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
Tag: food
NEW AND SHINY IN RYE
October 2026. Rye. East Sussex. We’d been down in Rye a whole fortnight (bar the bi-weekly trips to attend to elderly parents), so about time we left the harbour, and actually visited the town, I guess. You’d think we’d have visited all the pubs, cafes, museums and twee shops in Rye already (I even bought… Continue reading NEW AND SHINY IN RYE
DRAUGHT BASS AT THE FLOWERPOT
October 2026. Derby. Rushing out of the Tiny Tap to avoid the strains of the debut Duran Duran single I find myself at the Darley bus stop with a (late) bus called either 9.1 the nines, 6X the sixes or the comet approaching. I try to pay on my phone. It fails, the driver taps… Continue reading DRAUGHT BASS AT THE FLOWERPOT
A WORD TO THE WISE. MORLEY’S SEVEN HILLS IS A CLASSIC
October 2026. Morley. West Yorkshire. Dave “US” Southworth often asks which places surprised me. A good question, which today gets “Morley, West Yorkshire” added to the answers. Wiki says “Morley is a market town and a civil parish within the City of Leeds metropolitan borough; the largest town (pop 44,440) in the borough after Leeds… Continue reading A WORD TO THE WISE. MORLEY’S SEVEN HILLS IS A CLASSIC
“Carling, Darling”. SURPRISING SAXILBY
September 2026. Saxilby. Lincolnshire Unsurprisingly, you might think, my only recollection of Saxilby was of the Mandarin Chinese takeaway I’d popped in after ticking the Anglers years ago. Long after I forget my name and whether I like Autovac beer I’ll be able to tell you what score I gave the crispy beef in the… Continue reading “Carling, Darling”. SURPRISING SAXILBY
THE SUNDAY ROAST IN CORBY GLEN
September 2026. Corby Glen. Lincolnshire. I really have nothing to complain about in life, but last weekend was an example of the stresses and tensions of a typical week. Getting “home” on Saturday from a the weekly 6 hour visit to see Dad in his Waterbeach care home, Mrs RM was deep into conversations with… Continue reading THE SUNDAY ROAST IN CORBY GLEN
THE BEER GUIDE PUB OPEN FIVE (5) HOURS A WEEK
September 2026. North Hykeham. Lincolnshire. Friday was a perfect day, and not in a corny Lou Reed charity single way. I drove down to see Dad, who despite advancing dementia was as chatty as he’s been for many months, was eating well, and had somehow acquired the Russian resident’s hat. I stayed a couple of… Continue reading THE BEER GUIDE PUB OPEN FIVE (5) HOURS A WEEK
IGNORE THE CLOSED SIGN. THE HEWETT ARMS, SHIREOAKS
September 2026. Shireoaks. Nottinghamshire. 10 minutes through the old colliery site to the GBG brewery tap, ten minutes back to the station, still feeling that ache at the back of my leg but keeping up with Google maps generous timings now. One of the most attractive approaches to a Beer Guide pub anywhere, I reckon.… Continue reading IGNORE THE CLOSED SIGN. THE HEWETT ARMS, SHIREOAKS
TAKE THE STRAIGHT LINE TO HEADCORN
September 2026. Headcorn. Kent. We settled my father-in-law at the Queen Vic Hospital, the most notable thing about East Grinstead, in a room decorated with this painting of a cricket ground with the shortest boundary in Kent. Just as I always tell you that young people are great, and CAMRA does a marvellous job (but… Continue reading TAKE THE STRAIGHT LINE TO HEADCORN
“Do you still sell Courage ?” THE WHITE HART, GODSTONE
September 2026. Godstone. Surrey. Three nights in Royal Tunbridge Wells looking after the in-laws, with only a tiny bit of exploration. A rare visit to mysterious Tandridge district; north of Gatwick, south of the Croydon suburbs, west of Churchill’s home and the National Trust parkland. Oh, and very close to Titsey. 5,949 commuters souls, clustered… Continue reading “Do you still sell Courage ?” THE WHITE HART, GODSTONE
