March 2024. Hankelow. Audlem. Three pubs in Audlem (pop. 1,991) and another one in tiny Hankelow, home to a rare new GBG tick for me as 2024 becomes a year of revisiting old classics. Hankelow feels a million miles from Nantwich Crewe to the north and Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke to the east, an area of farms… Continue reading THE WELL-HIDDEN JOYS OF THE UPMARKET CHESHIRE GASTROPUB
Tag: Gastropubs
HOW DID I MISS THE PICKLED PARSON ?
October 2023. Sedgefield. Another weekend, another trip down to Waterbeach (Covid and flu jabs this time) then straight back up the A1. Didn’t even get a Crispy Beef; the chicken kebab (“with all the trimmings“) seems the parents favourite now. On brief stop on the way to Gateshead/Newcastle, an unexpected return to Sedgefield, meeting place… Continue reading HOW DID I MISS THE PICKLED PARSON ?
RAINBOW FRUIT COCKTAIL HANDWASH ? IT CAN ONLY BE BASINGSTOKE
Beer Guide safely back in hand, it’s time for some (increasingly rare) ticking action before GBG24 lands (ugh) and the whole charade resumes. “You’ll never finish” shouts someone. 20 minutes up the A303 from Longparish to The Edge of Basingstoke, which would have made a great Stevie Nicks song. I’ve been campaigning on the Old… Continue reading RAINBOW FRUIT COCKTAIL HANDWASH ? IT CAN ONLY BE BASINGSTOKE
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
BACK ONCE AGAIN TO THE KNUTSFORD GASTRO
Another year, another new GBG entry in Knutsford. How do they do it ? And why do all the new entries only ever last a single year in the Guide. (30 marks, show workings). Every time I revisit a town to tick a new pub, I get a new perspective. And this year it was… Continue reading BACK ONCE AGAIN TO THE KNUTSFORD GASTRO
A RACE FOR THE PRIZE IN GREAT SHEFFORD
The last post featured a Berkshire gastropub mercifully free of scatter cushions. No such relief in my final Berks tick, the eponymous Great Shefford, but oddly I’m a fan of clutter and chintz as long as there’s life. Anywhere selling dog ice cream for £3.50 is bound to have life, even if a rather different… Continue reading A RACE FOR THE PRIZE IN GREAT SHEFFORD
“Will Sir be dining with us tonight ?”
Back to the ghastly gastros I’m afraid. I’ll keep it short. 10 minutes on from the Oak, via Stoke Mandeville, is the Harrow, a pub you could almost see Prime Ministers visiting from Chequers. Mrs RM said ” be quick” and a first look revealed I wouldn’t be loitering here. “Will Sir be dining with… Continue reading “Will Sir be dining with us tonight ?”
ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE GASTROPUB
At the end of the Great Northern Campervan Tickathon now, with a couple of South Lakes stragglers on the way home. Two pubs just off the A595, separated by a mere two minutes drive. What could possibly go wrong. Hardly any traffic anyway at Lowick Bridge, though a big scary note in the window telling… Continue reading ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE GASTROPUB
NO GASTRO HELL, AT THE BELL
We moved on to Dereham, home of Curry Charles and resting place for our campervan on Wednesday night. No ticks in Dereham, with the best pub re-opening too early for GBG21 and the Royal Standard shut. But, hoorah/boo, a new gastropub 10 minutes up the road was new in, open all day, and Charles told… Continue reading NO GASTRO HELL, AT THE BELL
No more “Dropping by for a swift half” 😕
On the way back home from Gosport I thought I’d stop in the Fox at Crawley (not that one) for a quick half. Somewhere between Winchester and that national pub of the year at Wonston we all love, 10 minutes off the M3. Look it up yourself, I’m typing this in a campervan parked up… Continue reading No more “Dropping by for a swift half” 😕
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