December 22nd 2025. Hastings. A solid if unspectacular birthday ends with a last look at Rock-A-Nore, and a half in the Hastings pub I’d meant to have birthday fish pie in. But I’d have needed to book for lunch in the Dolphin, and I NEVER book. The Dolphin is a classic, though I’d struggle to… Continue reading BASS CLICKBAIT AT THE DOLPHIN
Tag: Dolphin
MEAT RAFFLE, 10 PINTS OF FOSTERS, BABIES AND OLD BOYS, A STONE ROSES OBSESSION. LYDD’S FIRST GBG ENTRY WANTS TO BE ADORED
November 2025. Lydd. Kent. What’s that bit of land a few miles east of Romney Marsh ? “Boulogne” something something ? A small Channel Island presumably. Probably sells Butcombe, must investigate*. Just as I got to investigate Lydd (pop. 6,567) on Saturday, as it (remarkably) makes the Beer Guide for the first ever, and now… Continue reading MEAT RAFFLE, 10 PINTS OF FOSTERS, BABIES AND OLD BOYS, A STONE ROSES OBSESSION. LYDD’S FIRST GBG ENTRY WANTS TO BE ADORED
NEW LIFE IN OLD POMPEY
11th January 2023. A dreich day, as the Tand would say, turning to torrential downpour in the afternoon, Perfect for exploring three new Guide entries in Portsmouth from our Southampton base, before seeing City march into the League Cup semi-finals that evening. A long wait at Southampton Central allowed me to bring you EXCLUSIVE photos… Continue reading NEW LIFE IN OLD POMPEY
HIGH VIS, HIGH HOPES & HORLICKS IN ILMINSTER
Matthew didn’t do Indy Man yesterday, but he did send me his musical tip for the month, another load of old (old = over 21) punks with tunes. A blend of the Manics, Stone Roses and The Cult, I reckon. I left you towards the end of my week in the West Country, on the… Continue reading HIGH VIS, HIGH HOPES & HORLICKS IN ILMINSTER
MORE PUBS NAMED AFTER ANIMALS IN GILLINGHAM (not THAT Gillingham !)
More from my massive July West Country Tickathon, and some prime Dylan for you; Possibly US Dave’s favourite Dylan, though personally I prefer the cover version by The Wiggles. Man had to give names to the animals as nearly all of the pubs in Gillingham (Dorset) are named after them; I was only in the… Continue reading MORE PUBS NAMED AFTER ANIMALS IN GILLINGHAM (not THAT Gillingham !)
DREAMING OF DUNDEE
I’ve been tentatively planning some travels by rail after May. Despite moving north, a non-stop journey to Dundee is still 5:09 hours (and £143.30 off-peak*, which would buy you a month in Southport Pontins). I need to go back to visit this keg classic, normally home to University of Stirling researchers camped out awaiting boisterous… Continue reading DREAMING OF DUNDEE
WEYMOUTH – CLOSED DOLPHINS, NAKED GNOMES
Dorchester is the perfect base from which to get as far away from Dorchester as possible, quickly. A mere 13 face-covered minutes on the GWR to Weymouth, providing me with its annual Proper Pub in the GBG. Or was it ? First of all, the Dolphin looks awfully familar. I’m sure I went in here… Continue reading WEYMOUTH – CLOSED DOLPHINS, NAKED GNOMES
A SPURNED OPPORTUNITY
When you’re as far east as Hull it pays to take the opportunity to visit one of our most geographic remarkable features, one that (like midweek drinking) probably won’t be with us in another 20 years time. And pay homage to one of our most remarkable pub survivors. The walk from the Kilnsea car park… Continue reading A SPURNED OPPORTUNITY
GUZZLING IN THE GOWER
A trip to Swansea for another skateboarding contest; another chance to finish off the little clutch of pubs in the Gower. The skateboarding with fingers event has apparently taken over from an event in Bavaria as the pinnacle of the sport this year, which speaks volumes about Swansea’s cultural renaissance,or perhaps how cheap it is.… Continue reading GUZZLING IN THE GOWER
WELLINGTON – MORE DENTISTS THAN PUBS
They may be small but there’s a lot of Somerset towns. I’m reaching the end of them now, and after Wellington it’s villages all the way to the end of that particular Beer Guide chapter. It’s a shame that Wellington has just the one (seemingly perpetual) Guide entry, as the Travelodge was ideally placed, both for town… Continue reading WELLINGTON – MORE DENTISTS THAN PUBS
retiredmartin 