Real Ale, Real Music

A first visit for several years to one of the country's finest cities gave me the chance to visit some old favourites from back then, plus the opportunity to try out a couple of previously unknown places. Here's what I found in this, my first blog featuring the city.... I was in Cambridge the other week for the first time in several years. It had been a fairly late decision to go, but the opening day fixtures for the 2025-26 football season had thrown up a visit to Braintree Town for Halifax Town had given us the opportunity for an overnight stop there. With the journey by train involving going into London, changing stations, and then taking an infrequent slow train to the Essex town, I had volunteered to drive as that seemed the more practical option. With the route taking us past Cambridge, we decided to stay there on the way back after the football. And why were we going to this city known for its university colleges and tech companies? Well, it happens to be one of the best...

I returned to a favourite part of the country recently for the first time for several years. In and amongst my wanders I visited one or two pubs I had been to before, plus a few for the first time. And here is what I found.... I love Northumberland. I had not been though since before lockdown, whilst back in the 1990's it was a regular place to go for family holidays. So the other week I returned, stopping at the Victoria Hotel in Bamburgh where I had stayed previously and which makes a good base for a day or two of wandering around this still largely unspoilt county. And I was hoping to visit a few old favourites and try a few new places in terms of pubs during my visit.  I made good time on my journey north. I turned off the A1 at Alnwick, and picked up the B1340, but almost immediately questioned my decision when I got stuck behind a caravan for virtually the full distance as we weaved through the pleasant undulating countryside on narrow lanes which made it impossible to overta...