February 2023. When I finished the GBG in September, I’d visited and been to a Guide pub in every GBG “county”. Except one. Poor old Northants decided not to provided any new entries in the first post-Covid Guide, either because they hadn’t been able to visit pubs properly, or because the county’s pubs are particularly… Continue reading MIDLAND BAND CLUB – HI VIS, HIGH NBSS SCORES
Tag: Butcombe
A WHIZZ ROUND HERM
Day 5 of the Channel Islands Circuit, heading back to Jersey in the evening before the flight home. What to do with a free day with the ticks in the suitcase. Well, Mrs RM showed her own ticking streak by insisting we did the 20 minute crossing to Herm to complete the set of 5… Continue reading A WHIZZ ROUND HERM
“I’d live in a shed at the bottom of the garden and I’d never have a headache again” – Trowbridge delivers the goods.
Trowbridge is to Wiltshire what Leigh is to Lancashire, or Haverhill to Essex. But it was a joy, a JOY I tell you, to make a first trip back to the home of Ushers since we subjected our boys to the dodgiest Wetherspoons in the South a decade ago (bargain Curry Club, mind). Even the… Continue reading “I’d live in a shed at the bottom of the garden and I’d never have a headache again” – Trowbridge delivers the goods.
36,603 STEPS ROUND BRISTOL
The Number 43 from Kingswood (with me the only passenger) rumbled into Haymarket with my Premier Inn the backdrop. No bargain chain hotels here, you have to cross the Severn for those, so I needed to get value from my mini-break by completing the Bristol ticks. Back on foot as I head north to Westbury… Continue reading 36,603 STEPS ROUND BRISTOL
IN A WOOKEY HOLE
Our Somerset Saunter reached Wookey (Hole). It always suprises me when I realise Wookey (Hole) is virtually a suburb of Wells, which never fails to disappoint for pubs (ZERO Guide entries this year). I seemed to have booked a £45 twin room (actually the disability accessible with wet room one) at the actual Wookey caves.… Continue reading IN A WOOKEY HOLE
PICKLED EGG IN ALLER
Wasn’t that an album by Cream ? I spent the night in the car park of the Old Pound Inn at Aller, another place you’ve never heard of before, and never will again. Tucked away in the Levels, looking to Bridgwater for flat whites and frolics, Aller promises a quiet night. Wiki says “It is… Continue reading PICKLED EGG IN ALLER
CHULMLEIGH WARMER
Back to the Devon posts; I hope to finish them before September brings us a new GBG. Some of you have complained about the maps, not having a clue where places like “Chulmleigh” and “Kings Nympton” actually are. Join the club. Forget your clotted cream and Bass from the jug, this is the REAL Devon.… Continue reading CHULMLEIGH WARMER
TOP 100 PUBS – OLD GREEN TREE, BATH
The Little Green Dragon was the first in a run of frankly wonderful pubs I couldn’t have dreamt of as the sun set on the Wednesday before my drive to Bath on Thursday morning (feels about 3 years ago now). Finding my free parking space on the edge of Bath that wasn’t on a 1:5… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – OLD GREEN TREE, BATH
SEEING SENSE IN SWINDON
“Why didn’t you have something decent like Butcombe or 6X ?” said Pub Curmudgeon of my trip to the reservation-friendly Fosse Bridge. Good question, though the choice of Windrush Ale (the day before that word burnt into the national consciousness) seems oddly appropriate now. Still, I didn’t make the same mistake in Swindon. Or Blunsdon,… Continue reading SEEING SENSE IN SWINDON
HUNTING BUTCOMBE
I’ve lost my notes for this little trip; must have been talking to Mrs RM or something. Either that or there was no decent banter to record. Anyway, a few photos remain. The stretch of A38 south of Bristol and to the Cheddar Gorge is a bit of a mystery to me. Dominated by the sort… Continue reading HUNTING BUTCOMBE
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