December 2025. Old Harlow. A day in Southborough with the in-laws; a cancelled medical appointment causes irritation but a Meal for 3 from Meows compensates a little. Now this will come as a surprise to Mrs RM but I reckon the landlady of Meows Chinese takeaway in Southborough is probably my favourite person on earth.… Continue reading PUTTING UP THE TREE IN OLD HARLOW
Tag: Essex
BRAINTREE REDISCOVERED
April 2025. Braintree. Essex. Yes, that medieval Flemish influenced town was Braintree, yet another reason to visit Essex for you summer holidays now Florida is ruled out. 20 minutes from Stansted, written off by me as one of those dull Essex towns. Unfairly. I mean, you’ll still know you’re in London overflow lane, but the… Continue reading BRAINTREE REDISCOVERED
THE WHITE HART, WITHAM. “MAKING REAL ALE SEXY”.
May 2024. Witham. Essex. Staying in Waterbeach at least means a good base for a half-hearted assault on the GBG24 entries in East Angular, and Essex remains perhaps our most consistent county for pubby all-rounders (and good beer), even if I can’t name any absolute classic pubs. Anyhow, let’s have a tick “And a night… Continue reading THE WHITE HART, WITHAM. “MAKING REAL ALE SEXY”.
INTO THE (COLNE) VALLEY – A HALSTEAD HOP
February (yeh !) 2024. Halstead One benefit of a week with the parents in Waterbeach; it’s a useful base to conquer the East Anglian counties, and as February brought some crisp sunshine so the Colne Valley (not Burnley’s Colne) looked enticing. This is the Colne Valley of steam railways with CAMRA beer festivals (ugh) and… Continue reading INTO THE (COLNE) VALLEY – A HALSTEAD HOP
HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY COUNTY. No. 12 – ESSEX.
“Half a dozen…”reaches Essex, that most consistent of counties, though not one where “must visits” spring as easily to mind as Durham. But here’s five to start you off. Brentwood – Victoria (last visited in 2017) The Gray & Son signage is almost a guarantee of near greatness. I did Proper Pub bingo here; “1.… Continue reading HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY COUNTY. No. 12 – ESSEX.
“When brewery tap opening hours ruin your day, Remember…, Be Strong, Because all will be Okay”
May 2023. Let’s finish Essex for another year. Mid-Essex has some corkers, both in the county town and salty Maldon. A brewery tap to finish ? Not ideal but at least it’s open Thursday, not like some places I could mention that open the first Saturday of the month or close for Winter and Spring.… Continue reading “When brewery tap opening hours ruin your day, Remember…, Be Strong, Because all will be Okay”
CRAFTY CASKS, RAYLEIGH
May 2023. An Essex special to start the week, though I fear these three (3) posts will disappoint those of you (Hi, Dave) looking for photos of church naves and castle mounds. Plenty of those in Rayleigh, but on another flying visit you only get pics of upside down Union Jacks, and a modern beer… Continue reading CRAFTY CASKS, RAYLEIGH
REHABILITATING GRAYS
May 2023. Thee only way to finish the eastern part of the GBG is Essex. BRAPA’s adventures in getting from King’s Cross to Thurrock on a rail replacement bus and back in time for an unwise ESB at the Parcel Yard would make classic reality TV. Excitingly, one of my new Essex ticks is in… Continue reading REHABILITATING GRAYS
PUBS WITH WRITING ON THE WALL AREN’T ALL BAD
April 2023. Big news from Waterbeach where Chung Hwa is under (slightly) new ownership, or rather old ownership, and is as wonderful as ever. I feel the need to tell you that as some folk moaned about changes on Facebook. Never trust “folk”, particularly electric. Back “home” I’ve been taking Dad out to the nicer… Continue reading PUBS WITH WRITING ON THE WALL AREN’T ALL BAD
REFLECTIONS ON COLCHESTER
April 2023. Sticking to the knitting now; trips to unsung English towns with some pics of old buildings and adverts for enticing events you’ve already missed. Not sure why Colchester is unsung, but it surely is. Rather like the whole of Essex (except Grays, obvs), Colchester is a real 3.5 of a town. Which means… Continue reading REFLECTIONS ON COLCHESTER
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