Last year I popped in to Andover at the end of Dryanuary and found it in rude health, at least as far as unpretentious pubs and beer quality go. What it lacks in classic architecture, Andover makes up for in budget hotels, ideally placed on industrial estates and service stations. Sadly the Premier Inn has… Continue reading THE SLOW DEATH OF TUESDAY DRINKING IN ANDOVER
Tag: Hampshire
WINCHESTER – FINDING ALFIE
Hampshire is nearly conquered for another year, and then I can turn my attention to the funny little island calling from across the Solent. Winchester (a.k.a. best place to live in the UK) has turned into quite a decent base for us, with a little home for our campervan at No Man’s Land a couple of miles east of town… Continue reading WINCHESTER – FINDING ALFIE
ROMSEY PASSES THE QUALITY v QUANTITY TEST
Having just moaned about a (rare) duff pint, I feel I need some balance today. The two new Beer Guide pubs in Romsey are a triumph of quality over quantity, joining a third that fits the bill too. You’ll be delighted to know that the pinked Navigator maps are back today, thanks to some technical… Continue reading ROMSEY PASSES THE QUALITY v QUANTITY TEST
AN INCONSISTENT OTTER
Mention of a marvellous Palmers 200 recently reminded me how much some of our family brewers beers get written off these days, when it’s really all about cellarmanship. Arkells and Wadworths fall into the same bracket; I’ve had very good 3B and 6X this year, and you know my views on Bass. It took me a while… Continue reading AN INCONSISTENT OTTER
TOP 100 PUBS – PLATFORM TAVERN, SOUTHAMPTON
“Never look back” is my motto, which means never going back to a pub, unless it was so bad it was funny, or so good it’s in my Top 100. Or its the Dancing Man Tap, for inexplicable reasons. I really needed Mrs RM’s guiding influence on Friday, but of course she was packing light… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – PLATFORM TAVERN, SOUTHAMPTON
SAINTS, PYRAMIDS & THE DANCING MAN
If I seem to be getting a lot of posts out of my Hampshire weekender, stick with it. The next post is largely about a failed trip to the loo. Bet you can’t wait for that one, Dave. At the risk of a starting an intra-Hampshire war, I’d say Southampton has trailed behind Portsmouth (and specifically… Continue reading SAINTS, PYRAMIDS & THE DANCING MAN
FUDDLED IN FREEMANTLE
My first use of “fuddled” in a post, and therefore my last. I’m looking forward to reading the BRAPA account of Southampton; I’ll be in awe of Simon if his critical faculties held up till his own trip to Freemantle after his session in the Butcher’s Hook. My own faculties held up just long enough… Continue reading FUDDLED IN FREEMANTLE
DRAUGHT BASS IN TOTTON, BUT NOT IN MANCHESTER
Nathaniel brings some promising news from Norfolk; @NHS_Martin @RogerProtzBeer Draught Bass is currently being served on gravity at the fat cat in Norwich and is tasting good — Nathaniel Southwood (@NateDawg27) May 1, 2017 As you’ll gather from previous posts, the beer range is well down the list of reasons I visit pubs, and I have reservations about… Continue reading DRAUGHT BASS IN TOTTON, BUT NOT IN MANCHESTER
LEGENDS IN SOUTHAMPTON
Mrs RM is off for her 3 days drinking walking trip to Kerry today; I’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t come back with enough material for a guest blog about Irish craft keg breaking into Killarney. I snuck in a couple of days in Hampshire before she went. Finding new GBG pubs to tick does… Continue reading LEGENDS IN SOUTHAMPTON
STEPPIN’ OUT IN PORTSMOUTH
There’s no shortage of obvious headlines for a trip to Pompey in November; half an hour spent in Fratton’s Spoons provided no end of witticisms, most unrepeatable. Always safest to use the tried-and-tested Joe Jackson one. Wetherspoons seem to fall into two camps now. OAP and family dining (e.g. St Neots), and male dominated cheap… Continue reading STEPPIN’ OUT IN PORTSMOUTH
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