Stoke goes Craft

Stoke-on-Trent, to use its Sunday best name, is not the sort of place to do twirls in a frock. But in the name of Pansy Potter, it’s superb for beer. This year’s Good Beer Guide has two newcomers plus one in adjacent Newcastle-under-Lyme, whose offering is Weller’s, a tap for Weal Ales. Named after the……

Blue John, Manchester Fest and Fred Dibnah

I don’t go to many beer festivals but Manchester is one of the best. Held in the restored Manchester Central Station, the experience was enhanced by attending a beers from the wood tasting session where we were expertly guided by Roger Protz.  It is well covered here – https://chrisdyson55.blogspot.com/2019/02/all-aboard-for-manchester-central.html?spref=tw&m=1 It was a pleasure to meet Chris……

Yorkshire Ales Deliver

A few more to report in Lincolnshire before finishing in style at Yorkshire Ales in Snaith. The Marrowbone and Cleaver in Kilmington sounds like a butchery based theme pub but it’s more flowers in the bogs than Slaughter and The Dogs. It’s owned by Guy Martin, a veteran of 14 TT’s and 2 broken backs.……

A Visit to Grimsby Docks

For all its merits, Grimsby might not be first place that springs to mind when it comes to bleeding-edge craft beer. The town’s principal identity lies with it once having the world’s largest fishing fleet. It sits on the south of the Humber, 33 miles from Hull via the Humber Bridge. Before the bridge was……

Sambrook’s Saves the Day in London

It is, as they say, swings and roundabouts in the pub ticking game. I had survived a later than scheduled opening at the Great North Wood, West Norwood where the Twickenham Winter Star (4.4%) was just the job on a cold day. Then managed to squeeze in Balham Bowls Club, an Antic pub that didn’t……

Huge Eggs Found in Wales

If massive eggs are your thing I can recommend the Beehive at Manafon in Powys, or what CAMRA calls Mid-Wales. You may have two observations. Shouldn’t the Beehive sell honey? And that looks painful. Situated in the quiet Rhiw Valley, The Beehive dates back to the 1650’s. It’s what known as an outlier in the……

Terling – Not to be Trifled with

Welcome to Terling, Essex Village of the Year 2017. The 2018 winner was Messing so there may be hope for Ugley or Fiddler’s Hamlet this year. If you have 45 minutes to spare in Terling before the Monkey opens, there’s loads to do. No, really. For starters it has an open air swimming pool. The……