Distance - 12 Miles
Geocaches - 12 and the Retford Adventure Lab Cache.
Walk Inspiration - Best Pub Walks in Nottinghamshire, Walk 28
Good Beer Guide Ticks - #556-562
A first for this blog - a two centre pub crawl - ticking off the Good Beer Guide Entries of Worksop and Retford.
First a walk - it was a 12 miler along the canal. The train return journey took 12 mins. The scenery improved with every step from Worksop. There were geocaches. And Locks. Disappointingly, the only pub passed was on the opposite side of the canal. With no bridge.
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| Earthy Worksop |
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| The Prettiest part of the Chesterfield Canal |
Blog space saved for the pubs
Retford
I'd never heard of the town before but I was sold on it when I saw it had found Good Beer Guide Entries. First, an Adventure Lab Cache to show me the 5 best tourist sights. The hospital. The Sebastopol cannon. The church. The Market Square. The Park.
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| Sightseeing in Retford |
Beer Under the Clock (formerly Beerheadz), West Coast by Silver Brewhouse
Tick one of the day and VAR/Dubious Pub Ticking Committee at Stockley Park are instantly required. This is in the bible as Beerheadz. Their facebook page detailed that the old management had taken it over and renamed it.
Its a micro located opposite the rapid Covid testing clinic and under the Market Square Clock, proving its name.
An excellent pint, so I'm claiming it.
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| Handsome |
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| Beer Opposite the Covid Clinic was dismissed as a Name |
The Ship Inn, Batemans Gold
This place nearly broke the universal law that there are no bad pubs called the Ship Inn.
The only fully traditional pub on today's outing - it has everything going for it... apart from the service.
One member of staff on a Saturday Afternoon, who met any and all inquiries by barking "I will be with you in a minute!" and then losing the pub beer garden by serving people out of order.
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| Traffic Stopping Access to the Ship Inn |
The Idle Valley Tap Room, St Modwen by Heritage Brewing
The Good Beer Guide keeps on turning up surprises and here we have a tap room for a brewery that no longer exists.
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| When is a Tap, not a Tap? |
The Beer Shed, Harrisons Brewery Best Bitter
So, two tap rooms in Retford and the Beer Shed was the busiest place on this particular Saturday Afternoon.
The Tap Room for Harrisons Brewery, one that I have previously not heard of.
From the outside, it looks like a micro but it opens up downstairs and even has a little beer garden.
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| Double fronted Micro? |
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| Shiny Happy Person |
Worksop
At the local football derby - the Retford fans sing "You're just a town full of scumbags" at the Worksop Fans, who retort with "You're just a town full of Tories".
This - and the fact that Worksop is the Birthplace of Bruce Dickinson - are the sort of the facts you can determine when hanging around pubs solo, armed with a Smartphone.
The Mallard, Brickworks Bitter by Bingham Brewery
Two of the four good beer guide ticks are near Worksop Station. In fact, the Mallard is actually inside the station.
Handy for commuters - if there are any left, these days.
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| A pub in a Station |
The Station Hotel, Shine On by Milestone Brewery
Commuters have a real choice - with another Good Beer Guide Entry over the road.
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| The Station Hotel |
Dukeries Brewery Tap, Baronet
Not far from the Liquorice Gardens - which I nearly visited. The Good Beer Guide only provided clues to the fact that it was a JDW. Greene King Abbot and Ruddles listed under its beers.
They won't and never will, sell Dukeries beers, despite being next door. The brewers father says they don't know how to keep a good pint. I'll take his word for it, as Mrs M has banned me from spending money at Tim's.
This is the latest surprise recommendation by the Good Beer Guide. Its all things to all people - a brewery tap - a BBQ food outlet - a live music venue.
All tables were booked out for the night - with eclectic customers ranging from burly bikers to your nan and granddad. The accommodating staff managed to fit me in.
And what a joy to hear live music again.
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| One of the more unusual Good Beer Guide Ticks |
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