A Miracle of Inn Signs

Many inns have had impressive signs but none as spectacular as the White Hart at Scole, Norfolk, that once had a sign spanning the road featuring 29 figures and 21 animals carved in black oak. Made by John Fairchild in 1655, it weighed 40 tons and cost £1,057 – the inn itself cost £1,500. The……

A Danish Kro

In Denmark an inn is known as a Kro. In 1396 Queen Margrethe I decreed that there should be one royally licensed inn every four Danish miles (about 19 miles, 30 kilometres), considered to be the distance of a day on horseback. Some survive, including the oldest, Bromølle Kro, which dates from 1198. The village……

45 Minutes in Stockport

How best to spend 45 minutes in Stockport? There are numerous options. (a) Watch half a Stockport County match. Enjoyed going there several times but not an option, this was a Tuesday afternoon. (b) Go to Robinson’s Brewery Visitor Centre. Done that and it’s time well spent. I also like the way the brewery is……

Herts and Finds

The clamour for posts about Hemel Hempstead has grown ever louder since Retired Martin went to the considerable expense of hiring a helicopter to get the money shot. This roundabout is a wonder of urban planning, only exceeded perhaps by the magnificence of the Piazza del Hemel. But the town does have a Bulgarian good……

The Road to the Isles

Glasgow and Mallaig are only 150 miles apart by road and there is a direct train three times daily, but it takes 5 hours 13 minutes, much the same time as it takes to get to London. The last 90 minutes of the journey are from Fort William on the spectacular West Highland Line. On……

1200 Postcards in Hastings

Some English seaside resorts have emerged from a long decline, following the advent of cheap overseas holidays, to forge a more prosperous future. Hastings is probably still work in progress in that respect, but there is lots to admire about this Sussex coastal town, not least the East Hill cliff railway, opened in 1902 using……

The Harrow at Steep: A Classic English Pub

Rarely can the much used term ‘timeless classic’ be more appropriate than when describing the Harrow at Steep, Hampshire. Beside a country lane, long since by-passed by the busy A3, it is the epitome of an English country pub that has stayed in the same family since 1929. There are two rooms. The public bar……

Normal (Table) Service is Resumed

The month of May finally brought some relief to our beleaguered pubs across much of Britain, the proviso being table service only. Most people don’t seem too bothered about this. It is, after all, common practice across Europe, and they are just pleased to be inside a pub again. Talbot, Alton, Staffs And as privations……

The Abbeytown Habit

Outdoors only. No booking Today is the 17th of May and heralds the reopening of pubs indoors in (most of) Britain. As Marina Hyde says: “….one of the most absolutely objectionable parts of “unlocking” is having to look grateful as the prime minister meagrely parcels out what have been standard freedoms since time immemorial, and……

I never promised you a dry garden

Soon, it is rumoured, this hell will be over and we will be able to go into a pub and drink beer. Let’s face it this outdoor drinking lark is rubbish, and almost certainly pointless. My last three attempts have involved attempting to shelter from hail, high winds, driving rain and bitter cold. Often at……