Happy March from my default position, in front of a pint of Fullers ESB in King's Cross Parcel Yard. Not that I'm in there now, I've never got along with their WiFi. Up to £7.15 a pint by the way, how cruel is that? The answer you are looking for is 'very'.
With Spring hopefully sprung, I'm hoping to break the shackles of a discontented winter with a more Idey March.
41 Good Beer Guide ticks completed for the month of February (plus 5 speculative pre-emptives). It feels like more, having been 'on it' religiously every Thursday and Saturday. Short month combined with no overnighters probably the reason.
I'm up to 3289/4500 which is approximately 73.1% of the GBG completed. A mere 70 behind the total I reached last September before the #CruelChurn interjected, so as per recent years it is looking like being around late April when I finally claw back the deficit.
'Spoons Watch
In a bid to alleviate future cruel churns, I'm continuing to tackle Wetherspoons when the opportunity arises. Six new ones this month takes me up to 418/814 which has a certain symmetry about it.
'Spoons carpet of the month - Woodthorpe Top, Nottingham
Speaking of Wetherspoons, my current Stabilo was retired in Havant's grimy Parchment Makers yesterday after six months fine BRAPA service, but the green ink just ain't what it was. Two more are in waiting, vying to become the new highlighter. Which would you pick, left (Ronnie) or right (Roxy)?
Ok, let us have a look at the counties I've made the progress in during February including a pub of the month in each as I get my stats out for the lads n lasses .....
The genius of North Warwickshire has ignited my love for a county I'd previously dismissed as 'a bit boring'. Leamington, Stratford, Warwick and Kenilworth didn't thrill me, but Atherstone, Rugby, Bulkington and those rural bits certainly have!
Some right awkward buggers remain, not much low-hanging fruit, but I'm determined to keep pressing on. I've been neglecting Worcs as a result, but you can't do it all, however nice that'd be.
I should have a couple of opportunities during March to do a little bit more.
Pub of the Month - Griffin, Shustoke (also honourable mentions to Red Lion Baddesley Ensor, Lord Nelson Ansley, in fact 10 of the 11. Only Rugby's BCA pub was below par.
Bedfordshire - 6 ticks, 3 left, 93.88% completion
I'm happy with Beds now, well as much as anyone can be happy with Beds. Potential to whip Stotfold in as part of a Herts day where I can probably force out one more Thursday in the summer. I'm annoyed about Stotfold because if you look closely above, I've accidentally coloured some of it in!
But I got some reet awkward stuff done this month with varying degrees of quality, producing one of my favourites of the whole month, but also the absolute worst. Here they are .....
Cock, Pavenham - great pub
Fancott Arms - dire pub
Essex - 6 ticks, 22 left, 80% completion
A long overdue return to my home county (if you ignore the bit where I was born in L**ds and lived in Biggin and Barnsley as a twoddler). 28 gaps, coming down to 22, it seems a bit harsh considering it was only 2021 when I'd completed an Essex clean sweep.
One of my 'quests' for the spring/summer is to bring Essex down to single figures. Booked a long Harwich Thursday and agreed a July day with my old mate Simon D. There could be double Daddy's for the first time in BRAPA history that day too. Colin even might get a rare outing, like he does the semi retired cauliflower of our past.
I might also do a south Essex day if Southend's Black Box reopens ride on time. Thanks. Good county is Essex, proper pub behaviours in the main. Should've done Coopersale & Harlow with London. Wethersfield can get nicked!
Pub of the month - One Green Bottle, Battlesbridge
Berkshire - 5 ticks, 7 left, 87.27% completion
Weird little sad snake of a county, in shape at least, and apologies for the blurriness out east but it is how I felt at the time. Oh, and Winkfield which used to be in Ascot has been highlighted with a Staedtler. Can you see the lower grade shade of green? Abysmal Germans.
So, two random brewery taps with wankerous opening hours and five super rural things out West. Timmy T, are you hearing me? No, but seriously, I'll probably leave Berks there for the 2026 GBG now. Back in 2026/27.
Honourable mention for excellent North Star Maidenhead but I'm going with this underdog for my pub of the month ......
A quality Thirsty Thursday on the outskirts of Nottingham proper, it also yielded three strong Wetherspoons I've never seen in a GBG before but certainly are better than some that do get in (cough cough Havant).
That leaves an isolated Blidworth tick, generous hours, buses galore, but I'd be best tackling it from a Mansfield angle and no way I'm going there for just one tick. Anyway, why break the habit of a life time? Last two years, I've also left myself with just the one Notts do (Kimberley, Attenborough).
Pub of the month - Loose Cannon, Newark-on-Tent
Hampshire - 4 ticks, 36 still to do, 69.75%
Well, at least I've got it down to under 40 now! Ugh, Hants, like a more extreme Essex. It was only on 4th March 2022 (4 years ago) when I'd completed the whole damn thing, and here we are with a crazy number of gaps if you ever wanted a real-world example of my #CruelChurn
Not even a county I love, though Pompey is a quality pub town, So'ton is a top beer town, and Winchester I love and I'm amazed it doesn't get more love in the discussions of top pub destinations.
At least Basingstoke behaves itself year on year! #KindChurn
Anyway, if Hull City remain in same division as both Saints and Pompey (which I think is probable considering we're not quite good enough to go up, no way Pompey are one of the three worst teams based on Saturday, and Saints might surge to playoffs but I can't quite see any more for them) I'll look to book a week down here next GBG on one of those two fixtures.
Because as it stands, I only have 7 (SEVEN) counties in the entire UK where I need more ticks, and that will soon be six (SIX).
Best of the Rest
Northants (2 ticks, 12 left, 73.33% completion - more to come in April hopefully and I wouldn't mind booking an outer Kettering Saturday between now and Sept).
London (1 left!) Don't ask me the stats, but it must be like 99.98% completion there's that many of the things - but no plans to do it this GBG.
Herts (1 tick, 10 left, 84.85% - still a bit of low-hanging fruit, see what I said earlier about Beds, so think I'll be back once more this GBG).
Two honourable mentions ......
Cask & Stillage, Potters Bar
Garibaldi Hotel, Northampton
First BRAPA holiday of 2026 is coming up soon. Can't tell you where for legal reasons but it isn't a county I've mentioned in this blog.
Have a great month, and of course, keep it pub.
Oh, and 15th March is GBG 'halfway there' day for all who celebrate so don't miss that. Mother's Day too, but I'm sure you'll agree the GBG takes precedent.
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