I’d have liked to have explored Grange-over-Sands, to see whether it really is a retirement village or the new hub of counter culture, but a delayed train arriving before my scheduled train (does that make sense ?) meant I could save half an hour and get to Preston 2 hours earlier than planned. And who… Continue reading A BRIEF ENCOUNTER AT CARNFORTH
Tag: Lancashire
RALPH’S WIFE’S AND THE RIBBLE ESTUARY
With Peaky Blinders opening early and Ralph’s Wife’s opening late (well, 16:00) I had time to do the tourist trail between Southport and South Preston. Bet you didn’t know there was a tourist trail, heh ? It’s worth visiting Churchtown’s Botanic Gardens just to admire the loos (20p, bring change, don’t tailgate). In 2021 the… Continue reading RALPH’S WIFE’S AND THE RIBBLE ESTUARY
A PLOUGHMAN’S LUNCH FOR THE PADIHAM WEAVERS
Still no GBG22 on my doorstep, and the two tickers who have received it are refusing to send me pics. Utterly despicable. I don’t expect as many new Guide entries (“churn”) as you usually get, the Covid limiting new openings and the ability of branch members to get around. The two newbies in Padiham are… Continue reading A PLOUGHMAN’S LUNCH FOR THE PADIHAM WEAVERS
BOYCE’S BARREL, A BURNLEY BEAUTY
The day after City’s 2-0 destruction of Burnley I was back on the edge of Pendle with Mrs RM, collecting two irritatingly elusive ticks 427 feet apart in textile centre Padiham. Rishi Sunak can’t tell Burnley and Bury apart (don’t lose sleep, they’re the same), but Rishi’s detractors on Twitter could never place Padiham (pop.… Continue reading BOYCE’S BARREL, A BURNLEY BEAUTY
BAXENDEN – MORE THAN JUST THE HOME OF HOLLAND’S PIES
Let’s press on, the Black Dog was a bit depressing, and head to another tick in Greater Accrington. Apart from glorious countryside, Baxenden is best known as the home of Hollands. I somehow missed this post-retirement job opportunity; The Dog & Partridge is yet more proof that there’s more to the 2021 GBG than brewery… Continue reading BAXENDEN – MORE THAN JUST THE HOME OF HOLLAND’S PIES
NO THWAITES IN OSWALDTWISTLE
Life After Football takes you in his chauffer-driven Merc* to the outer reaches of Tamworth, I drag you on foot to the foothills of Accrington. Only on pub blogs will you visit the REAL England. I assumed that Oswaldtwistle was named after the Accrington left back from the season they were expelled from the League,… Continue reading NO THWAITES IN OSWALDTWISTLE
THE SINGULAR CHARM OF LEIGH, MANCHESTER
I took James for his second Covid vaccination this morning; he could have walked the mile to the west of Sheffield but he seemed particularly keen to be back in time for work. Such dedication to a job, particularly one done entirely from home, is surely to be commended, and contrasts sharply from my own… Continue reading THE SINGULAR CHARM OF LEIGH, MANCHESTER
PRESTON : FROM FRANKFURT TO FLEETWOOD VIA FISHERGATE
Back from Chorley Thursday night back in Manchester was one of the worst in my life. And I’ve spent New Year’s Eve in Maidenhead. You’ll remember I was helping to settle young Matt in during his week in the Big City, sharing a room at Ibis Budget on the edge of Ancoats. That Thursday night,… Continue reading PRESTON : FROM FRANKFURT TO FLEETWOOD VIA FISHERGATE
COTTONING ON TO CHORLEY’S CHARMS, IS IT BAPS OR IS IT BARMS ?
The return journey from Glasgow to Manchester was uneventful, bar a succession of Spanish students sticking their phones in my recharging point and leaving them buzzing all the way to Lancaster. Come Thursday, with an arduous day out in Preston ahead, I settled on a quiet day in Chorley, capital of the bit between Bolton… Continue reading COTTONING ON TO CHORLEY’S CHARMS, IS IT BAPS OR IS IT BARMS ?
SUNDAY LUNCH IN GREAT HARWOOD
I’m back home from End of the Road, came home early and missed Jarvis Cocker (not) singing about being in a big field in near Wiltshire. And the new Beer Guide’s arrived, embargoed until publication day on the 12th. That gives me a whole ten days for cross-ticking (see : BRAPA) and to get up-to-date… Continue reading SUNDAY LUNCH IN GREAT HARWOOD
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