Another bumper post from the North-East as I get to apply some more pink in the GBG as I complete Northumberland. AND visit another town for the first time. At this rate they’ll be no new worlds to conquer, and tears will flow (we’ve just home from Millom, the excitement never stops). I owe Bedlington… Continue reading A BEDLINGTON TERRIER
Tag: Northumberland
A HOP (77) INTO ASHINGTON
Last night we stayed in Maryport, and I was reminded how thrilling it is to visit a town for the first time (except THAT one). So imagine my deep joy on arriving in Ashington, home of a new GBG micro, mining heritage and birthplace of several sporting legends (including my hard-but fair tackling namesake). So… Continue reading A HOP (77) INTO ASHINGTON
THE TICKER’S LAMENT – AN AMBLE FUMBLE
On towards Amble, which I hadn’t been to for years. Loads of day-trippers to the Northumberland coast that weekend, including a fair few recovering from the Great North Run with a pint and chips. I did the pre-chip exercise along the bay, through the Marina, and wondered how I’d avoided amiable Amble for so long.… Continue reading THE TICKER’S LAMENT – AN AMBLE FUMBLE
POTTER-ING AROUND ALNWICK
Yes, a mere week after BRAPA conquered Harry Potter Land, I turned up to survey the wreckage. This was my first trip since I took my Dad to see the magic gardens (the magic is they fleece you £6 for a cup of tea and cake) on his 80th birthday and I wondered if they’d… Continue reading POTTER-ING AROUND ALNWICK
BLANCHLAND – TO THE VAULTS
A weekend in Durham, but a raid into Northumberland for what we GBG tickers call “a straggler”. No-one has ever called Blanchland (pop.135) a straggler before. Blanchland was, I presume, built in the 17/18th century in order to later provide the setting for filming Catherine Cookson period dramas. With a bit more effort from Mrs… Continue reading BLANCHLAND – TO THE VAULTS
EVERY GOOD EVENING ENDS WITH A SPOONS COOKIE DOUGH SANDWICH
STILL on Friday night, but only one of the recommended Hexham pubs in the Trailblazer Guide to Hadrian’s Wall left to do. Of course, it’s the Spoons. I know that love for the “People’s Pub Chain” isn’t universal, even amongst my esteemed readers. But you get a far better mix of folk in the Forum… Continue reading EVERY GOOD EVENING ENDS WITH A SPOONS COOKIE DOUGH SANDWICH
NICE
Let’s be nice about a gastropub, for a change. The Heart of Northumberland is SO nice it would sit nicely in Islington. It had been recommended to us by the nice barman in Wark, which was nice. I pretended to go to the loo so I could see the hand pumps. Ooh, local beers, that’s… Continue reading NICE
(OVER)DUE A DEUCHARS
I was pleased to find the Grapes full, after reading that there hasn’t always been the rush back to pubs they might have hoped since the Heaventeenth (Simon’s Surrey pubs looked a bit quiet, too). I would have popped in the Tap & Spile for old time’s sake; there’s not many survivors from the mid-90s… Continue reading (OVER)DUE A DEUCHARS
NO ROOM TO SQUEEZE (IN) THE GRAPES
Back from Wark (I think it’s still Friday), via the wonderful looking pubs of Acomb and Humshaugh, where Mrs RM had kindly acted as my DES 3 years ago when she did a stint working up the A68 in Scottish Borders Council. Being a kindly person, I let her have an hour recovering in the… Continue reading NO ROOM TO SQUEEZE (IN) THE GRAPES
ALL WARK, NO BULL
Day 4 of the Hadrian’s Wall Hop, and despite racking up 50 miles and visiting EVERY open pub between Carlisle and Twice Brewed*, I’d yet to achieve a GBG tick. Meanwhile, in the South of England, BRAPA was amassing nearly as many likes as Guide pubs; Having just arrived in Hexham, head straight back to… Continue reading ALL WARK, NO BULL
