Tag Archives: brewery

Three Spires, Old Inns & a Roll of the Bones: Lichfield to Sutton Coldfield

Three Spires, Old Inns & a Roll of the Bones: Lichfield to Sutton Coldfield I had a brilliant day exploring the pubs and local history of Lichfield before heading over to Sutton Coldfield for a couple more stops. My friend Paul joined me for the Lichfield part, and it was lovely catching up as weContinue reading “Three Spires, Old Inns & a Roll of the Bones: Lichfield to Sutton Coldfield”

A Right Royal Round: Tamworth’s Pubs, Pints & Hidden History

A Right Royal Round: Tamworth’s Pubs, Pints & Hidden History A Day Exploring Tamworth I had a brilliant evening exploring the pubs of Tamworth. I started at The King’s Ditch before calling into the Sir Robert Peel, the award-winning Tamworth Tap, Market Vaults and Hop House, then finishing with Old Bank House and the wonderfulContinue reading “A Right Royal Round: Tamworth’s Pubs, Pints & Hidden History”

Historic Pubs and Hidden Gems in Digbeth

A Friday evening exploring seven pubs around Digbeth, taking in everything from grand Victorian survivors to railway-arch bars and converted industrial buildings. I met up again with Neil from Neil’s Real Ale & Pub Page, starting at The Woodman before heading through Kilder, Nortons, The Anchor, The White Swan and The Spotted Dog, with The Ruin rounding off the evening. Every stop had something different to look at, from tiles, stained glass and carved woodwork to exposed brick, old factory spaces and colourful modern interiors.

Aire & Cut Ale Trail – Leeds

A day exploring some of Leeds’ best pubs, brewery taps and historic drinking spots, starting at Kirkstall Bridge and working back towards the city centre. Along the way I visited everything from grand Victorian pubs and cosy traditional locals to modern brewery taprooms and riverside bars. There was plenty of cask ale to choose from, with beers from Kirkstall, Leeds Brewery, Small World and others along the way. I also called at Northern Monk, The Tetley and Piglove by the River, finishing the day beside the River Aire. A great mix of history, character, good beer and some brilliant Leeds pubs.

The Railway Alehouse – Doncaster

A first look inside The Railway Alehouse in Doncaster, brought back to life by Russ and Luke from The Draughtsman Alehouse. The pub keeps plenty of its old character, with original tiled flooring, stripped-back timber, fireplaces and subtle railway touches throughout, including a genuine piece of rail around the bar. With a strong mix of cask ale, craft beer and plenty of space to settle in, it feels like a great new chapter for this historic former Railway Hotel.

Preston Pub Festival, Longridge & Goosnargh

I spent Friday and Saturday exploring Preston for the Pub Festival, calling into a brilliant mix of traditional pubs, craft beer bars and independent spots across the city. There was loads of variety, with different brewery takeovers, plenty of cask ale and some more unusual beers along the way. I enjoyed seeing how different each place was, from historic old pubs to modern taprooms and cosy little bars. After finishing in Preston on Saturday evening, I headed out to Longridge and Goosnargh to visit three micropubs I hadn’t been to before, which was a lovely way to finish the trip.

Pints, Police Cells & Pub History in Liverpool

I had a really enjoyable day exploring some of Liverpool’s pubs, starting at the Ship & Mitre and finishing at Dead Crafty Beer Company. I loved how every stop felt different, from the cosy traditional rooms at places like the Roscoe Head and Belvedere to the unusual setting of The Bridewell and the more relaxed feel of Dead Crafty. There was plenty of history to take in along the way, as well as some great cask and craft beers to try. It was one of those days where I could just wander, enjoy each pub and really take in Liverpool’s character.

From Rail Ale to Real Ale: A Crewe Beer Adventure

I had a brilliant day in Crewe, starting at the returning Crewe Rail Ale Festival at the Heritage Centre before heading into town for a good wander around some of its best independent pubs and bars. From The Crewe Dog and Borough Arms to Tom’s Tap, Hops, Earl of Chester, Ebenezer’s and finally The Raven, there was loads of variety along the way. I enjoyed everything from traditional cask ale pubs to brewery taprooms and modern beer bars, with plenty of great beer throughout. Crewe has a really strong independent beer scene, and this was a cracking way to explore it.

From Engine Sheds to River Barges: A Peterborough Pub Adventure

Peterborough turned out to be a brilliant day for pubs and beer, with a really varied mix of places along the way. From drinking inside an old railway engine shed and aboard a historic Dutch barge, to traditional locals, micropubs and newer craft beer bars, there was plenty of character throughout the day. The Peterborough Beer Festival was a big highlight too, with a huge choice to work through. I enjoyed some excellent cask and keg beers, met plenty of friendly people and finished the evening out in Werrington. A long day, but definitely one of my favourite pub trips this year.