After finishing Derbyshire, thoughts turn naturally to Staffs, where frankly there’s an even better chance of Bass/Pedi and of being called “M’duck“. That’s pretty much all I really need from pubs these days. Barton-u-L, as the kids call it, is handily placed between the National Arboretum and that place where they brew Bass. Since Lord Buckethead… Continue reading BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD – PEDI HANDLED WITH CARE
Tag: Pedigree
THOSE OL’ BARNARD CASTLE OPENING TIME BLUES
About time I had a moan about opening hours again; I can’t have you thinking all that top beer in Scotland has cheered me up.Duncan had warned me about “inconsistent opening hours” one of my cluster of remaining Durham GBG targets. I won’t name it but it’s got a big waterfall. Dave will guess it. I… Continue reading THOSE OL’ BARNARD CASTLE OPENING TIME BLUES
PENKHULL – YOU’RE MY HONEYWALL
I could have lumped my walk round Penkhull in with the post on Newcastle-under-Lyme, but it’s quite parochial round here. And while I wouldn’t call N-u-L posh, it positively flaunts its wealth at the townships down the A52. Even their Travelodge feels like The Carlyle when you’ve spent a night at Stoke’s top railway hotel. Rarely will… Continue reading PENKHULL – YOU’RE MY HONEYWALL
PEDIGREE & A COB IN SAWLEY
My Quiz question for Castle Donington was, of course, Nikita Khrushchev, who opened the power station at short notice when “H” from Steps became unavailable. Just over the border in Derbyshire is the large canalside village of Sawley, where no doubt Nikita stopped for a cob and pint of Pedigree back in 1956, though those records have… Continue reading PEDIGREE & A COB IN SAWLEY
IF THE BEER’S GOOD, SAY SO
I’m making a special effort to tell the folk behind the bar when their beer is really good. It goes down well, even in that London (OK, only had to do that once there this month). Simon mentioned some weird looks he’s had when complimenting the beer, but that’s more to do with the notebook in his hand… Continue reading IF THE BEER’S GOOD, SAY SO
CONTRASTS IN RUTLAND
Rutland is within range of our Campervan, so I expect we’ll be wobbling round the pond there quite a bit. We might even visit all the pubs in the “county”, and there’s bigger hardships in life. There’s a stereotypical Rutland pub with ivy on the walls, hunting pictures and Barbour-jacketed diners, but Oakham’s newest pub… Continue reading CONTRASTS IN RUTLAND
JCBS, TREES AND PEDIGREES
If Middlesex is my least favourite modern county (alright then, it’s really Bedfordshire), then Staffordshire is only bettered by Lancashire. Hopefully someone will start a motion at CAMRA’s AGM to re-establish the old county boundaries in future Beer Guides; that would really upset the applecart in Liverpool. It takes a bit of adventure to appreciate the appeal of… Continue reading JCBS, TREES AND PEDIGREES
TOP 100 PUBS – EXETER ARMS, DERBY
I took the Leicester-Derby train (22 minutes !) to visit the two new Beer Guide pubs and see how they’re getting on with demolishing the historic centres (quite nicely, thank you). I seem to have left my annual trip to Derby quite late in the year*, probably because we haven’t yet had our big family weekend in… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – EXETER ARMS, DERBY
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