31st January 2023. A six mile walk across the length of Cardiff, though I did succumb to the late night bus back to ZIP with an early departure needed the next morning. Before my gig in the Victorian heart of Cardiff I met up with regular reader Etu, about whom I can tell you nothing… Continue reading AMBER ARCADES IN CARDIFF VICTORIAN ARCADES
Tag: Wales
ROATH RUMBLE
31st January 2023. Another late night, but we’ll have plenty of time to “chill out” when we’re dead, so let’s hit Cardiff. Mrs RM was intrigued by my £27 a night Zip hotel by Premier Inn next to the David Lloyd fitness centre 3 miles east of Cardiff central. Worth a tenner just for the… Continue reading ROATH RUMBLE
NEVER MIND THE BUTTY BACH, MONKNASH, HERE’S THE FLAT BASS
31st January 2023. Well spotted, Andy Holmes, our mysterious new commentator. Yes, next stop, last tick of the month, is the legendary Plough & Harrow in tiny Monknash, one of Glamorgan’s top dining pubs. One of those unmodernised ones, with ORIGINAL dragon on the door. I’m not scared of your silly dragon, but I am… Continue reading NEVER MIND THE BUTTY BACH, MONKNASH, HERE’S THE FLAT BASS
ON SOUTHERNDOWN BEACH
31st January 2023. 50 odd years after my first sighting of the ocean (possibly at Aldeburgh) there’s still a thrill about arriving at the sea. Sadly, Sheffield has many great features but the sea isn’t one of them. Bridgend may have limited charms, but the resorts and coastal villages are as good as anywhere, as… Continue reading ON SOUTHERNDOWN BEACH
MARVELLOUS MAESTEG
31st January 2023. A foreign holiday to end the month, as I take the Prince of Wales Bridge into west Glamorgan for a few ticks, a pint with an esteemed reader of this blog, and a gig by Dutch popsters Amber Arcades. First stop, Maesteg. A year ago I was driving round here on the… Continue reading MARVELLOUS MAESTEG
SPOONS CURRY NIGHT IN HAVERFORDWEST
My last night in Wales, and Duncan met Baa Baa Toure for the first time. It was emotional. Haverfordwest is a great place to be emotional in (NGPTBEISS 3.5+). Duncan, who’s just broke his blog silence by welcoming the new GBG, had done all the Guide pubs for 3,788 miles around, so it was a… Continue reading SPOONS CURRY NIGHT IN HAVERFORDWEST
LEARNING (UNDER DURESS) TO LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC IN HAVERFORDWEST
Back to mid August, with the whole of Wales ticked and England about to fall I was about to enter the most exciting period of my life. I know you’re supposed to say the birth of your children is the most exciting time, but why lie to you now ? The GBG is laid out… Continue reading LEARNING (UNDER DURESS) TO LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC IN HAVERFORDWEST
PAPER PUMPCLIPS = PROPER PUBS IN CROES-GOCH
Heading towards the finish line of Wales GBG ticks in August, but with a hurdle in front of us. Would I survive the gentrification and pashmina overload of Solva, the broadsheet readers’ favourite. Well, the creek was a bit Swallows & Amazons, but the Cambrian was just a well-run bistro dining pub with good local… Continue reading PAPER PUMPCLIPS = PROPER PUBS IN CROES-GOCH
TOP 100 PUBS – CRESSELLY ARMS, WEST WALES
In 2019 Duncan expressed surprise I’d never been to the Cresselly Arms in, er, Cresselly, and on my mad dash this Summer to the GBG finish line I wondered if I’d bump into any “classics that I really ought to have done already”. I guess the Mansel Arms in Porthyrhyd, Farmers in St Ouen, and… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – CRESSELLY ARMS, WEST WALES
“Please do not approach the bar”. Saundersfoot lays down the law.
Summer by the seaside. Can’t beat it. Unless you’re a ticker when a wet winter Wednesday in Wednesfield is wonderful. Saundersfoot isn’t quite Tenby, but it looked pretty special on the descent to the beach. If Tenby is the Welsh Whitby, then Saundersfoot is its Filey, I guess. Nowt wrong with Filey, as Richard Coldwell… Continue reading “Please do not approach the bar”. Saundersfoot lays down the law.
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