Quite a lot of the essential (i.e. pubbed) Sussex and Kent is doable by train from Rye, but there’s a few new Guide entries, and lots of National Trust properties, miles from a station. Good luck, Si. I took Mrs RM on a “mystery trip” just before the Trust cards ran out, and enjoyed her… Continue reading T’OTHER BATEMAN’S. DON’T ASK FOR AN XB
Tag: National Trust
SISSINGHURST
November 2025. Sissinghurst. Kent. Coming to the end of our year of middle-aged National Trust membership now, but still time for a few late ticks from our temporary South-Eastern base in Rye before we ignore the requests to renew for ’26. Actually, has anyone ever completed a National Trust Handbook in a single year ?… Continue reading SISSINGHURST
CALKE AND THE MILKING PARLOUR
November 2025. Calke. Derbyshire. A late dash to tick a few National Trust properties before the subs are due (we won’t renew). Blimey, talk about a well-pubbed location. Calke sits between Coalville, Burton, Derby and Beeston in the posh bit of Derbyshire. Real Life After Football territory. Actually, forget pubs, what an astonishing little bit… Continue reading CALKE AND THE MILKING PARLOUR
MR STRAW’S HOUSE
July 2025. Worksop. A stop on the weekly 2hr 26 slog down the A57/A1/A14 from home to see Dad, and breakfast in Worksop, where the walls opposite the Spoons show how North Notts folk make their own entertainment. Hey ! Isn’t that a bottle of Jamaican tonic wine on the right ? Spoons should do… Continue reading MR STRAW’S HOUSE
A HALT IN HARDWICK HALL
28 April 2025. Hardwick. Derbyshire. A brief cultural interlude to break up the pubs, and a first visit to one of the big (well, £23.10 for non-members) National Trust houses on the way home from Smeeton Westerby. Quite how we’ve avoided it, a few yards off the M1 between the bucolic towns of Chesterfield and… Continue reading A HALT IN HARDWICK HALL
TOP 100 PUBS – KING’S HEAD, AYLESBURY
Oh look, a Home Counties pub in my Top 100; the end of the world may arrive before next Thursday. What’s more, it’s actually a smart pub with uniformed staff, Prosecco and genteel patrons. I wasn’t going to put it in my Top 100 after yesterday’s revisit on the basis the staff called me “Sir” rather… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – KING’S HEAD, AYLESBURY
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