From Herefordshire (leaving one straggler in Luston to complete the county) we headed over the border into Gloucestershire. The border is the dashed line, painted by drunk Victorian workers in 1857. Why can’t we have straight county/state boundary lines like the Americans ? I was last in Newent the week before lockdown, behaving like nothing… Continue reading NOTHING POSH ABOUT NEWENT
Tag: Gloucestershire
SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
Still on Thursday night, as I finish a long day in training for the Proper Pub Day Out in Bath with the inevitable crispy beef and Singapore Rice just off Whiteladies Road. On the walk down from the Westbury I’d been scrutinising the Google reviews, it helps with bumping into folk, and found the Dragon… Continue reading SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
36,603 STEPS ROUND BRISTOL
The Number 43 from Kingswood (with me the only passenger) rumbled into Haymarket with my Premier Inn the backdrop. No bargain chain hotels here, you have to cross the Severn for those, so I needed to get value from my mini-break by completing the Bristol ticks. Back on foot as I head north to Westbury… Continue reading 36,603 STEPS ROUND BRISTOL
BY THE CHIME OF THE KINGSWOOD CLOCK
On the train back from Nailsea I surveyed the task ahead; Six ticks in the bag, and three more scattered round the edges of Bristol to do on Friday after a day on the Bass in Bath. Mmm. Bit risky, I reckon they’re best done NOW. Starting with the Lyon’s Den in Kingswood, just outside… Continue reading BY THE CHIME OF THE KINGSWOOD CLOCK
“Sorry no Bass” says the Swan With Two Necks
A third Bristol tick in two hours on “Tickfest Thursday“, which BRAPA can have for £1.93 + P & P. But first, in the heart of the Old City, lunch in St Nicholas Market. What I love about Bristol is that I learn something about it on EVERY annual trip. And you can’t really say… Continue reading “Sorry no Bass” says the Swan With Two Necks
SHAKESPEARES, SHAKESPEARES, EVERYWHERE
One of the undiscussed risks of pub ticking is that of “ticking the wrong pub”. Amber Valley Mark had the excellent idea (I think it’s copywrite) of adding postcodes to his spreadsheets, but where’s the fun in that. I knew my second Bristol pub was called the Shakespeare and was close to King Street and… Continue reading SHAKESPEARES, SHAKESPEARES, EVERYWHERE
IN SHI* SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION
I’d set my alarm for 06:00 on Thursday which is a bit daft because a) I always wake up at 05:59 anyway and b) my train to Bristol wasn’t ’till 09:56. But I was excited at the prospect of half a dozen Brizzle ticks, and the rail fare cost more than my Aygo is worth… Continue reading IN SHI* SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION
BEDMINSTER COMES TO STROUD
Stroud is an OK town surrounded by superlative countryside. Most folk will know “Cider with Rosie” land to the north, but I’ve always preferred the more industrialised (i.e.the tractors there still work) area to the south. The Forest Green Rovers FC ground is one of my favourites, veggie burgers notwithstanding. Minchinhampton and Rodborough Common are easy… Continue reading BEDMINSTER COMES TO STROUD
WILD BEER & TEKUS IN CHELTENHAM
I found the smart side of Cheltenham easily enough in the morning; it’s always enjoyable strolling round Montpellier and there’s a bit of the ancient old town left though if you look hard enough. I was feeling very scruffy by the time I’d walked down Montpellier Street and the Royal Parade Mills, and the new Wild… Continue reading WILD BEER & TEKUS IN CHELTENHAM
SANDFORD PARK ALE HOUSE, CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR
I’m in Cheltenham finishing off northern Gloucestershire. It is a mixed experience which I’ll tell you about tomorrow. The CAMRA national Pub of the Year is as good as you could hope for though. Looking back, quite a lot of POTYs seem to win the award a couple of years from opening, having first won the regional… Continue reading SANDFORD PARK ALE HOUSE, CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR
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