October 2023. Matlock. Ian “The Wickingman” Thurman has a lot to answer for. Before his intervention a few years back Bass was happily dying off, seemingly with CAMRA folk’s blessing as a boring brown beer living off misguided past glories, set for the same fate as Boddington and Websters (RIP). But then Ian and a… Continue reading YES, THE BASS IS STILL GOOD IN THE THORN TREE
Tag: Draught Bass
BANKERS !
18th February 2023. Fame for our favourite, as Blackpool Jane‘s exploits in promoting Teesside (I always add a third “s”) send her to stardom. Wait till they see her “healthy” parmo, mind. Then they’ll be a backlash. Jane saw more of Boro than we did, but she missed out one gem. Despite having been four… Continue reading BANKERS !
NEVER MIND THE BUTTY BACH, MONKNASH, HERE’S THE FLAT BASS
31st January 2023. Well spotted, Andy Holmes, our mysterious new commentator. Yes, next stop, last tick of the month, is the legendary Plough & Harrow in tiny Monknash, one of Glamorgan’s top dining pubs. One of those unmodernised ones, with ORIGINAL dragon on the door. I’m not scared of your silly dragon, but I am… Continue reading NEVER MIND THE BUTTY BACH, MONKNASH, HERE’S THE FLAT BASS
TOP 100 PUBS – THE COACHMAKERS ARMS, HANLEY, STOKE-ON-TRENT
In Stoke with a bed for the night, a Chinese takeaway selected, and my new GBG entry already ticked. But it’s barely evening. Let’s do the Hanley classics. And that’s the problem when you lack discipline as a ticker. You convince yourself that the Albion with its lone Pedi pump must be a pre-emptive chance.… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE COACHMAKERS ARMS, HANLEY, STOKE-ON-TRENT
“THE BASS IS DRINKING WELL”
Here’s how to get my attention; Well done, Hare & Hounds. Only back from the dead two months as a village-owned pubs and you’ve already got THREE posts out of me. Last month you tempted me back with a promise of Bass but it had sold out in two days to a pub full of… Continue reading “THE BASS IS DRINKING WELL”
“MY MOTHER HAD DINNER WITH TOMMY TRINDER” – BACK TO THE SEVEN STARS
16th January 2020 (still) No, I couldn’t resist it. Particularly since it involved an impersonation of Joker on the way down to The Moor. My third trip to the Seven Stars, all since the Rev John Barrington Bennetts died. 5 points if you know what makes the Rev unique. In 2020, the year that Wickingman… Continue reading “MY MOTHER HAD DINNER WITH TOMMY TRINDER” – BACK TO THE SEVEN STARS
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
BASS & BALTI AT BURY ST EDMUNDS BEER FESTIVAL
Yes, that gentleman is actually pouring me a pint of lovely flat Bass yesterday*, at the excellent Bury St Edmunds Beer Festival. I don’t really get Beer Festivals, as you’ll know. In the words of the immortal Richard Coldwell “Beer Festivals Are Killing Pubs !”. But Bury (not that one) is close, the folk are… Continue reading BASS & BALTI AT BURY ST EDMUNDS BEER FESTIVAL
CAISTOR SUGAR
And so to the Humber for three days of what is known in ticking circles as “mopping up”. I can’t wait to show you my famous GBG map and spreadsheet soon, so that Duncan can laugh at it. First stop, Caistor, capital of the “Greater Lincolnshire Backwaters”, shown here in relation to Grimsby for context.… Continue reading CAISTOR SUGAR
HOPWAS – WORTH THE HOP
Tonight, dear readers, I’m staying in lovely Chesterfield at Flags Lodge. The recent GBG pub across the road is bustling, and offers Draught Bass and Hartington IPA. Somehow, I have resisted. But a week ago I couldn’t resist the Hopwas Social Club, 2 miles walk from my Lichfield Premier Inn. Such is the life of… Continue reading HOPWAS – WORTH THE HOP
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