HARRY BELAFONTE NIGHT IN THE VAULTS

February 2024. Uttoxeter. Thursday night in Uttoxeter. Got the tick, done the pre-emptive Marston diner, one question remained; What a silly question. Incredibly, only my third visit to The Vaults, perhaps the most famous Bass pub, alongside the bankers of Stockton and the flat nectar of Bath. But then, I haven’t been to the Coopers… Continue reading HARRY BELAFONTE NIGHT IN THE VAULTS

“No mobile phones, please”. QUIZ NIGHT IN UTTOXETER

February 2024. Uttoxeter. No offence at all to local CAMRA, but if ever a town was ill-represented by its GBG entries it’s Uttoxeter. A population of 14,014, occasionally doubled at race meetings, with 20 entries on What Pub but just a couple of micros in the Guide most years. Nothing wrong with the Horse &… Continue reading “No mobile phones, please”. QUIZ NIGHT IN UTTOXETER

DISPENSING CAREER ADVICE AT UTTOXETER STATION

July 2023. Uttoxeter. I consulted the bus timetable to return from Kingstone to Uttoxeter; it seemed to suggest I should have left the previous week. Still, the alternate walk back via Loxley was rather less stressful than the outward slog, helped by the armful of questionable toffees (top) grabbed from a jar as I left… Continue reading DISPENSING CAREER ADVICE AT UTTOXETER STATION

FINDING MYSELF UNEXPECTEDLY IN UTTOXETER ON LADIES DAY

July 2023. Uttoxter. I’m singlehandedly propping up provincial rail companies as I forlornly tick straggling GBG pubs over summer. Another trip into Staffordshire via Derby (saving about a tenner) for a lone new Guide entry near Uttoxeter. At Derby’s Platform 4a it suddenly dawned on me I’d made a big mistake. Huge. I’d clearly picked… Continue reading FINDING MYSELF UNEXPECTEDLY IN UTTOXETER ON LADIES DAY