George’s Pub Guide – Waveney Tales

The Lower Lode Inn - Lower Lode on the River Severn

The Crew and Harpur Arms - Swarkestone, Derbys.

The Red Bull - Kidsgrove, Stoke on Trent.

The long closed Duke of Bridgewater - Longport

$The Fox and Anchor - Coven. As this pub does a lot of food I wasn\'t allowed inside. There was a lot of outside seating space but not much of it under cover. As it was raining we had to squeeze in there and I ended up sitting over the drain, lovely! Posh crisps which dad complained about the price of! Nice beer apparently and not a bad price.$ $The Bridge Inn - Brewood. Not too far to walk from the boat. Had a nice time here sitting in the sun. We didn\'t need the covered area as it didn\'t rain. Dad had mini cheddars instead of crisps, I like them! The Jenning\'s Cocker Hoop was nice they said.$ $The Hartley Arms - Wheaton Aston. I could see this pub from the boat which is always a good sign as it means a short walk! mini cheddars again and Cocker Hoop as well. I got a nice pat from a couple of \'ladies what lunch\' who said I was lovely (of course I am) but they had to move because of the wasps!$

$The Anchor Inn - High Offley. This pub wasn\'t open when we got here, they opened at 12-30pm (funny time Dad said). I surprised Mum and Dad by going for a walk up the towpath while we waited, they weren\'t expecting that! We started off in the garden, more mini cheddars, but we had to go in the pub in the end as it rained a bit. Mum and Dad were on the Wadsworth\'s 6X whatever that is?$ $The Wharf Tavern - Goldstone Wharf. Hey, doesn\'t Dad look grumpy in this picture? There was another dog here but she kept away from me so I wasn\'t bothered. I spat the crisps out today, I\'m fed up with them! A nice man came out and gave me a pat. He nearly missed his pudding, I would have helped him with it if he had brought it outside!$ $Me and Mum outside the Wharf Tavern. She\'s smiling nicely (poser!) for the camera.$ $Me and Dad outside the Wharf Tavern. He\'s nearly smiling now! Excuse my bits I didn\'t know Mum was taking this!$ $The Talbot - Market Drayton. This pub has a nice lawned garden but dogs aren\'t allowed in it, why? I had to sit on the concrete. As it started raining really hard just after we got there we had to huddle under a very small gazebo. I was still getting wet so I went under the table. I did get some mini cheddars and a pat from a lady with white trousers (Dad wouldn\'t let me jump up them!) Mum and Dad were on the Cocker Hoop again and they both said the landlord was a humourless nurk (what ever that is?)$ $The Shroppie Fly - Audlem. Mum and Dad had to move the boat across the canal so I could get in here as I couldn\'t walk over the lock! I got a nice pat from a felow boater. We sat inside to start with as it was raining but went outside when it stopped. Only crisps again I\'m afraid.$ $The Jolly Tar - Barbridge. Not a very edifying pub. Quite a walk to get here and it\'s on a busy road so it\'s noisy. The outside area was not very clean, I laid in a load of fag ash! Mum and Dad weren\'t very impressed with the beer either! We did have Scampi Fries and Cheese Moments instead of crisps though.$ $The Jolly Tar - Barbridge. Doesn\'t look a lot better from the other side of the road does it?$ $The Olde Barbridge Inn - Barbridge. We can actually see this pub from the boat so why we went all the way to that other one first I don\'t know! I had nice grass to sit on here and Mum and Dad had Old Specked Hen which was good they said.$ $The Shady Oak - Beeston. We had a garden all to ourselves, as there was no room in the proper one, we sat on an odd table at the end. I didn\'t get disturbed by other dogs but also I didn\'t get any pats! Back on the crisps today, boring. Mumhad something called Spitting Feathers and Dad had Kronenburg because the beer was too flowery (whatever that means). He was pleased it was cheap.$

The Covered Smoking Area at the Cheshire Cat - Christleton

$The Cheshire Cat - Christleton. Thought I\'d better put in a front view. It\'s still a stupid name though!$ $Telford\'s Warehouse - Chester$ $The Davenport - Calveley. Mum and Dad were hoping this was a bit further away than it was so I would have a long walk, it wasn\'t very far, ha ha! There was a nice garden and McCoy\'s crisps, yum. No one else was sitting outside though so I didn\'t get any pats.$ $The King\'s Lock - Middlewich$ $The Stanley Arms - Anderton. I was a bit peeved after I walked all the way here and back Dad moved the boat a lot nearer! Anyway it wasn\'t a bad pub, nice garden and canalside terrace. Mum and Dad were on the Speckled Hen and we had the usual crisps.$ $Mum took this into the sun so it\'s not a very good photo. It\'s a lovely building isn\'t it? There were lots of places for me to sit but most of them were on gravelly stuff. Mum and Dad were on the Pedigree and prawn cocktail crisps. I had lots of crisps today!$

$The Star - Acton. It took me quite a long while to get here and even longer to get back. Well, I am getting old you know! We sat by the road, I wanted to go in but the landlord had 2 dogs of his own. There was a garden but Dad didn\'t find out in time. We had McCoys and Walkers crisps today. Dad tried a new beer but soon went on to the Bass! I don\'t know why he tries these light ones he knows he doesn\'t like them!$ $The Willeymoor Lock. Not a bad pub, quite near where we moored up so that was a bonus. I got wrong for getting under the rickety table and spilling Mum and Dad\'s beer, oops! Dad was complaining about the beer anyway. There were a few dogs about but I only had to growl at one.$ $The Horse and Jockey - Grindley Brook. Hurrah, a pub I could go in to when it started raining! I can\'t remember the last time I actually went in to a pub, we usually have to sit outside. Mum ad Dad had good beer they said and I got a nice pat from the barman. Apparently I weigh the same as his Chocolate Labrador!$ $The Jack Mytton Inn - Hindford. You can trip up and fall in here from the canal so it didn\'t take long! It was a nice day so we sat outside on the grass. Dad said the pub was really small and they did a lot of food so I wouldn\'t have been allowed in anyway. Apparently the barman was overbearing and a bit funny when Dad said he didn\'t want lunch and bought only crisps! And Dad said the beer was a bit strange as well, so although I thought it was ok here Dad wasn\'t very impressed! Oh, and what\'s that bear outside the door all about?$

$The Bridge End Hotel - Llangollen. Quite a difficult walk for me to get here (steep steps down to the town) but it was ok. Mum and Dad were on the Robinson\'s Unicorn. I got a pat from a tiny little girl who tried to give me her cuddly toy.$ $The Market Hotel - Ellesmere. When we came here last week it was raining so hard Mum didn\'t take a picture! Anyway we were moored up a lot closer this week so I was pleased. They were on the Speckled Hen which they like and we had crisps but no ham cobs as there weren\'t any today, shame. We started off inside but went outside for a bit as they have a puppy in the pub who wanted to talk to me all the time! I didn\'t want to talk to it though. And it had done a poo in the beer garden dirty little bugger!$

$Here is Dad looking grumpy (no change there then) and me not looking at the camera (again) I wish Mum would tell us when she\'s taking photos of us!$ $The George and Dragon - Alrewas. We did have to go past the pub we went to last time we were here to get to this one but apparently it wasn\'t open. Anyway this one wasn\'t bad, Dad had cheddars, yum. Mum and Dad were on the Pedigree and Dad didn\'t moan about the beer today.$ $Stenson Bubble - Stenson. Thank God they didn\'t try to make me walk here from the marina, it\'s miles! We came by boat with Nanny and Granddad, John and Kath. It\'s not a bad pub with a nice carvery (although I didn\'t get any) but the tables are really high, making it impossible for me to get any pats!$ $The Steamboat Inn - Trent Lock. This was not open last time we were here The Trent Navigation was but that\'s now closed. Dad was moaning on Friday that there was no real ale here but they put it on Saturday so he was happy. I could have gone inside here but the weather was nice so we sat on the terrace. I could watch all the dogs go past down below. Mum and Dad had cheese and ham cobs so I was chuffed!$ $The Sun Inn - Saxilby. I got a few pats here from the locals and someone said I was lovely but ugly! Dad had to have John Smith\'s as they stopped doing real ale. As it was only £1-99 a pint he didn\'t moan much. We sat outside in the sun but I would have liked a lawn to lay on instead of the car park though.$ $The Rodley Barge - Rodley. Hurrah, it\'s ages since I have been to the pub! We sat out the back overlooking the canal and it was quite nice. Mum and Dad liked the beer (Tetley Cask) and I found a chip to eat. Barry and Barbara came as well which was nice but they left their dogs on the boat.$ $The Fisherman\'s - Bingley$ $The Robin Hood - Silsden Mum forgot to take a photo of the pub so you\'ll have to put up with me!This pub was ok, it was a bit of a walk from the boat but i managed alright.Although I was allowed in here we sat outside. Barry gave me a bit of pizza and Dad never moaned about the prices once!$ $The Old Swan - Gargrave. Me again I\'m afraid, Mum is so remiss! This pub was also quite a walk from the boat but it had a nice garden to sit in and recover. B and B brought Kizzy too and I was very good about letting her sit near me!$

$The Hapton Inn - Hapton. I have to say I was absolutely disgusted with this pub! Not only was it a bloody long way from the boat, all up hill too, but when I got there I wasn\'t allowed in to the garden! I had to lay on the concrete, beside the road, to recover sufficiently to go back. I didn\'t even get a drink of water, scandalous!$

$Crooke Hall Inn - Crooke. I went inside the cellar bar and outside on the patio here, both nice. Dad said the beer was lovely (Allgate\'s) and it was cheap too apparently. I did get hassled by a Jack Russell at one point outside but I soon saw him off!$ $The Saracen\'s Head - Halsall$

$The Rose of Lancaster - Chadderton. I like this pub because even though I had to sit outside I had nice decking to lay on instead of concrete! Dad liked the beer and we had some M\'Coy\'s crisps. There is a cover over this decking so I can come here again tomorrow even if it\'s raining.$

Me and Dad outside The Rose of Lancaster

$Summit Inn - Summit. At last, another trip to the pub! Had to sit in the car park because there were gardeners in in the garden. Had a few crisps. A little dog came out and sat on the doorstep, Mum wouldn\'t let me go and see it though. It was even older than me I think, bless!$ $The Mason\'s Arms - Gauxholme$ $The Golden Fleece - Lymm. I could see the garden from the boat but had to go all the way round by the road and through the pub to get there! We sat in the garden until it rained then we had to go under the smoker\'s umbrella. It wasn\'t very big and I nearly got wet! I got some pats from a couple of men who came out for a fag. The only real ale they had was Adnams, can you believe it? And it was only £2-35 a pint (over £3 in Halesworth!)$ $The Leigh Arms - Little Leigh. Mum and Dad dragged me across a busy road to go here but they later found out there was a nicer way which goes under the road! That apart this was a good pub, I got loads of pats off lots of people, I loved it! We sat outside which was a bit chilly until Mum put the heater on. We could have gone inside except for Marley the grumpy Jack Russell! Mum and Dad must have liked it because they went back later for dinner but they didn\'t bring me anything back!$ $Lock 57 Cafe - Hassall Green. You may have noticed this is not a pub. We did go to a pub first, called the Romping Donkey, but it had closed down! Lock 57 is a cafe and brasserie (what ever that is) but essentially, as we sat in the garden it didn\'t make a lot of difference to me. Mum and Dad had to have bottled beer which Dad said was expensive. I had a nap, woke up too late and missed the crisps! I also had a growl at a black labrador.$ $The Broughton Arms - Rode Heath. I have been to over 100 pubs now! This is a nice one although \'due to licensing laws\', yeah right, I am not allowed inside. The patio is nice though, with plenty of shade for me and I had a drink of water. Good job as it was really hot. Mum and Dad actually walked here yesterday but today they parked the boat nearly outside so it wasn\'t far for me to go. Apparently the beer is good and the steak is cheap on Mondays!$ $The Bowling Green - Northwich. We came here a few weeks ago as well but Mum forgot to take a photo! It\'s not too far from the river but the path is gravelly, I don\'t like gravel! I had a really good sniff in the garden here and got the usual crisps. Dad had some peanuts but he wouldn\'t give me any. Mum and Dad had Courage Director\'s which was good they said.$

$The Waggon Inn - Uppermill. Next to the Granby Arms but Dad said the beer was better and cheaper as well! The outside seating was practically the same so I couldn\'t really tell the difference!$ $Roaches Lock - Mossley. Not too far from the boat, up the towpath this was a nice pub with rather a narrow gate! In fact Barbara was surprised I managed to get through it, cheek! Mum and Dad were impressed because they went back later for dinner and I got some of Dad\'s chicken, yum.$

$The Walnut Tree - Blisworth. I had to walk along the road to get here and Mum wouldn\'t let me walk in the middle! I wasn\'t allowed in here (too posh) but it was nice in the garden. There was a lovely smell of roast pork but I wasn\'t allowed to look. Mum and Dad had London Pride and Dad nearly didn\'t moan about the price!$ $The Royal Oak - Blisworth. Dad said this was a nice pub, I don\'t know I only sat out the back in the garden! It wasn\'t too far from the boat, which was just as well because it was hot today! Dad got me some mini cheddars which I like, well I think they were for him but I ate most of them. He had London Pride and said it was quite cheap.$ $The Boat Inn - Stoke Bruerne. Here\'s me and Dad outside this pub. It was a bit hot and I had been for a walk first but I got under the table. They actually had beer Dad liked and it was quite cheap he said. I was hoping they would have a sandwich but they only had crisps! Barry and Barbara came and I jumped on Barry\'s lap!$ $The Barleymow - Cosgrove. Dad said this was a nice pub inside but the garden needed tidying up a bit. It was really hot when we came here and there weren\'t any umbrellas. Mum and Dad had Everard\'s Tiger which they like but Dad kept complaining it had got too warm because there wasn\'t any shade to put it in! He\'s never satisfied!$

horse-tunnel-under-the-canal-at-cosgrove-3

$The Galleon - Old Wolverton. Although there were moorings practically outside this pub Dad parked a hell of a long way away! I didn\'t mind the walk though and got here quite quick. The garden is a bit tatty and could do with a tidy up. Even though it was Speckled Hen Dad still had a moan about the beer!$

$The Globe Inn - Linslade. I have played musical chairs outside here and I have been inside too. It is a nice pub and not too far from the boat either. The table I was under was a bit low though. Mum gave me one of her scampi fries. Dad didn\'t moan about the beer or the prices (miracle) and he didn\'t give me one of his scampi fries either!$ $The Cowroast Inn - Cowroast, Tring. I have been to this pub twice, once we sat outside and once we sat inside. I got a pat off the landlady who said I was gorgeous (she\'s got good taste) and two people tried to work out what sort of dog I was. They settled for an English Terrier like the Artful Dodger had in Oliver! Dad was fairly impressed with the beer and the prices here, makes a change!$ $The Three Horseshoes - Winkwell. A lovely pub which I was allowed inside, just as well as it was raining. However, it was bloody hard to get to. Mum and Dad had to carry me over this temporary bridge thing, I didn\'t know what was happening when they suddenly picked me up! I had some nice crisps which Dad said were very expensive. He didn\'t moan about the beer today though.$ $The temporary footbridge at Winkwell. Look at these steps, no wonder I couldn\'t get up them on my own!$

$The Anchor - Pyrford. At last another visit to the pub, it\'s been ages! I can see this pub from the boat but Mum and Dad made me go for a walk first. I had a lay on the decking in the sun outside the pub. Dad had a little moan about the prices but he\'s getting used to them now.$

$The Runnymede on Thames Hotel. I had a nice walk to get here which I enjoyed. Dad said I wasn\'t allowed on the grass but I was. A nice lady came and asked if I wanted a drink and brought it on a silver tray, very posh. I noticed Dad didn\'t buy Mum any crisps though so the beer must have been expensive!$ $The Row Barge - Woolhampton. I had a nice little walk to here, it was really hot though. This Row Barge is a lot more posh than the other Row Barge I went to the other day. There were loads of people here in the garden. Dad had a moan about the beer as usual but me and Mum just ignore him now! He didn\'t buy any crisps today either.$

$The Shillingford Bridge Hotel. I didn\'t have to walk far to get here, just got off the boat really! It\'s a lovely bit of grass and I had a nice lay on it. Dad was quite pleased with the beer prices (20% off) but he didn\'t get any crisps.$ $The King\'s Arms - Sandford. I had a little walk to get here and I had to go over the lock. We had to play musical chairs when it rained a bit but it was ok. I got a few pats which was nice. Dad must have been impressed because he took Mum back here later for dinner and she brought me a nice piece of beef, yum!$ $You can nearly see our boat from here so it wasn\'t very far. THey have covered decking which is very comfy and warm and dry. I went here 3 times actually. On one of the days I had to go for a walk to another pub, called The Boat, first and that was a bit further. Mum didn\'t take a photo of that one though.$ $The Great Western - Aynho. This was just over the bridge from where the boat was, so not very far. We had crisps and Dad didn\'t moan about the beer, Old Hooky it was called and they like it.$ $The Wharf Inn - Fenny Compton. Not a long walk to get here which is just as well as I haven\'t been well lately. It was nice sitting in the sun listening to Dad moaning about the beer!$ $The Folly Inn - Napton. This pub was quite near to the boat but I did have to get past a rather annoying dog to get here. Dad was moaning about the beer again, apparently they had just run out of his favourite one and he wasn\'t very keen on the one he had. We hadn\'t been here long when it started raining and as there was no cover I got taken home!$

ken-and-george-outside-the-anchor-hartshill

$The Anchor - Hartshill. This is a nice pub very near the canal and I had a nice garden to lay in and a bowl of water (see other photo). Mum and Dad came back here for dinner later, mum wasn\'t very hungry so I got lots brought back, yum!$

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