November 2025. Lewes. Back from Newhaven to Lewes for a fourth new GBG tick by 3pm. Four in the bag so early in the week used to set me up for those 20 pub weeks that BRAPA knocks off on the way to Beer Guide glory, but in 2025 I don’t have that stress anymore.… Continue reading SUPPING SUSSEX IN THE SWAN
Tag: Swan
YOU CAN RING MY BELL, RING MY BELL (TO GET ENTRY TO THE SWAN IN DARLASTON)
December 2023. Darlaston. Greater Walsall. I was going to call it a day after Stourbridge because the fourth pub in Darlaston looked a bit tricky. Train back towards Snow Hill, change at the Hawthorns for the metro to Wednesbury, walk to Wednesbury exchange where they subject me to tinny Vivaldi and charge m 10p to… Continue reading YOU CAN RING MY BELL, RING MY BELL (TO GET ENTRY TO THE SWAN IN DARLASTON)
TAKING IT DOWN TO THE WYRE – THE BLAKEDOWN SWAN
May 2023. With Evesham out of reach, the next pub was only a penultimate Worcestershire tick, and the biggest question about the Blakedown was whether I’d actually been to the Swan before and forgotten to record it on The Spreadsheet. For the A456 from Birmingham to Kidderminster (I believe Life After Football used to walk… Continue reading TAKING IT DOWN TO THE WYRE – THE BLAKEDOWN SWAN
PUBS WITH WRITING ON THE WALL AREN’T ALL BAD
April 2023. Big news from Waterbeach where Chung Hwa is under (slightly) new ownership, or rather old ownership, and is as wonderful as ever. I feel the need to tell you that as some folk moaned about changes on Facebook. Never trust “folk”, particularly electric. Back “home” I’ve been taking Dad out to the nicer… Continue reading PUBS WITH WRITING ON THE WALL AREN’T ALL BAD
I’M SORRY, I HAVEN’T A CLEWER
A year ago retiredmartin was in a bad way. Pubs had just closed as the unexpected Lockdown 2 hit as dark descended, and after a final hurrah in London my blog material dried up. Both of our lads were kicking their heels, and our move north to Sheffield hit an unexpected snag due to an… Continue reading I’M SORRY, I HAVEN’T A CLEWER
GUESS THE PUB GOES LOCAL
Only 8 more days and we can confine “Guess the Pub” to the dustbin of blog history. At least until the tricky Carluke variant (only tackled by adding Buckfast to the vaccine) comes along, anyway. I’m staying local today, barely 20 minutes from home. Duncan will be able to identify the location from my drone… Continue reading GUESS THE PUB GOES LOCAL
MONKS ELEIGH – ALL RIGHT NOW
I reckon one photo is all you need to guess where I went next; Yes, it’s the brightly coloured cottages of Greater Lavenham, pilgrimage for Americans in search of the true fake Lil Ol England for decades now. If you know the Eleighs at all, it’ll be the famous Cock at Brent, whose bench seating… Continue reading MONKS ELEIGH – ALL RIGHT NOW
BLACK SHEEP ON THE IRON BRIDGE
To the bridge ! First stop here for a decade, and it was good to see the Friday evening daytrippers out in decent numbers, drawn by free parking and Holdens Bitter. Not quite the honeypot of Bewdley or Bilston, but there’s little better than a stroll over the Iron Bridge. And back again. Takes,… Continue reading BLACK SHEEP ON THE IRON BRIDGE
THE PROBLEM WITH CHOICE – PART 72
I’d been considering a night in Halesowen, but Stourbridge beckons in a couple of weeks, and you can have too much Black Country fun. The appeal of the former rests on a couple of famed free houses, and a couple of social clubs, one of which (Somers) was always an exhibition of Black Country bitters. Like all… Continue reading THE PROBLEM WITH CHOICE – PART 72
WONDERS OF WANTAGE
Wantage is an ideal overnight stop for exploring South Oxon, with a couple of great pubs, decent Chinese takeaway and, vitally, a Waitrose. Hotel prices might be described as “ambitious” though; you’re best off camping on this nice bit of greenery; The town itself is neat but functional, pubs apart. Perhaps it lacks the architectural appeal of similarly… Continue reading WONDERS OF WANTAGE
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