
Only the very best cultural references for you on this site (though I clearly can’t compete with Si on the latest BRAPA ). And one of the best films I’ll ever see, too. Three new pubs in Derby in GBG18, and some stragglers nearby, means an overnighter close to Alan Winfield’s favourite ground. The only… Continue reading 3 BORED BILLS OUTSIDE THE A601 RING ROAD, DERBY
BASS, BASS, GLORIOUS BASS
Well, a long dry run without Draught Bass came to an end in Harrogate last week, where I made a return visit to one of the town’s increasing number of classic pubs, tucked away between the Pump Room and the valley. Not an obvious Bass stronghold, but the Hales Bar is a real throwback to simpler… Continue reading BASS, BASS, GLORIOUS BASS