November 2026. Swinton. Greater Manchester. 12 minutes out from Manchester Victoria lies Swinton in the city of Salford. Wiki says “Historically in Lancashire, for centuries Swinton was a hamlet in the township of Worsley, parish of Eccles and hundred of Salfordshire (a clearly made-up place)“. An unheralded town of 22,931 souls, notable for Holt boozers,… Continue reading SINGALONGA SWINTON
Tag: europe
MILTON CONQUERS HISTON
November 2026. Histon. A couple of days in Cambridge on funeral planning duties, staying in the “PLUS” room at the otherwise spartan Travelodge in Orchard Park. I really should review the Madri at the hotel bar. I’m a regular there now, probably get my own pewter jug for the hot chocolate that’s one of the… Continue reading MILTON CONQUERS HISTON
BLUE SOURS, WHITE STOUT. IT CAN ONLY BE SHAKESPEARE’S
October 2026. Sheffield. You know where Sheffield is. And you probably know where Shakespeare’s is by now, tucked halfway on the pub tourist route between Kelham Island and the Tap and the Rutland, not far from the Emergency Services Museum. It’s not the best pub in Sheffield, but it might be the one I’d recommend… Continue reading BLUE SOURS, WHITE STOUT. IT CAN ONLY BE SHAKESPEARE’S
MORE MORE MORE MORE. WORTHING MICROS
October 2026. West Worthing. West Sussex. That map extract is home to my four fabulous Thursday ticks, but careful planning almost unravelled as the train from Littlehampton approached West Worthing and the guard woke me from my snooze. “A REMINDER. If you’re getting off here you need to be in the front SIX coaches. This… Continue reading MORE MORE MORE MORE. WORTHING MICROS
THE LAST OF THE 2026 SPOONS BEER FESTIVAL IN LITTLEHAMPTON
October 2026. Littlehampton. West Sussex. I see Simon is off ticking Cheshire via rail replacement buses due to Storm Boelo this morning. He really is a trooper, six pubs a day, whatever the weather. I walked to the Rye Harbour bus stop just now, asked ChatGPT the odds on a smooth trip to Hayward’s Heath,… Continue reading THE LAST OF THE 2026 SPOONS BEER FESTIVAL IN LITTLEHAMPTON
EPIC RAIL JOURNEYS OF THE WORLD. RYE TO FORD
October 2026. Rye (East Sussex) to Ford (West Sussex). Simon’s blog is always a great read, a tale of derring-do, parental love and indomitable livers, if not bladders. Such has been the ferocity of his pub ticking that the Chronicles of BRAPA are some way behind (I also got massively behind in my GBG completion… Continue reading EPIC RAIL JOURNEYS OF THE WORLD. RYE TO FORD
NEVER MIND THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY, COME AND ADMIRE THE HAVELOCK PUB MURALS
October 2026. Hastings. East Sussex. My big shopping day in Hastings comprised; two pink Stabilo Boss markers, a pack of TePe interdental brushes, a comb, a five pack of Primark boxers (pic available to Patronised readers etc) and an order for a new pair of AI glasses. Yes, AI glasses, which I presume will tell… Continue reading NEVER MIND THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY, COME AND ADMIRE THE HAVELOCK PUB MURALS
“PICKY BITS”. THE SWAN, THAXTED
October 2026. Thaxted. Essex. A Sunday night in a campervan in small-but-perfectly-formed Thaxted, staying yards from an actual GBG newbie in the Swan. I’d have ticked John Webb’s Windmill (where the Giddy Up Bar is marked) as well, but the current restoration project rather scuppered my view. Luckily, there’s a picture of what it did… Continue reading “PICKY BITS”. THE SWAN, THAXTED
THE MERMAID, RYE. SURPRISINGLY PUBBY
October 2026. Rye. East Sussex. The six minute bus ride from Rye Harbour into town costs a curious £2.90, which is just the level at which you’ll consider striding hobbling along the footpath instead, taking in the bucolic views of the oil refinery. There’s a very pretty walk through the nature reserve into Rye, but… Continue reading THE MERMAID, RYE. SURPRISINGLY PUBBY
COR ! WHAT A STUNNER. THE PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA, ALDGATE E1
October 2026. East London. Heading, or at least hobbling, towards the Tower of London and an intriguing GBG27 newbie. This is Tandleman Southern HQ territory, and the Princess of Prussia is apparently close to his flat decorated in Dumbarton FC colours, just around the corner from the venerable Goodman’s Field. You might think the biggest… Continue reading COR ! WHAT A STUNNER. THE PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA, ALDGATE E1
