26/03/23 - Good Beer Guide Ticking - Bristol Harbour

Good Beer Guide Pubs - #807 to #811

Previous Bristol Pub Crawls - City Centre 1, City Centre 2

Discovering Bristol's Good Beer Guide Pubs around the floating harbour

Although I can never see myself ticking every pub in any one year of the Bible, I would settle on finishing Bristol. This is my third visit in the 2020's and although steady progress is being made, there's lots more to do.

A Geocaching trail meant I was completing a full circuit of the floating harbour (had to google, ensures the tidal River Avon maintains a constant height). And of course, the waterside is where the good pubs are - luring in thirsty sailors and the carnival that follows through the centuries.

First of the day - and it's unique for me - actually on the water. My untappd check in elicits several replies - I need to also go to Peterborough and Grimsby. The Grain Barge belongs to the Bristol Beer Factory although the friendly bar staff seemed unaware that they were in the book. Maybe some work to do on their marketing? To be fair, tickers would come regardless of advertising. Great views of river life, SS Great Britain in particular. The Independence was beer of the day. Found again later on the crawl, for confirmation.

All aboard the Grain Barge

Bristol Beer Factory Independence - Gorgeous 

All to nearby is the Merchants Arms. The other side of a road that busy, you could describe it as "motorway". Thankfully, a pedestrian crossing allows for safe passage.

This is a small but perfectly formed traditional pub, with an even split of punters - you either had a child in a pushchair or men transfixed by Bath vs Exeter egg-chasing on the TV. 

A specialist in South West Ales, I made a tit of myself by requesting a Cheddar Ales George Best.

Safely across

Pub Life - The beer was, of course, Gorge Best

South side, onto the Spike Island that is nothing to do with the Stone Roses. The Orchard Inn provided a clue with it's name. The real ales are gravity fed on a back wall, but the chalk board is full of 20 ciders and perries. I should have experimented but 6%-ers would put the geocaching in jeopardy. Another fine, traditional pub. Another BBF Independence. 

Cider aplenty in the Orchard Inn

I timed entrance into the Golden Guinea perfectly. Shortly after ordering an Arbor Ales Shangri-La, the footfall increased significantly, when 30 sombrero wearing moustachioed pretend Mexicans came in. They weren't my sort of people when they didn't laugh at my "Tequila's all round" joke. I was reminded of my first tick in Bristol. The Bag O'Nails had a handwritten sign that simply said "No Idiot Stag Parties". 

I liked the wall-paper. I liked the chesterfield chairs. I liked the full size comedy venue downstairs.

View from a Chesterfield

Boak and Bailey, experts in all things pub and Bristol, have recently been extolling the virtues of the Kings Head. Not in the Good Beer Guide, but I could have brought you a report as to why its not the "Whitelocks of the South". It was that crammed, I couldn't even get to open the door.

So onto the main reason I came back to Bristol. The Llandoger Trow. Who wouldn't want to visit a pub with its own wiki page? A striking, gabled timber box frame building from 1664 that has been extended through acquisition and reduced through the Luftwaffe. It shares an outside area of King Street with the Old Duke opposite, bringing a Continental drinking experience on the outside benches. But there are floors and floors of interior to explore too. I found ancient fire places, nooks and crannies and occasionally, whole rooms big enough for banquets that I could have to myself

Llandoger Trow at night

They bring Bristolians beers from all around the world.  27 (!) keg lines, with the finest Bavarian,  Czech and Cheltenham wares available to man. But there are also 3 cask hand-pulls. And one of those was TT Landlord.

Staring at the chalk board was futile. Old familiar, it was. Paint me boring.

Till next time, Bristol!

05/06/21 - A Good Beer Guide Pub Crawl in Bristol

Good Beer Guide Ticks - #553 - 556

It was a chance conversation with the waitress at Stourport's new tap room that said if we liked this place, we should really go to Left Handed Giant in Bristol.

It was the heady days of the first Friday after what ever stage of easing it was in April, when we could sit outside. Without leaving our table of six, someone had booked Premier Inn's and a date was set.

I didn't mind. There is much work to do in Bristol, which had the honour of being the last new city crawled before all this madness started, back in January 2020.

Lets see if my friends were so keen, after a day of randomly ticking off places in the bible.

Left Handed Giant, Compressor Building, West Coast Pale

A nice walk, through the Saturday Shoppers and Castle Park and the only complexity is how to cross the water.  For this brewpub is moated.

Not a Micro

Unbelievably, we failed to observe the winding bridge seen in the photo.  There were strange smells wafting around Castle Park and that can be the only reason for two man/two woman confusion.

Following a group of six lads, there was quite a wait to get through the scanning checkin in. We were then escorted to a high table, under exposed ducting (you know the drill) and had the rules explained.  How to order. Where the loos were. 40 minute wait time on pizzas.

App related faff that required a side venture in setting up apple pay. Then we had to get our heads around the fact that only two size of beers available were - 1/2 pint or 2/3 pints.

This we can cope with. The snacks we could not. £2 for a bag of lightly salted cardboard squares.

Bring back scratchings!

The Cornubia, Temple Street, Elland Brewery Nettle Thrasher

My sort of Pub

This is where it gets tricky, pub crawling in the current conditions. Do you risk losing your table, where you have sorted out how to order to head off to the next place and run the risk of not getting in?

I have experience and I was also keen to explore the Cornubia, as it was closed on my last Sunday Evening visit.

The cunning plan involved me heading off solo - seeing if I could get in - and then texting back to the party to say it was safe to leave.

And this worked perfectly. With a large beer garden, there was plenty of space. I sat down, waited to be served by a human and then won the prize for thirstiest man in Bristol by ordering four drinks.

They've seen this, and worse, before.

A perfect traditional pub that unexpectedly had a lot of beers from West Yorkshire, rather than the West Country.  

The Shakespeare Tavern, Prince Street, Bristol Beer Factory Lauch Approval

A Narrow Terrace to sit out out the front

A mooch around the waterfront to dodge electric scooters and see if we can find a statue that needs toppling before I direct to posse to a back street that is a relative oasis of calm.

Another fine traditional pub - which the Bible claims to have the longest continuous ale licence in the city.  Inside, its all wooden paneling.  Outside, a little terrace of garden furniture.

Waiter service here and asking whats on provides our host with the chance to impress.  Eight real ales on and he can reel them all off, with type, brewery and ABV.

We had all glazed over by pint two - which of course, was what was ordered and was indeed, gorgeous.  

Oh for the days when you could go for a look.

The Old Fish Market, Baldwin Street, Fullers ESB

More Pubby Lovliness

We'd walked past this handsome pub earlier in the day and I was rather pleased to determine from my hastily assembled google map that it was in the bible.

For it is a Fullers pub - they will have ESB and fortunately, its only just gone pay day.

Outside - we had some seating where we could sit and observe the deliveroo bike riders crash into each other. It makes quite a sound and from the moment we started walking around Bristol, we could see it was going to be an inevitable experience in our day.

Inside - the pub is a delight - huge bar, chesterfields, nooks and crannies.

Everything you need and more.

With most of the centre ticked now, I will be back for the exotic sounding suburbs of Bedminster, Henleaze, Horfield and Hotwells.

20/11/16 - Old Green Tree, Bath

There are 13 Bath entries in the 2017 Good Beer Guide.  Its rather a good job that our son is at University for 5 years.

Slowly, slowly, we will tick them off.

On a flying visit to the Spa Town on the way back from Cornwall, we drop in to buy him lunch at a fine Italian.  Not content to just go shopping or admire buskers who's talents range from playing the guitar behind their necks to enticing pigeons to scare young children, we head off to a pub that I have previously visited.  Camra pub of the year 2016 - Borders Region, is a sensible place to start ticking them off again.

Old Green Tree, Green Street

Random BeerintheEvening Quote - "Met a very interesting chap sat at the bar that 2 of us instantly decided he could be a mass murderer"

Pretty Green Street

The Unspoiled Old Green Tree

On our visit, there were no mass murderers.  With the exception of the lady behind the bar, there were no people.  I commented on its quietness, to be met with "It was packed until you came in".

They must have been expecting me.

This provides us with a chance to admire the simple elegance of this unchanged pub.  This must be the only place where a spring clean involves solely the use of polish (not people of Poland).  Every surface is covered in wood.

A handful of real ales on - I shun the Butcombe in the name of adventure and chose a first Loxley Ale.  It was in as fine a condition as my smartphone camera suggests.

A first Loxely ale

Not long before the pub starts to fill back up again with weary shoppers seeking a real 1950s pub experience.

1 down 12 to go.

13/11/16 - The Bath Skyline

Distance - 6 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, Dec 16 Walk 1 or this link
Pub - The Inn at Freshford, Steam Box Brewery Tunnel Vision

The beautiful thing about our hobby is that new and interesting opportunities are available to you, anywhere in the country.

Today, we agreed to drop our post Cat Fish and the Bottlemen gig going student back off at Bath University.  He avoids a 2 hr 20 minute train ride, we get to explore another superb bit of Britain.

And as luck would have it, this months Country Walking Magazine has a route that starts from the University car park.

File under all round result.

We are barely out of the car park when we see our first signpost and know that route finding will not present a challenge.  Good old National Trust.

Students - This way for Fresh Air and Exercise

We make our introductions to a few friendly cows and progress to Claverton Down.  Autumn really is the time of year to be doing this walk.

Walking on a leafy carpet

As if the walking wasn't pleasant enough, NT have laid a geocache trail within the woods.  All nice and easy to find.

National Trust themed caches with logo log book

The first views of Bath are revealed at the Priory and they don't leave you for half of this walk.  I doubt there's a finer vantage point of this great city.

So we slap us two in front of the view

With other assorted walkers and football players

Sham castle more than lives up to its name. Nice to know that people had delusions of grandeur, even in 1762. How his neighbours must have laughed at his one wall castle.

Through the Arch and nothing is there

The return to the car is through Bathampton woods.  Just chance for a bit of off piste Geocaching to get the final piece of a multi cache which works only if you are walking the route clockwise.  Signing the log book required some rather serious scrambling skills - but always worth it when you find the treasure.

All that remains is to take the Student for his promised lunch.  Parking in Bath is not the easiest, so we head for Freshford - reminding us of a another CW walk we completed three years ago.

The C16th Freshford Inn was as stunning as the walk - honey coloured stone exterior, stripped pine interior, great service and a chance to try a new beer.

Steam Box Tunnel Vision and an expectant, hungry Student, previously living off Pot Noodles

They also have fine taste in literature.

Perfect Pub, Perfect Publication

05/07/14 - Mappiman - Where's your Trousers?

Distance - 7.3 Miles
Caches - 6
Walk From - Walk Britain, Great Views

Clifton at EveryTrail

My walking ideas are plentiful.  The only constraint is time.  Last year, I watched the History of the Britains on Sky Atlantic and this gave the inspiration for a series of walks that have taken in Norman Architecture, Trees where Royals hid and a "madame's house".  I got the the episode where there discussed the great Victorian Engineers and planned to do a walk that took in Brunel's Suspension Bridge in Bristol.  It's taken me about a year to get around to it.

The good news is that now I have walked it, I can knock off another two episodes from the Planner.  Sonia and Alex cannot wait for the next episode.

The drive down is in bad rain but BBC weather have promised that it will be gone by 9am.  They are more or less right, although I start the walk in light drizzle until the sun comes out for a glorious day.

Park up at the Observatory, from where, you can observe the Bridge.  The highlight of the walk is done before I have even got going.

Brunel's 19th Century Bridge

The Observatory

I read up on the Observatory - you can go in and drop down to caves, which presumably bring you out to the yellow viewing platform on the top photo.  I was in half a mind to do this, but the place is up for sale and it looked shut.

I made do with finding the two caches in the park before crossing the Bridge.  Strangely reminiscent of crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on last week's holidays.

Sign on entrance to Bridge

The guide book instructions have me crossing over and the walking to a viewpoint within Leigh Woods for another perspective of the Bridge.  It would have been better without the trees in the way.

The Bridge from Leigh Woods

The route shows that I need to retrace my steps to find a way down to the Avon.  There is a faint path dropping straight down the cliff face, so in the spirit of adventure - and shaving off 3/4 of a mile, I drop down.  Harder than it looked after the rain, but I safely make to the bottom and walk under the bridge.

The route is taking me into the city, viewing its industrial past and tourist present.  Stop to take a photo of the bridge behind, after grabbing a smiley from a decidedly less impressive bridge back over the Avon.

Notice the Sartorial Elegance of Mappiman, Blogfans

Crossing over, I am in a bleak industrial landscape - old warehouses, deserted railway lines and a fine footpath along the Avon.  I plod on, getting into the walking without the distraction of photos and caches.

Industrial Walking - and maybe the odd photo

I should have paid attention to the route description, as if I wanted to see SS Great Britain - and who wouldn't want to see the one time fasted vessel across the Atlantic - then I need to cross over the railway line via a footbridge.  I only realise this when I see the sign for the ship.  The bridge is 1/4 mile behind me.... do I really want an extra 15 minutes unnecessary walking?

Using the spirit of how I got out of Leigh Woods, I realise that the first four foot spikey fence can be climbed over by using a strategically placed signpost.   But how to get over the 6ft spikey fence on the other side? Going to be a problem until I notice a gap where someone has bent the bars - just wide enough for a 45 year old cacher who has spent 11 days eating in America to squeeze through.

I go for it.

I am up on the first fence - feet positioned between spikes to avoid screaming like Alan Partridge, I leap to the track below.

Disaster - Left trouser leg has got caught on the spike and there is a loud tearing noise, which leaves one half of my strides waving like a flag from a pole and me in a heap on the floor.

Fortunately, I have zip off trousers - so I can make the right leg look like the left leg.  I plod on as though I meant to come out like this.

Slightly less stylish, but it could have been a whole lot worse

Get back to my walking.  There is just too much to enjoy.  This part of the river walking is a pleasure - with boats of all sizes and a steam engine (presumably going to run over my trouser remains) shunting people around.  Far too many photos are taken.

This one being my favourite

Once on the other side of the river, I have the cathedral and Cabot Tower to photograph.

I do like a nice Cathedral

With a Puff and a Pant to the cache at Cabot Tower

I like this book.  At the end of the route description it has advice for refreshments and says that "Beer Lovers should not miss the opportunity to visit the Bag O'Nails pub".

I never ignore the instructions in a guide book.  Unless they are pedantic about using bridges, rather than leaping fences.

Find the pub and admire the sign in the window.

I am allowed in - I am an idiot alone

Small problem in that it is not open - and a quick text home reveals its a Midday opener.  I have 13 minutes to hang around before the landlord opens the door, inviting the magic to begin.

I am the only punter and the landlord is tidying up and getting the chairs down.  He recommends a fine pint of Dark Star and leaves me to be entertained by his cats and the additional rules written on the post inside the pub.

Stufa the Cat

My Gaff - My Rules - Including comprehensive instructions not to change a record until it has played out.

The conversation between me and Stufa wains a touch, so I look through the photos.   Here's a quiz for you blogfans - notice what is different between the pre-tumble and post-tumble Mappiman?

Yes - my Titfer has gone missing.  I even touch my head to see if it is there - nope, just my lush babyhair.  I wouldn't mind, but this is a very expensive three mode walking hat, including detachable neck screening barrier and I don't want to lose it.  I can only surmise that it went during the spill.

I drink up rather quickly and head out to see if there is a nearby bridge.

No Bridge - but fine views of SS Great Britain

Head back for the car - walking uphill through streets that remind me at various points of the seaside (hilly) Tobermoray (differently painted houses) and Edinburgh (layout of the streets).  Get to the car and plot a course to tumbledown.

Tune in next week to see what I am wearing on my bonce.