Category: UK

Our chairman, Paul Manning, his wife Bev along with Sheffield branch members John Wright and John Turner with their wives Eve and Andrea enjoyed a fantastic 4 day break in Oxford sampling many real ales and the tourist sights.

We arrived mid afternoon on a Tuesday and checked into our bed and breakfast hotel on St Clement’s Rd, a 15 minute walk south of the city centre. Keen to explore the ales on offer we first found the Cape of Good Hope pub which had a very pleasant pale called Anthem from St Austell Brewery. We then walked past Magdalen and University colleges along the High Street and sampled Abingdon Bridge bitter from Loose Cannon brewery in the Wheatsheaf a rock/dive bar with an interesting clientele. Next was a GBG entry, The Bear Inn, a recently refurbished Fullers pub reputed to be the oldest pub in Oxford. The London Pride was excellent but pricey at £6.50 – ouch!

We then had our evening meal at a local Indian tapas bar followed by a few excellent pints of Beechwood bitter from Chiltern brewery in the Port Mahon pub which was its Tuesday £3.50 ‘drink the cask dry’ offering – nice!

On the Wednesday we had a spot of ‘culture’ with a 2 hour walking tour round Oxford with a Morse, Endeavour and Lewis theme exploring many filming locations and a few drinking holes including the famous Turf Tavern where we tried its house Education ale – a Greene King brew.

Bev and I then did a short river cruise down the Thames past numerous University colleges boat houses whilst enjoying a can of Time Better Spent a juicy IPA from Tap Social Oxford brewery who employ guests of His Majesty’s Prisons in both the brewing and can design!

A further pint of London Pride in the Head of the River Fullers pub followed by an excellent Italian meal closed out our second day.

Thursday dawned a little cloudier but dry and this time it was the very touristy hop on/hop off bus which included a live commentary by Andy the Hat a local travel guide with loads of interesting facts about the many famous graduates in the various colleges including American presidents, Australian and British prime ministers and inventors and explorers. We also visited the Morse bar in the very grand Randolph hotel where it was an Irish coffee and cocktail for us.

We then all headed out of Oxford in a six seater Uber to the splendid Oxford brewery in the nearby village of Horspath. We were welcomed as old friends in their taproom where we enjoyed splendid pints of their cask offerings of Trinity, Prospect and Matilda’s Tears named brews. One purchased T shirt and cracked head on a door beam with ‘a mind your head’ sign on it later we returned to Oxford for our evening meal this time in a lovely Thai restaurant next to another grade ll listed GBG pub, the Chequers, where we enjoyed a lovely pint of Adnams brewery favourite Broadside. 

Our final day saw more visits to the Ashmolean museum, a look round the splendid New College with its Harry Potter themed dining hall and famous courtyard and tree featured in the film franchise.

The afternoon started with a visit to the fantastic Grapes pub which is Oxford CAMRA branch’s pub of the year for 2025 to deliver some of our festival beermats. It wasn’t hard to see why they won the award and we enjoyed several beers including SUP Golden Ale from Northern Monk brewery, 1950’s Burton Ruby Mild by Heritage brewing, a peach Melba bitter from Thornbridge and my personal favourite, a limited edition brew from Vale brewery named Our Shark to celebrate the 50 years anniversary of the Jaws film. They also served superb reasonably priced food with 3 tapas style plates duly consumed.

After enjoying a pint of Oxford Pale Ale from Chadlington brewery in The Kings Arms, a Youngs pub with more Sheffield beer festival beermats donated we spent the final afternoon doing a ‘Mystery Guide’ book tour round Oxford solving various clues on historic buildings and plaques etc to solve a ‘crime’ where the answer was revealed in a local pub. In our case it was the Bear Inn again which had numerous cricket club ties on display which revealed the culprit. Very enjoyable but tiring 3 hours which at least got our step counts way up. Our final evening was a visit to the city’s number 1 Tripadvisor rated restaurant called the Antep kitchen where we enjoyed splendid Turkish cuisine and Turkish Efee bottled beer.

A final couple of beers again at the Port Mahon pub closed out our stay. A lovely city with some great beers that is well worth a visit.

Having been on the ’70s weekend at Butlins last year, we moved a decade on this time. 

Gordon and I decided we’d chill on the train, with a few cans of course. So, after setting off at 07:23 from Sheffield, we got down to the task. The journey was nice and smooth, just a short 15 minute change at Grantham. Our friend drove, so arrived at camp earlier, where we had to queue, and only 2 staff later in the day. 

On exiting the station in the town centre, you have a short crossing to The Lumley, it only had 2 ales, but they were OK. I had both, a Batemans – XB Bitter of 3.7%, and the Theakstons – Hairy Bikers Bitter at 4.2%. Across the road is the Red Lion, Skegness’s Wethersoons. A quick pint of standard cider, before our real goal of The Crafty Local Ale House 5 minutes walk away. 

We ended up visiting this micropub 3 times, and what a gem. The building was originally a guest house in 1929, but then underwent changes of use as a college facility, blind institute and a dental practice, among others. There’s a nice outside, perfect for the weather we had. Inside is a small room with the bar, and a larger room to the right for entertainment. 

There was 3 cask, 4-5 box ciders and a few keg. Talking to the owner, he said later this year onwards will see further improvements. My choices over the visits were Salopian’s – The Thirteenth Hat, NZ Pale, 3.9%. Milestone – Son of a Beach, IPA of 4.5% and Celtic Marches – Tutti Frutti Cider, only 3.4%, but plenty of flavour. My friends chose cider, as one likes it and the requires GF drinks. 

Although we wanted to see the music at the camp, we were thwarted as it was far busier than last year and most arenas were bursting. We managed to get room to see Kim Wilde, Marty’s daughter, after 15 minutes of Black Lace (and no, I didn’t do the actions to Piano and Agadoo). She put on a fantastic show of around 70 minutes covering all the hits. 

We covered Ingoldmells on Saturday, just drinking standard Keg as real ale only seems to be on in one pub, The Countryman, and we were informed their brewer has left to become head brewer at the recently revived Jennings. We then returned to Skegness on Sunday and visited The Three Monkeys on the front, just one ale in Batemans XB, a decent pint for £3.50. Then it was back to The Crafty, before Gordon and I went in the Red Lion for a drink. We sat in the outdoor area where I sampled a Little Valley – Tod’s Blonde, an IPA of 5%.  

Back to camp and more keg. A quieter night just chatting before retiring at a reasonable 00:00 for bed. Showered, breakfast and out. We had a quick one before the train. 5 carriages to Grantham, then someone decided only 2 on to Nottingham and Sheffield, not the best logistics planner?

Next year we plan on either a ’60s, or Soul weekend. We’re pretty sure we’ll be there though, and hopefully more people will have followed The Crafty’s idea and opened a micropub. 

The sun was out, and even at 10:30 it was hovering around 21°. I arrived at The Sheffield Tap with time to spare for a pint before the 11:37 train. The selection as ever was good, so I went for a new one to me Pentrich’s – Hollywood Forever, a nice APA of 4.5% to start the day. Nearing 11:25, I made my way to the departure board, and found it not working. On speaking to a member of staff, I found it was Platform 2.

Awaiting to board, I thought this may be a solo reconnaissance trip, but with 5 minutes to spare Graham and Paul turned up to join me. The 30 minute journey on a relatively quiet train passed quickly, and before we knew it we were alighting at Worksop. Through the main doors we went to pop in for a drink at The Mallard. This is a fantastic little bar has a legendary status with 4 cask ales from varying regions. My tipple of choice was Welbeck’s – Elder Maria, a pale of only 3.9% but packed with flavour, there was also Badger and The Great Divide on the bar. Graham and Paul opted for the darker bitter on offer.  

A short hop through the car park and we were at the Station Hotel, a nice decorated pub with 2 wickets. One being Glamorgan’s Ffresh EPA, a beer I had never seen before, but throughly enjoyed in the nice beer garden outside.  A short walk downhill saw us enter town and the very strangely named Wetherspoons – The Liquorice Gardens. The choice was the usual 4-6 cask, I went for the Titanic -Raspberry Pale, a weighty 4.7%. 

On most of our trips, we have a little issue with Google Maps. This time is was finding the Millhouse. The sat nav took us in a circle again, before a lady told us it was way down the road the other way. Some 15 minutes later, we arrived at a smart outside and inside pub with 3 cask. You don’t see Everards much around Sheffield, so I gave the Tiger – Bitter, 4.2% a punt. I’m glad I did, as it was a nice biscuity, malty ale. 

Worksop Rugby Club was indicated as being round the corner, and this time the map worked, which was handy as a deluge was threatening. Luckily we missed it both arriving and leaving, thus ensuring dry shirts and shorts for the trip home. This bar advertises 2 changing ales on Worksop’s CAMRA website, but needs changing. We arrived after the walk through a private housing estate, to find no real ale. There was an explanation on enquiring of “We had some yesterday,” but that was of little use for us. Graham and Paul had bottled ale, while I went for a reasonable pint of Belhaven – 80/-, not bad to say it was keg. If visiting, I would give them a ring to check on cask beer availability. 

Hunger was creeping in and we’d spotted a chippy on the way, so we popped in. I had a fishcake, and again the contentious issue was that it was really a rissole, but we weren’t in Yorkshire, so I suppose you have to cut them some slack.  So food consumed we took the lengthy road back to the station. 

A walk to town again, and a slight uphill to the station saw us get a return train fairly promptly. We had intended to hop off at Kiveton Park for the Tap, but we’d had a long day and decided to finish in the Sheffield Tap and in no time we made our farewells. 

Despite it only being the 3 of us, we had a nice tour, and a laugh. At least next time, we know the route, and could possibly add one or two more. 

Although I have lived in Sheffield since the late eighties, my formative drinking days were in Bristol, and I go back for family and friends fairly frequently.

As such I’ve followed the beer scene in Bristol along side that of Sheffield. Bristol is of a similar size to Sheffield, and has in common the loss of the breweries that I knew well from my younger days, Courage and Smiles in Bristol’s case, Wards and Stones here. The Bristol beer scene is however vibrant, and has a surprising number of breweries, so much so that there is a biannual East Bristol brewery trail weekend, encompassing 6 venues. The trail covers Little Martha, Moor, Good Chemistry, Left Handed Giant, Wiper and True, and Arbor, with it possible to walk the trail with a little planning (follow this order, or do in reverse!).

This years first event was on Saturday and Sunday, May 3rd and 4th. My wife and I were down and on a surprisingly sunny day for a bank holiday weekend and arrived in Bristol Temple Meads railway station just after midday to start the trail.

Just round the corner from the station is Little Martha Brewing, their taproom situated in a converted railway arch. Originally primarily a bar, and less than four years old, the brewing operation has expanded to the point they could offer 12 beers on draft, all keg. In what would become a theme on a hot sunny day I chose a lighter option called “Halo Orbit”, a 4.8% session IPA, and my wife “Chasing Pulsars” their lager. Both lasted no time at all, always a good sign, and we set off too the next venue.

Moor brewery started in 2007, and has always been a favourite of mine. They pride themselves on unfined, unfiltered and unpasteurised beer in all dispense forms – cask, keg, can and bottle, which makes them more CAMRA friendly than most “craft” breweries. I can recommend Old Freddie Walker, a 7.4 % old strong ale, but that was too much for the early stages of the trail, so we tried the “Illumination” 4.3% English pale ale on cask, and “Kellerbier lager”. They take the lager seriously, such that the storage tanks for the “lager” stage are installed on their side to improve the process. It works, because we ended up having a second, so impressed were we. Worth noting that Moor taproom is a music venue too, with a strong emphasis on rock and punk in all forms, which we would have been happy to listen to, but hadn’t started in the early afternoon of our visit. Quick shout out to Stoked Mexican street eats, for some delicious loaded nachos.

Next a short walk to Good Chemistry brewing, the only taproom that is not frequently open. As was the case for most of the breweries there were cask options, and I tried the “Marmalade waves” 4% pale ale. Described as having “marmalade floral biscuit” flavours, this was exactly how it came across, and probably the most memorable beers I had on the trail. The orangey taste was spot on for a sunny afternoon.

Half way in, and on we went to Left Handed Giant. Now a larger brewery on the Bristol scene, with another large taproom in the city centre. At this stage it was apparent that the trail was a popular option, with a queue for beer, and no seating until people moved on. We had “Go On Then”, a 4.2% cask pale ale, and “Alpina” lager. Both perfectly pleasant, but the crowds and the first instance of the Bristol staple Drum and Bass through the sound system meant we just had the one. I will give them additional credit as the only taproom serving in glass, despite the large crowd.

Wiper and True surprised me, in that it was at a new large brewery location, not the smaller one I’d visited on the trail previously. They do brew some Stouts I love (Milk Shake, Hard Shake, Espresso Martini Shake), but none were on draft, so we had “Today” Munich Lager and “Kaleidoscope” a 4.2% Pale, mainly because they were on a smaller bar with much shorter queues than the main one. Call me old, but it made sense at the time!

So on to the final brewery, and another favourite of mine, Arbor. I choose “Mosaic” 4.0% pale to start followed by “Citrus Maxima” a 4.0% lemon and lime pale, and my wife “Helles” lager. All very drinkable on a sunny afternoon, and highly recommendable. Again it was now very busy, and the Drum and Bass was in full effect, but at that stage we didn’t care so much. I love a black IPA and “The Devil Made Me Brew it” is a great example, but it wasn’t on draft, so I bought a (pint) can of it, plus a can of “Rubber Dingy Rapids” 10% impy stout, not least for the Sheffield connection……

A short walk to the Laurence Hill station and back into town at the end of a highly enjoyable session.

I can’t say the trail is picturesque, think Attercliffe industrial units, but six breweries in close proximity is impressive, with a wide beer choice (there were options other than pales and lager!) and I recommend it if you are interested, with the next weekend trail on the 23rd and 24th August.

Cheers, Paul Rugg.

 Three B’s Micropub was established in Bridlington in 2020. Since opening it has won many awards both from CAMRA and other bodies. Following on from its success the pub is moving to a new site within Bridlington this spring. The new location is 2, Wellington Road, YO15 2BG. The map below shows the new pub location. The new site will feature 5 handpulls (from 4 at the current site) plus craft keg taps and a large beer fridge. The biggest asset the new pub will have is a large beer garden with seating for around 50 people at maximum.

 It is hoped the new location will be open by around the end of April, in the meantime it will continue to trade at its current location on Marshall Avenue. Check out the pubs social media for updates.

Stockport was once described by Friedrich Engels as “the duskiest, smokiest hole.” However, when I arrived at the station, it was bathed in sunshine and was a few degrees warmer than the Sheffield I had left 40 minutes ago. Having no romantic interest on the day, I consoled myself with beer.

The town has a history for hatting, but was also one of the first centres of the Industrial Revolution with the River’s Goyt and Tame merging to form the Mersey for transportation. 

Walking down into town, my first establishment was the White Lion on Gt Underbank. A nice ornate pub serving 3 cask ales. Mine being a Weetwood Chesire Cat, a blonde/Golden 4%. 

On exiting I tackled the short, steep cobbled hill to the Market Place.  A 12th century feature, which contains the Angel Inn. A small bar selling 3 cask of which the Beartown Best Bitter 3.7% session strength, was partaken, as I had not tried this one before. It was here I met Stephen Oakes and his Cockapoo, Boo. Who was very friendly, and recommended a few establishments some of which were on my GBG list. 

Armed with this info, I set off up the town and over a colourful bridge to reach the Petersgate Tap, a micro bar which was busy with locals. The bar has capacity for 6 cask and I had the Horwich-based Blackedge Blonde at 4.5%. Followed by a Small World Beers Barncliffe Bitter, again sessionable at 3.7%. 

I was OK for time, and decided on the longer walk towards the A6 Manchester Road to The Magnet on Wellington Rd. This pub is atop the incline and is overshadowed by the railway’s arches. Inside is a treasure trove of cask and keg, displayed on a TV screen. I had my first stout of the day, Riverhead’s Winter Stout. A lovely dark-roast brew, thinner than usual but a reasonable 4.8%. Enjoying this pub I twisted my own arm to have a Mallinsons Nectaron, a pleasant 4.1% pale. 

A walk back down to the towns Frenchgate Centre, saw me at the Swan With Two Necks, a Roninsons pub on Princes St selling Unicorn, a 4.2% Bitter which is pleasantly hopped. I had a great conversation with an older couple who had similar tastes in music, and who travelled Europe extensively on their motorcycle. 

It was time to climb the cobbled hill again, to Bakers Vaults in Market Place, a spacious venue with a good choice of cask. Among these was the Staggeringly Good Forward to the Past, an American IPA, a tasty 5.2%. With around 75 minutes remaining, I had the walk back towards the station to Ye Olde Vic, a very traditional pub with an older charm. It boasted 3-4 ales and I plumped for the 4Ts S.P.A. at 3.8%. 

A short hop, up and down to the station saw a prompt train return me to Sheffield, with time for a couple of halves (a Derby Rheingold, 3.8% and a Prime Pacific, 4.2%) in the Two and Six Micropub to end the enjoyable day. 

After a good night watching an Oasis tribute in the local WMC, but with no real ale. We were looking forward to our Bridlington trip to seek out some GBG establishments. It was nice to see since my last visit to see The Stone Eoses, the place has received a bit of a spruce up, and pubs have embraced real ale.

A timely train got into the station at 12:05, just 25 minutes before the Owls lunchtime KO. Heading into town, many of the pubs were only showing the Man City game. Until we happened on the Three Brass Monkeys on Prince Street. 

The bar is spacious and long with multiple screens showing 3-4 games. A decent choice of 3 ales, White Rat, Old Peculiar and Black Sheep Bitter. My friend started on the Old Peculiar, a dark, fruity beer packing a 5.6% ABV. I chose Ossett’s White Rat, a triple hopped pale at a more sensible 4%. As we watched the game, which to be honest wasn’t going great, we decided to have another pint and see it out. Both of us plumped for the Black Sheep Bitter, a nicely hopped, Amber beer of 3.8%. 

Despite a last minute winner for the opposition, we weren’t dispirited and set out to the well respected Three Bs on Marshall Avenue. Easy to find in a quite compact town centre, the pub has a distinctive red frontage. 

On entry, there was a warm welcome from the owner, Mark. The choice of 3 handpumps had us choose  Shiny’s Disco Balls, an American IPA, one of the nicest hazy pales I’ve had and weighing in at 5.3%. The bar is very similar to our favourite Sheffield micro pubs, decked out with old photos of Bridlinton, beermats of the now 978, and counting, beers since opening and beer posters. The conversation with Mark and different customers was friendly, informative and useful. Mark has plans to move shortly, to a venue round the corner in town. The pub will be slightly larger, but not have the small seated lounge currently available upstairs. So if visiting, keep an eye on where he is.

Armed with a couple of recommendations, we set off again. This is when we discovered The Brunswick Hotel, Manor St, a nicely decorated, warm pub which had 4 pumps, although only 3 were on. The two we tried were both Wold Top, a local Driffileld brewery. A Wold Gold, a nice blonde, almost wheat style beer with Golding and Syrian hops in at 4.8%. We followed this with a Scarborough Fair IPA, British style and quite citrusy, full bodied at 6% too. 

Hunger was now taking hold, so we went in search of a chippy. We found a decent one a few minutes away, and here is where a contentious issue arises. We in Sheffield class a fishcake as 2 slices of potato with fish in the middle, and deeply fried, not Bridlington! I ordered one in a butty and was deeply disappointed to find it was a rissole. Yes, the mashed potato and fish version in breadcrumbs. Now I know it is in the East Riding of Yorkshire, but oi Bridlington, noooo!

Right, rant over, we then had little time for the trip up to The Board, Pack Horse or Old Ship Inn.  The train is cheap enough for a summer/autumn month trip, we will definitely go again to this vastly improved seaside destination, starting at the above venues around 25 minutes from the station and working back to town. 

Shame it’s outside our regional social event time restraints at 2hrs, but for individuals and friends, it’s an ideal day/overnight trip with a good choice of ales and chippy teas.  

Northern operate regular train services from Sheffield to Scarborough via Hull that call at Bridlington, there are often cheaper tickets available if you buy in advance to travel at a set time – see northernrailway.co.uk.

It’s not every month a local Sheffield band plays a gig in their pub in Lincoln. So when I was emailed of this gig, I jumped at the chance. A Senior Railcard ticket of £10.50, and an absolute bargain of an Airbnb of £24, sealed the deal. 

I woke early to get ready for the 10:41 train departing at Midland Station, fortunately although the bus was late I had given myself plenty of time. The train departed a minute after schedule for the direct route taking 70 minutes through some pleasant countryside. On arrival and a short hop over the bridge, I was in the city. 

It was fortunate I remembered the route from our Steel City Beer Festival volunteers trip last year, although I was seeking some pubs not visited on that trip. I exited right at the station and immediately arrived on the High Street. Now it may have been one of Lincoln’s council to cancel the Christmas market, but it was still heaving with locals and visitors. The local chapel was holding an indoor fete, but outside were the fantastic Lincoln Owl Rescue and their magnificent array of birds, which are very tame and can be stroked. 

After that, I headed down and arrived at my first hostelry, the Treaty of Commerce, more or less the first pub on that side of High Street, a Batemans pub with a very nice selection of four handpumps. I plumped for the Gold (also known as Yella Belly) firstly, a nice pale of 3.9% that was just right fort the first pint. The owner and the locals were very chatty and I gained some knowledge of pubs in the area. Before leaving, I was recommended to try the Dark M, 3.4%, a beer not normally seen? I am glad I did as the texture and taste was fantastic. 

I then moved on to the Tiny Tavern,  again on High Street, one I had visited with the mysterious “Ring bell for entry” on one door, the exit on the other side. Again a good selection of 6 pumps, including my choice of Milestone – Crusader, a safe Blonde/Golden of 4.4%. 

As I was nearing check-in time, I walked to the accommodation, just over the Foss Dyke Canal and very near to the Lincoln City ground, Sincil Bank. After a quick spruce up, I ordered an Uber to visit one of the recommended pubs the Birdcage, located on Baggholme Road.  A lovely little traditional pub with three beers on pump, and not too far from the gig venue. I went for the FAB (Ferry Ales Brewery) Merry Imp, a pale of 3.4% and brewed in the local microbrewery in the city.

With the aid of Google Maps, I set off for the Jolly Brewer on Broadgate. It was literally a ten minute walk and seemed a very nice venue. It had two ales among the myriad of gassy keg, and as one was Abbott, I plumped for the Bridgehouse Brewery Rum Raisin Stout at 4.9%, thin but packed with flavour, this was so nice I had to drink four pints of it. After a couple of supports, The Sherlocks made their entrance to the 200 capacity rear yard. They played a mixture of older lesser played songs, and a couple of new from the new album due in February.

 After the finish, there was time for one more before bed, so I headed to Wetherspoons, the Ritz on the High Street which as the title suggests is a former cinema.  They had a choice of five ales, four being Christmas themed. I selected the Milestone Donner & Blitzed, a 4.5% winter ale. Home and bed as I had to get up at 08:30 to shower and gather my stuff. 

Next morning I was out of the house for 09:00, and off to Spoons for a breakfast. Service was quick and the Miners Benedict was fantastic. Basically Eggs Benedict with a nice slice of black pudding underneath. My train was at 14:10, so I had time for a couple of halves before, so visited the Cardinal’s Hat on the slight incline of High Street, after a ten minute delay at the rail crossing for a passenger, and very long freight, train to pass  through. As usual a great selection of beers, so the two I chose were Wilde Child’s Sneaky Peak, 4.5% milk stout and Brew York’s Fairytale of Brew York, a lovely 4.9% milk stout. 

The time was approaching to leave the city, and on arriving at the station, there was only a ten minute wait for the on-time train home. A pleasant journey, but I was starting to feel tired, so passed on the opportunity to have a pint on arrival home. 

Until next time, Lincoln. There is still one or two new ones to visit.  

Welsh steam and ale

Our chair Paul Manning and his wife Bev had a recent short trip to Wales.  

We had a weekend stay in a converted chapel at Minnford near Porthmadog calling on the way at the Bleeding Wolf pub near Congleton where we enjoyed a Dizzy Blonde, a pale ale by Robinsons brewery.

After a restful evening we walked into Porthmadog the next morning and enjoyed some lovely sunshine at Spooners Bar on Porthmadog railway station. This Good Beer Guide entry pub was flush with real ale and we enjoyed Moho a 4.3% Welsh pale ale by Mantle brewery, Ceridwen a 3.7% Welsh black ale by Bragdy brewery, Solstice Three Tuns a 3.9% pale by Bishops castle brewery in Shropshire and finally Snowdonia Ale a 3.8% golden pale by the local Purple Moose, brewery.

Suitably refreshed we boarded our Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway steam train for a 13 mile return journey to Blaenau Ffestiniog. The scenery was very nice especially and surprisingly the slate hillsides. The railway was built to transport the Welsh slate from the hills to the coast. Of course we enjoyed a bottle of the on board Welsh steam ale, a 3.6% pale from Purple Moose brewery. 

Arriving back in Porthmadog we visited the town’s other GBG pub entry, the Australia which was Purple Moose brewery’s local tap. Our favourites were Mono citra a 4.6% session IPA being a collaboration brew with Bragdy brewery and Chocolate Moose a 5.6% chocolate and vanilla stout.

We returned home the next day via a short stop at Llandudno for some bracing sea air. We enjoyed a lovely lunch of Welsh cheese rarebit washed down with a pint of Tetleys Dark Mild at the Tynedale hotel on the promenade astonishingly already decorated for its Christmas breaks!

On 9^th November, over forty SCBF48 volunteers enjoyed a celebratory trip to Nottingham. An early start meant we arrived as the pubs opened. Using the map provided, we split into smaller groups and spread across the city centre in order to sample the beery delights available. Personally, I visited three breweries, a couple of micropubs with football references and several other establishments.

The three breweries, Angel Brewhouse, Neon Raptor and Liquid Light provided a range of beer styles, some strong esoteric keg offerings at the Sneinton Market home of Raptor contrasting with more traditional offerings at the Grade II listed, Angel:  Angel Delight Pale 4.9% and Hung, Drawn and Quartered Porter 5.2%. Liquid Light operate from an industrial unit on the edge of the city centre, a site which you struggle to find by accident. Their cosy tap room included four cask ales all at the very reasonable price of £3.50/pint, or less. We appreciated the 1972 quote from Ziggy Stardust: ‘Beer light to guide us.’

Partizan, a micropub named after Partizan Belgrade provided Elusive Brewing Leaves (4.2%). Copious memorabilia include a framed programme from an Inter Cites Fairs Cup game at Elland Road in December 1967. Disappointingly, the Kilpin café, named after, English expatriate, Herbert Kilpin, the founder of AC Milan, had neither cask beer nor a reference to the Rossoneri.

Traditional pubs visited included the grade II listed Bell Inn, the small unspoilt Dragon, a Castle Rock renovation, the Fox and Grapes, one-roomed Kean’s Head and a family-run free house, King William IV (King Billy). Overall, an enjoyable day:  good company, good pubs, and good beer.