General
Book review: ‘A Pub For All Seasons’
My mother-in-law has a strong dislike for the art of Tracey Emin. Although I’m largely ambivalent towards her work I always defend her on the basis that her output is unmistakeably Tracey Emin. It is the same with the writing of Adrian Tierney-Jones. Among all the writers who specialise in beer his voice is the…
Read MoreDeparting Bohem Brewery
Now we are over the summer season the calendar of beer events including product releases and book launches has made a welcome return. On my recent outings I’ve been asked by various people about Bohem Brewery in terms of visits and news. I’d like to take this opportunity to say publicly that I’m no longer…
Read MoreIn defence of post-work drinks
During these warmer months, I’ve spent sufficient evenings in Central London, and on my travels around major cities including Manchester and Birmingham, to suggest that the ritual of post-work drinks continues to play a meaningful role for many people. One of the things I missed most when switching from an office-based role to home-based self-employment…
Read MoreBook review – ‘Pub Signs – what’s it all about?’
Before most of the country could read or write the easiest way for pub owners to have their establishments recognised was through imagery rather than words. From those beginnings the UK has built up an incredible array of pub signage. Across the country you can find signs whose imagery encompasses history, word play, the double…
Read MoreGuiding the guides
When touring Normandy for this summer’s break, I came across Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, which is a ranking of villages across the country based on their beauty and cultural heritage. The 170-plus locations in this exclusive club are judged by an association whose aim is to promote tourism. This seemed to highlight the…
Read MoreAre the youngsters being priced out of socialising?
During the Euros match between England and Switzerland I found myself in a historically-rich City of London pub, the atmospheric Viaduct Tavern, that is in the hands of Fuller’s who had a good range of beers on the bar including a quaffable 4% pale ale on cask from a fashionable craft brewery. Although I was…
Read MoreEventually enjoying The Duke of Greenwich
My trip down to The Duke of Greenwich started badly having taken the wrong train at London Bridge (mistakenly to East Croydon) and it continued in this vein when I then took the wrong exit at the correct destination (Maze Hill) train station. The first mistake was mine while the second was down to poor…
Read MoreBreal Group swooping or observing
It was always going to be a tough ask for investment firm Breal Group to be accepted by the brewing industry after it had purchased a batch of distressed brewers because much of the industry (and its eco-system) has an uneasy relationship with finance and money. When Breal acquired in relatively quick succession Black Sheep,…
Read MoreWhen smaller is better
Wandering around the smart Belgravia area of London on Father’s Day involved passing some of my favourite pubs including the Fox & Hounds, Nag’s Head and The Grenadier, which I have frequented over many years. One common theme among them is that they are all pretty small, and their cosiness is an attractive characteristic that…
Read MoreCalling time on phones
Recent train journeys to and from Brighton, a morning coffee in Pret A Manger, a spell in the waiting room at my dentist’s and an early evening pint in my local pub all had one thing in common. It was the annoying use of mobile phones for conversations on speakerphone or people viewing videos at…
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