A few short posts now, as anything over 300 words gets exhausting in this heat. Please send your rain, Professor Pie-Tin. (NB: It came ten minutes after posting, in a deluge). Good question from Wickingman in the comments in the last post, asking which counties are most reliable for beer quality (at point of dispense,… Continue reading CAT ADOPTION DRAMA IN WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE
Tag: Gloucestershire pubs
PLAYING THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE CASK ALE LOTTERY
Recently I’ve wondered if this summer might be the summer that kills cask as a mainstream drink. You’ll have seen how resentful I’ve been about cask in Scotland, and eleven pubs over two days around the Brecons this week brought two drinkable pints (both in a Spoons). In Beer Guide pubs. But then again, last… Continue reading PLAYING THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE CASK ALE LOTTERY
TEWKESBURY REIGNITES THE COB v BAP DEBATE
As Summer drags on, a PubMan’s thoughts turns to Gloucestershire, one of the counties I’ve never completed. Despite it being virtually on my doorstep (compared to Shetland, anyway). The A14/M6/M42/M5 takes you past some of our most picturesque roadworks, en route to a dismal collection of budget hotels and “aparthotels” (hovels) that I’ll spare you.… Continue reading TEWKESBURY REIGNITES THE COB v BAP DEBATE
T’OTHER BARNSLEY
Doyen of countless Good Pub Guides, Times Supplements and Pashmina Yearly editions over many decades, the Village Pub finally graces the only book that matters to tickers. So at last I get a trip to the other Barnsley. It’s pleasant, without being an essential stop for those touring the honeypots of north Swindon. The Barnsley… Continue reading T’OTHER BARNSLEY
FUSS ON THE FOSSE WAY
Next stop on the Cotswold caper was Fossebridge, a hamlet comprising a btidge and a hotel for folk too posh for Bourton-on-the-water (is that even possible ?). Keen readers of “Notes from a small island” will know that Bill Bryson came here to unveil Roman mosaics at Chedworth; I came here for an irritating middle-class… Continue reading FUSS ON THE FOSSE WAY
THE GREAT MORETON-IN-MARSH SPILT PINT DRAMA
I can’t match BRAPA for disappointment, though if he will do all those dreadful Cheshire GBG pubs what can you expect. But I’m definitely getting lots of opportunities to be grumpy, whether it’s due to opening hours, the failure of the Government to force people to drink cask, or uncontrolled dogs. Plenty of the latter… Continue reading THE GREAT MORETON-IN-MARSH SPILT PINT DRAMA
A HAPPY HOOKY IN CHIPPING CAMPDEN
I guess there’s a sort of inverse relationship between beauty and Bitter in the Cotswolds; the greater the tourist honeypot factor, the lower your chance of a good pub. Chipping Campden is gorgeous, the Lavenham of the Cotswolds, and yet I’ve never been to a pub here before. What can it mean ? Quite a… Continue reading A HAPPY HOOKY IN CHIPPING CAMPDEN
DONNINGTON – NICE PUBS, SHAME ABOUT THE BEER
I was going to call this “Faggots & Chips & Dross in the Cotswolds” but with Russ in your readership you have to be extra careful about your blog titles. My blog naming team had a real struggle with this one. Perhaps mining the Monks classic for inspiration isn’t a wise move, either. We… Continue reading DONNINGTON – NICE PUBS, SHAME ABOUT THE BEER
TALES OF THE TAYLOR OF GLOUCESTER
Hardly a year goes by without a disappointing trip to Gloucester. Why, oh why can’t it be like other modest Cathedral cities ? Never mind Salisbury, even Rochester has more GBG entries, and more to detain you. Like Peterborough, the cathedral is the star, an absolute gem, even without the Potter trappings. I tipped up… Continue reading TALES OF THE TAYLOR OF GLOUCESTER
CRANHAM – CIDER WITH YANKEES
Into Gloucestershire, and a rare chance to show you an incomplete page from the Beer Guide. I think you’ll agree it looks much more impressive in bright pink than the dull green used by one of my GBG completist enemies chums. On our family trip toward Somerset this Sunday I should be able to clear the… Continue reading CRANHAM – CIDER WITH YANKEES
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