It might seem a bit reckless reading these Bath posts now, but my original plan had been to have a few halves in Bath and then take the train to Bradford-on-Avon (twinned with the real Bradford) where a trio of ticks awaited. That idea went up in smoke as our Gang of Four stumbled into… Continue reading CANCELLING PLANS IN BATH
Tag: Otter
OTTERS AND WOMBATS ON THE SOMERSET LEVELS
People do odd things in summer. Families of Guardian readers leave their Sussex homes and camp in the Somerset levels, singing jolly songs as they cycle past pumping stations, endless bungalow and drains. Sounds very much like March. I lasted an hour; an hour punctuated by having to say “Good morning !” at least 17… Continue reading OTTERS AND WOMBATS ON THE SOMERSET LEVELS
DRIZZLE IN BRIZZLE; A LANSDOWN HOROSCOPE
It had all been going so well since “Drainpour Friday“, as legend now calls it. A week of good beer in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Somerset, with barely a dip below NBSS 3. And so to Gloucestershire’s final tick, the Lansdown in Clifton. Staying in Weston gives you a £7.10 off-peak return to Bristol (“outrage”… Continue reading DRIZZLE IN BRIZZLE; A LANSDOWN HOROSCOPE
THE RETIREMENT OF THE VILLAGE RATCATCHER
The Forest of Dean is the gift that keeps on giving. I recommend you cancel your fortnight in England’s most beautiful town, wherever that is*, POLL: England’s Most Beautiful Town – Group C — Pub Curmudgeon 🍻 (@oldmudgie) August 14, 2018 and spend a night in a £30 guest house in Coleford or Cinderford. Update… Continue reading THE RETIREMENT OF THE VILLAGE RATCATCHER
AN OLD SOAK IN BASINGSTOKE
Probably an inadvisable title, but an irresistible one. Unless you can think of a better one. “Going off to croak in Basingstoke ” maybe ? Perhaps I’d be better off giving it the unofficial title of “Greater Hartley Wintney” But I come to praise the Base (as the kids call it), and the newish Premier… Continue reading AN OLD SOAK IN BASINGSTOKE
TOP 100 PUBS – THE OLDE COTTAGE, CHESTER
Odd one this. The GBG records that I visited the Olde Cottage in Chester a fair few years ago and found the beer distinctly average. So why make a special return trip, on a busy day ticking new Merseyside pubs ? Because they keep bombarding me with tweets like this, Due to unforeseen circumstances we… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE OLDE COTTAGE, CHESTER
FISHING FOR BASS IN LYME REGIS
Our last day in Dorset (the eldest son had run out of bread to make himself sandwiches); a quick lunch in Lyme Regis. Here’s an under-pinked slice of Navigator. Lyme is the last stop for the Beer Guide before Devon, and a merciless sea of inaccessible GBG ticks that can wait until I have… Continue reading FISHING FOR BASS IN LYME REGIS
THE LONELINESS OF THE LONE OTTER DRINKER
Oh, look. Oxfordshire has fallen. Yawn. Not a great county, for sights or suds, and to be honest I did the best of it (Stoke Lyne, Lewknor, Hook Norton itself) years ago. The new entries tend towards the gastro these days. Anyway, the moral from the last tick, the Crown in Marcham is…don’t follow the… Continue reading THE LONELINESS OF THE LONE OTTER DRINKER
LONGWORTH – OTTERS AND OVAL BALLS
For real #PubMen, there’s only one thing worse than the Christmas drinker. And that’s the “Six Nation Sozzlers”, who turn (mainly) Home Counties pubs into Hell for six weeks at the start of Spring. Just ask BRAPA. Due to UK discrimination laws, I’m not allowed to exclude Rugby Union fans from this blog, but know… Continue reading LONGWORTH – OTTERS AND OVAL BALLS
MILKING MUSWELL HILL FOR GBG TICKS
Only 3 things in life are certain; Mrs RM will drink those bottles of Brew Dog I hid from her. Russ will find a typo in my post. There will be a new Spoons in the North London sections of the Beer Guide. And so it was that I emerged from Ally Pally* station singing… Continue reading MILKING MUSWELL HILL FOR GBG TICKS
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