25/05/24 - Geocaching at RAF Desborough and the Good Beer Guide Pubs of Market Harborough

Pots and (half) Pints

A 44 Mystery Cache trail on the Northamptonshire/Leicestershire borders. The plan is that you solve a puzzle to reveal the actual co-ordinates and it provides "GeoArt" on the map. I could show today's example but I made such a poor job of finding tubes taped to branches in woodland that I have more gaps than a hillbilly's smile.

Geocaching Success!

I had no idea what to expect of the terrain and it was certainly odder than I could have planned. A 7 mile circuit of the former RAF Desborough Airfield. The concrete strips are the runways. What I thought to be agricultural buildings are huge aircraft hangars. Best part of four hours in the field and above is my only photo.

Thinking of how I can improve the blog, I head to Market Harborough. I can investigate the Civil War History, look for lunch and get a couple of Good Beer Guide Ticks.

The most significant event associated with Market Harborough during the Civil War was its proximity to the Battle of Naseby, fought on June 14, 1645. This battle was a decisive victory for the Parliamentarians under Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. Market Harborough served as a Royalist headquarters before the battle.

• King Charles I and his troops stayed in Market Harborough before marching out to meet the Parliamentarian forces. The King's decision-making and the Royalist army's preparations were based here.
• Following the Royalist defeat at Naseby, Market Harborough saw the retreat of the Royalist forces. The Parliamentarians captured several key figures and royal possessions in the aftermath, including the King's personal correspondence, which was later published to undermine Royalist support.

Onto the pubs.... and you cannot find a better "does what it says on the tin" place than The Beerhouse.

A Hive of Activity

Gaining access is slightly odd, walking through the white door below the "Optimum You, Yoga and Wellness" sign. This gives me just the right amount of quip ammunition to get the response "we offer a different type of wellness".

Boom - I pitch them up, they bat them back.

A bigger than average micro bar, with outside seating that popular I need to lift a photo from TripAdvisor. The wellness on offer is a huge collection of cask and keg. A chalkboard that requires a damn good staring. I ignore some of the more exotic Tartarus double digit stouts and settle on a Round Corner. 

Naturally, the reply is "which Round Corner?"

The sort of place you need a damn good session in to work your way through the wares.

Onwards, and lunch is needed. The Good Beer Guide Pub App - which I will not be able to re-install when I get a new phone - states that The Admiral Nelson has food available.

A classic back street boozer, I am slightly suspicious but still hope for cobs. You'd definitely get cobs in this sort of place in the West Midlands.

Back Street Boozer

Half a Bass - in such good condition I was googling Premier Inn - and mini cheddars.

A lunch fit for a (defeated) King.

Walk Details

Distance - 8.5 Miles

Geocaches - 44

First Cache

06/01/24 - On the Trail of Richard III

 Leicester by Day

With the pubs ticked off by night, I'm pleased to say my opinion of Leicester has improved in the daylight.

A mixture of Adventure Lab Caching (ALC) and an out of date "Battlefield Walks of the Midlands" book shows me the history of the town. Walk 11 is on the trail of Richard III in Leicester. The City where he was killed in a nearby battle in 1485. The book was written in 2004 and much has happened to the story since.... we now know that his bones were not thrown in the River Soar and lost forever. They have, of course, been found under a council car park and interned into Leicester Cathedral.

This is a super walk to show more of the hidden parts of Leicester. Away from the chaos of deliveroo cyclists and boy racers that terrorise the streets at night.

Adventure Lab Caching makes the start of the walk at De Montfort Square - with New Walk providing a delightful entry into the City. Pedestrianised and through some fine Georgian Architecture.

Beautiful Georgian Square

Leicester Museum along the pedestianised New Walk

The ALCs switch focus to Medieval Leicester and I explore Magazine Gateway and the Castle Grounds. Little remains, yet commerce is alive and well. The Micro pub through Turret Tower called "The Castle".

Magazine Gateway - Freestanding reminder of the City Walls

Turret Tower in the morning sunshine

After a visit to Newarke House Museums to collect ALC clues from the mock up of the Jolly Anglers pub - complete with terrifying motion activated soundtrack - I head for the River Soar. I honestly expected to have to abandon the walk at this point but if there were post Storm Henck floodwaters, they have abated. Even Abbey Park is accessible.

Along the River Soar - Over Weirs, along Canals

A full circuit of Abbey Park

Cardinal Wolsey - with a visited cafe behind

Back into town, to find the Guildhall, Town Hall and the Cathedral.

Cathedral poking out behind the Guildhall

Finding Richard III in the Cathedral

I had saved the JDW as a final Good Beer Guide Tick of the weekend. With the ALC's draining the phone battery, I am hoping to find a nice comfy seat, next to a socket and let the app take the strain.

I hadn't factored in Leicester Tigers being at home. No room at the inn, with every table taken by punters in a uniform of green, white and red stripes. I'll save my shekles for Britain's newest Sir for another day.

First dubious tick of 2024, but there was a Cask Marque Scan

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 31 ALCs and 1 Traditional

Walk Inspiration - Battlefield Walk in the Midlands, Walk 11

05/01/24 - Good Beer Guide Pubs of Leicester

 Leicester by Night

First blog of 2024 and its a pub crawl.

Only "Tryanuary" here.

I've walked in Leicester once before. In daytime. This is my first experience of the place in the dark, so lets get the moaning out the way. Have I ever been to a more unfriendly place for pedestrians? 

Footpaths are shared with cyclists and there are a about a million of them. All on fat-tyred, electric monsters, where the rider has an extra cube on the back. If this is for extra juice, then why don't they tun their fecking lights on? More likely, they are gig-econmonists feeding city centre dwellers with chicken. Business is obviously booming.

And the cars are worse. Your Mercs are AMGs, your Audis are R or S and they all just bomb around the tight streets at ridiculous speeds, with dodgy music blaring.

Not conducive to a man hunting for the 12 Good Beer Guide Ticks available by the power of Smartphone.

Don't worry - I'll only visit 5

The nearest to my room at Lenny's Purple Palace is The Ale Wagon. A 1930's drinking pub, with a couple of rooms and some nice original features. 

Return of dodgy night time photos

Philfest was 2022

Unsurprisingly as a Leicester newbie, I've not encountered Hoskins beers before. I would like to tell you more about HOB Bitter but what they do for brewing, is at a cost to web site maintenance. Untappd is cryptic but better than a 404 error.

Hoskins Brothers Ales do not brew. All beers are brewed by Tower Brewery. The brothers own the Ale Wagon pub in Leicester and this is the base for a brewery that is brewing both Hoskins ales and ales from the former Oldfield Brewery

Onwards to the first of two Black Country Ales Pubs that are encroaching to the East.  The Salmon is designed to such a corporate standard that I am instantly connected to the WiFi despite never having set foot in the premises before.

BCA - As uniform and corporate as JDW

If you've not been to a BCA pub, expect tradition, a bewildering collection of too many cask ales, cobs, real fires and plenty of customers. The formula works, even if it doesn't set the pub tickers pulse racing.

Magic Brewing Dolphin IPA and the magic of the cup

An unusual card game in flight - that maybe my readers can help out with. Gents playing multiple hands simultaneously (runs, flushes, pairs etc) and keeping score with a pegging board that is similar to a regular crib board but square - maybe nine holes by nine holes?

I am a member of my local BCA's crib team and know my way around pub games but this one was new to me.

The Globe is the oldest pub in Leicester, proudly celebrated on external signage. 

Since 1720

Certainly my sort of pub - a multi-roomer, around a central bar and I progress all around for a nose before settling on the exact room that I entered.

Can always look through the bar to see other room action

An Everards house - its chance to ponder if there is a more tricky pint to rate than Tiger.  It always looks the business, a deep amber, with great lacing. Yet to me, it tastes of next to nothing.

Handsome, yet slightly bland.  Could be talking about me.

My final two pubs are adjacent and could both be described as "Micro with grandeur".

The Two Tailed Lion is a converted Victorian Townhouse, running over two floors. If you have time for only one pub, this would be my recommendation. Head and shoulders above all others visited in terms of beer choice and welcome.

My pub of the night

Mainly purveyors of modern breweries and on today's visit where I saw Marble, Cloudwater and Pomona - modern breweries from Manchester.

But something else caught my eye - I'd read about Braybrooke lagers in Johnny Garrett's A Year in Beer book. This is the first venue I've caught it on sale. 

It didn't disappoint.

"Pint of the Night" in "Pub of the Night"

The Blue Boar is the second micro, playing on the city's history. I know from tomorrow's history walk that Richard III spent the night before the battle of Bosworth in an Inn of this name in a nearby location. It was demolished in 1836, showing that urban planning has been shite for centuries.

A quiet night, where the only other punter was a very drunk OAP lady on cider, was perhaps not best experience but I did get a feel for the range of offerings available. I may still be within the 12 days of Xmas but new year's commitments mean that I am not having pints of St Bernadus or Delirium Xmas Ale for the bargain price of £12.50.

Micro single roomer doing a good impression of a trad pub

Plenty of time to study the boards - This was Bakers Dozen Electric Landlady

5 out of 12 completed. Tomorrow, I concentrate on discovering more of the City's history. In the daylight, when I can see the traffic coming at me.

07/08/21 - Searching for PieFest in Melton Mowbray

The inspiration for this weekend away came from the BeerO'Clock Show Podcast.

EARLY BIRDS 🐦🐦🐦 Hopinions 148 "The Pursuit of Perfection"@mjpo007 and I are joined by Combie from @RoundCornerBeer as we enjoy a few of their beers together

We chat about 330ml cans, taprooms and what Melton Mowbray is famous forhttps://t.co/FdDmiRDrSZ pic.twitter.com/gtZ83gzBfa

— Beer O’clock Show #Hopinions (@BeerOClockShow) May 13, 2021

Combie from Round Corner Brewing was enthusiastic enough but when he mentioned that Melton Mowbray hosts a Pork Pie Festival, well I just had to spark up Google.

The information was sketchy, it showed it was cancelled last year and the date for this year was the 7th August.  So back in May, I found suitable accommodation (Lenny Henry never fails) and booked a room.  

Last week, I thought I ought to check on what actually happens at a Pork Pie Festival.  Google still showing the dates as 07/08 but when you clicked to buy £4.50 tickets, the dates had changed to the 28th.

Still, there will be pubs - The Good Beer Guide lists 3.  I just made sure I had a Pork Pie at lunch.

Paint the Town Red, King Street, Stahlstadt by Weldon Brewery

Just as happened in Retford, this is a BeerHeadz place that is in the GBG but has been sold on.  The same staff are working there (hello Charlie), the same decor, the same approach to beer.  Although they have added Gin and Cider.

The only trouble is finding it.

Signage is not obvious

Google Maps got us so close - but we were forced to ask Nigel over the road.  Who just had to rub in the dearth of savoury snacks.

Not Mappiman

A conversation quickly picked up as to where we were from and why we were here.  A knowing shake of the head when the incorrect dates were discussed and of course, the weekend of 28/8 has Piefest, a 1940's themed weekend and a vintage car rally.  

To avoid being too disappointed, the locals told us that Tubes Nightclub opens at 11pm.

Untappd Check in informed me its German for "Steel Town"

Anne of Cleves, Burton Street, Castle Rock Elsie Mo

With one of three Good Beer Guide Entries a bowling club where you need to be "card carrying" to gain access as a non-member, I knew I would have to find the "best of the rest" to add to the list.

I knew I had struck gold with the blue plaque on the front of the Anne of Cleves.

C14th Building

After Cromwell, it was gifted to Anne as part of the divorce settlement from Henry VIII

Not every pub has such an historical claim.  A quick peek inside, determination of how ordering works (still table service here) and out into Melton Mowbray's finest beer garden.

Interior as expected

The beer was excellent and proof enough that sometimes you need to look a little harder than the bible.

Especially when you want to avoid a Bowling Club Bouncer.

Round Corner Brewery, Cattle Market, Imperial Gunmetal Black Lager

And saving the best till last (no offence to the beautiful Italian meal we had at Amore).

Back towards the Purple Palace that is the Premier Inn, we cross over the road to the cavernous Cattle Market - wondering whether there is any life within.

Right in the middle is a little corrugated building and the unmistakable sound of people supping and having fun.

Round Corner

Drinking takes place in front of the machines where the joy is made.  There is a full size bar, there is Gin and my request of the highest ABV beer is met with a re-assuring "Good Choice Sir".

Bank Statement confirms it also comes in Pints

Further proof that people from Melton Mowbray are amongst the friendliest that we have ever met.  We take a bench to ourselves but a mere comment about an Airdale Terrier means we are joined by Alan and his Belgian wife for an hour.  There's little about their lives that we don't know, and likewise for them.

The punters move on and just as you think its closing, a couple from Inverness enter.  He is either fascinated by machinery or works for the council, as he takes an awful lot of photos of spotlessly silver brewing tanks.

We repeat what we have learned from Mr and Mrs Alan and get plenty of advice for our upcoming North Coast 500 trip.

A wonderful town, with wonderful people.  Even the tourists.

07/08/21 - Hoby to Rearsby and back for the Blue Bell

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 4

Walk Inspiration - Best Pub Walks in Leicestershire and Rutland, Walk 20

We're heading to Melton Mowbray for PieFest - an event that was advertised as being this weekend, celebrating all things pork pie.  

It's a good job that the Blue Bell's huge Ploughman's lunch came with one.  That was as close as we get to the savoury snack all weekend.  To be discussed in a future blog.

First, a walk - and this one ticks all the boxes.  3 pretty villages - Hoby, Rearsby and Brooksby/Rotherby.  Gentle Leicestershire Countryside.  A Good Beer Guide Tick at the end.

It's a long distance path - the Leicestershire Round - that takes us along the first half of the loop. Sheep and wheat fields do not the greatest of photos make but it was flat walking, free of mud or other hazards.

100 Miles around Leicestershire

A few architectural delights in Rearsby.

C13th Church

1714 Seven Arch Bridge - from a time when people could not count

Norfolk Style Village Signs

The return through Brooksby/Rotherby offering much of the same.  Hoby rears into view, with the prospect of refreshment.

Over the River Wreake's Flood Plain and into Hoby

A quick ask for directions as to whether the pub can be accessed from the track that runs parallel to the main street almost results in the death of a sausage dog.  Whilst in conversation, the hound escaped its owners clutches and almost ended under the wheels of a reversing Freelander in an accident that had the potential to put us off lunch.

All's well that ends well and through a little gate and we are in a pleasant beer garden and table service is still in action.  A slight shame, as it prevented a mooch around the pub's interior.  The bible describes "exposed beams, tiled floors and rug coverings provides a cosy feel".  

It's handsome from the outside, too.

Hoby Blue Bell - Good Beer Guide Tick #572

An Everards House - the Tiger was in fine condition and the food was excellent.  

Not sure I have ever paid £16 for a Ploughman's before - but I couldn't go the whole weekend without a pork pie.

Everards Tiger

Forwards - to Melton Mowbry!

01/08/20 - Ashby-de-la-Zouch - The Tap at #76

Distance - 7 Miles
Walk Inspiration - CW Magazine, August 2018, Walk 10
Geocaches - 7


I remember when driving to Leeds from the Midlands, you had to go through the centre of Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

This explains the high number of coaching houses that line the high street. Ironic that the only entry in the 2020 Good Beer Guide is a history ignoring new Micro Pub.   I also have the chance of  a tick to get to from a different publication - Britain's Strangest Pubs. What wonders does the White Hart hold?

First, a walk. Finding one is harder than expected. Despite every issue of CW Magazine and two bookshelves groaning with walking books - my on-line database contains a single walk from the town centre. Maybe the National Forest is not that geared up for decent rambling?

I will say this for the NF - there's a decided lack of trees.

I head North East along the town's high street - eyeing up boozers, failing to spot the castle.  The Ivanhoe Way running along green lanes, past factories.  A navigational error at Western Old Parks Farm, where I was seduced by the first decent views and missed my turning.

Do not head this way

This is the required path

Smisby village is an absolute delight - the Smisby Arms looked like it was just getting ready for the day - at 11:57am, it would not have been the end of the world for me to have waited three minutes but its a little early into the walk.  Instead, I admire the Smisby Lockup - a temporary jail for drunkards - and the pretty church, perched on high.

Should Have

Smisby Church

The Lockup

Heading South West to Blackfordby, I encounter some exotic Leicestershire wildlife at Scam Hazel Farm but miss out on the Black Lion - getting home to read about it in the Good Beer Guide.  This could have been a two tick walk.

Hard as Nails - I stroked him, he butted me

Llama (or Alpaca)

Nothing to record, as I come through fields, the new builds and back into the town.

So first off - the White Hart.  I think the author of "Britain's Strangest Pubs" was running out of ideas when he included this one.  Strange, because it has a stuffed bear somewhere inside.  A greeter explains the rules of this Marstons house.  Scan the QR code to register at a website that hadn't loaded by the time I finished my lemonade.  I ask him if the bear is still here.  He says yes.  I fail to find the bear.  To be honest, I was getting confused by the one way system of arrows painted on the floor.

Dick Turpin's Favourite

Beerwise, I was saving myself for the Tap at number 76.  I'd checked it was open.  Hadn't noticed that it was only for take outs.  First time ever greeted at a pub with the shout "One at a time please".

Tap at #76 - next to the Market Hall

There were other pubs - the Bulls head, looking suitably ancient, the Queens Head looking like you could stable your horses.  Instead, I had another go at finding the castle.

Found!