Pub Curmudgeon has been exploring Britain’s real ale deserts on his blog. It’s a good read, and like him, I’d rather see a busy keg pub providing an essential service to old folk than an empty ale emporium. Westhoughton is one of those suburbs of Bolton (or Wigan) that in my mind I’d expect to… Continue reading WESTHOUGHTON WETHERSPOONS
Tag: Wetherspoons
AUTUMN IN CWMBRAN
My newish Rough Guide to Wales is proving it’s usual middle-class self. Lots of nonsense about misericords and 13th Century battlements, nothing about where to see spitting in Ebbw Vale pubs or buy a Chinese takeaway at midnight, which is my definition of Rough. No mention at all of Cwmbran, an authentic Welsh New Town at… Continue reading AUTUMN IN CWMBRAN
MID-WEEK WINCHESTER
Stopping at Winchester‘s caravan park on the way to End of the Road made a change, we normally stay in Salisbury, which gives me plenty of time to whinge about warm Hop Back beers in their otherwise very lively pubs The absence of the Beer Guide when we left home (surely the subject of a future… Continue reading MID-WEEK WINCHESTER
THE WORCESTERSHIRE WAY
Bewdley is more than basic ex-Banks pubs; it’s like a Georgian Barmouth by the Severn. On 2016’s summer day, the riverside was packed with day-tripping Black Country folk enjoying chips and beer by the river. On the walk to the Rising Sun an old couple stopped us on a junction to enquire about a good… Continue reading THE WORCESTERSHIRE WAY
SWANSEA – SKATEBOARDS, SPOONS (AGAIN) AND SUMMING-UP
I am now an expert on UK indoor skatepark exteriors, having taken my son Matt to nearly all the UK’s scruffy looking shacks. The best one is in Warrington, the one in Stockport is genuinely terrifying but at least there’s good pubs nearby. The discussion* about Swansea‘s revival tends to focus on the marina, but… Continue reading SWANSEA – SKATEBOARDS, SPOONS (AGAIN) AND SUMMING-UP
A TALE OF TWO SPOONS
We’ve been to a lot of Wetherspoons in Wales. In fact, so many that I’ve used all my quarters 50p vouchers already, which surely qualifies me for some more. With Spoon’s current relative retrenchment, I can’t see them opening a lot more in Wales, but they already have them in some fairly small places like… Continue reading A TALE OF TWO SPOONS
NEW SPOONS ON MONDAY
I’m not sure when it’s going to get its Brewdog, but new openings and crafty upgrades continue apace in Cambridge. Meanwhile, Huntingdonshire makes do with a belated succession of Wetherspoons, which is clearly what people there want. The county town got its Spoons at the end of July. Ten years ago this would have been… Continue reading NEW SPOONS ON MONDAY
CAMRA REVITALISATION -DRINK THE REAL ALE
In between dodging barflies in Sussex and posing tables in Leyland (report to follow) I attended the CAMRA revitalisation meeting in Didsbury on Wednesday. I was always going to attend to attend the event closest to Stockport to be fair; opinions are strongly held up here and tickets for the bout were trading for £50 on the… Continue reading CAMRA REVITALISATION -DRINK THE REAL ALE
ON ILKESTON’S MORES, M’DUCK
The mining towns of east Derbyshire have had a hard time, but the reclaimed countryside makes great walking, and a relatively high demand for real ale helps maintain some excellent pubs. Ilkeston, despite it’s proximity to the M1, has always felt particularly cut-off from the world, and being the largest town in Britain without a… Continue reading ON ILKESTON’S MORES, M’DUCK
PHILOSOPHY FOR THE SAISONS IN NEWMARKET
In 20 years time people will no doubt look back on the horror of the last week, aghast that the so-called “Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts” was headlined by a procession of OAP cover bands. And Coldplay (sorry, should have warned you at the top that was coming). A very similar musical fayre is available… Continue reading PHILOSOPHY FOR THE SAISONS IN NEWMARKET
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