Successful Country Pubs #2&3: Berkeley Inns, Cows And Horses

Just when Chilled Pubs thought they had the market cornered for gastropubs in Derbyshire along came Berkeley Inns. The Bulls Head in Repton and the Joiners Arms in Quarndon along with another couple in Walton and Wingerworth meant they had the whole Derbyshire market tied up with pizzas what’s wrong with Frankie & Benny’s alongside…

Baby Boom In Whitwick

After a rare foray into literary waters in my last post normal service is resumed as I venture back into safe earthy pub territory and a visit to Whitwick. The good old LE67 postcode usually comes up trumps and after a call from the Trades Description Act mafia, I needed to move back to safer…

Ember Inns Are Solihull Saviours #1 The Fieldhouse

I can confirm that the opening picture hasn’t been superimposed from Derby but is in fact a pub on the edge of Solihull centre selling a chalkboard of cask ale. With a Yates’, Slug & Lettuce, TGI Friday’s and Walkabout, amongst others then it really is an oasis of dross with one or two rays…

The National Forest: Proper Pubs In Moira

As former mining villages go, I reckon Moira has probably reinvented itself as well as any.  Not only is the whopping 120 acre site of Conkers on the site of the former Rawdon Colliery, but Moira Furnace is also an attraction in its own right along with the nearby Hicks Lodge. Granted, it’s not quite…

Another Day, Another LE67 Classic In Newbold

I really like the fact Sky Sports promotes minority sports and teams and it has given access to fixtures many punters wouldn’t normally watch. Chuck BT Sports into the mix and you have a smorgasbord of opportunities for punters like me who can happily watch background offerings in a boozer. 311 – The Cross Keys…

Checkatrade Trophy Tension At The Odd House

  If anyone was in any doubt that football captures the imagination like no other sport then they should visit 281 – The Odd House DE12 7DQ Apart from the recent episode of Repair Shop at The Cross Keys in Tutbury, I can’t recall pub punters taking such an interest in something so, apparently trivial.…

Pushing The Boat Out In Melton Mowbray

It might because I hail from landlocked Brum and now live in equally landlocked Derby but the lure of the waterways always fascinate me. Pete, of course, is our resident canals expert and his cracking blog highlights many boozers of yesteryear that were/are based near a canal. http://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-tail-of-digbeths-two-spotted-dogs.html?spref=tw I’m not ruling out the sea either…